Buying a new embroidery machine but don’t quite know where to start? If so, you’re in the right place.
In this article, I’ve reviewed some of the best embroidery machines in the market. I’ve also included a buyer’s guide to help lead the way to your next purchase. Ready to get stitching? Let’s get started!
Top 6 Embroidery Machines Worth Your Attention
Embroidery machines aren’t cheap, which is why I’ve compiled six of the best units that are worth every penny. Whether it be for hats, monogramming, home, or business, I have a machine for you!
1. Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine – Best Embroidery Machine for Home
Hearing the brand Brother in the world of sewing and embroidery immediately exudes a sense of quality trust. It’s been around since the early 1900s, and since then, the company has amassed thousands, if not millions, of dedicated customers worldwide.
One of Brother’s well-known embroidery machines is the PE800, primarily because of its versatile and durable nature. It comes with multiple features, including a large, 3.2” LCD touchscreen display, a USB port to upload the patterns of your choice, and a memory function that lets you save your designs.
However, even without the USB stick and integrated onscreen embroidery editing, the PE800 comes with 136 different built-in designs, including quilt patterns, florals, and scrollwork. It also has 11 fonts and letterings, seven of which are English, three in Japanese, and one Cyrillic. This makes it ideal for monogramming.
If you’re not so fond of the designs that come with the machine, why not upload your own? The PE800’s USB port allows you to upload and add your embroidery patterns via a memory stick. You can even edit the designs using the machine’s software tool yourself! This freedom gives you virtually unlimited design options to embroider.
The PE800’s hoop size isn’t the largest in the world, only 5” x 7”. Despite that, it’s still enough to create and stitch large designs with relative ease.
Pros
- Includes a full starter kit so you can immediately start embroidering designs
- Ample after-purchase support, including over-the-phone customer service, online technical support, and a 25-year warranty
- Quick stitching of 650 stitches per minute
- Relatively easy to use
Cons
- Can be loud for some users
>> Click here to see it on Amazon
2. Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9850 – Best Embroidery Machine for Home Business
The Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9850 is one of the most user-friendly machines I’ve had the pleasure of working with. It has an incredibly accurate stitch quality, it’s extremely quiet, and it doesn’t vibrate.
Plus, it’s built not only for embroidery but for standard sewing, as well! It can even handle large quilting projects.
This machine is ideal for professionals who take embroidery seriously, i.e., business owners and the like. Although it comes with a hefty price tag, the features it comes with will overwhelm you (but in a good way)!
It features 200 built-in stitches,170 embroidery designs, on-screen editing, and a programmable stitch skip. With all these functions, it’s clear that the Craft 500E is designed to give its users the most of their creative freedom.
It also has a USB port feature that allows you to upload your designs directly to the machine if you have a particular pattern you want to recreate.
Despite it being filled to the brim with features and functions, it’s surprisingly easy to use. It also comes with four hoop sizes, with the largest being 6.7 x 7.9”. Most machines I’ve come across only have one or two hoop sizes available, which can limit the size of the designs you want to embroider.
Pros
- Onscreen editing
- Has a larger-than-average embroidery area of 5.5 x 7.9”, making it ideal for big projects
- Straightforward and easy to use
- Bright LCD touch display that allows you to zoom up to 20%
Cons
- Not the most affordable
- Doesn’t come with a cover case
>> Click here to read more reviews on Amazon
3. Brother SE1900 Sewing and Embroidery Machine – Best Embroidery Sewing Machine
Like the Memory Craft 9850, the Brother SE1900 is another dual-purpose machine that allows you to sew and embroider.
It comes with 240 different types of built-in stitches, 138 embroidery designs, ten buttonhole styles, and 11 lettering fonts. With so many options, it’s no wonder that most professionals use this machine for their home business.
When it comes to the embroidery hoop, its 5” x 7” field is large enough to create bigger-sized designs. I also like that Brother included seven different sewing feet to use for every occasion, including zigzag foot with spring action, blind stitch foot, monogramming foot, and much more.
