How to Choose the Right Sewing Machine for You
I get asked this question all the time in class: “What machine should I buy?”. Well, if you sewed and quilted the same as I, had the same space restrictions, the same budget and the same husband as I, then you would have the same machines as I do! But of course you don’t, so you’re probably going to have a different machine. This question is asked a lot in class so I thought I’d pass my opinions on about buying a new/different sewing machine.
I am wildly happy with my BERNINA’s and I am a BERNINA Ambassador, but I won’t tell you that you need a BERNINA. Okay, secretly I do hope you’ll get a BERNINA-shhhhh. I hope are wildly happy with your machine not matter what the brand or model.
I’m a quilter so my thoughts apply to quilters, garment makers and general sewers. And I’m writing about machines in the $1,000 plus range. Generally, machines under $200 are for short-term or temporary use, as any repair or service they might need will usually exceed their value. Machines in the $200-$600 range are made for the occasional sewer, not the dedicated sewer/quilter. See more about this in my NOTE below.
Consider these things when shopping for a machine. I’m opinionated!
1. Figure out your budget first. You don’t want to get excited about a machine outside of your budget. Make sure you include the cost of a cabinet in your budget too-it’s so much easier to quilt or sew with your machine set into a cabinet. There may be feet or accessories that you will want/need: walking foot, tote to haul your machine to class, zipper foot, etc.
If the machine you want is outside of your budget, consider buying a used machine. Sewers frequently turn in their used machines for the newest model, even though their current machine works well. Of my 4 machines, two were purchased used.
2. Buy from an independent dealer not a big box store or the internet! You are buying more than a machine-you’re buying service and support. Consider this:
- Most dealerships spend thousands of dollars a year educating their staff on the various machines, so that we can walk in and talk with someone who knows our machine.
- Most dealerships will match internet pricing or prices from another store.
- Most dealerships offer lessons to go with the machine-you need those lessons! I have been BERNINA since the mid-70’s and I still take the lessons on my new machine.
- Most dealerships also offer quality fabric and thread. Don’t even get me started on the stuff that the big box stores sell….
- If you are not enamored of your closest dealer, consider other dealers in your area.
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I guess I love them all because I love my 730 too!
3. Consider your needs-general sewing, quilting, some embroidery, garment sewing? Specialty feet or accessories may be needed to do what you want to do and may be in addition to the cost of the machine. Buy the machine made for your kind of sewing.
For example, if you are not interested in embroidery, don’t pay for an embroidery machine. The machine you buy may have some embroidery functions, like mine do, but a machine that is designed primarily for embroidery is probably not the best choice for a quilter who rarely embroiders. You’d be paying for a function you won’t be using!
4. Bring your own fabric or project to test on. You want to bring representative fabrics or quilting that you would normally work with to test a machine. You want to clearly understand the differences, advantages and disadvantages between the models and brands. Be patient. For example, when I shop for a machine, I bring all weights of thread to put in the bobbin, because that’s how I roll! If that machine is not going to go easily handle all those threads, then it’s not for me. It takes me several trips to figure out for sure what I want.
5. Take your time! This is a major purchase and you want to love your machine. You may need to “date around” for awhile before you set your heart down on a machine.
5. You want to LOVE your machine! Persevere until you find the one that sews like a dream. If you work with heavy layers, make sure it plows right through a sample. Make sure the foot control makes it easy to control the speed. An intuitively designed front panel makes sewing more pleasant. I love my machine and I want you to love yours!
NOTE about light-weight and/or inexpensive machines.
Light-weight inexpensive machines are not fully featured machines and most times they are 3/4 size machines. Their size and scaled down features are what makes them light weight. I know that free motion quilting may be a little more difficult on these machines as a result. Yet I have seen some amazing quilting and sewing come from them! Do keep in mind that in this price range, the machine may not be worth fixing if something goes wrong. A basic service in my area is $150.
If your budget only allows for an inexpensive machine and no cabinet, go for it! I sewed all through college and my hippie chick years on a dreadful White sewing machine. I was so happy when I could afford a quality machine, yet I was very thankful to have that not-so-great machine all those years! I did a lot of happy sewing on that machine.
Okay, so you’re wondering about my current machine inventory, I’ve shown you everything. Four BERNINA’s and a machine needle felter. When I purchased each of these machines, I fell in love with them. I hope you find the machine of your dreams!
Check out the links at Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday-it’s always a great link-up party!
Your tip about bringing different kinds of fabric to sew on is SO vital! Even though I mainly quilt, I also do garment sewing/minor alterations/light upholstery work. I have a Bernina, and it sews like a dream on whatever I’ve placed under the needle. In terms of budget, sometimes there is no interest financing available, which can be a very good deal. As far as pricing goes, asking if there is a floor model available for purchase can also be a money-saver.
