22 Types Of Sewing Machine: Find Your Perfect Match

Invention of Sewing machines have changed the world of textiles and fashion It provides precision in stitching fabric efficiently. With the development of new technology, various types of sewing machines have emerged.

Each sewing machine is designed to meet specific requirements of users, from beginners to professionals. Understanding these different types is essential for anyone looking to start sewing, whether it be for crafting, alterations, or professional garment manufacturing.

As you gain more experience in sewing, you may want a sewing machine with more advanced features that meet your needs. Sewing machines are classified based on their specific functionality.

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22 Types Of Sewing Machine

Many people need to learn about the different types of sewing machines. In this article, we have given you complete information about all types of sewing machines.

Sewing machines are broadly classified in 2 categories:

Domestic Sewing Machine
Industrial Sewing Machine

1. Manual Sewing machines

Manual sewing machines are mostly bought by beginners or people who want to learn sewing. This type of sewing machine is quite simple to use and can do many things. It is used for stitching clothes, accessories, and home furnishings. Some people can only do straight stitches, but better sewing will have zig-zag stitches, other decorative stitches, and buttonhole stitches.

These are made of metal and are operated by hand, as there is no motor to run the machine. The handwheel has to be rotated all the time to make the machine work, which helps in controlling the machine. Thus, it can be very helpful for beginners. This machine can be mostly used for small-scale sewing or DIY for personal use.

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2. Treadle Sewing Machine

Treadle sewing machines are controlled by the feet. The power of the treadle has shifted to the foot, and the operator has to power the machine by continuously pedalling the treadle.

Apart from that, everything is the same; it is much faster and more efficient, as now the free hand can be used to handle the material. Also, the speed of the machine can be controlled by the pedalling movement. These types of sewing machines are mostly found in local tailor shops.

3. Mechanical Sewing Machine

A mechanical household sewing machine is a modern sewing machine. These are designed like industrial machines. Powered by electric motors, these are much faster than the previous machines.

This portable sewing machine can be used for only a few hours. But these are much more modern than the traditional industrial machines, which have different settings for different types of stitches, needles, etc. It is mostly used for household sewing.

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4. Electronic Sewing Machines

Electronic sewing machines come with many advanced features compared to mechanical ones. It has built-in stitches, automatic buttonhole functions, overlocking and buttonhole making, and an LCD screen for easy navigation. It operates with convenient switches. These machines are user-friendly and provide greater versatility for various sewing projects.

5. Computerized Sewing Machine

A computerized sewing machine is an electronic sewing machine in which you can set the embroidery work and program. You can make your favourite settings according to your choice. In this way, we can do the embroidery work the way we want.

Computerized sewing machines can make seven different types of buttonholes at a time, a lot of decorative stitches that you will never use in your entire life, automatic needle threading,

LCD screen on the front with an easy-to-use sewing selector, usually in the form of convenient switches, speed control, etc. These sewing machines are a little expensive compared to other sewing machines.

6. Embroidery Sewing machines

Embroidery sewing machines are used to design different types of embroidery patterns. These machines have an in-built memory facility and can be fed from a USB stick for more design patterns.

If required, these machines can also be used for basic stitching with multiple options as well as decorative stitches. This is where these sewing machines are a little more expensive than other sewing machines.

7. Quilting Sewing machines

Quilting machines are used for making quilts. Its long arms allow the machine to sew large garments easily. It has larger throat space to accommodate bulky quilts and comes with features that facilitate free-motion quilting.
Most machines have programmable needle up/down movement, which makes patchwork easier.

These sewing machines can also do other tasks, such as basic sewing and decorative stitching. Some quilting machines are also computerized, offering various stitch patterns and designs tailored for quilting.

8. Portable Sewing Machine

Portable sewing machines are lightweight machines designed for convenience and portability. They are perfect for those who need a sewing machine that can be easily transported for classes, workshops, or travel.

