Happy Harper Quilts
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So you are learning (or want to
learn) sew/quilt. Nice! Welcome to the dark side! Let me shed some light on which sewing
machine you should invest in. First of all, I have only owned
two machines in my quilting lifetime, a Brother and a Janome.
Both are smaller, tabletop machines.
I have no street cred when it comes to recommending any other machine
than the two I have used. However, these
people do: Sewing Made Simple: Best Sewing Machines for Beginners.
Done reading the article? Good. Now, ... let's be real. You understood NOTHING in the
article. And let’s really be real. You didn’t even read the whole thing! You
skimmed. (Busted.) So here is why you love me. I am going to take the guesswork out of buying
your first sewing machine. (You’re welcome.) If you are new to sewing, need a
standard, good quality machine, and are on a budget, read (don’t skim) on.
When purchasing your first machine,
I would recommend buying a machine with as many as these options/functions as
possible:
1.
Automatic thread/bobbin winder
2.
Thread cutter
3.
At least 10-20 stitch options
4.
At least 5 other "feet" (A
foot, Zipper Foot, etc.)
5.
Adjustable tension feature and
stitch length
A great machine under $100 that
includes all these features (and more) is the:
Brother XL2610 Free-Arm Sewing
Machine with 25 Built-In Stitches and 59 Stitch Functions
Manufacturer
description: Brother's XL2610 is a 59
stitch function free arm sewing machine. The free arm feature allows you to sew
cuffs or pant legs easily and convert the machine back to a flat bed sewing
area for larger items. The machine features an automatic needle threader and
built-in thread cutter to make setting up your machine easy. This model also
has a built-in 4 step buttonholer with a stitch balance control to make it
simple for you to make buttonholes on any garment. The XL2610 has a drop in
bobbin system which is easy to thread and allows you to see the remaining
bobbin thread. The built in stitches include quilting stitches, garment
construction stitches, decorative sewing stitches, stretch stitches, and a
blind hem stitch to make sewing hems a breeze. The accessories and feet
included with the machine will help you with quilting, zipper insertion,
darning, buttonholes and sewing on buttons. Sewing feet on the XL2610 feature
Brother's quick change design. The XL2610 has a built-in stitch length and
width control as well as a dial thread tension control so you can adjust your
stitches as needed. The XL2610 is lightweight and portable with a built-in
handle for easy carrying. The machine has a built-in light to illuminate the
sewing area as well as a safety power and light switch. Instructions included
with the XL2610 are bilingual in English and Spanish.
After much research, I found that
this machine has everything you would need as a beginner, and would also be
advanced enough to use for a long time. Plus, it is under $100,
which is a great deal!
Please note, I have not purchased
this machine for myself. I was not paid anything to recommend this
machine. The goal of this article is to offer
a little guidance and take the guesswork out of purchasing your first
machine. If you have a great beginner’s
sewing machine, I would love to hear about it.
Please leave a comment for all to see and tell us which machine you
have, it’s basic features, how much it cost you, and why you love it!
Happy quilting,
