Sewing machines for home usage have not remained a luxury. It has now become an essential tool for most of your needs and assists you in taking care of fixing your loose or tight clothes, fixing buttons and several other aspects. These machines have been found to be the best ones with the combination of several features and portability. There are multiple types of machines available, and it may not be quite easy to pick the right types for your needs if you are not well versed with the features and functions. That is exactly why we would be helping you out with your choices.
Contents
- 1 Different Types of Sewing Machines
- 2 What should a Beginner Look for in a Sewing Machine? Which is the Best Sewing Machine for a Beginner?
- 3 What Should an Advanced User Look For in a Sewing Machine? Which is the Best Sewing Machine for Advanced Sewers?
- 4 What Should You Look For if You Are Buying a Sewing Machine for Embroidery Sewing? Which is the Best Sewing Machine for Quilting and Embroidery?
- 5 Parting Thoughts on Different Types of Sewing Machines
Different Types of Sewing Machines
The sewing machines are ideally differentiated based on their functionality and how they are operated. They have also been differentiated based on what they are used for, as in sewing, embroidery, or quilting.
Mechanical or Domestic Sewing Machines
The machines are also known by several other names like manual machines, treadle machines, domestic machines or tailoring machines. The basic functionality of these machines is they need the user to make all the settings needed.
The mechanical machines can be used by beginners who want to learn the basic elements of sewing. These may come with a few basic functionalities, and come at an affordable cost. Yet another feature that will make it a good choice is the fact that they can be easily repaired. The mechanical parts can be individually repaired or replaced on a need basis.
Some of the features that the mechanical sewing machines come with can include presser feet, adjustable stitch length, bottom loading Bobbin, adjustable Tension, and single (straight and reverse) stitch. Ideally, these machines come with a single stitch pattern, but the recent options come with more than one stitch pattern built in.
However, they are not without a few issues or drawbacks. They may not be good options for use with heavy fabrics like denim or similar thick fabrics. Yet another issue you may come across is the need to thread the needle again and again.
Most of the times, these machines come with an Aluminium body and come with stand or table based. These machines come with a need for manual efforts to handle them, but recent machines let you work with them through the electric motor. Moving them may be a little difficult as they take up a little more weight and take up space. Moreover, you won’t be able to use them for crafting purposes like embroidery.
The mechanical sewing machines come with a price range of around INR 2,500 to INR 15,000.
Electronic Sewing machines
This is the next level in the evolution of sewing machines. As the name itself should be indicative enough, the machines run on the electronic power. These will ideally come with more advanced features than the mechanical sewing machines.
These machines come as a perfect combination of the mechanical and computerized machines (that we will be discussing in a while). These machines can be one of the best options for an enhanced level in decorative stitching and crafting. In fact, these are best suited for the creative persons who want to take it to the next level.
The electronic sewing machines are perfect for experts who have a wider level of expertise in sewing. If you are a professional, these should be a perfect option for. These machines come with free arm and offer you a motorized functionality. They offer you several advantages like lightweight functionality, compact design and a few additional features like LED lights for stitching at night or in the dark.
These machines offer you several advanced functionalities – you can have access to at least seven built-in stitches, embroidery, hemming, buttonhole stitch, smocking, and several other features. You will have access to several functionalities like twin needle compatibility, adjustable stitch length and width, attachment options and built-in needle threader.
However, these machines will need access to technical expertise if you are looking to repair them. From this perspective, you will need to check out the warranty and the availability of service centres near your location. It may either use electricity or battery-powered functionality. If you are opting for an electronic sewing machine with heavy duty, you will tend to go with a machine with electricity to power them.
The electronic machines are a little expensive. However, they tend to be a little less expensive when you consider the maintenance costs associated with these machines. If you are not someone who sews regularly or someone who is not an expert, you would better go with the mechanical sewing machines. The machines are a perfect option for those tailors who are experts and professionals.
The electronic sewing machines are available at a price range of around INR 6,000 to INR 25,000. These machines are handled with ease and thus best suited for the beginners.
Computerized Sewing Machines
These machines come with a higher degree of technology and are best suited for the fashion houses or fashion designers who keep evolving new designs as part of their work. These machines can be connected to the internet or work with your paper designs. Ideally, these machines are connected to computing and use the internet or other design programs to create a variety of designs.
