Sewing Machines for Beginners

Today's machines are much more sophisticated than when I was a kid. Continuous improvements in design and automation have led to better threading technology, bobbin placement, and machine parts.

These additional features, however, also make it more difficult to know how to choose your first sewing machine if you're just starting out. Which bobbin type is right for beginners? How does an automatic needle threader work and do you really need one? What do the different presser feet do and how do you know which ones are important for making clothes or curtains or place mats? All of these questions are important but often lead to confusion and hours of research.

Then there's the fact that there are now different kinds of sewing machines. There are machines that do just a few, basic stitches, sewing machines with both basic and decorative or quilting stitches, sewing machines that do embroidery only or embroidery and sewing (sometimes called "combination sewing and embroidery" machines), and sergers that finish off the edges of your sewn seams by trimming the excess material to prevent fraying.

Just because someone has never sewn before doesn't mean that one of the most basic machines is the ideal choice. There are lots of crafters with next to no sewing experience but a natural affinity for fabric arts who could become bored quickly with just a basic machine.

So, where do you start? Here are the five most critical points to consider when shopping for sewing machines for beginners:

1. How the machine will be used - There are almost two kinds of sewing machine shoppers - those looking for a basic machine to use for mending and alterations and those looking for a tool that will open the door to a number of fabric crafts - making clothes, quilting, and even embroidery, for example.

While you can use a basic sewing machine to do some of those other crafts, a basic machine isn't as flexible or as equipped with automation that helps with those crafts. Different sewing machines also handle fabric types and thicknesses differently.

Understand whether the machine will be used infrequently for clothing repair or if the sewing machine will be used all the time by a budding dress designer or someone who wants to make heavy duty home goods like drapes and blankets. This information will help you look for the right accessories and features on your new sewing machine.

2. Presser Feet Attachment and Adjustment - The presser foot surrounds the needle and presses down on the fabric so that the feed dogs underneath can do their job of moving the fabric forward. These feet can be swapped out very easily, each serving a unique purpose.

Most basic machines come with a general purpose presser foot, a zipper foot, and perhaps a buttonhole foot. Additional presser feet can expand the machine's capabilities for handling other fabrics and projects. For example, a walking foot is a type of presser foot that has its own set of feed dogs so that more control can be applied to thick fabric projects.

When shopping for your first sewing machine, check the number of presser feet that come with your purchase. You can usually expand the number of presser feet for your machine by buying manufacturer brand or generic presser feet later. Just check for compatibility with your brand or model.

The other factors to consider in regards to presser feet include whether or not the presser foot height is adjustable so that the machine can easily tolerate thick fabrics and how the presser feet attach - screw or snap-on.

3. Stitch Types - Stitch types describe the pattern of stitches available on the machine. A straight stitch is always offered by basic machines and handles simple tasks. Zigzag stitches are sturdy hemming stitches where the thread punch moves from side to side to form a zigzag. Basic mending can be handled by those two stitches alone.

However, if the beginner is looking to handle dressmaking or other household projects, decorative stitch types provide a more finished and polished edge. The more the sewing machine will be used for anything other than mending, the more a greater variety of stitch types becomes important.

4. Machine Quality - You can find sewing machines for kids for under $30 but the quality of the machine and the plastic parts used in construction are not meant for long-term use.

If you are buying a sewing machine for someone you think will consider sewing a long term hobby and passion, don't frustrate their creative skills with a machine that will jam or break easily. For twice the price, you can find a sewing machine that will last at least ten times longer than a kid's sewing machine.

For adults, quality is even more important. Being able to make your own creations is incredibly exciting. Watching raw materials come together to form new bedroom accessories or new clothes, costumes for children, new curtains for the kitchen - these are the things that spur someone to continue learning how to sew. Having to fight cheap machine parts, bobbins that don't cooperate, or thread jams that ruin the feed dogs can kill those dreams pretty quickly.

5. Portability - Most of the basic sewing machines for beginners are portable in that they weigh less than 20 pounds but some improve portability with a handle or case. If the person using the machine plans on taking it with them to classes, from home to dorm, or to some other location to do their work then make sure the machine is easily portable.

Presser Feet - Presser feet keep the fabric in place during sewing. They guide the fabric in the appropriate direction for the desired stitch type. A general purpose foot keeps the fabric straight as the needle punches in the thread whereas a buttonhole foot will move the fabric around in a rectangle to guide the formation of a buttonhole. If you are looking for a sewing machine for a beginner quilter or someone who plans on doing embroidery sewing, look for a machine that comes with presser feet for that purpose or for which those types of presser feet can be purchased as optional accessories.

Threader Type - There are manual threading machines and automatic threader sewing machines. An automatic needle threader guides the thread through the eye of the needle and can be easier to handle, although it is not required. Consider this a "nice-to-have". Threading a needle isn't overly complicated unless the person using the machine has difficulty seeing in which case an automatic threader may come in handy.

Thread Delivery Type - It used to be that all machines had a vertical thread delivery. The top spool stood up vertically on the top of the sewing machine. More recent findings suggest that horizontal thread delivery (where the top thread lays horizontally on the top of the machine) is better as the thread twists less as it is fed to the needle and, therefore, breaks less frequently. Both delivery types are available and is of less importance than some of the other factors listed here.

