Want to put away your phone and learn more analog skills? Start with sewing and mending. “The DIY movement is huge right now, especially with TikTok and Instagram. It’s a new way of learning,” says Kristine Frailing, owner and creative director of The New York Sewing Center.
“It’s more cost-effective, and people are becoming more aware of the issues of sourcing and sustainability,” she says, adding that there’s also a movement toward upcycling, or reusing items to make them into new creations.
I asked experts for advice on everything new sewers need to know, including what to look for when shopping for a machine or mending kit and things to do before you start using them.
The best sewing machines for beginners in 2026
Best overall
This model from Brother comes with 37 built-in stitch patterns and an LED work light. It also includes a jam-resistant top bobbin to hold a spool of thread and an automatic threader that the brand says is meant to easily push thread through a needle. “This Brother is very useful for someone that is into quilting, because it has a very wide table that most don’t have. I’ve worked with a lot of Brothers — it’s a great beginner brand that will last you a long time, and the price point is wonderful,” says Frailing.
Best for decorative stitching
This mechanical machine is a favorite of Sandra Markus, a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the one she recommends to all of her students. “It will last forever,” she says. “It has everything you need, and it’s impossible to break.” The 4452 includes an automatic needle threader and has 32 built-in stitches: six basic, seven stretch, 18 decorative and one automatic one-step buttonhole, according to the brand.
Most intuitive
This mechanical machine is on the pricier side, but it’s loaded with helpful features, says Frailing. It has 21 stitches, including stretch stitches and a four-step buttonhole, and is designed to sew up to 850 stitches per minute, according to the brand. It also has bright LED lighting.
Best multitasker
If you are willing to splurge, consider this machine from Brother. Along with sewing, you can use it to embroider items like bags, shirts, pillowcases, blankets and more. To use the embroidery option, you can download free software onto your computer to look at different designs and then send them wirelessly to the sewing machine when you’re ready to create them. The machine has a wireless touchscreen to help you select one of 103 sewing stitches or embroidery features.
The best sewing and mending kits for beginners in 2026
Not ready for a machine? A small sewing kit can be surprisingly versatile. Use it to mend a hole in a shirt, sew a button back on or to create small embroidered designs. This kit comes with 30 needles, 18 different colored threads, a measuring tape, scissors, buttons, snaps and safety pins. Everything is housed in a sleek black case that zips shut.
The experts I spoke to said Singer is a great sewing brand that offers quality tools. This kit comes with 42 spools of thread, 30 needles of varying sizes, scissors, a measuring tape, a pin cushion, 100 dressmaker pins, a seam ripper, three thimbles, buttons, safety pins and fasteners. The case these tools come in has a handle for easy carrying and clear drawers to easily identify where everything is.
This sewing kit comes in a decorative wood box that will look great sitting on a shelf or counter. Inside, you’ll find scissors, 24 spools of thread, an assortment of needles, a measuring tape, thimble, and assorted buttons and snaps. The kit also includes a piece of anthelmintic wood, which you should keep in the kit to repeal insects that can eat the thread, according to the brand.
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How to shop for a sewing machine
Markus says that more and more people use sewing as a means to self expression — noting that sewing at home is more accessible compared to several decades ago. If you are in the market for a beginner sewing machine, here are a few things experts suggest keeping in mind as you shop:
- Focus on a home machine: Generally, sewing machines fall into two broad categories: industrial (commercial) and home (domestic). As the name suggests, an industrial sewing machine is meant for professionals in the apparel industry and not for the average beginner. They are fast and precise, and can sew heavier materials such as canvas and leather easily, says Frailing. These machines can go well into four-digit price points. On the other hand, “home sewing machines are the most basic, are beginner-friendly and good to use for almost any project,” says Frailing.
- Think about where to buy: According to Frailing, you can find machines for sale online at larger retailers like Michaels, Amazon and Walmart, as well as hobby stores. For a lower-cost option, Markus suggests hitting flea markets, church rummage sales and garage sales. “Dealers always have a few second hand ones for sale as well,” she says. If buying one online, she prefers going to a place where you can try them out first.
- Ask yourself what you can afford: Home sewing machines can differ dramatically in price. “When buying a sewing machine, one should consider what type of investment they want to make. You can buy a $99 machine and you can buy a $5,000 machine — they both essentially do the same thing,” says Markus, adding that a fair price point for a quality beginner machine is between $200 and $350. “A $79 machine is not really worth buying,” she says. “They get jammed and they can’t really deal with a lot of thicknesses of fabric.”
- Avoid unnecessary features: As a beginner, Markus also says you should avoid sewing machines with “a whole lot of bells and whistles. You don’t want it highly computerized, because you don’t want to have to spend a lot to fix it. You want to put the money into the body of the machine,” she says. “All you need is one with a great zigzag and straight stitch.”
- Pass on the minis: Mini sewing machines are more affordable than other types, but they should be avoided, Frailing says. “These machines are very small, inexpensive and only for very minor uses, like fixing a hole or something small on the go,” she says.
Frequently asked questions
“In addition to a sewing machine, beginners need quality thread and fabric,” says Nick Portello, a fashion designer and content creator. The thread is particularly important. “Invest in quality thread and spend the extra dollar or two,” says Portello. “This will prevent so many headaches in the future — there are fewer things more annoying than cheap thread snapping often.” You will also need a pattern to follow — experts suggest starting with beginner-specific patterns. Then, pins will help you attach the fabric to the pattern so you can cut it out and eventually sew it.
There is no fixed amount of time when it comes to learning to sew — it depends on how much time you are able to devote to learning and how adept you are. “Beginning sewers should give themselves grace and know that sewing is an activity with a high skill ceiling, meaning it will take some trial and error to execute projects,” says Portello. “There will be a lot of mistakes and it will take time.” Portello suggests not trying to learn while watching television because it can divert your focus.
Meet our sewing experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Kristine Frailing is the owner and creative director of The New York Sewing Center
- Sandra Markus is a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology
- Nick Portello is a fashion designer and content creator
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. I have recently reported on vibration plates and red light therapy for hair loss. For this story, I interviewed sewing and crafting experts.
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