6 things to look out for when buying a sewing machine

A sewing machine a lot of sewing work can be done easily, cheaply and quickly at home. We'll show you what to look for when buying a sewing machine. Choosing the right sewing machine is no longer as easy as it used to be. Back then, you could just use a machine Quality brands Singer, Pfaff, Bernina or Elna sit down and be pretty sure you're getting a good, solid sewing machine. However, the situation on the sewing machine market has changed dramatically in recent years, as most brands are no longer manufacturers themselves, but rather the Production outsourced to have. Many sewing machines today come from the Far East, with an upward trend (see statistics below), which has contributed to the fact that a great variety of quality can be found on the market.

General tips on buying a sewing machine

First of all, you should think about what you need a sewing machine for. If you just want to sew a few pillowcases or curtains, it is not worth buying a device from the upper price segment. Especially as a beginner, you shouldn't be blinded by a huge range of functions. In this case, easily accessible basic functions and user-friendly operation are more important. However, you should be aware that the use of an extremely cheap machine will not necessarily be worthwhile in the long term, because sewing machines from the discounter are not exactly known for their long service life.

1. Pay attention to the presser foot

The presser foot decides which fabrics you can process with the sewing machine. In order to be able to process thicker fabrics such as jeans or leather, the presser foot must be able to be raised accordingly. Conversely, a sewing machine should of course also be able to cope with extremely thin fabrics. Fine and smooth fabrics such as silk are also not easy to work with.

As a beginner, you should also make sure that your sewing machine is equipped with a walking foot. On sewing machines without a top feed foot, the fabric is only pushed through the bottom feed during processing. This can cause the top layer of fabric to slip. The top feed foot prevents this as it presses on the fabric from above. If the upper transport foot is not included in the scope of delivery, it should at least be possible to retrofit it. A machine with a quick-release system is also recommended so that you can switch between presser feet quickly and easily.

2. It depends on the stitch types

A good sewing machine has at least three types of stitches: zigzag, buttonhole and straight stitch. In addition, you should make sure that there is a lock stitch. These four types of stitches make it easy to do basic work. In addition, the stitch length and stitch width should be infinitely adjustable.

3. Ensure that the thread tension is automatic

Especially as a beginner without the necessary sewing routine, you should make sure that your sewing machine has automatic thread tension. However, since there are processing techniques for which the automatic spring tensioning is not suitable, it should be possible to switch this function off and the spring tensioning can be carried out manually.

4. Keep an eye on usability

When buying a sewing machine, make sure it is easy to use. Settings should be able to be made in a few simple steps and the basic functions should be easily accessible. Take a look at the buttons and symbols on the sewing machine and ask yourself whether they are easy for you to understand and use. In the case of computer-controlled machines, the display should be easy to read in very bright and very dark surroundings. Most important of all, however, is a detailed, clear and easy-to-understand operating manual.

Revenue of the sewing machine manufacturing industry in China from 2008 to 2012 and forecast up to 2020 (in million euros)

Sewing Machine Manufacture in China - Revenue Forecast to 2020

This statistic shows the turnover of the Manufacture of sewing machines (ICNEA 3553) industry in China from 2008 to 2012 and a forecast by Statista up to the year 2020 (in million euros). According to the forecast, sales in 2020 will amount to around 5,82 billion euros (Statistics 2017).

5. Check accessories and warranty

A good sewing machine comes with basic accessories. This includes spare needles, machine oil, a ripper and a screwdriver. You should also make sure that additional sewing feet are included in the scope of delivery, for example to be able to sew zippers. A dust cover that keeps dust away from the machine is another useful accessory.

It is also worth checking how expensive additional accessories for the sewing machine are and where the accessories can be housed. This can be important if you want to transport the machine frequently. In such a case, make sure that there are enough storage compartments on the sewing machine. Otherwise you would have to buy an accessory box.

Many sewing machine manufacturers give a guarantee that often goes beyond the legal requirements. Nevertheless, you should pay attention and check how long your sewing machine is guaranteed before buying.

6. Take a free-arm sewing machine - and don't forget the foot pedal

An Free arm sewing machine is characterized by the fact that you can remove the foot of the sewing machine. This makes your work easier if you want to sew tubular parts such as sleeves or trouser legs.

The main purpose of the foot pedal on a sewing machine is to control the speed of the sewing machine. In many new machines, however, the range of functions of the pedal has been expanded. For example, you can lift the sewing foot, change the needle position or switch to reverse sewing. Think about which functions are or could be of interest to you.

The best sewing machine for beginners

Our tip for beginners is this Free arm sewing machine N1615 from W6. This sewing machine is aimed specifically at beginners and is currently available for a low price of 109 € on Amazon (as of December 30.12.2017, 6). When designing the operating instructions, great importance was attached to the fact that you as a layperson understand them and that you can easily familiarize yourself with the machine. W10 gives you a total of XNUMX years guarantee on this sewing machine, which is absolutely great!

The sewing machine has a total of 15 sewing programs, so that you will be able to do all the change work for daily household needs without any problems. The supplied accessories are also impressive:

Zip foot
Standard zigzag foot
Blindhem
Buttonhole bar
4 plastic spools
Replacement needle assortment (woven fabric)
screwdriver
Cutting knife
Transport cover
Cover / hood
Foot control

The N1615 is constructed in such a way that it can handle different types of fabric very well. This makes it a solid starting point for most sewing projects. The machine has a two stage fan lifts, the presser foot can also be raised so far that you can easily process thicker fabrics. In addition, the Presser foot pressure automatically controlled and the machine has one walking footwhich prevents the fabrics from slipping while sewing. Other important features of the machine are:

Good sewing light
4 step automatic buttonhole
Sewing with twin needles
Bobbin winder for winding the bobbin thread
Backward quick key
2 needle positions
Transport stop by feed dog cover: sewing on buttons or free-hand guiding of the sewing material.
Stepless stitch extension up to 4 mm
Feather stitch: chains and sewing in one operation
Accessory box integrated in the extension table
Free arm extension table can be removed to sew trouser legs, for example
Dust cover
Quiet running
handle
Presser foot quick attachment system

The combination of an excellent price-performance ratio, extremely easy operation, robust workmanship and all-round capability for many materials makes the N1615 the ideal entry-level machine. For these reasons, we can warmly recommend this sewing machine to you and wish you a lot of fun with your future sewing projects. For suggestions just have a look at ours free Sewing instructions or ours Sewing patterns past. Of course we also offer unique fabrics, for example discover African fabrics, cotton fabrics from India , Guatemala or Aboriginal designs.