Sewing Machines

The sewing machines in this category are designed for sewing at home: repairing and shortening clothes, making your own garments, curtains or patchwork quilts. You can choose between mechanical machines with rotary dials and electronic machines where you select a stitch with a button and see it on the display. The range includes Singer, Husqvarna, Pfaff, Minerva and Texi. When choosing a sewing machine, the main considerations are the fabrics you will sew and the stitches you will actually use.

Mechanical or electronic sewing machine?

A mechanical sewing machine also has an electric motor, but you set the stitch type, length and width using rotary dials. The controls are straightforward and quite sufficient for repairs, shortening trousers or sewing straight seams. You can browse the range on the Mechanical Sewing Machines page.

An electronic sewing machine sets the stitch electronically: you choose programmes with buttons and see your selection on the display. These machines tend to have more decorative stitches, and some also have electronic speed control or automatic thread trimming. This is worthwhile if you sew often or use many different types of stitch. You can find an overview on the Electronic Sewing Machines page.

Which sewing machine should you choose for knits, denim or patchwork?

Almost every machine in the range can sew straight and zigzag stitches; the differences lie in the extra functions. Depending on what you want to sew, look for these features in the machine's specifications.

A stretch stitch matters when sewing knit fabrics because an ordinary straight seam can break when the fabric is stretched. A twin needle sews two parallel lines at once, creating the kind of hem you know from shop-bought T-shirts.

Is a sewing machine enough, or do you also need an overlocker?

The overlock programme on a sewing machine imitates an overcasting stitch and neatens the fabric edge, but does not trim the fabric as it sews. A separate overlocker joins the seam, overcasts it and trims away excess fabric in a single operation, so you will appreciate it if you sew a lot of knit fabrics or want seams like those on ready-made clothing. You can find overlockers and coverlock machines for stretchy hems in the Overlockers and Coverlock Machines category.

The needle also affects stitch quality. Use a needle with a rounded point for knit fabrics and a stronger denim needle for denim. Replace a blunt or bent needle straight away, otherwise the machine will skip stitches. You can find suitable options among the sewing machine needles.