Yes Mrs. Plum, the heavily starched fabric they provide is a good place to start, but you always want to know how it will perform on your own projects. I didn’t even think about no interest financing-good point. Glad you like your BERNINA-me too!
Great article and I think it will be really helpful
Thank you Roxane-I hope it is helpful.
A bit like finding a husband. You want one that will stay with you for many years. You may ‘kiss a few toads’ before you find your ‘frog prince’.
I, too, am a Bernina person. For me, the ability to change feet without a screwdriver is a big feature. I rarely do machine embroidery so I don’t need all of the bells and whistles. I don’t have a cabinet. I sew on a table with a large Sew Steady surrounding my machine. I have two Berninas, a 160 that I’ve had for many years and a 630 that I use all of the time. My first Bernina cost me a set of golf clubs for my husband. It was well worth it. I grew up with Singer and still have two of them (pre-1960 when they added plastic parts).
Jenny is right on about inexpensive machines. I’ve seen many in my classes. Repairs and service are a big consideration. The big box stores don’t provide these services and when your machine needs service you will find that it may cost more than you paid for the machine.
Oh how funny because I do use the husband analogy in class! Well that first BERNINA was worth the golf clubs no? Thank you for the fun comment Helen!
Hi, Jenny! I totally agree with you, but it’s not completely true that you can’t get a quality sewing machine, one worth fixing, for less than a grand. The NEW machines for a couple hundred dollars are pretty poor quality, but a quality vintage mechanical machine is a really good option for a new quilter or for someone with a very limited budget. You can get a really nice Singer Featherweight 221 for $300-500, sometimes even less if you luck out at an estate sale or something, and those machines will perform every bit as beautifully for patchwork piecing as the most expensive Bernina — even better, IMO, because the straight stitch only Featherweights have their feed dogs so close together whereas the TOL modern computerized machines are generally 9 mm machines and the right feed dog isn’t always even in contact with the fabric when you’re piecing with a 1/4″ seam allowance. I really recommend Featherweights for beginners over inexpensive new models. Of course, the Featherweight’s throat space is way too small to be ideal for free motion quilting, but there are other vintage mechanical machines. I know people loved the Bernina 830 Record (not to be confused with the much newer computerized 8 Series Bernina 830). Singer made a “big sister” model to the Featherweight 221 that has a little more throat space for FMQ, and Lane over at That Man Quilts (www.quiltfool.blogspot.com) has several other vintage mechanical machines that he likes to use for quilting. Although my dealer charges $150 to service a computerized machine, he only charges $100 for a vintage mechanical machine and once they are cleaned up and oiled and working well, they run FOREVER. There’s really nothing major or expensive that can go wrong with it.
As far as the current Berninas go (and you know I’m a Bernina girl too), I would advise a new quilter that they don’t need to necessarily be looking at the models that Bernina has designated as “quilter’s edition” or “patchwork edition.” In the 7 Series, the B 720 may be a better fit than the B770QE because the 5.5 mm maximum stitch width means the feed dogs are closer to the needle than they are on the 9 mm B 770QE machine, for more control when piecing. It’s got the big throat space and is BSR compatible, and is priced below the 770QE. In the 5 Series lineup the B 570QE has a 5.5 mm stitch width, but so does the lower priced B530. Both of those machines can use the BSR foot for FMQ as well. The 3 Series Berninas are beloved “baby sister” class machines for many 7 Series and 8 Series owners, and the Cotton + Steel limited edition versions are super cute, but it bugs me that a machine costing $1,300 or more would not have adjustable presser foot pressure (which was standard on those early vintage machines that you can pick up for a couple hundred bucks). The 3 Series machines are great for patchwork piecing, basic mending, and other beginning sewing projects, but in that range I’d go for the 350 PE over the 330 model due to clip on presser feet that come with the 330.
Ultimately, though, it all comes down to the deal you are able to work out with your Bernina dealer, and that often depends on how many machines of each model are sitting on their inventory shelves and how motivated they are to make a sale. The “quilters edition” and “patchwork edition” models include extra presser feet that are must-haves for quilters, like a walking foot, 1/4″ patchwork foot, or the BSR Bernina Stitch Regulator. And these can be pricey to purchase separately, but I have heard of a dealer “throwing in” a non-standard accessory or two, or offering a special discount, in order to close a deal.
Thank you Rebecca Grace! I agree and disagree but at the end of the day, it’s about what the buyer wants. I would not want to fmq on a Featherweight. I love them for piecing but the throat space makes it harder to fmq. I do suggest used machines and yes, you can get some older machines for a great price. I am concerned about how many stitches some of the old, old machines have. I am not a fan of any internet purchased machine. I see them come into my classes, can be fine machines, but there is no one to show them how to actually use the machine! But we love our BERNINA’s, yes?!!