Sewing machines are also a way to speed up your sewing, meaning you can do a lot more. Ideal for anyone starting to sell their embroidery, for example. But equally useful for a large family with lots of clothes to adjust or repair. Or indeed, for creating an entirely new outfit from scratch using raw materials. The best sewing machines can be a superb way to get creative, allowing thrifters to pick up used clothes and then redesign them - adding their own flourishes and touches to give the items new life. Sewing has recently seen a surge in popularity – and as such brands are offering more and more new models with greater features to help them stand out. All that means there are more options than ever before. So how do you pick the right one for you? Read on to find out. Also, if you enjoy crafts then you should also check out our guide to the best die cutting machines (opens in new tab).
1. Singer Stylist 7258: Best sewing machines top pick
Singer Stylist 7258 is the best sewing machine for most people. It comes programmed with 100 different stitch patterns, including six different styles of buttonholes, so you have a lot to pick from, whether it’s a basic straight stitch or something decorative. All the stitches are preset in the machine, but you can also alter the width and length manually on the sewing machine’s LCD screen. This computerized sewing machine has integrated speed control along with a stop/start button, so you don’t have to use the pedal at all if you don’t want to. It can reach a maximum of 750 stitches per minute, which isn’t the fastest, but it’s not far off. It has a little bit of a high-pitched motor and can be on the noisy side. It might not be the quietest sewing machine, but the teal color on the front of the machine is a nice design element that makes the Stylist 7258 stand out. Along with a lot of stitch patterns this machine has a sewing light, thread cutter, instructional DVD, soft case for storage, automatic needle threader and a whopping nine extra sewing feet. Other sewing accessories like a seam ripper and extra bobbins are also included. That’s a lot for your money, which is part of the reason why the Singer Stylist 7258 is the best sewing machine we reviewed.
Read the full Singer Stylist 7258 Review (opens in new tab)
2. Brother ST150HDH: Best heavy duty machine
The Brother ST150HDH has a clear display and a smooth dial to choose from its 50 stitch options. 50 stitches is a somewhat small selection when you compare it to the other sewing machines we reviewed, but for day-to-day tasks you’ll find this sewing machine more than capable. This sewing machine has a free arm, so you can use it to sew cuffs and collars easily and evenly. It also has five button options and a generous seven-point feed dogs display that will pull the fabric through the machine with minimal guidance. The Brother ST150HDH is a computerized machine, and it has a great backlit LCD display that will allow you to customize and control your stitch size and dimensions. The stitch key is hidden away at the top of the machine, which means the appearance of the Brother ST150HDH is uncluttered, but you may find it tricky to switch stitch in a hurry. That’s a matter of preference though, so if you don’t mind the flip-out display, it’s a great choice.
Read the full Brother ST150HDH Review (opens in new tab)
3. Singer Quantum Stylist 9960: Best computerized sewing machine
The Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 has an unbeatable amount of stitch patterns on offer. In fact, we’d be surprised if even the most advanced sewist used all 600. The machine is immensely smart. It has decorative stitches that display on its clear LCD display and up to 18 buttonhole options. You can choose the right one for you with this digital machine. If you like to take your sewing machine with you on the go, the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 has a weight of 20 pounds, so it’s not your best bet. It does have an attachable extension table that will offer you a clearer view if you’re working on large projects. If you do have a large task at hand, you’ll also be grateful for the 850-stitch-per-minute capabilities. The Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 is immensely capable. It has a huge range of presser feet attachments included, with an all-purpose, zipper, buttonhole, button sewing, blind hem, satin stitch, open toe, overcasting, darning and embroidery, and rolled hem foot, and that’s not all.
Read the full Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 review (opens in new tab)
4. Juki HZL-LB5100L Best sewing machine for beginners
The Juki HZL-LB5100 is the best sewing machine we reviewed for beginners. It’s one of the easiest machines you can use, and we found it a delight to use. The stitches are all automatic, meaning you won’t have to adjust the tension and stitch width when changing the stitch. This is perfect for beginners who haven’t mastered the complex workings of more advanced machines. The Juki HZL-LB5100 has 100 stitches to choose from. To use the different preprogrammed stitches, you simply reference the stitch key on the front of the machine. Then you change the number on the LCD screen to match the kind of stitch you want. Along with extra accessories like bobbins and a lint brush, this sewing machine comes with five extra sewing feet and an instruction DVD you can follow along with if you’re new to the hobby. You won’t need all of these as a beginner, but it goes to show that this machine will work for you even as your sewing skills advance. One element that won’t advance with your sewing skills is the rate of stitches per minute, which tops out at 700. That’s one of the slower machines we tested, so you may find it a little more cumbersome with large tasks. We also encountered minimal problems in our tests across a range of fabrics when testing the Juki HZL-LB5100. It didn’t pucker on thick fabric like denim, and although it struggled with satin, we did find that this was common across all the machines we used.