Bobbins - These are the little, round, metal spools that hold the bottom thread in the machine. Whenever a sewing machine has a jamming problem, we always look to the bobbin as the culprit. Threading the bobbin is often the most difficult step in setting up a sewing machine. There are a variety of bobbin loading types available today including pop in bobbins that ease thread loading. Always look at consumer reviews that mention bobbin problems and consider those carefully. Good bobbin design is important in selecting a sewing machine that is easy to use.

Speed - Almost every basic sewing machine is operated by foot pedal. It is the pedal that controls the speed of the machine and speed is measured as "stitches per minute" or spm. Not every machine will note its spm even in the instruction manual (believe me, I've looked at plenty). Speed is not overly important when looking for sewing machines for beginners except for the start out speed. Some machines ease nicely into the initial sewing steps while others hesitate at any soft foot pressure and then jump straight into full speed making it hard for a new sewer to make nice, controlled stitches.

Stitch Types - A selection of stitch types is a nice function of new machines but not required. As mentioned before, much depends on how the person intends to use the sewing machine. If after comparing different sewing machines, you come down to one with better quality and one with better stitch variety, go for the machine with better quality.

Free Arm Sewing - If you need to do any mending or sewing of sleeves, cuffs, or pant legs, you need a machine that offers free-arm sewing. This means that the support under the needle work surface can be removed so that a small surface is available over which tubes of fabric can be slipped under the needle.

Additional Accessories - Most machines have additional accessories that can be purchased separately. The more accessories available for a machine means the more a machine can grow along with its owner.

Almost all sewing machines today come with more than just a straight stitch. The different stitches that are programmed into a machine are called "built in" stitches. You can't change them later so picking a machine with a certain set of stitches commits you to that particular set.

Stitches serve a couple of different purposes. Some are meant just to hold fabric together in the background. Some are meant to be seen and are fancy and pretty like scrolls or hearts.

You'll see references to something called "stitch functions", too. This is not the same as "built in" stitches. A count of stitch functions include not only the built in patterns but also all the different ways you can change those built in stitches. For example, some machines have what's called a mirror stitch function which lets you reverse the way a stitch faces for a different look or to run similar stitch lines. But if you have a little scroll stitch and you can sew it using the mirror function it counts as another "stitch function" but it's still the same, built-in, scroll stitch.

Take a look at the stitches that come with any sewing machine you're considering. If there are some special projects you intend to use the machine for, make sure it comes with the types of stitches that will help you with those projects.

The best brand of sewing machine on the market used to be Singer, however, they've experienced some quality issues and it is showing up in their consumer reviews. Brother is one of the best selling brands on Amazon today and offers really great, functional sewing machines with added features for low prices.

The following Brother sewing machines all have great ratings and recommendations from other users.

Brother XL2600i Sewing Machine
25 Built In Stitches

Brother LS2125i Sewing Machine
10 Built In Stitches

Brother XL2610 Sewing Machine
25 Built In Stitches

Here's what often happens. You're looking for a beginner sewing machine and you find one that looks good but you just can't buy without comparison shopping so you keep looking (you know, just to be absolutely SURE you've picked the right one...) and then you find another sewing machine that fits the bill and now you're torn.

It's reasonable to think that if you keep looking you'll find one that beats the other two so you won't have to try to choose between them and risk making a mistake and suddenly you have three good candidates on your list and you're more confused than ever.

Sewing machines are not a one-size fits all piece of equipment. They're all different for a reason. Some cater more towards quilting, some towards making clothes, some towards more decorative arts. When you know why a machine includes certain stitches and accessories, you can more easily compare them and find the one that is right for you.

Make a sheet with rows and columns. The rows are for features. The columns are for the different models you find. Along the left hand side, in the first column, list all the features that are important to you like stitch count, presser feet, letter font Y/N, embroidery patterns, bobbin style, drop feed dog lever Y/N, etc. Then fill in the boxes for each machine. It will be much easier to compare two or more machines.

Around the age of 7 or 8 is a great time to start kids out sewing. Even boys can find cool things to make with sewing machines (Kites!!). Sewing is a great hands-on activity that requires some logical thinking skills, teaches measurements, and allows creativity to blossom. There are plenty of easy kids' patterns to try and even free projects available online.

If you are buying a sewing machine for a child, look for quality first and then cute (if cute is a factor).

I must have been about 8 years old when I received my first sewing machine. It was a Christmas present from my parents - a small, child's Singer sewing machine with a red case that snapped on with gold fasteners and a plastic handle at the top that fit my hand perfectly. I used it to make clothes, blankets, and rugs for my dollhouse and eventually for making pillows for my room.

I don't remember what happened to the machine but I remember progressing to using my mother's Singer machine which was housed in a work table where the machine flipped upside down to hide underneath the table when you needed a flat workspace and then flipped back up when you needed to sew which was highly convenient but extremely heavy lifting for a young person.

Here's something that wasn't even an option when I first started sewing years ago in high school - beginner sewing machines with embroidery capability. The Brother SE400 review is a clear example. For just a few hundred dollars, not only can you get a machine that sews well but can also be used to embroidery pretty patterns like flowers, birds, teddy bears - even your own pictures - onto any of your projects.

Not too many years ago, a machine that did both sewing and embroidery would not have been considered a match for a novice. However, technology built into today's machines makes them easier to learn while also making them capable of doing so much more.

It used to be that threading, bobbins, and jamming were the biggest issues that kept people from learning to sew. Today, machines just about thread themselves and many are even jam-proof. Today's concerns about picking a sewing machine have more to do with making sure you get one that will last AND have enough features to let you do lots of different things.