Last century, sewing was a skill that many people wanted to master. Sewing meant freedom of choice and the ability to be able to create your own textiles such as clothing, curtains, bedding, and other items for the home. Sewing was also a way to make money and earn extra funds to help put food on the table. So why would we ever stop sewing? 
Well, with the advancement in technology, factories do majority of clothing and textile production so there are not as many seamstresses as there were in the past. This doesn’t mean that sewing is completely obsolete. In fact, many people enjoy sewing as a hobby – myself included – and many more creative folk want to learn this skill. If you are interested in learning how to sew and are searching for the right sewing machines for beginners, you have come to the right place. Today I’m sharing some things to keep in mind when shopping for your first sewing machine.
1 Budget
Before deciding on a machine to purchase, you need to take into consideration how much money you have to spend on it. It would be unfortunate to fall in love with a machine that has all the bells and whistles that you are looking for to only find out that it is way out of your price range. Go to a sewing supplies shop or haberdashery to see machines in action but keep that budget in mind. Share this with the salesperson and they will be able to show you machines that are within your price range and demonstrate the features. 
2 Features
It is important to look into the features that are offered by various sewing machine models. Knowing how these can help you as a sewist will help you make the best decision for your current and future needs. Some things to look for on a machine are the amount of stitching styles, stitch length, digital LED display, embroidery settings and additional feet.
3 Stitches
It is important to have a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch as these are the bare minimum you’ll need to carry out most sewing tasks. These two stitches are fairly standard and should come with any machine – be sure that you can vary the length of the stitch to suit the job. Additional stitches may be beneficial if you are making things that need a decorative stitch or want to try out embroidery techniques. 
4 Attachments
It is important to have a variety of presser feet at your disposal. When sewing, 90% of the time you will use the standard foot, however if you are going to be sewing blankets, handbags, or other things that require a wider foot with a longer needle, you will want to have a sewing machine that can provide this type of functionality. And if you’re planning to insert zips into cushions or clothing, a zipper foot is essential.
5 Noise
Sewing can be a relaxing hobby and one that should not create a lot of noise. When purchasing a sewing machine, be sure to listen to it first. You will want to make sure that it is not too loud because this could end up driving you crazy if you are trying to chill out and wind down with sewing.
If you’re already a fan of sewing, please share your advice for choosing the right machine – what did you look for when picking out a sewing machine for the first time? Leave me a comment with your tips below.
This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂
