Buying advice

Try before you buy

Whatever your level of sewing, try before you buy. Thread up the machine and sew a range of fabrics: denim, cotton and silk. Try different stitches (straight stitch, zigzag, stretch stitch, buttonhole) and check their quality. A machine with good tension will produce nice, even stitches and sew well forward and backward.

Try sewing curved seams and sewing two different fabrics together to see whether they feed evenly through the machine. Repeat the exercise using two pieces of the same fabric. If they don't sew well, try adjusting the pressure on the presser-foot.

When you're test-driving machines, other features you might want to consider are:

• the range of stitches
  
  
• an automatic buttonholer
  
  
• an automatic needle threader
  
  
• a speed selector for different speed settings
  
  
• a knee attachment that allows you to operate the machine with your knee rather than your foot.

Where to buy

Specialist sewing shops sell the major brands. The exception is Bernina machines: shops that sell Bernina will only stock this brand.

Noel Leeming, Harvey Norman and other large chain stores sell machines at the lower end of the market (under $500) but may not have the range of parts and accessories of specialist sewing stores.

Best brands?

The major brands of sewing machines sold here are Bernina, Brother, Elna, Husqvarna, Janome, Pfaff and Singer. We haven't tested sewing machines but other consumer organisations have. In the US, Bernina and Janome machines outperformed other electronic models in recent tests by Consumer Reports.

Warranties, parts and service

Check warranties, accessories and parts are available. Manufacturers' warranties can range anywhere between one and 10 years. Find out what the warranty covers and where the repairs will be done. Can you return it to the shop you bought it from or do you need to take it to a repair agent?

Your normal Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) rights apply to sewing machines that you've bought new for private use. So you have the right to repair, refund or replacement for a number of years, since most machines have a long working life.

Buying second-hand

Buying second-hand can be worth considering. If you're interested in a second-hand machine, make sure you "test drive" it before you buy. Only buy if the machine looks tidy and well cared for. Make sure it has all the accessories you want and they're in working order.

It would also be worth checking with the manufacturer to see if parts are still available for the model. If not, you may run into problems if something needs replacing.

If you buy from a second-hand dealer and then discover the machine's faulty, you're covered by the CGA. The extent of cover and redress will depend on the age of the machine and what you paid for it.

If you buy privately, you're not covered by the CGA. But the Electricity Act does come into play. Under the Act, all electrical appliances for sale must be safe - whether they're new or second-hand, bought privately or from a dealer.

Expert advice

Glen Parkinson of Wellington Sewing Services had this to say. "The best advice I can give is don't buy just on price. Keep in mind that a cheaper machine will not handle denim or finer fabrics, and you don't want to buy a machine only to get frustrated because it doesn't do everything you want. So think about what you want to use it for and how long you intend to keep it."