Its cast-aluminum construction clocks in at around 11 pounds, about the same weight as similarly sized plastic machines on this list. It does a really neat clean stitch.” Because of the machine’s “ridiculously long” production span, Millar says, it’s also easy to find replacement parts and accessories. It can sew through leather it’s so, so strong. Produced from 1933 through the 1960s, these machines have a dedicated following among sewers for their time-tested reliability. “It’s almost become a status symbol to have an antique Featherweight,” says Millar. Sewing machine, straight stitch only | Mechanical “You really don’t need one with bells and whistles - a straight and zigzag stitch is all you really need.” “Digital machines can have a mind of their own,” says Bryn Taubensee, designer and co-founder of Vaquera. Still, many of the experts we spoke to prefer mechanical machines for their simplicity and generally more straightforward repair process. A machine “needs to be really easy to thread,” says Maayan Zilberman, the founder of candy company Sweet Saba, especially when you’re starting out, “because if it’s not easy to thread, then anytime you get a jam or need to switch color thread, it’s another excuse to give up on the project.” Jessie Randall, founder of the shoe brand Loeffler Randall, also praises her machine’s auto-cut function, which she says “saves so much time and thread, which is important for someone who is constantly sewing and wants to be economical with their materials.”Ĭomputerized versus mechanical: Some modern sewing machines are computerized, which allows for a wider range of customization options that wouldn’t be available on a mechanical, microchip-less machine. Quality-of-life features: Though not strictly necessary for a well-functioning machine, several of the experts we spoke to recommended features that make repetitive tasks easier - especially threading needles. If you have something specific in mind, like quilting or constructing finished garments, a specialized machine may save you time and stress. “You don’t need the fanciest machine in the world to do most home sewing,” says Millar, and for general use, it’s best to start with a standard sewing machine with a good range of utilitarian stitches. Like many appliances, choosing which sewing machine to buy is a balancing act between general use and a higher degree of specialized efficiency. There’s plenty of crossover within these types - my sewing machine has a setting meant to replicate an overlock stitch, for example, and with a little finagling, you can sew a basic straight stitch on a serger - but the category will tell you what your machine is designed to be best at and what it will do frequently with the most ease.
(Beyond the basics, some sewing machines have other functions, like the ability to sew buttonholes or do basic embroidery.) Also included on this list are sergers, also known as overlock machines, which use three or four threads and trim and finish the raw edge of fabric in one pass, and sewing machines with embroidery capabilities. In general, a traditional sewing machine uses two threads to sew a straight stitch and can also sew a preset selection of specialized stitches, like a zigzag stitch or a smocking stitch. Machine type: Sewing machines are a broad and diverse category: There are hundreds of kinds of stitches and functions they can perform, and every machine offers a slightly different set of uses.
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Shops often specialize in brands or styles of machines, so “you might want to know who’s in your area who can actually service your machine, because that’s so important.”īest overall | Best for beginners | Best all-purpose | Best upgrade all-purpose | Best serger | Best splurge | Best antique | Best vintage Most of the experts we spoke to mentioned the importance of maintenance: “All machines, no matter what, will need to get serviced at some point,” says historical costumer and anesthesiologist Christine Millar. And although there are some beginner machines on this list, sewing machines are appliances that can last for decades with enough patience and care. Whether you need to hem too-long jeans or too-long curtains, monogram gifts, make baby blankets, or just want to mess around with textiles, a sewing machine will vastly expand what you can do. Pretty much everyone can find a use for a sewing machine.
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