Sewing Machines

18 guides. Each one cites its sources and says what we checked and what we didn't.

Your First Machine

Computerized Sewing Machine for Beginners: Or Is Mechanical Better?Best of
Mechanical vs computerized sewing machines for a beginner: what each one does, which features are not computer-only, and four computerized machines compared.
Sewing Machine for Beginners: How to Choose Your First MachineBuying guide
How to choose a first sewing machine: what you will sew, mechanical or computerized, the features that help, where to buy, and six beginner models compared.
Sewing Machine to Make Clothes: The Features That MatterBest of
What a sewing machine needs to make clothes: one-step buttonholes, stretch stitches for knits, a free arm, foot pressure, and three machines that have them.

Heavy Duty Sewing Machine: What It Really Means and How to ChooseBuying guide
What a heavy duty home sewing machine really changes, its limits on thick fabric, and which models suit canvas, bags and sails. SINGER, Brother, Janome.
Sewing Machine for Denim and Jeans: What MattersBest of
Which sewing machine handles denim and jeans: the right needle, crossing thick seams, hemming jeans, free arm, and three machines whose makers name denim.
Sewing Machine for Leather: What a Home Machine Can and Can't SewBest of
Can a home sewing machine sew leather? Makers' thickness limits, needles, stitch length and feet, what to sew at home, and when you need an industrial machine.
Sewing Machine for Upholstery: What It Needs and Where to StopBest of
What sewing machine upholstery needs: 16 to 18 needles, a walking foot, piping, and where home machines stop. Sailrite, JUKI and SINGER from maker specs.

How to Choose a Sewing Machine for QuiltingBuying guide
Throat space drawn to scale, walking foot, free-motion and straight-stitch speed: how to choose a quilting sewing machine, and when to move to a longarm.
Longarm Quilting Machines for Home: Throat, Frame or Sit-DownComparison
Frame-mounted, sit-down or mid-arm: longarm quilting machines for home compared by throat space, stitch regulation and frame, for the US and Canada.
Quilting Frames: Size, Floor Space and Which Machine FitsComparison
Frame length, largest quilt and floor space, and which home sewing machines or longarms each quilting frame accepts, from the makers' documents.
Sewing Machine for Quilting Beginners: What It NeedsBest of
Beginner quilting on a regular sewing machine: walking foot, 1/4 in foot, wide table, drop feed or darning plate, and three machines that come ready for it.

Serger Machine: How to Choose One for Home SewingBuying guide
What a serger does, 3 vs 4 thread, air threading, differential feed and free arm, with 9 sergers compared from maker specs. US and Canada models.
Coverstitch Machines: What They Do and 4 Models ComparedBest of
Coverstitch vs 5-thread serger, then JUKI MCS-1500, Janome CoverPro 2000CPX, Brother CV3550 and bernette 48 compared from maker specs. Canada notes.
Serger for Beginners: What Makes One Easy to UseBest of
What makes a serger easy for a beginner, per two university guides: coded threading, a knife you can turn off, slow speed. Six beginner-friendly sergers.
Serger vs Sewing Machine: What Each One Does BestComparison
Serger vs sewing machine, task by task: knit seams, edges, hems, zippers, buttonholes. Serger vs overlock explained, and which machine to buy first.

Portable Sewing Machine: How to Choose a Light OneBuying guide
Six portable sewing machines compared by published weight, free arm, buttonhole and fabric limits, from Brother, JUKI, Janome and Singer. Canada notes.
Handheld Sewing Machines: Are They Any Good?Best of
What a handheld sewing machine can and can't do, the one major-brand model we found (SINGER Stitch Quick +), and when to choose a small machine instead.
Mini Sewing Machines: Are They Any Good?Best of
Are mini sewing machines worth it? What a maker-backed mini like the Singer M1000 can sew, what no-name minis can't prove, and when to step up.