If you are looking to buy a sewing machine for your home usage, this may not be a good choice as these are specifically created keeping the industrial needs in mind. These come with a whopping amount of technical excellence and offer you several inbuilt stitches, the number running from 50 to around 200 on select models. The machines can come with huge size and functionalities.
The computerized sewing machines are available with multiple needle support and several spool spinners for a variety of designs and applications. You can ideally use them for a huge range of applications like embroidery, quilting, smocking, and quilting to name just a few. These machines do offer you excellent performance in terms of speed and efficiency. They are heavy duty options and work quite faster enough.
The computerized sewing machines are specifically designed for industrial purposes and are best suited for a variety of fabrics. One of the features that you would love with the computerized sewing machines would be the Autopilot mode. This will help you automatically adjust the speed, stitch strength, thread tension and other important parameters. Please note that while most of the computerized machines come with the feature, we may not be able to guarantee you the same.
The machines are available at an expensive price tag that would range from INR 15,000 to INR 40,000.
Embroidery Sewing machines
While most of the sewing machines that come under any of the above discussion can be used for the embroidery tasks, there are a few specific machines that work best specifically for embroidery. These come with specific features for the task and as such should be an ideal option for those involved in embroidery as a business.
If you are already using an electronic machine, an embroidery presser foot should work with your existing machine for effective working. In case you are a beginner, it may be a good idea to go with a machine with zigzag functionality. There are, of course, a host of other embroidery machines available that offer you a variety of patterns. If you are looking for the industrialized applications of embroidery machines, it may be a great idea to opt for computerized sewing machines that support embroidery patterns.
These are quite expensive and are only suited if you are taking up embroidery or sewing as a business and confident of generating enough revenue. These specific embroidery machines should be available for a price bracket of around INR 8,000 to INR 80,000 depending upon the features and expertise levels.
What should a Beginner Look for in a Sewing Machine? Which is the Best Sewing Machine for a Beginner?
Well, those were a few types that a sewing machine is available at. However, buying a sewing machine should not be dependent upon the type of the machine and but on what features you are looking ahead to.
If you are a beginner and checking out the options for the best sewing machines for your needs, it may be a good idea to go through a few basic elements so that you are not opting for something you are not going to use.
We will basically advise you to begin with a mechanical sewing machine to start your journey with. In fact, a mechanical model will help you learn the basics of stitching in an effective manner. The electronic and computerized machines come with a whopping level of functionality, but as a beginner – the first thing you would want is not to get confused with the basic functions and techniques of stitching. These high-end machines can be really overwhelming, and you may end up losing interest altogether with the level of information being pushed at you.
Look for a few of these features:
What Should an Advanced User Look For in a Sewing Machine? Which is the Best Sewing Machine for Advanced Sewers?
Now that you are an advanced user, there should be nothing we need to preach you. You have gobbled up everything that you need to learn about stitching and an expert in all the aspects. So, an electronic sewing machine should be one of the prominent options for you.
However, it may be a good idea to pay attention to a few features:
What Should You Look For if You Are Buying a Sewing Machine for Embroidery Sewing? Which is the Best Sewing Machine for Quilting and Embroidery?
An embroidery expert is perhaps one of the most advanced sewers we would ever find. There are several machines that are specifically built for embroidery, and it may be a good idea to check out a few features before you actually finalize a machine.
Here are a few features you would need to give a thought to:
Parting Thoughts on Different Types of Sewing Machines
That was complete information on different types of sewing machines and their prices, and what they are good for. It would be advisable to opt for the machine based on your expertise and exact requirements. Never ever go with a machine just because it has plenty of features. Check what features that you would want to use and choose the machine that offers all those options you are looking for.
Would you want to chip in with any additional information on the types of sewing machines and what do they offer you? You are welcome to share your thoughts and experiences with us through the comments here below.
A mom to 2 kids, Sandhya has been passionate about cooking and home decor since her early twenties. She loves spends more than enough time researching & then buying useful home & kitchen appliances and trying out new recipes.
Below are my Social Handles:
