The best sewing machines are versatile and offer many features, including a comprehensive stitch selection, automatic needle threader, clear LCD display screen and convenient bobbin winding capabilities.
Some machines come equipped with special features, including serger and safety stitch machines. Sergers (also called overlockers) resemble chain-stitch machines but offer the additional ability of neatening fabric edges and creating strong seams.
Needle up/down
Needle up/down features are found on sewing machines specifically designed for quilters. They allow the needle to stop at an appropriate position so the presser foot can be raised and fabrics repositioned for chain piecing or machine applique techniques. Check out for embroidery machine for beginners.
This metal lever moves with the needle as it rises and falls. Depending on your machine type, it may protrude from its front panel or be concealed inside a plastic casing; either way it should be checked regularly for wear and tear.
Take your next project on with ease thanks to this machine, offering 240 built-in stitches and one-step buttonhole with stitch elongation capabilities. Additionally, there’s a side-loading jumbo bobbin and automatic thread cutter – perfect for all your creative sewing and quilting projects!
Thread guide
Thread guides help direct thread from one part of a machine to the next without twisting, and allow timely retractions without increasing risk of breakage.
The first guide frame 52 is constructed as a plate-like shape with sides oriented in right and left directions, its lower right end being recessed to form a recess 36 where a first threading member 91 can be found and fixed by the second guide frame 53. Lever thread introducing portion 42 features a protrusion 48 that covers thread receiving portion 45 to prevent needle thread 10 from falling through any gaps between these portions and prevent it from being lost through their gaps.
Needle threader
Needle threaders are handy metal devices designed to assist with threading your sewing machine. Equipped with an opening that lets the thread pass through it easily, needle threaders can shorten project time considerably and reduce project errors. While at first they may prove challenging, with practice you’ll become adept at using one like an expert!
Industrial sewing machines are constructed of sturdy metal bodies and interiors for long-term durability, capable of handling thick textiles and materials such as leather. With their flat bed designed to sink into tables, industrial sewing machines have quickly become a favorite choice for heavy production work as well as crafting various textile products.
Embroidery sewing machines are specially-made machines designed to add decorative stitching and designs to fabrics, typically by computer. They typically include pre-loaded patterns to explore and can even be used to upload your own custom designs.
Feed dogs
Feed dogs are metal ridges designed to grip and pull fabric as it passes through a sewing machine between stitches, providing steady fabric control as it travels along. Feed dogs may be raised or lowered depending on your sewing machine type; lower feed dogs are frequently used for free-motion machine quilting and darning.
Feed dog problems can create many issues, from skipped stitches to fabric snagging on thick fabrics. If the feed dogs become stuck in the “dropped” position, they may not be able to move fabric freely or grip properly due to too much presser foot pressure.
If this occurs, check your sewing machine manual to see if there are ways you can manually raise the feed dogs. Otherwise, consider purchasing a walking foot which has been specially designed to hold thick fabrics securely in place.
Presser foot
Presser feet are one of the key components of a sewing machine and come in various designs to meet different sewing tasks. Selecting an ideal presser foot for any given job will make sewing faster and simpler while also producing professional-looking results.
Your sewing machine comes equipped with a standard foot, making it the go-to foot for most stitching tasks; including standard and decorative stitches, seaming, oversewing edges (seam finishing), oversewing (overlock), seam finishing and seam tape removal (seam finishing). Some techniques require specialist feet; please consult your manual to identify these.
Teflon feet are an excellent solution for sewing on fabrics such as leather, pleather, vinyl oil-cloth or suede that may cause friction with metal sewing machine feet. Their super smooth Teflon coating glides over fabric seamlessly without sticking to either foot or needle, and prevents sticking altogether.