Buying a sewing machine:

It may be easier to just grab a machine off the shelf at Walmart but what will you do when you get it home?  What if
it breaks?  You need the right tools that work well and in my experience students who buy Singer or similar
machines off the shelf at Walmart will be frustrated and not have a positive outcome.

I am a firm believer in supporting the local sewing machine dealer.  The local dealer will give you a great deal on a
sewing machine that will fit in your budget.  They will educate you on different features and give you free lessons
on your machine until you feel comfortable with it.  You will be able to go home immediately and use that machine
to its full potential.  You will usually receive full service on that machine for the first year and low cost service after
that.  The local dealer is also trained in repairing machines should anything go wrong under warranty or beyond.  
Before you visit your dealer know your budget and stick to it.

There are 2 types of basic machines - mechanical and electronic.  Electronic machines, like computers, have
displays and run smoothly with the needle always stopping in the up position.  Mechanical machines are very basic
machines with few features and use dials to choose stitches.

There are 2 types of bobbin loading - front loading and drop in.  I prefer the drop in bobbin but that is a personal
preference.

Here are some features that I would recommend for your sewing machine:
  • I prefer electronic machines with computerized displays.
  • I like the drop in bobbin.
  • Look for an electronic machine with the "needle up/needle down" feature.  This feature will allow you to have
    the machine stop with the needle up every time or you can set it to stop with the needle down.
  • Some machines have an automatic thread cutter which might be nice.
  • Most machines today come with a needle threading feature.
  • Check the number of decorative stitches available.  Depending on what you will use your machine for you
    may want lots of decorative stitches or may not need them.
  • Look for an automatic buttonhole feature if you will be sewing garments.  This feature is worth its weight in
    gold!