Sewing machines

How to choose a sewing machine? Best sewing machine for Kids

  • Black Friday – NOW LIVE
  • Home
  • Sewing Machine for Beginners
  • Sewing machine for Kids
  • Guides
  • Brands
    • Brother
    • Singer
    • SiRUBA
    • Janome
    • Juki
  • Shop
    • Product recommendations for you
    • Black Friday – Promotions
    • Sewing machine
    • Embroidery machine
    • Overlock sewing machine
    • Accessories
      • Thread & Floss
        • Embroidery Thread & Floss
          • Embroidery Machine Thread
    • Sewing Machine & Embroidery Machine Books
  • FAQ’s
Home » What Types of Sewing Machine Are There?

What Types of Sewing Machine Are There?

By Anna 2 Comments

If you’re on the hunt for a new sewing machine, the sheer number of options at your disposal can seem confusing.

We’ll simplify this for you today by briefly examing the main choices you have when buying a new sewing machine.

Firstly, sewing machines can be broadly divided into whether their intended use is domestic or industrial.

Contents

  • Domestic or Traditional Sewing Machines
    • Manual Sewing Machines
    • Electronic Sewing Machines
    • Computerized Sewing Machine
  • Overlock/Serger Machine
  • Industrial
    • Cover Hem Machine
    • Flatbed Sewing Machine
    • Post-Bed Machine
    • Cylinder-Bed Machine
    • Share this:
    • Related

Domestic or Traditional Sewing Machines

Traditional sewing machines are used for making clothing and general craft work.

These machines are ideal for regular projects in the home.

Domestic sewing machines can be sub-divided into 3 main types:

  1. Manual
  2. Electronic
  3. Computerized

Manual Sewing Machines

The most basic, manual machines are great for beginners.

You can really get a feel for sewing at your own pace.

Manual sewing machines have far fewer moving parts than more modern models and are really built to last.

With manuals, you will need to put in a little physical effort.

Electronic Sewing Machines

Advances in technology mean that electronic sewing machines, with the needle powered by a single motor, have become the go-to option for most people looking for a new sewing machine.

Unlike with manual machines, you’ll get an electronic food pedal to ease the working process. This leaves both hands free to handle the material.

These machines happily handle a wide array of fabrics. You’ll also have a broad choice of stitching patterns.

Functionality will vary considerably. Be honest about what you will need from your sewing machine and get the model that works best for you.

Computerized Sewing Machine

For tech-savvy sewers, computerized sewing machines take your crafting to new levels.

You get a touchscreen display rather than manual controls.

Most models will remember your previous projects making things easier for you to focus on the job at hand. Tension can be automatically set and some advanced stitch work carried out.

With USB connectivity, you can hook up your laptop or desktop to your sewing machine. You’ll be able to download and use a vast selection of patterns.

If you are looking to work quickly and accurately on a wide scope of projects, a computerized machine is a smart bet.

Set aside from these all-purpose domestic machines, there is another more specialized option for home or commercial projects.

Overlock/Serger Machine

The overlock sewing machine, also known as a serger is used for finishing garments to a professional standard.

With an overlock machine, you can use 1 to 5 threads and sew 2 pieces of fabric for all your hemming, seaming and edging projects. The knives on this finishing tool will cut your fabric accurately and the enclosed threads will not fray.

With overlocks, you get a great working speed. These machines run at anything up to 9000rpm.

Overlock machines are something that you would buy to complement your regular sewing machine. Their specialized nature and restricted functionality mean that they are no use as an all-purpose machine.

We explore overlock machines in more detail here.

Industrial

For more heavy-duty and commercial projects, there are several rugged styles of machine available.

Cover Hem Machine

This machine produces a double stitch seam that can stretch.

You can make light work of the hems of a shirt with a cover hem machine.

Hemming with a serger can be done but leaves a rough, deconstructed finish. With a cover hem machine, the simple double stitch performs hemming duties to a professional standard.

Flatbed Sewing Machine

One of the most common types of industrial sewing machine is the flatbed. It also most resembles a domestic machine.

Where the cover hem machine has a narrower focus, a flatbed will cope with most sewing needs. They come into their own for sewing flat pieces of fabric together.

The needle and arm extend to the flat bases on this machine.

Post-Bed Machine

Post-bed sewing machines are used for making bags, shoes, wallets and other leather material.

Whether it’s attaching emblems or working with leather boots, post-bed sewing machines will handle the trickiest project without a hitch.

Cylinder-Bed Machine

Industrial sewing machines are used for sewing tubular parts like trouser legs and sleeves.

This type of machine has a thin column instead of a flat sewing base. Your fabric is passed around and under this column rather than passed over a flat surface as with traditional machines.

The range of diameters available makes this a versatile industrial workhorse.

Check out this handy infographic for a breakdown of some of these various type of sewing machine…

What types of sewing machine?

What types of sewing machine?

So..

If you’re looking for a new sewing machine, this brief guide should leave you clear about the differences between the various options on the market.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries about any aspect of sewing. We’ll get back to you as promptly as we can.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Guides, Infographic

Comments

  1. Jack Mulligan says

    September 13, 2016 at 6:16 pm

    I didn’t realize there were so many different kinds of sewing machine available. I’ll probably only need a traditional domestic machine, but it’s good to know there are more out there if I get more serious in one type of sewing. I think before anyone buys a sewing machine they should consider everything they want it to do, and then choose.

    Reply
  2. Zequek Estrada says

    September 19, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    It’s nice to know what a serger machine is for. A friend suggested I get one since I’ve been getting into sewing projects recently. However, it sounds like I could just use a domestic one. It’s helpful to learn these things so you don’t make the wrong kind of purchase.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent posts

Teaching Your Kids To Sew: Make It Fun!

Teaching Your Kids To Sew: Make It Fun!

September 27, 2016

How To Choose The Best Sewing Machine For Kids

How To Choose The Best Sewing Machine For Kids

January 11, 2016

How to use an overlock sewing machine by beginners first time?

How to use an overlock sewing machine by beginners first time?

January 1, 2016

How to use overlock sewing machine like a professional?

How to use overlock sewing machine like a professional?

December 30, 2015

Buying guide to choosing the best serger sewing machine

Buying guide to choosing the best serger sewing machine

December 8, 2015

Brother SE400 Review

Brother SE400 Review

October 6, 2016

5 Practical Sewing Tips All Beginners Should Learn To Master

5 Practical Sewing Tips All Beginners Should Learn To Master

October 2, 2016

7 Simple Tips to Use When Teaching Your Child to Sew

7 Simple Tips to Use When Teaching Your Child to Sew

September 22, 2016

What Types of Sewing Machine Are There?

What Types of Sewing Machine Are There?

August 23, 2016

Michley LSS-505 Lil’ Sew & Sew Multi-Purpose Sewing Machine

January 11, 2016

Brother LS2125i Easy-to-Use, Everyday Sewing Machine

January 11, 2016

Brother XL2600I Sew Advance Sewing Machine

January 11, 2016

About

  • About me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact

Categories

Brands Brother FAQ's Guides Infographic Janome Juki Michley Sewing machine for Kids Singer SiRUBA

Hot

  • Today’s DEALS

Follow Us

  • Facebook fanpage
  • Google+ page
  • Pinterest

Overlock Sewing Machines is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
© 2015 Powered by Overlock Sewing Machines

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.