Basic Sewing Machines

Mechanical sewing machines are fine for simple projects

The least expensive sewing machines are mechanical machines. These are the simplest type of sewing machine in terms of build, and if your mother had a sewing machine, it was a mechanical machine. These have knobs and dials to adjust the stitch length and width; other adjustments, such as presser-foot pressure and thread tension, are also made manually.

Mechanical sewing machines make good starter models for beginners and are fine if you mainly want to do mending projects or make simple Halloween costumes for the kids. Interestingly, some owners praise mechanical sewing machines for what they can't do; many people don't want something fancy or expensive, and many don't need hundreds of stitch types or 15 types of buttonholes. Mainly what you're looking for in a basic sewing machine is good build quality -- in reviews, that translates to brand reputation. While the name Singer may spring to mind, reviewers say that inexpensive Singer sewing machines are now made in Asia, just like most other inexpensive Kenmore, Brother and White sewing machines, so contemporary Singer machines are no better than others in this respect.

The most thorough tests of sewing machines say mechanical models aren't quite as easy to use as pricier electronic machines, and reviewers note they sometimes take a lot of trial and error to get the thread tension right. They are missing helpful features now found on electronic machines, such as a needle up/down feature, which allows you to raise or lower the needle with the push of a button instead of cranking a fly wheel. Electronic machines can also create dozens of identical buttonholes and allow you to make quick changes to the length and width of decorative stitches. The also offer hundreds of stitches compared to the dozen or so stitches you'll find on an inexpensive mechanical machine.

Even so, the basic features on mechanical sewing machines are enough for students, casual users or anyone else not wanting to spend $400 or more for an entry-level electronic sewing machine.

Kenmore makes several purely mechanical machines (all made in Asia). The Kenmore 15358 (*Est. $120) holds its own in comparison tests, and it has one feature that's rare on inexpensive mechanical machines -- a one-step buttonhole function. This saves you from changing your stitch three or four times to complete a single buttonhole. Owners posting reviews to the Sears website are very positive overall. More than 40 owners have reviewed it, and many of those are either new to sewing or are giving it another try after first learning in high school. Most report that the Kenmore 15358 is easy to use, and it works particularly well on mid-weight cottons. It is less reliable for hemming jeans, where several owners report needle jams and tension problems. The Kenmore has 16 built-in stitch types, including standard straight stitches, zigzag stitches and stretch stitches. It includes five snap-on feet. Several owners comment specifically on the included manual, which is particularly easy to understand for beginners.

If you don't care about a one-step buttonhole, we also found good owner comments for the Kenmore 15343 (*Est. $90), which instead includes a four-step buttonhole. That means you'll need to stop and fiddle with knobs four times during each buttonhole. Otherwise, features are similar, with fewer stitch types (but you still get basic straight, zigzag and mending stitches) and four snap-on presser feet. The warranty on these Kenmore machines covers only 90 days on labor, and in reviews, several owners express skepticism about the plastic parts.

The Singer Inspiration with NoError Threading 4220 (*Est. $180) promises to eliminate the learning curve when it comes to threading and inserting the bobbin. However, user reports so far aren't inspiring at all. This mechanical sewing machine gets a large percentage of complaints for jams and bobbin problems (despite its jam-proof bobbin system). It has 20 built-in stitches and a one-step buttonhole function, but we found better reviews for the similar Kenmore 15358 mechanical sewing machine.

The Brother Pacesetter PS 3700 (*Est. $400) costs more than other mechanical sewing machines, but it ends up near the bottom of the pack among mechanical machines in one recent professional test, scoring most poorly on overall sewing performance. This machine has 20 stitches and a one-step buttonhole attachment. This model is pricey compared to some others, but since it's only sold by Brother dealers, you'll likely get a lesson or two on using it -- part of the bonus of buying from a sewing machine dealer as opposed to online or in a chain store.

There are several less expensive Brother mechanical machines that receive good owner ratings. These are sold in chain stores, and while you won't get free sewing lessons with them, they cost less. The Brother XL-2600i (*Est. $100) has 25 stitches and a one-step buttonhole -- an improvement over machines that make you perform all four buttonhole steps on your own. With the Brother's buttonhole attachment, you pop the button you want to use into the attachment, and the calculations are done for you -- you don't have to do any measuring or try to manually gauge the right buttonhole length. There's also a thread cutter, automatic needle threader and drop-in bobbin, along with six snap-on presser feet. Owners say the Brother is a good starter machine, but as with the inexpensive Kenmore 15358, we did read a few complaints that it doesn't handle thick fabrics or jeans very well. Either machine looks to be a good choice in a basic mechanical sewing machine.