The Joys of Buying an Older HomeThe Joys of Buying an Older Home

Are you looking for a new sewing machine? Do you have the budget for one of the top-of-the-line products? Sewing machine technology has advanced a great deal in recent years. Whether you're new to sewing or a seasoned veteran, having a machine with advanced features can improve your work's overall quality. It can also make the job easier. If you're upgrading to a higher end machine, you'll have a lot of choices with many different features. Here are three of the most helpful sewing machine features:

End-of-stitch automation. The best sewing machines make it easy for you to stop and restart your work. If you need to adjust the fabric or simply want to take a break, the sewing machine handles all of the end-of-stitch procedures, so you don't have to reach around the machine and do it manually. The machine will lift the presser foot, raise the needle, and even cut and tie off your thread. When you're ready to restart, you simply hit the start button, and the machine goes back to work. There's no more need to manually cut and tie off thread or raise the needle. This saves you time and prevents the possibility of forgetting to cut and tie your thread.

Good lighting. Lights aren't exactly high-tech. However, sewing machine manufacturers have come with novel ways to make the lighting more flexible and useful. While most sewing machines have some kind of light, the most advanced machines have lights that you can adjust in any way that's most helpful to you. In many cases, the light is hidden inside the top of the machine. When you need extra visibility, you simply pull the light out and aim it for the area where it's needed. When you're done or no longer need extra visibility, you push the light back in.

Some machines may also have magnifying lenses attached to their lights. You can look through these lenses to get an up-close view of your stitch. The combination of lighting and magnifying lens can help you complete detailed and intricate stitch work.

Layered feeding. Most machines work just fine on thin material. It's the thick material that can be a problem. It may get caught on the presser foot and may not move through the machine smoothly. Advanced machines have a walking foot system. This means that the presser foot moves in unison with the feeder and the foot slightly lifts as fabric moves underneath. This motion allows you to work on thicker fabric without worry that the fabric could catch or become damaged. The foot will also press down with each stitch, ensuring that the stitch has gone all the way through the fabric.

For more information, talk to a sewing machine dealer. They can help you find the machine that works best for your budget and your type of sewing work. For more information, contact K & H Quilt Shoppe or a similar company.