Those who still look at sewing as some hobby or arts and crafts for older women may have missed the last decade in sewing and embroidery advancements. The old clunky machines that your mother used to have are much harder to find, being replaced by much faster, easier, and smarter machines that can turn anyone into a professional seamstress.
Sewing machines have also come down a lot in price. Even the most basic machines can put the old fashion ones to shame and can be had for only a few hundred dollars, at most. Just having the automated thread-cutting and knotting is enough to make sewing and embroidery designing a breeze.
Shopping Around
Now, you may have to visit a hobby shop or a store that specializes in sewing supplies to find the real selection of sewing and embroidery machines. This would be worth going out of your way if you are serious about getting into or getting back into sewing. These independent specialty shops will provide you with more advice and better quality machines. Some machines can sew, embroider, create lace, and monograms effortlessly.
Choosing the Right Machine
If you stick with the top name brands, you’re usually not going to be disappointed. If you have a budget of around $500 then you can get one that is made of mostly metal parts, which is important for easier maintenance and longer lifespan.
Are you in the market for a small sewing machine for hobby purposes or one that will be turned into a business-scale venture? Business embroidery will need a machine that can handle mass production and reliable automation without constant monitoring.
Compare and Contrast
For newer model embroidery machines, there are some key things you want to keep in mind when comparing models and brands. Research what types of features matter most to you: is it ease of use while stitching? You’re going to want to have a machine with a good pressure sensor and, of course, automatic thread cutting and knotting.
How do you plan on transferring your embroidery designs? Most modern embroidery machines come with their own built-in designs, but you shouldn’t really settle for a machine that doesn’t allow you to upload your own via USB drive. This lets you design them on the computer, which many new embroiders find easier than older methods.
Is the display black and white or color? What about the hoop, is it easy to install and durable? What is the maximum hoop size? Anything under 250x250 will be fairly limiting. Is the bobbin easy to wind? These are all important things to test out when shopping for a machine, you wouldn’t want to bring it home and start working only to have it feel much more harder than you had imagined.
If it is at all possible, you should try to get an embroidery machine with room for add-ons for when you get ready for more advanced techniques. You can even attach a quilting table when you’re feeling really comfortable with your craft.
