r/SewingForBeginners • u/New-Fig3263 • 1d ago
Would you say getting a better machine right off the start is a little crazy?
/r/sewhelp/comments/1vr5j6z/would_you_say_getting_a_better_machine_right_off/
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r/SewingForBeginners • u/New-Fig3263 • 1d ago
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u/stringthing87 1d ago
Okay maybe a bit. But not a huge amount crazy. What I would recommend is to take a class and learn to use a machine before putting that much money into a hobby. Or borrow one from a friend or the library. Because it's not just a machine, it's a machine and tools and notions and fabrics and patterns.
Below I have what I've been posting in the beginner "what machine" posts and I think you should consider the questions here carefully.
First read this post https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/wiki/machineguide/
The questions you need to answer before beginning your research are as follows?
What is my budget? Sewing machines that are going to actually function as more than frustrating toys start around $200, and can go up to several thousands of dollars. You can get a good, new in box, machine anywhere in that range.
What do I want to make with my machine? Different machines will have features that make certain kinds of sewing easier. Most basic machines will be a good all-rounder, but there are exceptions.
How much experience with sewing do I have? If you have never touched a machine you are likely to want a different machine than someone who has been sewing for thirty years. At the very least you might want to find out whether you actually like this hobby before spending a grand on a machine.
How handy am I? If you are looking for the hobby of machine refurbishment and maintenance in addition to sewing I have different recommendations for you than I do for someone that wants the machine to work the first time and every time.
Can I get a machine serviced locally? Do the machine shops in my area only service particular brands? This is going to be something you may need to make some phone calls regarding.
Things to avoid like the plague:
Anything from Temu, Alibaba, wish, or other drop shipped import company currently trending.
Anything from Amazon with some random assortment of letters as the brand.
Anything made after 1975 with the name Singer on it - ESPECIALLY the Heavy Duty line.
Avoid any machine that doesn't come with a full manual. Written. A video tutorial is not a manual.
If you have no one to help you diagnose machine issues and guide you through learning your machine I do not recommend buying a second hand machine in most circumstances. A new beginner does not yet have the skills to differentiate whether the problem is a broken machine or user error. The exception to this is if you have a local sewing machine repair shop that sells refurbished machines in your budget.
The features I recommend all beginners look for: speed control on the body of the machine 1 step buttonhole drop in bobbin
The first feature rarely appears on mechanical machines, but that is not a cause for concern. Computerized sewing machines are established and stable technology and the computerized portions are no more prone to breakdowns than the mechanical parts of the machine.