It’s not very easy to shop or compare for sewing machines online but there are some good resources out there. For the last few days, I’ve been researching some good picks for mid-range sewing machines. That is, machines that have an average of 20-100 stitches, have some extra automatic perks, are electronic, and range from $200-$400. I’ve realized that the process of buying a sewing machine is a bit like buying a car. You’ll need to head over to a dealer and take it for a test run. For some of the machines I’ve found, I couldn’t even find a price online. When I called a local dealer I got the sales tactic of needing to head over to the store (which I plan to soon.)

Here are some helpful resource links:

• About.com sewing machine buying tips – Link.
• Buying a new sewing machine – Link.
• Tips for purchasing a sewing machine at a dealer location – Link.
• FAQ: What sewing machine should I buy? – Link.
• Threads magazine – 31 Basic Sewing Machines Line-Up – Link.

My top 3 picks you should check out for a mid-range sewing machine are the following (in order by price):

Brother CS-6000i Computerized Sewing Machine

$199.99 at Circuit City

brother.com

This little machine packs the punch with Brother’s computerized sewing machine. With 100 stitch functions, 60 stitches displayed conveniently on the right, and a larger table perfect for quilting, this could be the machine to investigate. There is a fast needle threader and one-step drop-in bobbin loading.

Singer 7466 Electronic Sewing Machine

$299 on Amazon

singer.com

This machine will help you speed through your craft production with his sewing speed of 750 stitches per minute. You’ll also have 70 built-in stitches to choose from, along with a one-step0 buttonholer. More importantly, with automatic tension, you won’t have to worry when sewing heavy fabric. Also right now there’s a bonus mail-in offer through Decemer 24th for extra feet attachments with the Home Decor Pack and the Quilter’s Pack as well as an extenstion table.

Janome 5124 Decor Excel Sewing Machine

$359 from Sew Vac Direct

janome.com

I am really liking this one the best out of the other two picks, if only for it’s smart user interface with a horizonal display along the top of the sewing machine. The clean layout let’s you see the samples of all stitches the machine can do (24 stitches in all, not much but there are the essentials). The reverse button is nice and big on the right so you don’t even have to look away from your sewing. Also the needle will always stop on the “up” postion when you depress your foot off the pedal so you can take out your fabric. Auto-tension also helps for thicker fabric.