Sunday, July 3, 2011

How To Choose a Sewing Machine for a Beginning Sewer - Part 2

By Jane Green


What Sort Of Stitching Patterns Do I Need?

There are a couple of stitches that folks new to sewing will require. These are the straight stitch and zig zag stitch

All machines have a straight stitch, its the most popular and most used stitch by just about everyone. So its considered the default.

Most machines will have a zig zag stitch but be certain to check because there are machines out there that don't have this. They're far and few between, but they're still out there, so just make sure to check the machine.

There are two other stitching styles that are handy to have but are not essential. These are button hole stitch and stretch stitch.

Stretch stitch is good for for anything that needs a little room to manouver round the seam, so its good for a patchwork quilt which use several different materials, but its not required.

Do not be too concerned about getting a button hole stitch, some people love this sort of stitch, but button holes can be done with a zig zag stitch setting.

Any Other Tips?

Check that the machine can be reversed or is able stitch backwards. This is quite important as some older machines do not do this and its truly handy when you must do this.

Always get the vendor to show in detail, how to thread the machine. Just about every machine has an other way of threading the needle. There's few things worse than having a new machine to play with and having no idea how to start using it.

If you purchase one and forget this step, you could get lucky and find a video that shows you how to do it on YouTube, but this should only be used as a back up solution.

If you're purchasing a second hand machine, remember to check the electric cord for indications of fraying and wear. You do not want to get electrocuted while sewing a quilt!

Keep these tips under consideration and you're sure to purchase a winner!




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