Best Sewing Machines in Canada

How to Choose a Sewing Machine for Canadians

Sewing machines are so wildly varied that it’s impossible to find a machine that is suitable for every possible product. It’s important to narrow down your purposes. Knowing the type of sewing you’ll be doing most often can help point you toward the features you need. Before choosing your new sewing machine, keep the following factors and features in mind.

Type of Sewing Machine

There are two types of sewing machines available on the Canadian market.

• Manual sewing machines are the most common and cost-effective machines. You can adjust all the available settings with dials, buttons, and sliders. The machine uses moving parts to accommodate these settings. They can be more frustrating at times, but most are simple to use once you get the hang of it. 
• Digital sewing machines include computerized controls. A small LED screen displays key options like tension, stitch length, width, and stitch pattern selection. Getting the machine calibrated correctly is simple and fast, and you don’t have to mess with manual options. However, digital sewing machines can be expensive and difficult to use. 

The type of sewing machine you should start with varies based on your experience. A manual sewing machine is a good place to start. Manual options can last longer, too – they are built to withstand a certain number of stitches, usually in the hundreds of thousands. 

Digital sewing machines are easier to operate, but might not be as beginner-friendly as manual options. Make sure to make an informed decision based on your experience and what type of sewing you want to do.

Presser Foot

The presser foot helps hold the fabric, helps guide it under the needle, and keeps it positioned to deliver the perfect seam or top stitch. It’s the metal ‘foot’ that surrounds the needle. Presser feet can be raised and lowered with a knob, latch, or lever located somewhere on the machine. It’s an important part of how your machine works. Different stitch patterns require different presser feet, which may be installed with a screw near the needle shuttle.

Most machines on the Canadian market come with multiple presser feet to ensure that you have the tools you need. Evaluate which presser feet are included with your machine. If you’re doing a lot of quilting, for instance, make sure that you have a compatible quilting foot or walking foot. Zippers, buttons, and other special stitches may require different presser feet (and needles). Look closely at which options are included with the machine and how you can purchase compatible presser feet for later projects.

Material Capabilities

A sewing machine’s motor can determine what types of materials it can sew. If you want to sew cotton, fleece, and other thinner fabrics, a standard machine will be great. However, sewing heavy leather, upholstery fabrics, and vinyl might require a heavy-duty machine. These machines have stronger motors to help the needle get through tougher fabrics. If you aren’t looking to work with these materials, any of the sewing machines on our list will do.

Built-In Stitches

Except for simple beginner’s machines, you’ll find that each sewing machine has a selection of built-in stitches and stitch patterns. This can range from 6 to more than 300 different patterns. Some are useful, functional stitches for hems and seams. Others are purely for decoration or topstitching. Before you decide that you need the most possible stitch patterns, consider that you might only use a few of the options available.

Every sewing machine has the option for a straight stitch, the most commonly used stitch in any type of sewing. Zig-zag stitches are popular too and can be used as a functional or decorative stitch. Other useful stitches include buttonholes (which can be simple with the right machine), zipper attachment stitches, and blind hem stitches.

On the other hand, decorative stitches can make quilting and decorative sewing easier. These special stitches may require the installation of different presser feet or needles, so make sure to consult your user manual to find out what you need to make your decorative stitches work.

More stitches can be better, but make sure to consider which stitches you’ll use.

Speed

For most of the best sewing machines in Canada, speed can be variable. You’ll most likely be using a foot pedal to control the speed you want. However, some machines have a button, dial, or switch that allows you to adjust the maximum sewing speed. With this set, the foot pedal won’t exceed this speed (even if you press it flat to the floor).

Keep in mind that fast sewing is great for experienced crafters and larger projects, as it can help you finish faster. On the other hand, it’s more difficult to control and guide your fabric at a faster speed. Beginners may be intimidated by high-speed machines, and there’s a higher risk of injury if your fingers get too close to the needle.

Choose a machine that has a comfortable speed for you, keeping in mind that most allow you to control the speed with the foot pedal.

Foot Pedal

Most sewing machines use a foot pedal (though there are models that are operated entirely by hand). A foot pedal works the machine and allows you to control the stitching speed. It can take a while to get used to a foot pedal, especially on a new machine. However, you’ll want one that is responsive, sturdy and works with the size of your foot. Foot pedals often wear out long before the machine does and are one of the most-replaced sewing machine parts on the Canadian market. Try to choose a machine with a foot pedal that is responsive, simple, and long-lasting. In case you have to replace the foot pedal, look for one that isn’t too expensive.

Weight and Dimensions

The size and weight of your machine are important, too. Consider the space you have for sewing. Consider whether you want to move your machine around, whether you’re moving to the dining room table to visit with family as you sew, or taking your machine to a quilting class. You’ll want to find a machine that works for the space you have and the frequency that you’ll be moving it around.