Plus, unlike other computerized machines, the SE1900 is entirely free-motion, which allows you to be creative with your sewing projects, quilting, and embroidery. And, finally, you won’t ever have to struggle with tedious threading sessions with the help of its automatic needle threading option.
Pros
- Large embroidery area for more elaborate designs
- Fast 850 stitches per minute
- User-friendly LCD touch screen that allows easy editing
- Free-motion sewing allows you to create more elaborate designs
Cons
- Isn’t compatible with other hoop sizes; not even with smaller hoops like other machines
>> Click here to read more reviews and see the price on Amazon
4. Brother SE600 Sewing and Embroidery Machine – Best Embroidery Machine for Beginners
If you’re just entering the world of sewing and embroidery, you’ll need a machine that’s functional and relatively easy to use. This is where the Brother SE600 comes in.
The SE600 has a 4” x 4” embroidery hoop, 103 built-in sewing stitches, 120 frame pattern combinations, 80 built-in embroidery designs, and six lettering fonts. For a beginner, that’s more than enough to start experimenting with multiple designs and sewing options.
On the off chance that you’re not fond of the built-in designs, the machine itself is computer compatible, meaning you can import designs directly from your PC.
Included in the package are seven sewing feet to choose from and all the accessories you need to start stitching. This includes scissors, needle sets, bobbins, spool caps, and more.
To further add to its user-friendly design, you can directly watch a step-by-step tutorial on the machine’s LCD. It includes helpful tips and easy to follow instructions, a beginner’s dream!
If that’s not enough, this machine also has an automatic needle threader. This is greatly useful as you wouldn’t have to thread the needle manually. Plus, it has an LED light that’s especially helpful when working in low-light conditions, dark fabric, or both.
Pros
- Perfect for beginner embroiderers due to its straightforward, user-friendly design
- Automatic thread cutter and threader
- Allows you the freedom to upload, customize, and save your designs
- Dual-function is greatly useful for those who are looking for a 2-in-1 embroidery machine
Cons
- Small embroidery area
- Not the best for monogramming
>> Read more reviews on Amazon
5. Brother PE535 Embroidery Machine – Best Embroidery Machine for Monograms
Monogramming is one of the oldest and most popular kinds of embroidery. Because it’s so high in demand, monogram designs are a sure-fire way to win business and send your profits soaring. With that said, you need a machine that’s up for the task, a machine like the Brother PE535 Embroidery Machine.
The Brother PE535 is one of the most powerful machines on this list. Chock-full with features, this unit has 80 built-in embroidery stitches and 10 frame patterns. It also has 9 unique font styles, 6 English and 3 Japanese, making it ideal for monogramming jobs.
If you’re not too keen on the fonts it comes with, that’s not a problem! Its USB port feature allows you to upload and save some of your own embroidery designs to use for later.
Pros
- The built-in walking foot is helpful when sewing through multiple layers, slippery fabric, or monogramming
- Bright LED lights to help you see better in low-light conditions and darker fabric
- Ample designs to choose from
Cons
- Small embroidery hoop, only 4” x 4”
6. Brother PE550D Embroidery Machine – Best Embroidery Machine for Hats
If you’re fond of embroidering designs on hats, you’ll surely love the Brother PE550D Embroidery Machine. Along with 125 built-in designs, 45 of which are Disney themed, this machine has six English and three Japanese fonts that’ll look great and subtle on a hat.
Similar to all the Brother embroidery machines I’ve reviewed, the PE550D comes with a USB port and a 3.2″ LCD touchscreen. Its embroidery field isn’t super large, only 4″ x 4″, but it’s large enough to embroider hats of any size comfortably.
Furthermore, it also has a built-in memory card that allows you to import or upload designs either by the internet using the machine or a USB flash drive.
