The thing I'm mad about today is cheap toy sewing machines. They are simply not worth your time, energy, or money.
I know we can't all afford a fancy expensive machine, and that's okay! You don't need the most expensive sewing machine out there to do good sewing.
But a sewing machine that works is going to cost more than twenty bucks.
When people bring these machines into the shop, they've already bought them, and I don't have the heart to tell them they wasted their money.
But I'll tell you now: most of these little, cheap machines are absolute garbage.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Mini size
- No stitch selector
- No length/width adjuster
- Runs on batteries
- Handheld
- Advertised specifically "for kids"
Sometimes these machines will work for a little while, but they are absolutely not designed to last. Sometimes they just don't work at all!
If you feel you need to buy a machine online, read some reviews. Online retailers often have thousands of reviews for a product, and you can also check out the online sewing community Pattern Review!
Click here to visit the sewing machine reviews at the Pattern Review website!
I would really, really love to be able to recommend the one true perfect machine, but unfortunately it's just not that simple.
There are a lot of variables that go into sewing machine choice. I'd be happy to share my sewing machine buying tips in a future Fun Fact!
For now, please just save your money, time, and frustration and avoid cheap fake machines.
Like our Friday Fun Facts? See them all here at the blog!
I would like to add that the easiest way to turn someone off of sewing is by allowing them to learn on a toy sewing machine. If the experience is frustrating, they won't continue. Buy a good machine, you won't regret it.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Fighting with a crappy machine doesn't make sewing fun.
DeleteI've seen them come into repair being non fixable.
ReplyDelete