A Buying Guide For Sewing Machines

Once you have made the decision that you are going to buy a sewing machine, there are a few things that you should consider. These things will make a difference and influence how happy you are with your purchase. The most important things that you should consider before buying are the brand name, how easy the sewing machine is to use, what features it offers and what type of warranty coverage is available. The buying guide below gives a brief discussion of each factor.

Brand Name:

How important is it to you to buy a sewing machine with a well-established brand name? Although it may not seem like it, this is an important consideration because brand names have worked hard to establish their reputation, reliability and trust. Think about it. What brand names come to mind when you think about sewing machines and what impressions do you have of these brands? For example, many people see the Singer brand as producing reliable sewing machines that will last for many years. When comparing two similar machines, choose the one with that has a well known and trustworthy brand name to give yourself a sense of comfort in your decision.

Ease of Use:

You will want to make sure that the sewing machine sews at an even pace and that it creates evenly spaced out stitches. If possible, try out the sewing machine before you buy it. This will allow you to get a feel for how smoothly the machine operates and if you are comfortable using it. Make sure to try several different types of fabrics, especially ones that you think you will be sewing with on a regular basis. Even though the store will have fabric for you to sew on, feel free to bring your own if you wish. Finally, everyone has their own preferences, so make sure that the sewing machine fits yours.

Features Offered:

Many sewing machines will offer dozens of different features and stitches and they charge you for it. If you're trying to find the best deal, you don't need to pick the machine with the most features or with the most number of stitches. Take a closer look at the features and what they do. Chances are, there are dozens of stitches and even features that you will never use. Focus on the features and the stitches that you are likely to use and the ones that will make sewing easier. As well, check to see if there are features or parts that can be added on in the future. By then, you'll know if you really need those features or not.

Warranty Coverage:

It might be the last thing you are thinking of, but having good warranty coverage is a must. You'll be thankful for that coverage if you ever happen to need it in the future. Make sure that you check over the fine print in the warranty before you buy. Read it for yourself and don't take a salesperson's word for it in case the person is wrong. Here are a few things to consider:

• What is covered by the warranty in terms of parts and labour?
• How long will the warranty last? Often the length of the warranty is different for parts and for labour.
• If the sewing machine needs to be fixed, where will it be fixed? Are you responsible for bringing it back to the store or will you have to ship it somewhere else to get it fixed? If it has to be shipped, does the store you bought it at pay for shipping or will you have to pay? Shipping can be very expensive, so find this out before you buy so that you won't have any surprises down the road.
• Is the warranty valid for the province or state you live in? If you bought the sewing machine on-line, will the warranty still be valid? In most cases, if you buy the machine on-line, the warranty won't be honoured.

If you’re not too happy with the terms of the warranty coverage, but you like the sewing machine itself, don’t let that discourage you from buying it. Look for local companies who will repair sewing machines and ask them how much it will cost to fix common repairs. You do have other options, especially if you live in a large city.

 

Looking for fabric your next sewing project?  Then check out our selection of Sewing Fabrics & Kits.  Create your own wall hanging or select a bold and colourful fabric that gets noticed!

 

 

 

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