I have been sewing since I was a teenager. I started sewing clothes, then I moved on to making traditional bed quilts. Finally I started making wall art, art quilts about 15 years ago. Do I know everything about sewing and sewing machines? No. But I will share my overall experience and things to consider before getting a sewing machine. Whether you plan to use the machine for sewing or quilting, the considerations are basically the same.
Sewing Machines
People love their particular brand of sewing machine. They swear that their brand is the best. People new to sewing ask which machine is the best. I find that there are many fine machine brands. Before getting a sewing machine, find a brand that can be maintained locally. What good is a sewing machine if stays in the closet because the maintenance person is too far away from you? Buy a brand that can be serviced locally.
I learned to sew on my mom’s black Singer sewing machine. I used it for many years before I upgraded. Before the internet, I didn’t do any research into what the best machine was. I bought my computerized Lily Husquarvna at a local store. Working full time with 2 kids, I figured the shop knew which brand was best. That decision proved to be a good one for me.
That particular shop has closed but another one servicing Husquarvna machines is close by. The Husquarvarna Lily does what I need it to do. I am happy with its performance. When I first got the machine, I tried the embroidery stitches. However, they were never a big draw for me. I don’t use them. The Lily easily adjusts to thicker or thinner fabrics. I lower the feed dogs to free motion quilt which I do often. Think about the tasks you want your machine to do. Don’t forget to consider the features that you may want to use in the future.
Considerations for your Machine
What do you plan to use your machine for?How many people use your machine? Will it be shared or will you be the main person using it? Should you invest in a new machine or is a used one good enough for your needs? How often will your machine be used? Answers are neither good nor bad. However, they may affect your choice of machines.
Sewing machines, in general are workhorses. They are made to last. They are strong and are meant to be used a lot. Older machines are still worth buying depending on what you want to use them for. I bought my Lily Husquavara new over 20 years ago. I generally have used it alot. Sometimes I take it in every year for a check up. Sometimes I don’t and haven’t noticed a difference. I do clean the lint often from the inner workings of the machine.
Recently the lever to raise and lower my feed dogs broke. Luckily the mechanic at the sewing store found a replacement piece from his stockpile of old machines he keeps for parts.
Buying a Sewing Machine
Many new sewists begin by borrowing a machine. This is a good way to begin by becoming familiar with a sewing machine. It is a wise idea to see if your interest will continue on before investing in your own machine.
If you decide to buy a new machine, I would suggest getting one from a reputable dealer. They will offer you a free class in the use of your machine. They will also continue to provide service for you and your machine. This may be a luxury for some people. Maybe you have access to a mechanical whiz or an experienced person, then maybe the used machine will be fine for you. There is also so much information available on the internet.
Important Care
The most importance care of my machine is to keep the sewing mechanism free of lint. It is amazing how much lint normally comes off of thread and fabric. A pipe cleaner is a good way to keep the underworkings free from lint. Vacuuming also helps. Totally by accident I witnessed the repairman machine easily remove several parts of my machine to get to where in lint was in the undercasing. After that I was able to clean my machine much easier by myself. Ask your maintentaince person at a sewing shop how to best take care of your machine.
Lint can affect your stitches. Once I took my macine in because the zig zag stitches were not even. I was doing an applique where I wanted the stitches to be perfect. I thought that something was wrong with the stitch. No, the stitch was fine. There was just a lot of lint underneath.
Easy Troubleshooting
What should you do if you have a problem? Here are some ideas for easy trouble shooting . Rethread the machine. Make sure that the machine is threaded correctly. Is the machine plugged in correctly? Turn the machine off and on again. This resets the mechanism. Change the needle. Make sure the needle is put in correctly. Mine has a flat part that goes to the back.
If you are still having issues, I would change the brand of thread. When I bought my machine, a particular thread brand was recommended. Of course, I used that brand even though I wasn’t thrilled with its performance. The stitches didn’t look as good as I expected.Later I was given a different, les expensive brand of thread to use for some donation quilts I was sewing. Surprisingly, the stitches were noticeably smoother and nicer. Don’t be afraid to try other brands of regular threads. Of course, the internet has many resources these days.
Gifted a Machine?
Of courses, often people are gifted or inherit a machine. How lucky can one be? In a perfect world we would learn all about the machine before we begin a project. But seriously, who does that?
If you are gifted a machine or inherit one, it would probably be a good idea to have it looked at by a sewing machine mechanic. Good fabric stores can recommend a local service person. Again, the internet would be a resourse for infomation about the brand. Most of of all, use your machine and enjoy yourself.
In Conclusion
A sewing machine is a quilter’s best friend. They are strong and made to last forever. Consider what you plan to use your machine for. Why buy what you are sure you won’t use? That said I would avoid the least expensive model available. If you can afford the most expensive machine, it might not be a good fit for your skill level and use. Choose a brand that can be serviced locally. While choosing a machine, consider your current skill level and intended uses. Consider your future plans as well.
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