If you’re thinking of buying a new sewing machine, you might find yourself facing a wealth of different options. This can be confusing, even for accomplished sewers. Let’s start with the basics – the difference between sewing, embroidery, and quilting machines.
Sewing Machines
Whether you’re a keen crafter, haberdasher, sewing rookie, or dress making expert you’ll likely own a standard sewing machine. As you’d expect, they allow for regular or ‘construction’ stitching. This doesn’t have to be as simple as it sounds. In fact, you can make a huge range of different items in an infinite number of styles just with the features of a normal sewing machine.
If you’re new to sewing and want to move away from simple needle and thread projects, purchasing a standard sewing machine is the place to start.
Embroidery Machines
You guessed it, embroidery machines are specialised to allow you to embroider beautiful designs that are much more complicated than what a sewing machine could produce. They’re used for aesthetic purposes, using a repetitive, texture-building technique to outline patterns and fill them in with colour.
Advanced embroidery machines are even digitized, meaning they can provide elaborate embroidery patterns on a computer.
Quilting Machines
Although you’ll be able to use most standard sewing machines for quilting, specially designed quilting machines will offer several useful features such as a larger workspace, extension table, and higher speed options.
These capabilities can make the world of difference to the avid quilter, making the process easier and faster.
If you want to work to a higher standard or are frustrated with the limitations of sewing machines, it might be worth the investment!
Franklins
At Franklins, we have a huge range of sewing machines to suit your needs. In fact, we are one of the largest sewing machine retailers in the UK.
With stores in Colchester, Chelmsford, Dovercourt, Ipswich, and Salisbury there’s no excuse not to visit us today!