Kudos on making the decision to get a new or upgraded sewing machine, you can look forward to hours of sewing enjoyment along with the sense of pride and accomplishment on all the things that you will create.

The downside is that the process of picking the right machine is one that many don’t find pleasurable.  They can feel pressured into making a too fast decision by sales people before one is ready and really knows exactly what they need.  You can end up spending more than you had planned and end up with a lot of bells and whistles that you might not need.  If this feels like the situation that you are in, here are a few tips that could help.

First off, like with any major purchase, get familiar with what you need, what you want and what price range you will stay with.  Make a list of the features that you currently use the most.  Make a list of features that you know you want.  And finally make a list of features that would be nice if they are with-in your price range.  By making these features lists, you have a better understanding of what your requirements are going to be before you begin your search.

Making a list of what you don’t want is just as important.  This can include things that you’re unsatisfied with on your present sewing machine.  An example would be if something keeps going wrong on your current machine, or if a part keeps breaking.  These are things to check on when considering a new model and something to go over with a sales rep.  You don’t want to end up with having the same problems on your new machine that frustrated you with your old machine.

Just like a car, it’s always a good idea to “test drive” the models that you are considering.  Ask for a demonstration from the sales rep and see if you can try some of the things that you are shown.  And don’t be afraid to ask questions, it can save you some frustrations down the road.  Test it out with different material; a good suggestion would be to even bring some of your own material to test on.

Once you have your model all pick out, check to see if there are any sewing classes that are offered on that model so that you really get to know the ins and outs of it.  After that, the more time you spend playing around with all of the new features, the more you will be able to take advantage of your new sewing machine.