Four Features To Look For In Your First Sewing Machine
If you've decided that you want to take up sewing as a hobby, one of the first big purchases you'll need to make is a sewing machine. After all, sewing an entire quilt, skirt, or blanket by hand will take far too many hours! There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of different makes and models of sewing machines on the market. However, for your first sewing machine, you'll do well to select on with the following four features:
Plenty of stitches
When you are just starting out with sewing, you're going to want to do some experimenting to find your own personal style and way of doing things. One way you can vary your sewing or give it its own sense of originality is by choosing different stitches. While there are machines that only offer two basic stitches -- a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch -- you really want to choose one that offers a few more stitches so you can experiment with them and find out what you like.
Adjustable stitch length
Only being able to create one length of stitches really impedes your creativity and may make it hard to work on smaller projects that might look better with a smaller stitch. So, make sure the machine you buy offers a variable stitch length. Some let you vary the length to any size you choose, and other just have three or four different length settings. Either should be fine for you as a beginner.
Availability of attachments
When you are first starting out, the projects you do will be pretty basic. But over time, you may start doing some more intricate work like embroidering names on pieces or creating your own button holes. You don't want to have to buy a whole new machine when you want to explore these more advanced techniques. So, make sure that there are attachments available for the first sewing machine you buy. Attachments are generally necessary for making button holes, adding zipper feet, and even making unique stitches.
A strong metal motor
The cheapest sewing machines have motors that have a lot of plastic components. These may work alright for very thin fabrics like cotton and linen, but they can burn out if you decide to work with canvas or felt. Make sure you choose a sewing machine with a very strong, metal-based motor so you are not limited in your fabric choices.
Contact a company like Singer Factory Distributor Inc for more information and assistance.