The Best Embroidery Machines
If you feel you've mastered embroidery by hand and want to expand your base of operations, an embroidery machine might be exactly what you need. With a machine, you can achieve more precise lines than possible by hand. Not to mention, embroidery machines considerably speed up the process and allow you to create more designs in less time. To help you choose the right embroidery machine for you and your experience level, we've assembled this list of our favorites. Keep reading to find out more.
What To Look For
The embroidery machines that we use today are far more advanced and computerized than the ones many of us used to learn. While these improvements are exciting and conducive to creativity, they can also make the shopping process more confusing. To put things simply, the most important factors that separate the wheat from the chaff are ease of use, precision, and a reliable LCD. Considering that, we believe Brother’s SE600 is the best of the bunch. This reasonably priced machine features an automatic jam-resistant needle threader and an efficient color LCD touchscreen for viewing your designs before they’re in place. On the other hand, if you’re a professional in need of something more customizable, Brother’s SE1900 might be the pick for you. This impressive embroidery machine comes loaded with 138 built-in designs for you to replicate and 11 unique fonts to experiment with. Check out the rest of the piece to see what we love about our other top picks.
Brother SE600 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
Patch things up
If you’re looking for an affordable embroidery machine that can help expand your woven horizons, Brother’s SE600 should definitely pique your interest. This machine features an automatic needle threader and drop-in top bobbin to help hold your seams together. The SE900 also has a built-in LCD touchscreen that allows you to scroll through 80 premade designs that can spark your creativity. What’s more, this powerful machine can operate at 710 stitches per minute.
Pros:
- Features 103 built-in sewing stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- Includes six unique embroidery lettering fonts
Cons:
- There may be a slight learning curve to understanding all of this machine’s features
AGM Portable Embroidery Machine
Get your feet wet
There’s no doubt that embroidery machines are cost-prohibitive to many folks. However, affordable models like one this from AGM make the prospect of embroidery much more viable. Ideal for beginners, this embroidery machine features an intuitive LCD screen and a detailed accounting of each stitch selection on the front side of the machine. We also appreciate the thread tension regulator and handwheel that you can use to adjust the tightness of your stitches.
Pros:
- Excellent low-budget alternative to pricier models
- Multiple embroidery accessories and machine maintenance tools included
- Adjustable foot presser included
Cons:
- The LCD is not a touchscreen
Brother SE1900
Expert embroidery
If you’re an experienced embroiderer looking to take your workflow to the next level, Brother’s SE1900 might be exactly what you need. This advanced embroidery machine boasts a litany of features and innovations to liven up your projects and simplify the stitching process. With 138 built-in designs to use as jumping-off points, this machine has plenty of options to get your creative juices flowing. We also appreciate Brother’s inclusion of 10 styles of auto-size button holes.
Pros:
- Large color touchscreen included
- Features an advanced automatic needle threader
- Includes 240 built-in sewing stitches
Cons:
- Considerably pricier than comparable alternatives
Brother PE535
Create more
If you thought every embroidery machine was out of your price range, Brother’s PE535 is here to make you question that assumption. This reasonably priced machine offers many of the same features that considerably pricier alternatives have. With a compact 4- by 4-inch embroidery field, this machine is ideal for creating small crafts such as patches and buttons. What’s more, the PE535 includes a USB port that allows you to upload your own design schematics for viewing on the LCD touchscreen.
Pros:
- Includes built-in fonts in English and Japanese
- Considerably more affordable than many of its competitors
- The LCD touchscreen can streamline your workflow
Cons:
- It doesn’t have as many built-in designs as similar embroidery machines
Brother PE800
Sew true
Starting from scratch on a new embroidery project can feel daunting at times. Luckily, Brother’s PE800 features 138 built-in designs that you can view on the LCD touchscreen and implement into your work. These premade designs range from colorful floral patterns to cute depictions of animals. What’s more, the PE800’s USB port serves as a simple way to upload your own designs into the machine’s hardware. We also appreciate the large 5″ x 7″ embroidery field.
Pros:
- Large embroidery field
- Plenty of built-in designs to choose from
- Straightforward setup process
Cons:
- We wish the touchscreen had a higher resolution
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between embroidery and sewing?
While embroidery and sewing utilize similar processes, they create vastly different results. Sewing is the process of stitching thread together to create a new garment. Embroidery, on the other hand, is all about adding ornate decorative flourishes to already existing garments. Differences aside, any aspiring fabric aficionado should work to master both practices in order to create vibrant, detailed garments.
Can I sew with my embroidery machine?
No, because embroidery machines serve an entirely different function than sewing machines. With an embroidery machine, you’ll be able to create patches and add decorative details to your garments. However, these machines will not enable you to sew a shirt into existence, for example.
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