How to Choose Your First Sewing Machine

Choosing your first sewing machine can be really daunting if you've never used one and are wanting to learn for the first time but are worried about all the seemingly complicated levers and stitches - I was you once - not even all that long ago. I was gifted my very first sewing machine by my mother about five years ago now and while I was and am immensely grateful - I know if I was offering advice for another first timer this is what I wish I had known.

1. Is someone teaching you how to use it? This is going to sound strange - but if you don't know how to use a sewing machine and want to learn I don't recommend trying to figure out the basics on your own - it can be really frustrating. The machine my mother gave me was bought at JoAnn's at their Viking Husqvarna shop and if you buy your machine through them they schedule a half hour or so to show you how to thread the top and the bobbin and how to fill your bobbin, etc. This was an amazing and super useful experience for me and I can't recommend it enough. If you've got a friend who can show you I wouldn't worry but if you don't know anyone with a machine I would strongly recommend buying through them - unpaid true endorsement.

2. Make sure the machine has a top drop in bobbin. You probably don't know what this is but a bobbin is the small clear spool of thread that provides the bottom side of your stitches. I had a Singer Traditional Machine and the bobbin gets threaded through the bottom front of the machine and was an intense pain in the tookus and I often had struggles at first with tension and the threads bunching up so each time I had to remove the bobbin, partially disassemble the mechanism that holds it and rethread it. This is a major barrier for new seamstresses and I cried and almost quit more than a few times. So while a good inexpensive machine, I would definitely go for something that has a drop in bobbin meaning that the bobbin sits on its side and is visible from the working area of the machine. In line with top #1 I recommend the Singer Heavy Duty Machine or this recently price dropped Brother CP60X from JoAnns as they are the cheapest machines that offers a top drop in bobbin. If you have someone who can show you how to use it, I'd recommend this Brother LX3817 off Amazon as being the cheapest top drop in bobbin I've seen by a trusted manufacturer.

3. Make sure it comes with a buttonhole foot and a zipper foot. Most absolutely will but assuming you didn't listen to tip #2 and opt for a cheaper machine with a front loading bobbin it may not come with these. It's always best to be sure unless you're not ever planning to sew any apparel items.

4. Make sure it has these basic stitches - buttonhole, straight, zig zag, and blind hem. If you ever intend to work with super lightweight or sheer fabrics (think party dresses or curtain sheers) make sure it offers a satin or scallop stitch as well to help finish off those raw edges on more decorative thin fabrics. Most will have those 4 but not every machine will have a satin or scallop option so keep those in mind.

5. The ability to backstitch to hold your thread in place at the beginning and end. Again, most machines will have this but it's always a best policy to be absolutely sure. I'd hate for you to be sewing something and then immediately the seams start to unravel.

6. The ability to control pedal speed. Most behave a lot like a gas pedal but some machines are touchier than others just like cars. I personally love my current machine that sets a max speed so even if your foot is all the way down because you've been sewing for four hours and your foot is tired it's not running away from you and making crazy uneven stitches because your hands can't keep up. I had gotten my Singer 7258 (which is my current machine that I absolutely LOVE) on a Prime Day deal for for only $140 so it was absolutely a no brainer to get it at that price. I would only worry about this if you're teaching a child to sew or if you foresee yourself (like me) spending a lot of tired hours sewing.

What was your first sewing machine? What did you love or hate about it? Tell me about it in the comments below.