In general, machines that are classed as “Beginner” tend to have all of the features that we think a beginner will need to be able to learn how to sew. Most sewing machines have the bare basics such as a foot pedal for controlling the actual stitching of the sewing machine and it is rare to find a domestic sewing machine without an inbuilt light since this makes it much easier to see your stitches clearly when sewing. Most beginner sewing machines will also have a free arm, however, the free arm section is often covered with a removable cover so it can be hard to tell from photos of the sewing machine. Once the cover is removed, a free arm is helpful because it allows the fabric to wrap around and under the sewing machine near the needle. This can make it easier for newbies to sew tubular sections of garments such as trouser hems and sleeve cuffs.
Beginner sewing machines may also have some features that need to be manually adjusted and this gives new sewers a chance to learn how a sewing machine works so that they feel comfortable making adjustments when needed and will ultimately help them learn how to handle their machine on different fabrics. For example, it can be helpful for new sewers to understand how to adjust the thread tension on their machine, and to be able to manually adjust the presser foot pressure to suit fabrics of different thicknesses. Some machines will automatically adjust these features and can sew perfect stitches from silk to denim without the sewers needing to adjust a thing! However, some sewers prefer to control these features manually so that they can tweak the machine themselves in cases when the automated functions fail.
If you find the whole idea of operating a sewing machine intimidating, then there are some features that may help you to feel more in control. For example, having adjustable speed control can allow you to set the maximum speed on a machine so that it doesn’t go too fast. Some new sewers also find clearly marked thread guides and drop in bobbins helpful since these are features that help to speed up and simplify the time it takes to thread the sewing machine.
You’ll notice that the number of stitches on a beginner sewing machine can vary wildly… some have only about 20 while others have over 100. Having more stitches does not necessarily mean that it is a better sewing machine and quality is normally better than quantity. If you are interested in only sewing garments, for example, you can go a long way with just a straight stitch, a nice plain buttonhole option and a zigzag. Most beginner sewing machines with at least 20 stitches will have at least these basic options, and many will also have some great stitches for stretch fabrics, stitches for overcasting the raw edge of your fabric and even some stitches for creating decorative effects.
