It is indeed a difficult task when it comes to buying a new product for yourself. Be it as small as buying a sewing needle used for hand sewing or buying a new sewing machine for yourself or for industrial purposes.

So, are you a beginner looking for an easy-to-use or affordable sewing machine or a professional stitcher who wants to replace their old sewing machine?

We bring this article to you to guide you and provide you with tips for purchasing a new sewing machine that fits your purpose.

Ask Yourself the Following Three Questions:

• What will you use this sewing machine for, or what features would you like it to possess?

The most important aspect to look upon while buying a sewing machine is to know your short-term and long-term needs.

If you are just a beginner who wants to learn the basics and will not be working on heavy fabrics, a lightweight machine with the basic four stitches would be a go-to for you.

However, if you are an expert or someone who will work on heavy fabric like denim, drapes, big ball gowns, or other costumes, you might want to dive into the different stitches that serve specific purposes.

If you are already familiar with basic sewing, you may have some individual features that your sewing machine possesses.

Some of the essential features that you must look at will be mentioned later in this article.

• What is your budget?

Now this question might be absurd for many, but it is really important that you know beforehand your budget for buying this sewing machine.

This step will help you narrow down your choices in the beginning, and thus, you will be able to find the perfect sewing machine for yourself.

However, we recommend you to go for a 100% quality machine rather than looking at its price because it will last longer without causing you much trouble.

• Where to buy it from?

Nowadays, you can purchase sewing machines both online and in-store.

Both of them have their pros and cons but going to a local store is preferred by most people.

While buying a sewing machine online, you must dive deep into its features and look for videos displaying its working.

You can also research and read reviews of the particular machine you know you are going to buy.

This will ensure that you get the right product to meet your needs.

While buying in a store, you get the advantage of extra help from the seller.

Often, you may end up learning new features and purposes of the sewing machine that you had no idea about earlier.

You will also know where to take your sewing machine if something goes wrong with it.

Some Important Tips:

These tips will be helpful to you if you are a beginner.

You can look for these particular features in your sewing machine to make sewing an easier task for you.

Look for:

• The basic four stitches in your machine: are straight stitch, zig-zag stitch, reverse stitch, and buttonhole stitch. You will do perfectly fine if your sewing machine has these four stitches.
• The three adjustments that you can make to your stitching needle: are length, width, and the thread’s tension.
• How the bobbin is changed- As a beginner, you would want a drop-in bobbin instead of a front-load bobbin because you will be able to see when you are going to be out of thread then you can replace it in time.
• A free arm- This makes it easier for you to work on smaller things like sleeves or when you want to make tighter turns on your clothes.
• Weight of the machine: A heavier machine will be useful when working with heavy fabrics, but if you are someone who will be constantly moving their machine from place to place then, you might want to go for a light machine. But try your best to get the heaviest machine that you will be able to pick up.
• Type of machine: A fully mechanical sewing machine is easier to manage and understand the process of sewing as compared to a computerized machine. They have low maintenance and are pocket-friendly.
• Measurement markings on the plate: it is preferred if you have it in both centimeters and inches.
• A threader- makes it easier for you to thread the machine needle
• A cutter- it is helpful to cut the thread because you do not have to pick up your scissors each time.
• The presser feet- you can look at the presser feet that come additionally to the sewing machine. There are various kinds of presser feet and all of them are for a specific purpose. So, research the ones that you think you will need the most.
• A good foot pedal- some foot pedals are easier to use so, you can ask the retailer to let you try the pedal and know for yourself which one is the best. The start and stop buttons are not useless but a good foot pedal allows you to control your sewing process fully.

Final Thoughts on Choosing a New Sewing Machine

We recommend you buy a sewing machine locally if you are a beginner.

A person who knows about sewing will know the perfect sewing machine for himself or herself by looking at its features, however, a beginner must try things out and know which feature is beneficial and makes it easier to use the machine.

You must look at the quality of the sewing machine rather than going for all the fancy features if you are someone who is going to buy one and never buy again.

Try to understand your needs and preferences rather than just buying anything attractive.

The basic and important features and tips to use when buying a new sewing machine are already mentioned above in the article.

If there is anything you think must be added to the list, let us know in the comment section below.