To choose the best new sewing machine for yourself, consider what you want to sew and then do some research, investigation and shopping.
You've decided to buy yourself a new sewing machine. Perhaps you've never sewed before and want to learn. Maybe you've been sewing for years and decided to upgrade your equipment. Or you may have developed a new interest such as embroidery or quilting, and want to purchase a machine especially designed for that kind of sewing. Whatever your reason, there are several crucial factors to consider in choosing a new machine.
First, what will you be using it for?
Making clothing?
If you want to sew clothing or light weight decorator items like curtains, you may not need too many special features. You will want a good buttonhole function and the capacity to sew through several thicknesses of material, and you may find that a speed control function comes in handy. You'll probably want some zigzag, stretch and special purpose stitches such as blind hemstitch as well. You can choose either a mechanical or a computerized machine for this kind of all-purpose sewing.
Quilting?
There are many excellent quilting machines on the market. Generally they all have the ability to sew evenly through many levels of material, and there is usually a way to fit them into a sewing table or cabinet so that there is a large flat space around the machine on which the quilt can be placed. It's important to support the quilt well while you are sewing so that it does not stretch and pull the stitching out of alignment. There are numerous special control pedals, frames and other specialized accessories to consider as well. Computerized sewing machines offer special quilting stitches and features that you may find useful. Or you may prefer a simpler mechanical machine. A speed control feature is especially nice for machine quilting.
Embroidery?
This is an area where the sewing machine and the computer marry beautifully. All the major sewing machine manufacturers make computerized embroidery machines now, and machine embroidery patterns are available through shops and online. Many nice free patterns are also available. Sewing machines that can do embroidery tend to be more expensive because of the hardware and software they require to do their job. You will also be spending more money on thread and patterns. But the beautiful ornamentation a good embroidery machine can provide will supply a great deal of pleasure and creative satisfaction.
Other purposes?
There are specialized sewing machines for making upholstery, working with leather and other types of custom work. Talk to others who do the same kind of work you do, and find out what their experiences are with the brands that interest you.
How much do you have to spend?
Do yourself a favor and buy the best tool you can afford. This doesn't mean that you must spend thousands of dollars, but don't buy bargain basement equipment from unknown manufacturers. If you use your sewing machine regularly, you will find that the ease and satisfaction of working with a quality tool will make your additional investment well worth while. It's important to maintain and service your machine just as you would your car. If you buy a good name brand machine, you will have better luck finding someone who can service it without problems.
Another important question to ask yourself is where you will be using your machine. If you already have a sewing area or cabinet, you'll want to purchase a machine that works well in your space, and if you don't have such a work area you may want to set one up that suits the machine you're going to purchase. If you do most of your work with your machine in your studio or home workspace the weight of the machine will not be an issue. If you're working with heavy materials, having a solid well-anchored machine is very helpful. On the other hand, if you intend to take your machine with you to quilting bees or friends' houses, you'll want a machine that's easy to carry. If you decide to buy a portable machine, don't choose the cheapest one. Make sure it's high quality and well made to stand up to the stress of being carted around.
Once you have a sense of the kind of machine you want you are ready to start researching the brands and models of machines. Start by researching online, Googling key words like sewing machine quilting, or embroidery sewing machine. Don't have a coronary when you see the prices. You're not buying yet. You're just looking.
Check out online reviews and consumer reports. You can learn a lot about the potential advantages and disadvantages of machines by reading these reviews. There are many excellent brands with useful features, and it may take you a while to find the one that appeals most to you. It's a good idea to start a Favorites folder and perhaps a notebook of printed information so that you can comparison shop. You'll find that there are many tempting options, and taking your time in this stage will help to prevent buyer's regret.
Once you have a sense of what you really want, try to work with the machine if at all possible. Craft stores and sewing machine sales and repair shops tend to feature particular brands and you may have to look around a bit to find out where you can try the machine that most attracts you. Be aware that when you go in to try a machine, the sales staff will do their best to sell you the machine on the spot. You don't have to buy just because you've tried.
Once again, remember that you'll sometimes need maintenance, service and repairs on your machine. Find out if the retailer supports the warrantee on the brands they carry and whether they offer maintenance or repair on machines they sell. If you decide to buy a brand no one in your area sells, will you be able to find someone local who can service it for you? It's expensive and hazardous to ship a machine for repairs. You'll be thankful for a local contact if you have problems.
Now you're almost ready to buy. Do a little more research with your friends and fellow sewers. Find out whether they've had good experiences with the retailer or repair shop you're considering buying from or doing business with. Go back to the Internet and the consumer report pages and find out the going price for the machine that interests you. Remember that if you buy online you will have to pay shipping and may not have local service and support. Figure out how much it will really cost to buy the machine online. Now you're in a position to bargain with your local shop.
Sewing machine dealerships sometimes can make you deals in the same way that car dealerships do. If you're willing to buy last year's model, you may get a great machine for a better price. Or you may prefer to spend a few dollars more to get the latest model with the features you want. If your local shop is still too high priced, you may decide it's worth buying online. Or you may choose to buy from a large discount or chain store. Whatever you decide to do, you'll know you're getting a machine you want and will enjoy using, rather than buying on impulse. You'll know where and how you're going to get repairs if you need them, and you'll be ready to relax and enjoy sewing on the new machine you've chosen.