These sewing machines are easily available in the market and are quite affordable compared to all other machines. This is because they are used for basic sewing, alterations, and other small projects.

Using this sewing machine, you can do straight stitching with a lock stitch and zig-zag stitching. Considering the price, they could be more durable. You can use this sewing machine for small sewing at home. These lightweight machines are designed for convenience and portability.

9. Industrial sewing machine

Industrial sewing machines are used for mass production of clothes. They are mostly used in industries where clothes, shoes, home décor, and many other similar items are made.

These machines sew different types of fabrics, from muslin, canvas, and leather to plastic. They are made of durable material as compared to household machines. The motors of industrial sewing machines do not heat up and can work for hours.

Apart from some industrial sewing machines, many machines are not computerized yet they work very fast, accurately, and efficiently.

There are different types of industrial machines; most of them are designed for basic tasks. Industrial sewing machines are expensive, but they are longlasting.

10. Button-attaching machine

Button-attaching sewing machines are specially designed to sew buttons onto garments and other fabric items. This machine sews buttons using a lock stitch. The machine can be programmed to change its settings to suit two-hole, four-hole, or shank buttons by simply adjusting the button clamp and spacing mechanism.

Some sewing machines have automatically button fixing settings to eliminate the operator’s task. These machines streamline the button attachment process, ensuring efficiency and consistency, which is essential in both small-scale tailoring and large-scale garment manufacturing.

11. Overlocking Or Serger Sewing Machines

Serger or overlocker sewing machines, also known as overlock machines, are specialized sewing machines designed to create professional, finished seams on fabric. It is the perfect machine for sewing active sportswear and fleece.

The overlocker sewing machine or serger comes with three or four threads and a thread cutter. They are widely used in the garment industry and by home sewers for their ability to sew, trim, and finish edges in one swift operation.

It is used to sew the edges of seams and trim the edges. The serger can also be used to clean up edges and give a professional look. The serger can be difficult to work with thread, so if it is in your budget, it is a good idea to get a self-threading serger.

12. Zig Zag Sewing Machine

A zig zag sewing machine is designed to sew in a zig zag pattern, which is created by moving the needle side to side while stitching. Zig-Zag Industrial type sewing machine performs zig-zag and is mainly used for joining elastic in bra and underwear production.

These are industrial machines and are designed for continuous use. Zig-Zag sewing machines can also be used for decorative embroidery and joining fabrics edge to edge.

This capability makes it suitable for various sewing applications, including finishing seams, applying embellishments, and constructing garments. While many modern sewing machines can perform zig zag stitching, some machines are specifically designed to excel in this function.

13. Safety Stitch Sewing Machines

Safety stitch sewing machines are specialized sewing machines designed to create a specific type of stitch known as the safety stitch, which combines the features of a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch.

It is usually used for sewing fabrics that are flexible and do not break when stretched. The stitch is primarily used to provide secure garments and other textiles, ensuring that the fabric edges are finished properly to prevent fraying.

14. Cylinder Bed Sewing Machines

A cylinder bed sewing machine features a rounded or cylindrical bed, which allows the fabric to be fed smoothly around the machine’s arm. This design is advantageous for sewing items that have tubular items and for sewing items that a needle and thread sewing machine cannot reach.

These machines are commonly used in the apparel industry, particularly for sewing garments and accessories, where precision and ease of access are crucial.

15. Leather Sewing Machines:

A leather sewing machine is a robust sewing machine designed to sew leather, canvas, upholstery, and other heavy materials. These machines typically feature powerful motors, specialized feet, and needles designed to penetrate thick materials without damaging them.

They are widely used in the production of leather goods, including bags, belts, jackets, shoes, and furniture. The leather needs a longer stitch length so that the stitching does not puncture the leather. Leather machines especially use sharp needles to cut leather. Foot pressure can be set in leather machines to suit the thickness of the leather.

