On the other hand, the experts recommended hand sewing as easier for mending like patching up a pocket or fixing an out-of-place stitch. Many shared the same sentiment as Sandra Markus, chair of the fashion department at the Fashion Institute of Technology, who recommended that “anyone interested in developing apparel skills should buy a sewing machine.” And you might feel tempted to buy a sewing machine given its recent popularity.īut it’s not the only tool you need as a beginner - in fact, most of the experts we consulted agreed you should buy a sewing machine if you’re planning on making more projects that are harder to do by hand. While searches for sewing machines waxed and waned in the past year, interest in sewing has remained relatively steady since the end of 2020 and start of 2021. There was even the supposed “ Great Sewing Machine Shortage” last year when some machines were seemingly sold out.
Crafting saw a big boom in popularity in particular - some turned to sewing for solace, others made their own face masks from scratch (or scraps). Much of the past year has been dominated by DIY projects - whether that’s tending to a backyard garden or making ice cream on your kitchen counter.
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To help, we asked sewing experts about the best sewing machines for beginners - and got tips on how to get started working with them. Whether you are looking to learn how to sew or already know how to hand sew, a sewing machine could be a worthwhile investment - but as a novice, you might not know what to look for before buying one.
“Whereas with hand sewing, the sewer must manually attempt to mimic the machine’s reliability in stitch length, spacing and tension,” Sleeper noted. “When it comes to creating garments, accessories or decor from start to finish - in a reasonable amount of time - you’re going to want a machine.”Ī sewing machine can help keep consistent stitch lengths and strong seams, said wedding dress designer Samantha Sleeper. “Sewing with a machine is much, much faster than hand sewing, and the stitches created by a machine are stronger and more consistent than what can be done by hand,” Heitmann told us. SKIP AHEAD Best sewing machines for beginners So why consider buying a sewing machine at all? A sewing machine, however, is more expensive than just a needle and thread, which can be used to achieve workable results, not to mention it’s “great for precise details like decorative embroidery, sewing on a button or doing minor repairs,” explained Carolyn Heitmann, owner of Brooklyn Craft Company. Still, it can be useful for patching clothes up, mending a broken button or a hole at a hem. Sewing is usually thought of as a traditional skill - especially as home economics classes have slowly faded away.