Sewing can be a very fun hobby for those who are looking for new things to do. But before you dive full on into this new activity, consider getting beginner sewing machines first. Test it out and feel for yourself if sewing is something you’d like to take further before purchasing more high end tools and materials. To help you out the picking process, here are 5 things to look for in a sewing machine that’s perfect for beginners:
- Get the best for what you can afford
Even if you’re just a beginner, getting a machine that’s the best one for what you can afford will definitely make it a worthwhile purchase. Don’t look at the bells and whistles for now, look at the quality and the parts. You want to get something that’s sturdy and won’t break on you after a couple of projects. Even if you’re just starting out, a good quality beginner’s sewing machine is a great investment for any starting hobbyist.
- Get it from a dealership
You might be tempted to buy your first sewing machine from a big chain store, but hold it right there. If you believe you need to get the best as your first, go to a dealership instead. The people there are more knowledgeable about sewing machines and could give you the best recommendation and advice. A dealership can offer you sweeter warranty provisions too, and may even have trade-in or trade-up promos.
- Test the machine with fabric swatches
You want to work as comfortably as possible with your new machine. So don’t be afraid to test it out with a few fabric swatches you commonly work with or would like to work with. This will help you get a good feel of how the presser feet responds and see if it’s something you like or want upgraded.
- Get a machine that lasts
You want to get a machine that’s not only affordable, but of high quality and durable as well. Consider getting something you can grow into but not something so intimidating for beginners. Some unnecessary features can become troublesome if you can’t figure out how to use them. You want something basic that’s of high quality, that’s for sure.
Look for features that would make sewing easier for you. Some helpful features would be needle up and down, a freehand system or a knee bar, adjustable presser foot, and an automatic buttonhole. Those are some helpful things that you’d be grateful to have on your beginning sewing machine.
- Sit and sew before buying
As mentioned above you have to get a good feel of the machine before deciding to buy it. Sewing fabric swatches may give you some helpful first impressions, but there are other things you need to observe while running a test. Take a note of how smoothly it runs, is it noisy? How is the fabric weaving through the feeder? Notice the tension and the stitch quality as well. Ease of use is important in getting your first machine otherwise you’d be spending a lot of time compromising on what you could’ve otherwise gotten as an extra feature.
