The Importance of a Reliable Sewing Machine

The Importance of a Reliable Sewing Machine

Shopping for a sewing machine may seem overwhelming no matter the skill level of any fashion sewer, but the importance of a reliable machine is a must. When buying a sewing machine, you must first decide which type is best for your particular needs.

Do some comparison shopping and ask for a demonstration of the machines that interest you. Try them out yourself for ease of handling and personal comfort.

Find out what accessories are included with your model and be sure all parts are easily replaceable and if a technician’s services are available.

Some dealers may even allow you to test machines in the store or rent one to try.

This, combined with the manufacturers, keeping pace with changing life styles, new fabrics, and the upsurge of fashion sewing, have reached a point where they can offer the public sewing machines to fit everyone’s needs and skills.

With so much emphasis on the bells and whistles between sewing machine types and brands, it is natural to forget how basically similar all sewing machines are.   

You may have inherited an old sewing machine, have a knowledgeable dealer assess its condition to see if you can realistically depend on using it.  Just re-emphasize that it’s important that you have a reliable sewing machine to start your projects.

Acquainting yourself with the parts of the sewing machine gives you a chance to recover from the stressful experience of a major investment.  Knowing how your new machine works, keeps you and your sewing machine out of trouble.

First, you must know how the basic working parts operate: the light switch, stitch selector, take-up lever, reverse mechanism, etc. Most importantly, learn how to thread your machine, replace the needle correctly, and wind the bobbin.  Refer to your sewing machine manual for this very specific information.

No matter what make or model you choose, it’s important to have a reliable sewing machine with a way to adjust the thread tension.  The strength of your seams depends upon using the correct thread tension.

Instead, before stitching any garment, you should check the tension and determine the correct stitch size on a fabric scrap.

Soon, I’ll provide details on how to adjust the tension on your sewing machine to get perfect stitches, including the needle sizes and thread you should pick.