Ever Wondered How to Pick The Right Sewing Machine?

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Have you ever wondered how to pick the right sewing machine? If so, you’ve come to the right place.  To select the correct sewing machine, you first need to…

…understand how you’d like to use your machine because all sewing machines are designed for performing different tasks.

4 How to Pick The Right Sewing Machine

Juki TL 2010Q is very popular with quilters. The machine is a semi industrial straight stitch with a knee lift, speed control, an automatic thread cutter, and many more awesome features.



Many sewing machines are aimed at those who enjoy quilting.

Quilting machines have a wide harp space. In addition to having a wide harp space, quilting machines only do a straight stitch and are semi-industrial for sewing thru thick materials.

3 How to Pick The Right Sewing Machine

Consew 206RB-5 is ideal for sewing thick fabrics and the large motor is sure to last many years. Without the room or budget for Consew, the next best thing is a portable Sailrite sewing machine.[/caption]

Other sewing machines are aimed at those who enjoy sewing leather, upholstery, or other very thick fabrics.

For sewing thru extra thick fabrics, you need a walking foot sewing machine

2 How to Pick The Right Sewing Machine

Juki DDL-8700-H is an excellent straight stitch machine with rave reviews online. This is the #1 choice for anyone in the market for an industrial sewing machine.[/caption]

Thinking about going into starting a sewing based business?

Industrial sewing machines are aimed at those who spend 8 hours per day sewing. Like vintage sewing machines, these sewing machines have all metal construction for extra durability.

Unlike vintage sewing machines, however, industrial sewing machines have a much larger and stronger motor. Not into sewing for business? Check out standard domestic sewing machines.

How to Pick The Right Sewing Machine

Juki Exceed F600 is an excellent sewing machine with all the features you’d ever want. 🙂

Standard domestic sewing machines are designed for users who use their sewing machines for a few hours per week to make garments.

Even within this category, however, there are different categories of machines aimed at people who work at different sewing skill levels.

Skill level is essential to deciding on what kind of domestic sewing machine you’ll need.

Afraid to venture into sewing patterns that don’t say “Easy?” Consider yourself a beginner.

Never purchase an electronic sewing machine for a beginner. Electronic machines have hundreds of stitches and a lot features you just won’t need in the first years of learning to stitch. To be honest, you only need straight stitch, zig zag, and lightening stitch for doing an invisible hem.

When half the garments in your closet are made by you, you’re an intermediate to advanced sewer.

This opens the possibilities for what kind of sewing machine you buy. Some intermediate to advanced sewing enthusiast prefer to stick with a beginner sewing machine. Others, however, are interested in having more automatic features. More automatic features speed up the sewing process and create a lot less frustration. The most common features are listed below are essential:

  • Automatic buttonhole
  • Automatic needle threader
  • Thread cutter
  • Needle up/down
  • Knee lift
  • Decorative stitches
Consider the must have features.

Essential features differ from person to person. Since my eyesight is crappy, I require an automatic needle threader on my sewing machines. Others, however, desire different features.

Some desire to have an automatic thread cutter for speeding up the sewing process, while others wish to have a start/stop button for sewing without the foot pedal.

Each generation of new sewing machines has offers more features. So, when learning how to pick the right sewing machine it is a very good idea to stop by a local Joanne’s store or sewing machine shop to test out sewing machines in person.

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Demos will give you a better idea of what features are available and best for you.

Hence, testing machines is one of the most important steps in the how to pick the right sewing machine lesson. However, before testing machines, you must…

…examine your budget.

The more features you want, the more it is going to costs. Once you’ve decided how much money you want to spend, ask for the best sewing machine within your price range. Of course, the best sewing machine in your price range is going to be different depending upon what type of machine you are looking for.

Domestic sewing machines are cheaper than industrial machines.

However, domestic sewing machines equal or even surpass the price of industrial machines when more features are added.

To check out sewing machines within your budget online, select your price range in the search area.

Then, check out reviews on machines within your budget.

Don’t count negative reviews from users who have issues unrelated to the quality or function of the machine. When a user says the bobbin doesn’t wind correct, remember the users could just not be using the bobbin winder correctly.

However, when you see many users with the same complaint, it’s time to pay attention. A large batch of complaints means there is a serious problem. Otherwise, look at the good reviews and visit more than one website for an unbiased opinion.

Once you’ve learned how to pick the right sewing machine, the only that’s left to do is to make a purchase.

Other helpful articles:

3 of the Best Vintage Sewing Machines to Buy Today

A Sewing Machine Buying Guide for Beginners

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