16. Back Tack Sewing Machine:

A backpack sewing machine is designed explicitly for backpacking, a technique used to reinforce stitches by sewing backwards at the beginning and end of a seam. This is particularly useful in areas that experience significant stress, such as pockets, collars, and seams in outerwear. The machine typically features controls that allow the user to switch between forward and reverse stitching easily.

There are many types of sewing machines. Some are used for special purposes like bar-tack, buttonhole attaching machines, button-hole-making machines, etc.
These types of machines work back and forth and hence are called automatic machines.

These different sewing machines are used for sewing small stitches found on the top edge of pockets or on belt loops and other areas that need strong stitching.
Bar tack means increasing the strength of fabric by stitching on a short length and then repeating it. For example, belt loops and pocket openings. It is a simple automatic machine that makes stitches in a cyclic sequence.

17. Coverstitch Sewing Machine:

A coverstitch machine sews garments without breaking stitches. Coverstitch machines are mainly used to create professional-looking hems for clothing.

It does both the job of covering the raw edges of the fabric and maintaining the flexibility of the fabric. It is especially useful for those who like to make clothes from knitted fabrics or need a stitch that maintains stretch for making children’s clothes, etc.

You will usually come across cover stitching on sleeve hems, pant hems, and necklines. On the other hand, a cover stitch machine has a looper like an overlocker, but it does not have a blade. Its job is simply to hem the edges of your finished garment or to do decorative chain stitching.

Coverstitching works well on knitted fabrics by keeping them from stretching. They are especially useful for hemming knitted fabrics. The stitching it creates maintains the stretch in the fabric and does not shrink, as happens when you sew stretchy fabrics with a sewing machine.

18. Heavy-Duty Sewing Machines:

Heavy-duty sewing machines are specially designed to handle thick fabrics and multiple layers with ease. These machines are built with robust components, powerful motors, and advanced features that allow them to sew through tough materials such as denim, leather, canvas, and upholstery fabrics.

They are ideal for a variety of applications, including garment construction, home decor projects, and crafting, making them essential tools for both professional and beginners.

19. Blind Stitch Machines:

A blind stitch sewing machine is also called a blind hem stitch. It is a specific type of stitch that can be used to hem fabrics without the stitches being visible from the outside.

This technique involves sewing a few threads into the hem while catching only a tiny amount of the fabric on the main piece, resulting in a neat finish. Blind stitches are ideal for lightweight and delicate fabrics, as they help maintain the fabric’s appearance while providing strength and durability.

20. Flat Bed Sewing Machines:

A flatbed sewing machine is characterized by its flat surface that provides stability and support for fabric during sewing. Flatbed sewing machines are among the most common types of sewing machines used in both domestic and industrial settings. They feature a flat work surface, which allows for easy manipulation of fabric while sewing.

This design allows users to work on a variety of projects, including sewing straight seams, decorative stitching, and even free-motion sewing. Flatbed machines are commonly used for sewing garment pieces, home furnishings, and crafts.

21. Walking Foot Sewing Machines:

Walking foot sewing machines are specialized sewing machines designed to provide even feeding of multiple layers of fabric, making them ideal for sewing heavy materials or quilts. A walking foot sewing machine is equipped with a walking foot attachment that has an upper feed mechanism.

This feature allows the machine to pull fabric layers through the machine simultaneously, providing better control and preventing puckering or shifting. Walking foot machines are commonly used in quilting, upholstery, and heavy-duty sewing applications where multiple layers of thick fabric are involved.

22. Sashiko Sewing Machines:

Sashiko sewing machines are specialized sewing machines designed for performing sashiko stitching, a traditional Japanese technique characterized by its decorative and functional stitching patterns.

Sashiko, which means “little stabs” in Japanese, involves creating a series of hand-stitched running stitches in a geometric pattern. Traditionally, sashiko was used to repair worn fabrics, particularly in rural Japan, where fabrics were often layered for durability.