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A mechanical machine is controlled by levers, gears and switch mechanisms. The key benefits for beginners are that they’re cheaper, easy to fix and maintain, but have fewer stitch options. The downside is they can be more cumbersome and sometimes move the needle through your fabric less smoothly than other machine types.
Price-wise, mechanical machines tend to be the most affordable, starting from as little as £50-£80 depending on size, weight and functions.
Electronic sewing machines run with a basic computer system and you set them electronically so they can create more types of stitches and buttonholes. You can often program electronic machines to stitch the letters of the alphabet for you too – quite fun if you fancy personalising your latest sew.
These machines give you more options and are pretty user-friendly, and will only cost a little more. The price range for electronic machines is upwards of about £100.
They usually have a great range of stitches which is brilliant if you have sparkling ambitions, although they are generally the kind of investment you’ll consider once you're deeper into your sewing adventure. A machine like this will usually set you back upwards of £300, with some costing into the thousands!
Check out the guide on the 10 best sewing kits if you only have a few items that need a couple of stitches to repair.
Are you happy to work with light fabrics such as cottons, stretchy jerseys and linens, or do you have dreams of a handmade denim jacket, silk cushion covers and a masterfully-upholstered armchair? Be sure to take a glance in the product description to see what types of fabric each machine is designed to work with.
Most decent beginner’s sewing patterns are likely to suggest fabrics covered by the blanket term ‘light’ or ‘light/medium’, but if you have one special project in mind, double check to avoid disappointment.
Sewing machines with as few as 8 stitch options will be more than enough for basic projects, whereas models with upwards of 20 stitches give you room to improve. It's up to you whether you want to spend a bit more on a machine that can advance as you do!
A top-loading bobbin is where you lie your bobbin down flat directly under the needle – meaning it’s super-simple to load without tangles – and often comes with a transparent plastic cover so you can easily see what’s going on in there.
This type of bobbin (sometimes called a ‘drop-in’) is a real treat for beginners because, as the name suggests, you simply drop it into place and it stays neatly put. These types of bobbins usually lead to a neater stitch quality when you start to sew, and make it much easier to spot when your bobbin is running low on thread.
A little more old-school, front-loading bobbins are what our mums, grandmas and fabulous uncles would have likely sewn with growing up and remain popular today.
They are slightly more complicated to load and change, as they slot vertically into a compartment hidden under the front of your machine. This has to be removed each time the bobbin needs swapping or gets tangled, so it’s not the best for beginners who already have enough on their minds.
While a front-loading bobbin might not be as breezy to fit as a top-loader, lots of perfectly great beginners machines have them, and becoming more dexterous with a complex mechanism can only improve your sewing overall!
If you are considering which other feet might be useful, a zipper foot (for zips – surprise!) helps you sew really close to the fabric edge, and a buttonhole foot – usually made of plastic – allows you to make a button hole of any size you like. Look for a machine with a one-step button hole function to make the process quick and painless especially for a total sewing novice.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Janome Sewist |7025 | £259.00 High Mid | A Fantastic First Machine That's Functional, Reliable and Versatile | ||
2 | Singer Confidence Sewing Machine| 7465 | £269.90 High Mid | An All-Purpose Machine Fit for a Sewing King or Queen | ||
3 | Brother Stitch Sewing Machine|AE1700 | £125.00 Low Mid | Straightforward Sewing With Uncomplicated Options | ||
4 | John Lewis & Partners Heirloom Ditsy Print Sewing Machine|JL111 | £135.00 Low Mid | A Retro-Style Machine With All the Mod Cons | ||
5 | Singer Fashion Mate|3342 | £225.00 Mid | Stylish and Compact With Great Lighting | ||
6 | Brother Manual Stitch Sewing Machine|LS14s | £85.00 Low | To-the-Point Sewing for a Brilliant Price | ||
7 | Brother 40-Stitch Electronic Sewing Machine|FS40 | £164.10 Mid | An Intuitive and Affordable Computerised Option for Novices | ||
8 | Singer Start |1306 | £120.00 Low Mid | Top Compact Pick for Kids or Speedy Repairs | ||
9 | Janome Sewing Machine|M30A | £279.00 High Mid | Perfect for Beginners Who Want to Get Crafty With Homewares | ||
10 | Singer Featherweight |C240 | £469.00 High | Light Enough to Transport but Still Feature-Rich |
One of its standout features, however, is the 'Staybright' LED light, which makes unfamiliar territory that little bit easier to navigate. It also has a small footprint considering its features, and it fairly lightweight and quiet to use.
Buy through Argos and it comes with a wide table so you can take on larger projects. It can also be operated without a foot pedal, and comes with an instructional DVD to help you realise your home-sewn sartorial dreams.
Featuring all the essential stitches, this machine will build your confidence with a simple stitch selection guide and an easy speed adjustment slider allowing you to comfortably keep control.
Written and researched by Annie Hopkins
No. 1: Janome|Sewist |7025
No. 2: Singer|Confidence Sewing Machine| 7465
No. 3: Brother|Stitch Sewing Machine|AE1700
No. 4: John Lewis & Partners |Heirloom Ditsy Print Sewing Machine|JL111
No. 5: Singer|Fashion Mate|3342
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