Control Systems & PLC's

Sewing Machine

Choosing the Right Sewing Machine for You

Selection and variety are good, but having so many options can also make it confusing to make a decision. So it is for choosing the right sewing machine. There are several sewing machine manufacturers, and each one has several lines of sewing machines with several models in each line. This article first reviews the history of America's premier sewing machine manufacturer: Singer Sewing Co. It then discusses several lines, models, and features of Singer sewing machines for sale.

Singer has been manufacturing home sewing machinesfor almost 160 years. Singer was founded in 1851 by Isaac Merritt Singer. Singer's revolutionary innovations made it the leading manufacturer of sewing machines in the United States with two short years. Singer has never stopped innovating since that time. No other company has contributed nearly as much to the evolution and improvement of the sewing machine as Singer Sewing Co. Two of Singer's most recent innovations are the SwiftSmart ThreadingTM System and Drop & SewTM Bobbin System, which make tedious threading and bobbin tasks a breeze so you can spend more time getting creative with your sewing.

Singer sewing machines are well-built and made to last. And every singer sewing machine for sale is backed by a 25-year limited warranty. Singer has also focused on making its sewing machines easy to operate, even for beginners. Many features on singer sewing machines are accessible with the touch of a single button, and Singer has made menial, time-consuming tasks like threading the machine and loading the bobbin both fast and fool-proof.

Singer has a wide selection of sewing machines: from starter sewing machines for beginners to highly sophisticated embroidery sewing machines for avid sewers. Let's break them down into a few categories, and then we'll look at some of the models within each category. The main categories of sewing machines are:

1) Embroidery sewing machines– these machines can “talk" to your computer to turn a complex design you create using embroidery software into a home-made work of art in a matter of minutes

2) Electronic sewing machines –– these machines have time-saving “electronic" features, such as single-button selections, automatic needle threaders, automatic buttonholing, drop feed, etc.

3) Basic sewing machines – these machines are still electric-powered, of course, but they don't have as many electronic buttons and automated features

Singer's product lines generally coincide with the categories of sewing machines above. The Futura line is Singer's line of embroidery sewing machines. The following lines are electronic sewing machines: Curvy, Confidence, Touch & Sew, Advance, Ingenuity, Precision, as well as a handful of other machines. And these lines are basic Singer sewing machines: Inspiration, Esteem, and Simple.

Within each product line, there are usually several sewing machine models. For example, the Confidence line has the following electronic sewing machines: 7463 Confidence, 7465 Confidence, 7467 Confidence, 7469 Confidence, and 7470 Confidence. Within a particular product line (such as the Confidence product line), the higher the number, the better the sewing machine in terms of features, capabilities, stitch options, etc. Note that this rule does not necessarily apply when comparing one line of sewing machines to another line.

To illustrate, let's compare the 7467 Confidence to the 7469 Confidence. Among other differences, the 7469 has 98 stitch patterns, 7 one-step buttonholes, and 12 frequent-use buttons whereas the 7467 has only 70 stitch patterns, 3 one-step buttonholes, and 6 frequent-use buttons.

Some people assume that a higher model number correlates to a higher difficulty of use. Generally, that is not true. And in many cases, the opposite is true. Higher model numbers (within a product line) have more features and options, but oftentimes those upgraded features actually make operating the sewing machine faster and easier, not more complex.

About the author: Zach Miller is one of the co-owners of Store Chain, the parent company of Sew Special Fabrics and many other eCommerce stores. Sew Special Fabrics is a proud authorized retailer of Singer Sewing Machines. The sewing machines at Sew Special Fabrics are backed by a low price guarantee.

About the Author

About the author: Zach Miller is one of the co-owners of Store Chain, the parent company of Sew Special Fabrics and many other eCommerce stores. Sew Special Fabrics is a proud authorized retailer of Singer Sewing Machines. The sewing machines at Sew Special Fabrics are backed by a low price guarantee.

What's a good sewing machine for someone beginning to make clothing?

I've started making my own clothes recently (mainly reconstructing old clothes), but I don't have a sewing machine so I've been having to do it all by hand. What is a good, basic sewing machine that can speed things up a bit? I want to not only continue reconstructing clothes, but possibly making jackets, dresses, shirts, etc. from scratch. So it needs to be able to handle some more heavy-duty projects, too.

If you're on a budget, I highly recommend a used machine. Even a straight stitcher from the thrift store or the back of someone's closet will do well for you if you're working entirely with wovens. You *can* sew knits with a straight stitcher, but it takes some special techniques.

Here's my standard advice for beginners in need of sewing machines:

http://www.cet.com/~pennys/faq/smfaq.htm

What I want for beginners in sewing:

- a machine that doesn't scare you
- a machine that isn't balky (cheap new machines are often very
balky or need adjustments often and are rarely repairable --
just too frustrating to learn on!)
- very good straight stitch
- good zigzag (4-5 mm is fine, more than that is gravy)
- a method of making buttonholes that makes sense to you
- adjustable presser foot pressure (which helps some fabric
handling issues)
- accessory presser feet that don't cost an arm and a leg
(machines that use a "short shank foot" typically handle
generic presser feet pretty well. Some brands of machines use
proprietary or very expensive presser feet)

If the budget stretches far enough:

- blindhem and stretch blindhem stitches
- triple zigzag (nice for elastic applications)
- a couple of decorative stitches (you won't use them nearly as
much as you think)
- electronic machine because of the needle position control and
because the stepper motors give you full "punching force" at
slow sewing speeds -- mechanical machines often will stall at
slow speeds.

Please go to the best sewing machine dealers around and ask them
to show you some machines in your price range, *especially* used
machines you can afford. You'll get a far better machine buying
used than new, and a good dealer is worth their weight in sewing
machine needles when you get a machine problem -- often they can
talk you through the problem over the phone. While you're trying
things out, try a couple of machines (sewing only, not combo
sewing-embroidery) over your price limit, just so you can see
what the difference in stitch quality and ease of use might be.
You may find you want to go for the used Cadillac. Or you might
want the new basic Chevy. Might as well try both out.

Suggested reading: John Giordano's The Sewing Machine Book
(especially for used machines), Carol Ahles' Fine Machine Sewing
(especially the first and last few chapters) and Gale Grigg
Hazen's Owner's Guide to Sewing Machines, Sergers and Knitting
Machines. All of these are likely to be available at your public
library.

Used brands I'd particularly look for: Elna, Bernina,
Viking/Husqvarna, Pfaff, Singer (pre 1970), Juki, Toyota

New "bargain brand" I'd probably pick: Janome (who also does
Kenmore).

The Sewing Machine (song)