Pros
- High-quality Disney designs to embroider on hats
- Easy to set up and operate
- Bright LCD touchscreen makes it easy to view and edit your pattern of choice
- Automatic thumb and needle threader
Cons
- Small embroidery hoop
>> Read more reviews on Amazon
Sewing Machines vs. Embroidery Machines: What’s the Difference?
Sewing machines and embroidery machines are often used interchangeably, primarily because they both use the same principle technology of thread being looped together. The truth is, they’re two completely different machines that utilize completely different equipment and skill set.
In a nutshell, sewing machines are used for regular stitching. In contrast, as the name suggests, embroidery machines are used for artistic embroidery—the craft of creating raised ornamental-like designs on woven fabric or material.
The easiest way to differentiate the two at first glance is by looking at the machine’s presser foot.
A sewing machine has a presser that’s flat and glides on top of the fabric as you maneuver it. On the other hand, an embroidery machine is around a presser that sits atop the fabric and stretched in an embroidery hoop. This prevents the presser foot from popping up while stitching complex designs.
Types of Embroidery Machines
Since its creation in 1848, several embroidery machines have been produced. Knowing the types of embroidery machines available in the market will greatly help you find the right piece of equipment for you and your project style.
Free-Motion Embroidery Machines
Free-motion embroidery machines are what you’d commonly find in homes and small businesses. They’re also what most beginner embroiderers use because these machines allow users to be in complete control of stitching and direction. This opens a world of creative possibilities and experimentation.
Expert embroiderers recommend free-motion embroidery machines. This is because it’ll “force” you to improve your overall skill set in sewing. It also teaches you to utilize other techniques such as quilting and thread painting in the process.
Plus, they cost significantly less than computerized machines!
Computerized Machine Embroidery
The modern embroidery machine is almost exclusively used and designed for embroidery. These machines can be programmed to do many complicated stitches. More advanced models have various needle positions to choose from and an automatic thumb and needle threader.
On top of that, they also give you the chance to store your designs for later use, with some already pre-loaded with popular designs.
Other automatic features include a bobbin winder, thread cutter, tension adjustment, and much more. They even have an auto-tying function that secures the ends of the seam.
Although they’re costly, they save embroiders—especially professional embroiders—a ton of time when designing a particularly large project. Plus, they create extremely precise stitching patterns, which give the end product a more “cleaner” look.
Computerized embroidery machines come in two options: single-needle or multi-needle.
Single-Needle
Single-needle or single-head embroidery machines look a lot like regular sewing machines. As the name implies, these machines only come with a single head that comes attached with a needle, thread, bobbin, and other metal parts.
Most single-needle machines are dual purpose; they can both sew and embroider.
Multi-Needle
Multi-needle embroidery machines have several heads that hold needles, typically four to eight. Each of these needles can be threaded with several colored embroidery threads, which saves you the hassle of rethreading the machine every time you change the thread color. Instead, you can simply change to a different head.
Although more expensive, multi-needle machines are often preferred by professionals because they stitch faster and have a more reliable tension. This gives them a lower chance that the cloth being embroidered will get caught up around the machine.
Unlike single-needle machines, multi-needle machines are single purpose.
Factors to Consider Before Buying an Embroidery Machine
Embroidery machines are available in a variety of formats, with some packed with features that’ll make even a professional’s head spin.
Whether you decide to purchase a mechanical or computerized embroidery machine, here are some factors to consider to find the best unit that suits your needs.
Hoop Size
Most home embroidery machines come in a 4” x 4” or a 5” x 7” hoop. This is sufficient if you like to do monogramming and simple designs, or if you just want a taste of embroidery.
However, if you want to embroider the entirety of a jacket’s back or a large quilt, for example, you’ll need a hoop size of at least 6” x 10” to 7” x 12”.
Closely consider what type of project you’re going to work on, then choose the appropriate hoop size for the task.
