Unsure where to start? Read below for a list of 3 great sewing machines for people just starting out sewing or quilting!
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My first sewing machine was my mom’s old Pfaff Dressmaker, and by the time I was 17 she had bought me a Husqvarna to hone my sewing skills on. But what if you don’t have a sewing Fairy as your mother and don’t know where to start when looking for your first machine? The 5 machines below tick off the boxes for me as a sewing professional and are those I would buy for my own daughter (if she ever showed an interest in sewing!).
- Brother XR9550 Sewing and Quilting Machine
There is a lot to love about this small but mighty Brother sewing machine. It has a ton of embroidery stitches, has an extended throat so more fabric can sit to the right of the needle, and has a longer base with extension plate so it is easier to keep your fabric straight as you sew. I’ve owned Brother machines in the past and they tend to hold up well to multiple layers of fabric. The only downside to their models is the plastic bobbin, which can sometimes get wobbly once it is running low. But this is a minor design inconvenience. Overall they make great machines at a strong value-based price point. - Bernette B35 Swiss Design Sewing Machine
The Bernette B35 is the younger and simpler cousin to high-end Bernina machines, which are used by professional quilters and seamstresses. While out of reach for more hobby sewists, the Bernette B35 takes all of the best of the Swiss Design in the Bernina and packages it into a more accessible machine. This machine lacks computerized settings and is limited to 22 stitches, but does really pack a punch. It is a strong and reliable machine with just enough bells and whistles to learn on. If you are just starting to sew or quilt, this machine has everything you need to do so. Also, the benefit of lacking a computer interface is that it is less likely to malfunction. I tend to recommend manual/non-computerized machines like this for beginners who have never sewn before for this reason. It helps avoid a lot of frustration. - Janome DC1050 Computerized Sewing Machine
The Janome DC1050 is the most expensive of the three I’m recommending, but users really love a lot of it’s helpful extra features, like the bright sewing light under the arm, the automatic tension settings, and the fact that it has > 50 stitches to choose from. If you are looking for something a bit fancier, this machine is a great place to start. Janome has an excellent reputation in the sewing and quilting community and although this is a computerized machine, it seems to be very well constructed.
Choosing a sewing machine isn’t always easy, but you can’t go wrong with any of the above. Happy Sewing!
-SoCalSew Studios
