I am frequently asked about which sewing machines I would recommend, so I thought I would compile all of my thoughts on sewing machines here!
First and foremost, don’t ever buy a sewing machine that is marketed “just for kids” (you know…the kind you buy in the toy or craft section!) Those machines don’t work and you aren’t for “real” sewing. My favorite beginner machine is a basic Brother machine (I’ll share more below). You really can’t go wrong with name brand machines such as: Brother, Singer, Kenmore, Janome, Husqvarna, Viking, Bernina. Some are more expensive than others. Brother and Singer are a good economic option! One thing that I would definitely look for is a machine where you can manually change the stitch and length. All of my recommendations include that feature. There are many beginner machines that will work that do not have that feature (the length and stitch will be built into the stitches which means you can’t adjust it yourself), but when it comes to sewing buttons on, you cannot do that by machine if you can’t manually change the length and width. This is an example of a machine that has the length and width built in. Like I said, it is a fine machine and will work for the most part; but not when it comes to sewing on buttons, and it doesn’t give you as much control in other projects where you want to adjust the length and width.
Here are few that would be great beginning machines for beginning sewers. Let’s start with my favorite machine!
Brother Computerized Machine: This is my absolute favorite machine to teach on. If I were to provide machines, this would be the one I’d pick. It is so easy to learn on; all of the settings are programmed in to the stitch that you choose, but can still be adjusted when necessary. There are a lot of options for stitches, including some decorative stitches. It’s only $30 more than the basic Brother machine and I feel like it’s totally worth the extra dollars to get this one!
Basic Brother Machine: This machine is a pretty basic machine. It has a variety of stitch options and you can manually change the length and width.
Brother Computerized Machine With Quilting: This machine is similar to my favorite computerized Brother machine above, but it a little fancier and has more options, including more decorative stitch options and a quilting table attachment. This is great for serious sewers, quilters and those who want a little more workspace.
Brother Computerized Machine with Quilting
Singer Heavy Duty Machine: If you prefer a Singer machine over Brother, this is a great machine for beginners. It is sturdy (made of metal and not plastic) and will last a lifetime. It is a great machine!
Now let’s talk sergers. This is NOT a machine I am recommending for beginners. This would be an investment for people who are serious about sewing and who want to sew more clothing and knit projects. Sergers are the way to go when sewing knits! You can sew knits with a regular machine, but a serger is a total game changer! Knits run through a serger soooo much easier than a regular machine. They give a professional, clean finish. You’ll definitely want to take some classes to learn how to use it (I do offer knit classes and can set up a private session to teach you how to to use it!). My very first serger was a Bernina. I’ve had that machine for over 20 years and it still runs great.
Singer Professional Overlock: I won this Singer machine from a sewing contest, and this machine has been amazing! It does a coverstitch (a hemming feature that my Bernina doesn’t do) and it has been life-changing to have that feature! I now recommend this machine to anyone looking for a serger!!
I hope this helps you in your beginning sewing journey! Let me know in the comments which machine you get and how you like it!
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