Design My Costume

A wad of lint killed my first sewing machine. This simple schedule for cleaning, needle changes, oiling and yearly service keeps a home machine running smoothly for years, and it takes only a few minutes a month.

A rotary cutter is cheap and quiet, but a cutting machine wins when you need the same shape many times. I compare both, plus how accurate cutting cuts wasted fabric, to help you pick the right tool for your projects.

Should you buy a sewing machine, an embroidery machine or a combination unit first? Here is how I decide, from hoop size and stabilizer to running costs, so you never pay for features you are not ready to use.