[advertorial] Switching from a mechanical to a computerised sewing machine can feel like jumping into a new car. There are more buttons, more options, and it takes a moment to get your bearings. But those extra features aren’t there to complicate things. They’re designed to take the effort out of everyday sewing tasks, help you get better results with your garments, and in most cases, save you time while you’re at it.

With a computerised machine, a small built-in computer takes care of many of the settings you’d normally adjust by hand. You’re still the one sewing, but the machine takes care of the repetitive adjustments like threading needles, locking stitches and trimming threads. These are little tasks regular sewers appreciate. The screen tells you which stitch you’ve selected, what length and width the machine recommends and which presser foot to use. Some models will even suggest settings based on the fabric you’re working with.

The Features Sewers Talk About Most

Some of the most talked-about features on computerised machines are the ones that sound minor on their own. But sewers who sit at their machine for a few hours at a stretch will tell you they add up quickly.
Automatic needle threader: A lever pulls the thread through the needle eye for you. Quick and easy!
Thread cutter: One press of a button and both threads are trimmed. Especially useful when you’re chain-piecing or working through several seams on a garment.
Needle up/down position: You choose whether the needle stops up or down when you take your foot off the pedal. Most dressmakers set it to needle down because it holds the fabric in place when you need to pivot at corners on collars, cuffs and waistbands.

A Wider Stitch Library

A mechanical machine might give you 20 to 30 stitches while a computerised one can offer anywhere from 100 to 400 including lettering. Many of these stitches will become firm favourites allowing you more creative flexibility and the opportunity to personalise your projects. Stretch stitches move with knit fabrics instead of snapping, which matters if you’re sewing activewear or jersey dresses. One-step buttonholes, including keyhole styles for jackets, reduce much of the anxiety around what many sewers consider the trickiest part of garment construction, while hem stitches give trousers and skirts a neat, almost invisible finish.

Better Fabric Handling

Many computerised machines use a multi-piece feed dog system, often with up to seven pieces, that grip fabric more evenly than simpler setups. Lighter fabrics pucker less and bulkier layers like denim hems feed through with less resistance. Many models will also automatically adjust the presser foot presser automatically - a built-in sensor can detect minute differences in fabric texture and weight. It might not sound like much until you’ve tried sewing silk on a machine that won’t let you change it. 

Is A Computerised Machine Right For You?

If you sew garments regularly and keep bumping up against the limits of your current machine, whether that’s skipped stitches or fabric handling, it might be time to consider what a modern computerised machine can do. Computerised machines work just as well for newer sewers as experienced makers who are ready to learn new skills.

It helps to try a few models in person, or do some reading on trusted brands like Janome, Brother, Pfaff and Bernina. Sewing machine specialists such as The Sewing Studio can help you find a machine that fits the way you sew and the projects you want to make. A computerised machine is a tool that can take a lot of the friction out of garment sewing and for most people, that’s reason enough.