Read the full Juki HZL-LB5100 Review (opens in new tab)
5. Brother XR9500PRW: Best for experienced sewists
The Brother XR9500PRW is an immensely powerful sewing machine. It has 100 stitch patterns, as well as 55 built-in alphanumeric stitches and eight styles of auto-size buttonholes. These, as well as the width and length of your stitches, can be adjusted on the computerized LCD screen on this capable machine. This machine comes with a hard case, and weighs just shy of nine pounds, meaning it’s great for taking on the go if you need it for work. The flip-stitch guide is great for quilting, and all of these stitches are displayed on the front of the machine. The machine is quiet, and its instruction manual is very helpful. Some of our tests proved tricky with the Brother XR9500PRW. It’s a great machine, but it does take some adjusting to. Particularly when sewing on denim, this machine was a little tricky to use, so beginners may find it a bit temperamental if they don’t understand the difference that adjusting tension and stitch dimensions can make.
Read our full Brother XR9500PRW Project Runway Review (opens in new tab)
6. Singer 7640 Confidence: Best sewing machine for making clothes
We love the Singer 7640 Confidence for large projects and clothes making. It has 200 stitches to choose from, and you can easily adjust this as well as the width and length of your stitch with the easy touch buttons on the front of this machine. This machine comes with an extension table that allows you to see the bigger picture as you work on large-scale projects, and it’s easily removed for smaller tasks. This is a reasonably priced machine when you consider just how many features are on offer. The computerized Confidence 7640 has automatic stitch settings, but one downside to this machine is the location of the stitch key. Instead of listing them right on the front of the machine, they’re on a separate card, which is a little inconvenient. Aside from that, it has several great features like a sewing light, extension table, thread cutter and automatic needle threader. It comes with nine extra sewing feet, including an even feed walking foot, saving you money. Speed control is also built into the machine, along with a start/stop button so the fabric you’re working on won’t get away from you if you press too hard on the foot pedal. The Singer 7640 Confidence does 750 stitches per minute. That’s not loads - in fact, it’s one of the slowest machines we reviewed. Every time you start sewing though, the first couple of stitches are slow to ensure an accurate line. This sewing machine put out 69.3 decibels of sound at full speed, so it wasn’t the quietest but it also wasn’t the loudest we tested. The alphanumeric stitches really make this machine stand out and can be entered into the machine’s memory. Essentially, you can program the machine to sew out a sentence while you sit back and watch. This Singer can sew so many different stitches, you’re never going to run out and it’s all-around easy to use.
Read our full Singer Confidence 7640 Review (opens in new tab)
7. Singer 4423: Best cheap sewing machine
Sewing an incredible 1,100 stitches per minute, this mechanical sewing machine has some serious muscle. During our tests we tried sewing through four layers of denim on this machine and it worked just as well as on two layers of cotton. The Singer 4423 only has 23 stitch patterns, but if power is your priority then you don’t need hundreds of frilly stitches. We noticed some puckering while working with satin but overall this machine works really well, it just lacks some of the fancier features of computerized models. All that power means this sewing machine is by no means dainty: it hit 71.4 decibels sewing at its fastest, the loudest of the machines we tested. However, this sewing machine is ideal for your heavy duty sewing projects.
