A sewing machine can come in many shapes, sizes, and features. It’s important to know your sewing needs before deciding on a particular model or brand. The following text discusses the different types of designs, sizes, and features that sewing machines have. Read on to find out which type will best suit your needs.
Types of Sewing Machines
- Free Standing Models
These are models that do not need to be plugged into an outlet to operate. They are generally easier for a beginners because extra power is not required. These models also save space because they don’t need cords or plugs.
- Plug-In Models
Plugging the sewing machine into an outlet is required for this type of model. These models generally come with more features than the free standing models and they can also do a larger variety of things.
- Portable/Mini Models
Portable or Mini models are small and can be carried easily. If you need to take your sewing machine with you on a trip or to classes, this is probably the type of model that you would want. These models also can be great for travel or if you are going to a place without an electrical outlet.
- Computerized Models
Computerized sewing machines can do anything from embroidering to quilting. It may seem advanced, but these models can make things much easier for the sewists who use them. They generally have automatic features that make it less likely that you’ll make a mistake in your sewing project.
Make sure that you don’t buy a sewing machine based purely on price. If you have limited sewing ability, you may not be able to fully use the features of a more expensive model.
- Sewing Machine Size
This is something that is relatively easy to figure out if you know your measurements. However, if you’re unsure about the size of your sewing machine, ask someone who is familiar with sewing machines so that they can help you. When choosing a sewing machine, the size you choose will be based on the amount of room that you have and what you need it to do. If you’ll be doing intricate sewing or quilting, you’ll want a machine that can handle larger projects as well as smaller projects.
Sewing Machine Features
These are many different kinds of features that a sewing machine can have. Some sewing machines are basic and only allow for straight stitching, while others come with an assortment of stitches for almost any project.
Some have specialized stitches for hemming, while others are handy for tucking in fabric. Depending on the type of projects that you’ll be working on, you may find that certain features are more useful than others.
To determine what features are necessary, look at your sewing projects before actually purchasing a sewing machine to make sure they will work with the machine. If you buy a model that doesn’t meet your needs after you sit down with it in person, chances are that it won’t work as well once it arrives at your home.
Sewing Machine Needle Information
A sewing machine needle is a slender, pointed object made of metal or plastic that is used to pierce the fabric and hold the main (top) thread in place. Sewing machine needles come in various sizes appropriate for different thicknesses of fabrics from heavy canvas to delicate silk.
Needle size is determined by the thickness of the fabric. The higher the number, the thicker the material can be stitched.
For example: A #16 needle would be used for sewing leather and a #10 needle would be used for thin fabrics, like silk or chiffon.
With knowing your type of projects, you can figure out how many needles you’ll need. Make sure that you purchase extra needles when purchasing your machine so that you don’t have to buy them later. Needles are available online or at your local sewing store.
To carry your needles, you may use a needle case or a zipper pouch. You could also make your own needle case.
Sewing machine needles should be changed regularly, which is why they are sold in packets of different sizes together with a needle threader, which makes the threading of the needle easier.
When using a sewing machine, whether it is electric or hand-operated, the role of a sewing machine needle is to pierce fabric and hold the top thread in place. Sewing machine needles come in many standard diameters: 0.75 mm to 1.00 mm.
Sewing machine needles come in three basic varieties; straight, curved and heeled.
These come in three sizes: 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mm, depending on the thickness of the fabric being sewn.
- Straight-handled needles are best for general sewing: They can sew leather and thick fabrics like denim and heavy canvas; however, they may sometimes get stuck in fabric because of their blunt ends.
- Straight needles with bent tips are used for sewing on buttons and sewing thick fabrics like denim and heavy canvas. They have a more pointed tip to push through thick layers.
- Straight needles with a heel are used mainly for topstitching, where the needle passes close to the edge of the fabric, such as appliqué. The heel comes in thin, medium and thick sizes; each time it gets progressively longer from 0.75mm to 3mm.
You have to first know what kind of project you will be doing, if your goal is to sew a dress or a simple piece of cloth before buying a machine,