Mechanical vs Computerized Sewing Machines: Which Is Better? 

Thank you once again for your tutorial , interesting and easy to understand explanation , I have a hand crank Singer 15k, an electronic 20 yr old Brother & a small Elma Lotus electric machine which my mother had from new! I find I still use the Singer most on projects! I thank you once again because you have re kindled my interest in tailoring & household linen sewing!

Clearly the best answer to which one is Both. I have a semi computerized Pfaff, back when most parts and gears were still metal, and I won’t ever let it go, mostly because of its built in dual feed. But I also have and use some lovely vintage and antique Singers, including a treadle and a hand crank. Nothing beats the pleasant sound of a humming 201.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Mechanical machines are often stronger than computerized but the buttonholes on the more modern machines are my preference as opposed to built-in buttonholes or attachments. I like the manually powered machine - treadle, hand crank - because it can be a pleasant break from speed! Nice presentation - I enjoyed it a lot, especially the advice to get something you can grow into.

I would always choose a mechanical machine over a computerized machine. Always. They are much simpler to operate. But- I do look for as little plastic as possible. I have been given a Singer 15-88 treadle, and a Singer 201-2. Of course when you treadle you can control the speed, and I recently ordered a new electronic foot controller for the 201, made in 1951, and of course the speed is adjustable. My first machine was similar to the Touch and Sew shown here, but it came with a slow and fast speed setting which I used often. My 1990 Kenmore does everything I need to do to make clothing and home Dec. It has never required a shop visit, I do all maintenance myself and it's still sewing beautifully. Used versions are usually priced between $35 -$50. It stretch stitches and overcasts, eliminating the need for a serger. Computerized machines offer only 2 things that can improve the quality of your sewing. If you sew garments, a Computerized machine can offer higher quality and a larger variety of buttonholes. If you are a quilter, they offer a larger variety of decorative stitches and larger harp spaces. They have tons of gimmicky features, needle up/down, auto threading, built in walking foot, etc. All of which means there is more to break and go wrong increasing the cost of operation. Most require yearly servicing. And there is the hassle of learning to use their programs. Everyone needs a machine that is working properly. But the thing to remember us this: no amount of computerized gimmicks will take the place of actual sewing skill. A skilled sewist can always produce a high quality garment. The bells and whistles of a computer will not replace skill - at least not anytime in the near future.

Thank you, this was interesting. I have 3 machines, one mechanical, a Singer Heavy Duty, and a computerized, a Singer Patchwork and I have a very old Viking Prisma at least 30 years old. It was a "computerized", by putting these plastic cards on the front you could get different stitches. Not bad but also annoying. It still works. I take it out now and then just to keep it running and add a bit of oil, it does have the alphabet in 3 languages, English, Swedish and Norwegian as far as I can remember. It's very heavy my guess is that it weighs almost 30 pounds.

computerized one's are better especially if they have speed control and a start stop button.

You are talking about a really really old manual machine. I would rather you compare it to a Singer 201-2 that has a beautiful stitch. I just want to avoid adjustments ($100.00). My mom's 1945 singer was never serviced and was used over and over for twenty years.