7 tips for buying a sewing machine

What kind of machine do you use?
 
I am often asked this question, especially when I am selling my artwork at a show and I have my sewing machine with me. My usual answer is, “It is a 34 year old, non-computerized Pfaff. It does what I need it to do, straight stitch and zigzag.”
 
Now, let’s look at this question a bit deeper. If you were talking to a writer, would you ask, “What kind of computer do you use?” Highly unlikely. A computer is just a tool. Having the most advanced computer available will not make you a great writer. More RAM, faster processor speed, blah blah blah, these are all nice things to have, and they contribute to the ease of the writing process, but they do nothing to generate the ideas. The creativity, the style, the plot, these all need to come from the mind of the writer.
 
The same idea applies to sewing machines. Like the computer, it is just a tool. Having the most advanced sewing machine on the market will not make you a great artist. While it might be nice to have a sewing machine that will do all those fancy stitches automatically, it is the human heart, mind, and hand that create a piece of artwork.
 
So, with all that said, here are my 7 tips for buying a sewing machine:
 

1. When you visit your machine dealer, take samples of whatever fabrics you normally sew.
   
2. Try out the machine using those samples, not just the perfectly starched fabric samples the dealer uses.
   
3. County fairs, sewing expos, and quilt shows are good places to see lots of different makes and models of machines all in one place. And they will often offer show discounts.
   
4. Make a list of the types of sewing you do, for example: buttonholes, zippers, free motion, stitch-in-the-ditch, heavy denim, slippery silks, etc. This list will help the dealer to direct you to an appropriate machine.
   
5. Make sure you are comfortable with the technology. Many of the machines nowadays have so many options that you need to take classes just to learn how to use them. If the machine is so complicated that you are afraid to use it, find a machine that does what you need that you are comfortable with.
   
6. Get to know your sewing machine dealer. You should be taking your machine in for service once a year. Like your car, a sewing machine has moving parts that need to be checked for wear and lubricated.
   
7. When you get your new machine, take it out of the box and use it!