Sewing machines: How to buy a sewing machine Choosing the right machine for you

Choose a machine that suits your sewing needs

There's a wide range of sewing machines available, from ones that can handle only a few basic stitches for repairs, to those that can automatically create detailed embroidery in multiple colours from a photocopied picture.

There’s little point buying a top-of-the-range machine if you only intend to mend the occasional hem. So it pays to ask yourself the following questions before you decide on the type you need.

Understand your basic requirements

Simple or complex tasks?

Do you intend to sew complex garments, curtains and embroidery or simply do the odd repair?

If you're just starting out or only intend to sew now and then, a basic electronic model will probably suit your needs. The more ambitious you want to be with your sewing the more likely you will need a wide range of stitches and accessories, as well as a machine that makes using these things as simple as possible.

If you intend to sew often, a more complex computerised model would be worth the investment.

Will you want to add creative flourishes to your work? 

If it's likely that you want to decorate your work with attractive stitches such as bands of floral patterns, scalloped edges or threads in different colours, you'll want to look at a machine that offers a wide range of stitches and the ability to sew with more than one school of thread at a time.

Do you need an overlocker?

Are you likely to make garments with seams that you’d like to finish so they don’t fray? You might want to look for one with an open locking function or pay for an overlocker machine if you regularly make garments that require the seams to be finished off professionally.

What do you need for your interests?

Occasional user/ beginner

If you only intend to sew occasionally, a basic electronic model should suit you

If you're just starting out or intend to sew only now and then, a basic electronic model will probably suit your needs. You won’t need to spend more than £200 to get a basic model that will suffice. 

As a general rule of thumb, look for models that offer a selection of foot attachments which will allow you to do the basics such as inserting a zip. A zipper foot, buttonhole foot and possibly a plastic foot for delicate fabrics is a good selection for beginners. 

Look for a few different stitches: several different lengths of straight stitch, a choice of zigzag stitches and an automatic buttonhole are the bare minimum.

Decorative stitches are nice to have, but not worth paying much more for as a beginner unless you're confident that you will progress to creating work with decorative embellishments.

If you think you might want to progress to making more complicated items in the future, it is worth choosing a brand of machine that will enable you to buy more accessories in the future. You can usually find these additional accessories listed online.

One of the disadvantages of the cheaper models that occasionally show up in discount supermarkets is that they are not branded products and buying accessories in future will not be possible.

If you think you might be serious about sewing, it’s also worth avoiding the £30 mini-sewing gadgets advertised in magazines and on TV. They may be adequate for a few repairs or buttonholes, but sewing anything more complicated on them is likely to be an unpleasant experience.

Dressmaking and soft furnishings 

A midrange model is suitable for dressmaking or making cushion covers

If you plan to use your sewing machine often, particularly for dressmaking, then a middle-of-the-range model is probably best for you. They vary in price from around £200 up to £800, but a good middle ground is about £300-£500.

The more complex the garments you're constructing, the more likely it is you will need a machine with a wide range of features.

Make sure you buy a machine with a free arm. Most machines do come with them but they're a must if you want sew anything with sleeves or pockets.

Look for a machine with an overlocker stitch, which is used to neaten seams and hems. If you can’t afford a machine with that on, you can use a close-set zig zag stitch instead.

If you think you'll be using lots of thick, heavy fabrics, you need to look for a relatively sturdy machine that is able to feed through such fabrics without them getting stuck.

A wider selection of machine feet will also be an advantage; look for a machine with a zigzag foot, blind hem foot, concealed zipper foot, narrow hem foot and piping foot if you are going to carry out these tasks regularly.

If you'll be using a wide range of stitches consider going for a computerised machine which takes the guesswork out of selecting the right stitch length tension and width for the majority of stitches.

Craft and embroidery

It may be worth investing in a more expensive machine if you plan to do a lot of embroidery

If you plan on doing a lot of embroidery and have a budget to spare, consider a top-of-the-range, computerised machine or a specialist embroidery machine. These come with a wide range of pre-programmed patterns and will create multicoloured hoop embroidery patterns.

These machines can deal with three colours of thread simultaneously. If this is the kind of sewing you wish to do, be prepared to spend around £800-£1,000 for a good machine.

You may also need a computer and memory card if you intend to download further stitch programmes.

Heavy user or home professional

If you're planning to do large amounts of sewing and your machine will be in use most weeks, you need to bite the bullet and invest in a higher-end model. This is especially the case if you are using your sewing machine for business.

A computerised model will aid your work no end, particularly if a lot of it is repetitive, as you can program stitch patterns. Once again, you need to make sure it is sufficiently heavy duty to handle the fabrics you will be using.