Read our full Singer 4423 Heavy Duty Review (opens in new tab)
8. Janome JW8100: Best compact sewing machine
The Janome JW8100 is a fantastic sewing machine for those with limited space. It’s compact but capable, and you can add buttons with this sewing machine’s three different styles of buttonholes or hem skirts and pants with commonplace stitches. While you’re sewing, tap the needle placement button to send it to either its highest or lowest point, making for tight turns and secure stitches. The stitch key doesn’t come on the front of this sewing machine, meaning you could lose it if you don’t keep it in the accessory drawer on the front of the arm attachment. As well as a free arm option, this sewing machine also comes with an extra wide extension table attachment. You get four extra sewing feet and a handful of sewing accessories as well, and a hard cover for when you need to store your machine when it’s not in use, making the Janome JW8100 sewing machine worth its slightly higher price tag.
Read our full Janome JW8100 Review (opens in new tab)
9. Brother HC1850: Best sewing machine for quilting
Those with a love of quilting will enjoy the Brother HC1850, but we don’t love its somewhat outdated-looking design. While it looks a little old, it has a modern computerized design that won’t disappoint. The Brother HC1850 has all 185 of its stitches displayed on the front of the machine itself, and it’s easy to decipher and program your stitch of choice on the LCD screen. The 185 stitches on offer include alphanumeric options, as well as decorative styles. For monogramming and quilting, as well as creating fabulous garments, it’s more than capable. The Brother HC1850 comes with a bunch of extras including a hard protective case, wide table, seven sewing feet, a variety of needles, and four bobbins for running multiple projects simultaneously.
Read our full Brother HC1850 review (opens in new tab)
10. Juki HZL-355ZW-A: Best mechanical sewing machine
The Juki HZL-355ZW-A is an easy-to-use sewing machine with a simple design. It’s not computerized, but for those seeking a traditional mechanical model, it’s a good option. This machine does cost a similar amount as computerized sewing machines, which for the comparably scant offering of stitches and speed, isn’t exactly a selling point. If the price is right for you though, or if you see it on sale, this is a great choice. With a carry case and sweet pink and white design, this would be a great starter machine for teens and new sewists. The Juki HZL-355ZW-A has 26 stitch patterns and everything you need for most projects, including a buttonhole option and stitches for blind seams. If you work on garments, you’ll make good use of the free arm design, but it doesn’t have an extension table for large projects. The Juki HZL-355ZW-A goes up to 750 stitches per minute, which isn’t the fastest machine we reviewed, but it’s also not the slowest by any means.
Read our full Juki HZL-355ZW-A Review (opens in new tab)
How to choose the best sewing machine
There are a lot of sewing machines out there and picking the right one for you might seem like a daunting task. The best way to decide is to break down the features and decide which you need and which you don’t. Then you can get all you could want without having to break the bank in doing so. We’ve laid out all you need to think about below so you can find the best sewing machine for you.
Stitching patterns
Stitching patterns is one of the first figures you’ll see on the spec sheet of any decent sewing machine. This is because it can limit or free up your creativity. The most basic is a straight line pattern but then you get designer options that help you add flair to your finishes. It can also help beginners create an even more pro-level finish without much extra effort. Essentially, you’ll want to think about the patterns you use, those you want to learn, what you have on your clothes now, and how many combinations you plan to use.
Computerized or mechanical operations
There are two categories you’ll spot sewing machines fall into: manual or automatic. Most now offer a combination of the two, allowing you to use the convenient automatic features when you need. But this also frees you up to go manual if you fancy trying your hand at more control over your end results. If you’re a beginner then you’ll definitely want to go for a machine with automatic settings as an option.
Space
The best sewing machines aren’t necessarily the biggest. So don’t pick larger, based on expectations. Rather, work out how much space you have to spare and then begin picking within that limit. You may find you end up with a perfect fit that does all you need and without costing too much. There are smaller portable models too, if you plan to move about a bit. But these can cost more for that portability - so if you don’t need it then save money and go for less mobility instead.
Price
Price can determine what you get in terms of features to play with. That said, if you’re not going to use all the features of a high-end machine then there is little point wasting extra money on one. Premium stitching patterns will cost you more, so be sure to plan ahead if you think you’re going to need these, perhaps as you progress. Of course the amount you’re going to use it is also important. Spend more on a premium brand and you’re going to have it last longer despite lots of use. According to a representative for JOANN Fabric & Craft Stores (opens in new tab), you should test drive any sewing machine before you buy it. “The sewing machine needs to work for what the customer wants to do, and be easy for them to understand,” they said. “Metal inner parts are best as the machine is less likely to break and will run more smoothly. However, other factors should be based on personal preference.”
