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A Thorough Comparison Of Mechanical And Computerized Sewing Machines

If you are on the lookout for a sewing machine, either to upgrade your current one or to be your first machine, I bet you will need the compare these two lines.

To make things easier for you, I have made most of the work and put the information here.

What to take into consideration?

Life was so much easier when there were only the mechanical sewing machines on the market. You didn’t have much of a choice.

Now with the birth of computerized sewing machines, sewists have to spend more time thinking about which one to choose.

Here is something you should think about:

What you are using it for

This might sound like a dumb question at first but it is of great importance.

If you plan to use it for daily errands, in another word, you need a decent one with not so many features that can boost its price. In this case, a mechanical one is your best option as you would probably waste a ton of features with a computerized variety.

A mechanical sewing machine

A mechanical sewing machine

Most of the time you spend with a sewing machine you do only the basic stitches. So why waste a ton of money on something that will not come cheap? For more information on these mechanical machines, see best sewing machine for beginners making clothes at CraftsSelection.com.

How well you can handle technology?

With a mechanical sewing machine, you are in control of almost everything. While if you have a computerized one, everything is automated.

The thing here is how fast you are when it comes to learn something high tech? Are you comfortable around something like that?

How much you can pay

When you consider a mechanical sewing machine and a computerized one, both come from the same brand, the former is definitely cheaper.

The differences might range from $50 to $100.

The reason for this is quite straightforward. The more features there are, the more expensive the machine.

So if the price can make or break your decision, a mechanical sewing machine fits the bill nicely.

The point here is to know exactly what you want. Do this and you will never overpay for something you will never use.

The pros and cons of computerized sewing machine

Pros:

  • A wide range of features is This list includes needle threader, thread cutter, tension setting…things that you would otherwise have to do manually.
  • More stitch options: Some machines I know are programmed with hundreds of stitch styles.
  • Buttonholes: Buttonholes are not hard to make, once you are familiar with how to do it. However, it is time-consuming. With a computerized sewing machine, this task is automated and so it saves you a ton of time.
  • Control: A computerized sewing machine can control the speed better.

Cons:

  • You can be overwhelmed with its features: if you are a beginner, chances are you might waste most of a computerized model’s cool features. Sometimes the fewer choices the better.
  • They are not long-lasting as a mechanical one: not many people will keep a sewing machine for as long as possible, so this might not be a problem after all. Of course, you want something durable and long-lasting, but the term long-lasting often means “I need something that dies out after I am finished with it”. So don’t aim at landing a machine that can outlive you, choose something that has all the features you currently need.
  • High cost: As I said before, the more features there are, the more expensive it gets. There are affordable sewing machines out there, but a mechanical model is often cheaper.

Read more sewing machine reviews here if you like to find the best sewing machine for beginners and learn more tips on using a sewing machine.

A computerized sewing machine

A computerized sewing machine

The pros and cons of mechanical sewing machine

Pros:

  • Not all but most computerized sewing machines start at a lower price range than a computerized counterpart.
  • Maintenance is easier. Maintain a mechanical sewing machine is something even you can do at home, with the instruction of course.
  • You have a true workhorse. Some mechanical sewing machine can handle just about anything you throw at it, no matter how thick or how fragile that is.

Cons:

  • If you are the one who needs hundreds of stitches at hand, a mechanical sewing machine is not what you are looking for.
  • A mechanical sewing machine can still make button holes, but you will find yourself with fewer options.
  • With a mechanical sewing machine, you are the one in charge, which means there is more work for you to do and more to learn. While with a computerized one, almost everything is automated. What you need to do is to press a button and let the machine does the rest.

The conclusion: which sewing machine is the best?

This question is difficult but not impossible to answer.

This depends largely on you, the user. Trust me on this, one size does not fit all. One model will not please everyone, so read the reviews, but also take your situation into consideration.

My best advice is to know your budget before you even think about what you need.

Picking out the best sewing machine for you is meaningless if you cannot afford it. Then think about what features you are going to use. I know some of you have a deep pocket, but if you buy something that has more features than you can ever use. The money will become a waste.

Don’t be like me, I used to have a machine with approximately 300 built-in stitches and I used only 4 of them. The machine ended up on sale so that I had money to buy a more basic model that has only the basics.

So that is my experience with computerized and mechanical sewing machines. I hope it helps you find the best model possible for you. See here https://www.flickr.com/people/bestsewingmachineforbeginners/ if you are looking for the best cheap sewing machine for beginners to buy.

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