What do I need in a sewing machine?

[jeca]

What do I need to look for when buying a sewing machine. I am a beginner, so it doesn't have to be fancy but I don't want to end up getting a another one in a few months or a year or whatever when my skills have expanded. Does it matter how many stitch functions it has? shoudl it be able to do quilting? Are there any special fearures that would help? what about buttonholes? any help is greatly apreciated.

[bluenail]

What kind of projects are you planning on tackling? That, more than anything else will determine what you need from your machine.

[AinNJ]

i agree w/bluenail. the type of machine you want depends on the type of sewing you'll be doing.

i mostly sew clothes and home decor items (curtains, etc). i have the singer 2638 and i really like it. i started sewing with a "tiny singer" - a machine i picked up at walmart for 20 or 30 bucks. LOLOL!! i totally abused that machine (by sewing EVERYTHING under the sun, including denim!) for probably 8 years before i gifted myself with the 2638 (i stuck with singer because my tiny machine took all the abuse i gave it).

anyway, more stitches is a good thing. my 2638 has more stitches than i've ever used, but whenever i want a new stitch, low and behold my machine can do it! that's really nice. whatever machine you go with, make sure it has an overlock stitch if you are going to sew clothes or diapers. that stitch binds the edge so it doesn't fray. without an overlock stitch, you'd have to re-sew your seams w/a zig zag to keep them from fraying.

automatic tension control is a nice feature to have.

feed dog control! make sure the machine you get has feed dog control. i don't know how much you know about sewing, but the feed dog is what moves the fabric under the sewing foot. if you're sewing with a stretchy fabric like jersey or fleece, alot of times the feed dog stretches the fabric instead of moving it under the foot and you get a wavy edge along the seam. feed dog control allows you to loosen the pressure on the feed dog so the fabric wont stretch.

my machine has an automatic button holer, but i've never used it. (i use snaps on everything.)

that's all i can think of right now. overcast stitch, tension control, feed dog control. i think those are the important features to look for.

good luck and happy sewing!

[jeca]

Hmm, no diapers. I would like to make some doll clothes for my girls, matching outfits for my kids, some actual dolls of all kinds. I don't really know that's why I'm looking to see what I would need to be multitasking.