If in doubt, it’s better to choose the biggest hoop you can afford. This is because if your machine’s field is 4” x 4”, you won’t be able to attach a large hoop even if you somehow manage to connect it to your machine. Bigger hoops give you the freedom to do smaller designs if you so desire.
Stitches Per Minute
If you’re a beginner or someone who embroiders just for fun, a machine with a single needle is sufficient.
For most home businesses, however, time is everything. Therefore, if you’re starting an embroidery business, it’s worth considering the number of needles your machine has, including the number of stitches it can create per minute.
Embroidery machines with multiple needles are highly convenient because they save you time from changing the thread’s color. The stitching speed of a machine also affects how fast you complete your customer’s orders.
Multi-needle embroidery machines can run at a speed of 400 to 1,000 stitches per minute. Furthermore, when compared to single-needle machines, the multi-needled ones can hold up to two points of hoop attachments.
This feature allows them to have a versatile range of selections when it comes to embroidering hoops onto your clothing.
Connectivity
If you’re not too happy with the designs that come with the machine, most units allow you to download and/or purchase additional designs online or on a card/disc.
Regardless, some embroidery machines have better connectivity than others.
Quality models come with a USB port, which allows you to import the designs you want to use. Others have an SD card socket or PC connectivity feature that’s greatly helpful for customers who come in with a picture of a design that’s difficult to recreate without the help of a guide.
Ease of Use
This might come as an obvious statement, but you should always choose an embroidery machine that matches your skill level. It might be tempting to buy a 10-needle computerized embroidery machine with a ton of features, but they won’t be of any use if you don’t know where to start.
For beginners, we recommend opting for a mechanical or a single-needle computerized machine, as they’re easy to use and will teach you the basics of pattern creation. Once you’ve completely mastered the concept of embroidery, you can move on to more advanced machines.
If you decide to buy an advanced machine from the get-go, it may be a great idea to partake in embroidery classes beforehand. Doing so will allow you to learn the basics first. Afterward, you can start using your machine once you fully understand how the standard versions look.
Design Editing
This part is entirely optional but extremely useful nonetheless. Higher-end models offer a design editing feature that allows you to completely alter or manipulate your embroidery design before the needle touches the machine. You can do this with the built-in software it comes pre-installed with.
Machines with digitized software are typically more expensive than the alternative. But in exchange, you’ll be able to improve your skills further. It’ll also expose you to the creative freedom that isn’t available in cheaper models.
Fabric You’ll Be Embroidering
Just like standard sewing machines, some embroidery machines are more powerful than others. While some can stitch through stiff hats and/or denim jackets like butter, others struggle to push through fabric that’s a quarter-inch thick.
On top of that, you may require a specialized machine to embroider a non-flat garment, like baby jumpers and the like. You’ll be able to know what type of fabric the machine you want to purchase can embroider by checking the “recommended fabric” section on the unit’s manual.
Resources
Some dealers offer classes and/or a detailed instruction manual as part of the purchase. Other brands may have educational videos and online projects you can follow to help you discover and understand all the features included in the machine.
It may come as inconsequential at first, but it’ll be significantly helpful when you’re stuck in a particularly challenging project that your machine can’t quite finish.
The machine’s warranty also matters. You never know when your unit would suddenly stop working, so being able to send it off to a licensed company for repairs is greatly useful. Well-known embroidery machine manufacturers, like Brother, have a warranty of 25 years.
Final Thoughts
My personal choice for the best embroidery machine is hands down the Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine, as it can be used for both beginners and professionals alike. Plus, the freedom it gives to you to create and upload virtually endless embroidery designs in the machine is certainly a huge bonus.
If you’re a home business owner who has a ton of orders to complete in a short period, I highly suggest the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9850. It has a large embroidery hoop and a ton of beautiful designs to choose from, making it suitable for practically any project under the sun.
I hope this article helped you find the best embroidery machine that suits your budget and needs, whether for home or business!