Lightweight machines are easy to move and work well for makers on the go. However, some lightweight machines can move around while sewing, creating skipped stitches and uneven seams. On the other hand, you don’t want a large, heavy machine in your way if you are only sewing occasionally. If you don’t have a dedicated space in mind for your machine, don’t purchase one that needs a lot of real estate on a desk or table.

You should also consider size when it comes to the type of projects you’ll be sewing. Are you going to be piecing large quilts? You’ll need a larger sewing deck and enough room to spread them out, perhaps with an extended table. Smaller projects don’t need as much room on the sewing deck, so keep that in mind.

Threading Process

Threading a sewing machine isn’t always the most intuitive process. It can be intimidating or seem more difficult than it is. Your machine’s threading process can make it a joy to use or a burden, depending on how complicated and fiddly it is. There’s no way to make sure that your machine is easy to thread before you get it, but you can do some light research into the process to see if it looks simple enough. All of the models on our list (and the hundreds of other machines you can find on the Canadian market) have videos and written instructions detailing the threading process.

Keep this in mind while you’re shopping for a sewing machine. While the aggravation of rethreading your machine might seem like part of the process, this isn’t the case for many of the best sewing machines in Canada. Some even come with automatic needle threaders to make the last step of the threading process simple and easy.

Free Arm

Do you see yourself making a lot of clothes or sewing a lot of hems? If so, you might want to consider a machine with free-arm capabilities. These machines usually feature a removable panel that opens up a path under the sewing deck. With this path open, you can stick your sleeves and pants hems onto the machine. Instead of fussing with trying to sew around the seam on another machine, you can freely rotate the sleeve around this support section. This means one long, continuous seam without any stops, starts, or tangles.

The free arm compartment might include storage as well. If you’re looking for somewhere to store your extra bobbins, spare presser feet, and other accessories, this compartment can work great.

Reverse Lever

Being able to reverse your stitches is important, especially when you need to reinforce a seam and prevent it from pulling out over time. Backstitching is a great way to make sure the beginning and ends of your seams are locked tight and ready to be used. However, some machines require you to turn the fabric or piece manually to get a reverse stitch.

That’s why you should choose a machine that has a built-in reverse lever. When you tap this lever (or push a button, depending on your machine), the machine will feed backward, allowing for reverse stitching. This locks your work in place and keeps it from unravelling. Being able to do this quickly and without turning your entire piece is extremely convenient and can make stitching a lot quicker.

Tension Adjustment

Even if you have every other part of your machine set up correctly, thread tension can end your projects before you even get started. You should choose a machine that makes it easy to adjust the thread tension, either with a knob, dial, or computerized input. Being able to change your tension for different projects and applications is important. Plus, you want your stitches to look as beautiful as possible. Sometimes, the only way to make your stitching look nice is to change the tension on your upper thread.

Look for a machine that has simple tension that you can adjust without a fuss. The best sewing machines in Canada have some sort of tension adjustment, even if the machine comes pre-set and ready to use. It’s a great option to have when you need it, and tragic to work around if you don’t.

Stitch Length Adjustment

The length of your stitches can change the look and stability of your piece. Changing the stitch length can help make decorative stitches look different, provide better top stitching looks, and create more opportunities for your machine in general. If you want to use your machine for many different projects and repairs, stitch length adjustment is a handy tool to have.

This adjusts how long each stitch is, which can be vital for larger pieces and pieces with visible stitching. This option can help in a lot of ways, so while it isn’t essential, it is a nice addition to your stitching arsenal.

Type of Bobbin

In most sewing machines, the bobbin is loaded into the bottom of the machine to provide the lower thread. This means that you’ll need to master threading the bobbin, winding a bobbin (by hand if you don’t have an automatic winder equipped), and loading the bobbin.

Loading the bobbin can be a bit difficult depending on your sewing machine. There are two ways a machine might have you load a bobbin.

• Drop-in bobbins are the simplest, most common bobbins. You don’t need a separate case. Simply follow the diagram to load the bobbin and check the lower threading procedures for your machine in the user manual. A transparent bobbin case might allow you to see how much thread is left on the bobbin without even opening it. 
• Front-loading bobbins are somewhat old-fashioned. It’s more difficult to change a front-loading bobbin, and they must be loaded with a special bobbin case. Those who are just getting started (or who have never had a front-loading bobbin before) might find this process complicated and inconvenient. Still, they give experts more room to play around with tension than drop-in options.

You’ll also need to keep in mind which type of bobbin your machine uses. Some machines use a universal bobbin type, while others can only take specific bobbins. Check the manufacturer’s website or user manual to ensure that you have the right bobbins installed. Using the wrong type of bobbin can damage the machine.