Sewing Machine Basics

[forestcats.livejournal.com]

There are many different brands of sewing machines as there are automobiles. One method of choosing what to get is to state your primary use for the machine and from there select options.
Quilting- Straight stitch consistency, drop feed dogs, needle down, better motor to handle machine quilting through several layers, optional feet 1/4 inch foot, walking foot.
Clothing/Home Dec/ Crafts - Free Arm, Straight stitch, zig zag, stretch stitch, blind hem stitch, elastic stitch and as many decorative stitches as you desire, needle down option, edge stitching foot, rolled hem foot, zipper foot, button hole foot.

www.allbrands.com has a fine selection and lists feedback from people who have the machines. Check www.about.com for further brand postings.

To help your machines have a long life OIL them before every day of sewing. Take the shuttle area apart where the bobbin resides and vacuum it out every week. Change your needles after 8 hours of use. Bring them in for a once a year tune up.
Cut your threads and pull them through the needle, if you pull them out backwards you can drive lint further into the tension disks. Don't use cheap 4/$1 thread, it has short fibers that will lint up and hurt the mechanics of the machine. Serger thread is thinner then regular sewing thread, you can use it but it isn't going to be as solid of stitches.

Spend a weekend visiting several shops that carry machines. Bring a yard of muslin with and try out the different machines and write on the muslin which model the stitches are from. Bring a friend that will play "Bad Cop" who won't let any sales person talk you into anything. You are looking for stitch consistency and the options YOU WILL USE!!! If you don't have 20 grandchildren I doubt you will need a 4K embroidery machine to stitch them all Snoopy bibs. Go to a couple of fabric stores and ask workers there about machines and even ask other customers. We are all just sisters of the cloth LOL...

Get yourself a decent chair, you are worth it! An adjustable office chair will keep you seated and sewing!

Good Luck on your travels!