![]() 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. 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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