Holiday Sewing Machine Shopping Guide

Ready for an upgrade? A little Merry Christmas to me gift!? I’m here to help. So many people ask, what machine should I get?! No matter where you are in your sewing journay there’s an awesome machine for you and your budget.

Below, I have created my ”Holiday Sewing Machine Shopping Guide” just for you, so you can save time and not have to spend hours researching different sewing machines. Plus, all of the sewing machines listed in my guide will be on The Shopping Channel (TSC) on November 8th!

A few things to keep in mind. First, you get what you pay for. I completely understand that paying hundreds even thousands of dollars for a hobby can be a little bit of crazy talk. However, if you’re considering a sewing machine at all here are my top buying tips!

1. Get the best (even if it’s used) computerized sewing machine that you can afford. Many shy away from computerized machines because they think they’re not a good enough sewer to warrant all those “bells” and “whistles” but the truth is, the more beginner you are, the more you’ll benefit from a higher end machine. The computerized machines do a lot of the heavy lifting and trouble shooting for you. A machine with knobs, while typically cheaper, you kinda need to know what you’re doing, because you need to choose the stitches and the settings yourself.  The higher priced computerized machines do that for you. They typically tell you what foot to use with the stitch you’ve chosen, it will pick the correct stitch length and width for you. Which means if you’re a beginner…you don’t need to do this. It’s super helpful!
2. Look for a drop in bobbin with a clear top. – this is a much more upgraded bobbin system and the clear lid helps you see how much thread you have left.
3. Get a machine that sews better than you! This is because you’re only going to get better. You don’t want a machine you’re going to immediately out grow.
4. Look for a bundle. In many cases machines will get sold with a few extra accessories, get as many in your machine bundle as you can, because at somepoint, you might want to make a quilt, or hem your pants, or install a zipper…then you’ll have the feet you need.
5. Buy a name you trust.  There’s a reason some machines are WAY less expensive than others.

This means you can get some high-quality sewing machines at a great holiday price, along with a few extra goodies!

Janome M200qdc Digital Quilting & Sewing Machine

When I first got really serious about sewing, serious enough to buy multiple machines….I wanted a little fleet of 10 machines that I could potentially teach classes with.  I wanted a model that every student, no matter how green would find easy and enjoyable …did I mention easy….to use.  Also, I wanted to buy 10 of them, so they needed to be somewhat afforable. THIS was the machine! It had a lot of high end features in very regular sized sewing machine footprint.  200 stitches, even the Alphabet…plus tied for my favorite features, spped control and the scissor button (automatic thread cutter).  I whole heartedly recommend this machine to the first time upgrader…someone who wants a great machine, doesn’t want to pay a fortune but still wants lots of cool features. You won’t go wrong here. Did I mention it also comes with the complete quilting kit! (yep all those extra feet, plus an extension table…Remember…my tip…buy a bundle…this is a good one!)

• 200 stitches, including alphabet 12 button holes
• Automatic one step direct pattern selection keys built in
• One-hand needle threader
• Superior plus feed system
• 7-piece feed dog
• Automatic thread trimming
• Drop in, easy set bobbin
• Start/stop button (with slow start)
• Needle up/down (down default setting)
• Stitch memory: programmable for up to 50 combined patterns
• Backlit LCD screen
• Maximum zig zag width: 7 mm
• Auto declutch bobbin winder

Janome MC6650

It’s no secret this is my favorite every day sewing machine. Actually it’s much more than an “everyday” machine. There’s nothing pedestrian about it. It’s actually the fact that it’s so heavy duty, that makes me use it every day. It can handle just about anything. It’s got an all metal exterior making it extra heavy, tons of stitches, it’s super fast. And because it’s got so much space I find myself reaching for this machine most often. It’s the one that sits out on my table ready for anything.

• 170 stitches plus two alphabets
• One-push needle plate conversion with two included plates
• Maximum sewing speed: 1,000 spm
• 10″ all-metal seamless flatbed
• Memorized needle up/down
• Superior needle threader
• Six LEDs in three locations

• 1,300 stitches per minute
• Automatic presser foot lift
• Full intensity LED lighting system
• AcuSpark tutorial app
• Computerized one-touch needle plate conversion with three needle plates included
• 7″ HD colour touchscreen
• 400 built-in stitches
• Independent bobbin winding motor
• Telescoping dual thread stand
• Variable zig-zag for thread painting
• Twin needle safety setting
• Start/stop button

Janome Air Thread Serger 2000D

Oh wow, what a game changer this machine is! So many people avoid a serger because of the threading. Well…meet the machine that threads itself. It’s actually fun to thread this. You’ll look forward to changing the cones …and trust me that never happens with regular sergers! The air thread serger uses two air chambers to suction the thread through the loopers. The needles you can thread with the automatic needle threader. If you can swing it, this Serger is a dream.

Oh my  baby, my sweet baby. This machine is my baby. The Janome Skyline S9 is my favourite Sewing and embroidery machine. In fact this machine has helped me make so much cool stuff, you’ll have to just peruse the blog to see it all. But just to say, if you can dream it, this machine can likely stitch it. This is the machine that turned my grandmother’s handwritten recipe for butter tarts into a

So many cool sewing accesssories too!!

Hopefully you found this sewing machine guide helpful! To see all of these machines in action tune in to TSC tune in on November 8th at 9am, 12 pm, and 5 pm Eastern Standard Time, for more info and demo’s!!

See you then!

-Jen

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR EVEN MORE SEWING MACHINE SHOPPING TIPS, THEN CHECK OUT OUR WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SHOPPING FOR A SEWING MACHINE BLOG POST!