Sewing is definitely becoming more popular these days than it has been in the past. With an ever changing economy and prices on the rise many people have decided that sewing is once more a “cool” thing to do. In fact there are even a few reality TV shows that have to do with sewing talents and techniques that have become quite popular. Today however we have the luxury of using some fairly advanced pieces of equipment known as sewing machines to get the job done. There are several on the market today, from your basic sewing machine to computerized sewing machines. This article will provide you with information on various types of sewing machines so you can better choose the best sewing machines to use for sewing crafts.
Basic Sewing Machines
For some basic sewing crafts and even some of the intermediate ones, you can find and buy just a basic sewing machine. The Brother XL-2600i sewing machine uses basic knobs and levers so that you can change and adjust stitches as you go. They’re not as precise as computerized sewing machines but if you’re only planning on using it for your basic straight or zig zag stitch it will do just fine for you projects. This particular sewing machine has been rated at the top of its class for basic sewing machines. It also has a few little extra features like a one step buttonhole which can make it a lot easier to sew small buttons onto your sewing crafts. This machine is fairly inexpensive and is a great starter machine for easy and beginner projects.
Basic Electronic Sewing Machines
Singers have always had a good rap in the world of sewing so when it comes to electronic sewing machines, the Singer 7442 has been given a high rating. It is another basic machine but comes with a few more features than the cheapest machines do. It has about thirty stitches to choose from; comes with many other decorative stitches that can be used for borders or patterns in linens or craft projects. This sewing machine would work great for projects that you want to place decorative borders such as bandanas or tablecloths. And it also has a one step automatic buttonhole. It will work well on medium to light weight fabrics but has not performed well on heavier fabrics such as denim.
Computerized Sewing Machines
You’ve probably seen these in stores and thought how cool they look because everything is digitized. Most that have used these types of sewing machines much prefer them to the basic electronic machines because you can adjust the stitch length or width with the push of a button and not the turn of a knob. The Bernina Activa is at the top if its class when it comes to performance and reputation because it produces very consistent stitches and is easy to use. The electronic display shows what settings you are on, and it too has an automatic buttonhole setting which comes in handy for many sewing crafts. This machine will run you about $680 but is not the most expensive of these kinds. Some of the computerized sewing machines have embroidery patterns in their memory and have even more memory for customizing your settings.
Quilting and Embroidery Machines
If you’re going to be doing sewing crafts that have to do with quilting or embroidery you might want to think about getting a machine to help you do the job. The Pfaff quilting machine is probably the most popular among quilters for the built in walking foot that can feed the layers of fabric evenly through the machine. It also has a color touch screen that makes it easy to adjust to different stitches. The Singer Quantum XL-6000 is a combination sewing and embroidery machine. It has automatic threading and automatic bobbin refill and can create multicolor hoop embroidery patterns. It also comes with hundreds of embroidery patterns that have been pre-programmed into the machine. This machine really does everything. The quilting machine will run you about $2000 and the embroidery machine will run you about $3000.
So depending on what type of sewing craft you are making will depend on what type of sewing machine you want to buy. There is a sewing machine out there for virtually every sewing craft you can think of making. The best sewing machines to use for sewing crafts are the ones that will meet your needs the best.