Sewing Machine Comparisons – the right sewing machine for you

Out of the hundreds of sewing machines how do you pick the best one that is going to do what you need and last a long time?  Your mom probably still has her sewing machine that she got shortly after she got married.  It probably still works, but is antiquated and can not do what the lighter newer machines can.  The only way to figure out the best kind of machine to buy is to look at sewing machine comparisons.

JoAnn Fabrics has a Singer sewing machine comparison chart on its website in PDF form.  You can print it out and take it to any sewing machine store that carries Singer machines and use it to make your choice.  The one thing I do not like about the chart is the lack of pricing.  They do, however, separate the various models into three categories so you can narrow your choices down accordingly.  The Singer machines are divided into standard sewing machines, serger feature machines and sewing and embroidery machine categories.

Each division has the appropriate category specific features listed and a bullet point in the appropriate column if that model has that feature.  For example the serger feature machines have a column for how many threads they can have (2, 3 or 4) while that is not an option on the regular sewing machines.  You will find out the maximum stitch size the machine is capable of, what kind of light it has, stitches per minute, number of needle positions, what kind of feed system and the number of available stitches.

Other sites allow you to compare models side by side with pricing as well.  Sears allows you to click on the items you want to compare and then hit the “Compare Now” button to look at them side by side.  I chose two models for my comparison – the Brother Computerized Embroidery and Sewing Machine and the Singer Futura Sewing and Embroidery Machine.  The Brother model is on sale for $499 and the Singer model is on sale for $549.  It is interesting to note that consumer reviews on the products give the Brother machine a 5 and the Singer machine a 3.  The Singer machine is more streamlined and sleeker looking while the Brother machine looks like a standard sewing machine.  The Brother machine has seventy stitches built in and the Singer machine has only twenty four stitches.  Based on the sewing machine comparisons I would choose the Brother model.