Buying a sewing machine especially when you are a beginner is a daunting task; add to that the brands and their different models it becomes much more difficult.

1) Purpose: Like with any other product, before buying a sewing machine you need to ask the purpose of why you need a sewing machine Jotting down the reasons why you need the machine may help you zero down to the one which is best suited for you.

2) Questions: As a beginner you may need to ask the following:

· What is your budget? How much are you ready to pay for a sewing machine now?
· Do you want to go for a simple sewing machine or a computerized one?
· Will you be sewing simple home décor projects or fashionable clothing?
· Will you be quilting?
· What about embroidery? Will you need to embroider often?
· Do you want a lighter and portable sewing machine?
· Do you have enough space in your house or room for a sewing machine and consequently area?

3) Features: The minimum a beginner should look for in their sewing machine is:

· a very good straight stitch
· a very good zigzag
· simple method of making buttonholes
· adjustable presser foot pressure
· Stitch lengths from 0-6

4) Price: A good sewing machine starts as low as $60 for a very basic model, and can go up to thousands of dollars for the technologically advanced models. If you're a beginner stick to basic models rather than machines with loads of features, although if you're ambitious it's worth buying an all in one machine, so that you have the features as you become more experienced and familiar with them. Either way, consider all options and question yourself on what you're planning to use the machine for, and then choose accordingly.

5) The machine: There are a number of home sewing machine brands in the market, Singer, Brother, Juki, SewPro, Consew, Bernina, Simplicity, Viking Husqvarna and more. In the beginning, it is advisable to stick to a simple sewing machine like the Singer 4200 series or the Brother 25-Stitch Sewing Machine or Singer 30-Stitch Function Sewing Machine. If you are looking to buy for a child then the Singer Zigzag Sewing Machine and the Singer Chain Stitch Sewing machine is recommended.