The best sewing machine overall
The Singer Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine only has 23 stitches — 6 basic, 12 decorative, 4 stretch, and a 1-step buttonhole — but it's a workhorse with its heavy-duty mechanical design.
It has the ability to make 1,100 stitches per minute so you can complete your projects faster. The top drop-in bobbin is easy to insert, and the clear cover allows you to monitor how much thread is left. The built-in needle threader is also convenient for effortless threading with minimal frustration.
The kit comes with a soft-sided dust cover, auxiliary spool pin, spool pin felt, screwdriver, bobbins, needles, quilting guide, seam ripper/lint brush, and all-purpose, zipper, buttonhole, and button sewing feet.
Wirecutter recommends the Singer Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine for beginners and casual sewers because it's affordable, can handle an array of fabrics, and is easy to use. It found that a beginner could sit down and use this machine without spending much time reading the manual. It also makes excellent buttonholes perfectly sized for your button. However, the reviewer points out that there only appear to be two speeds, fast and slow. And, the machine gets quite noisy.
Sew Orbit and Best Sewing Machine for Beginners Today blogs also recommend this machine.
More than 2,600 Amazon buyers posted positive reviews of the Singer Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine. One customer, at first, initiated a return because he had trouble getting the thread tension right and experienced countless bobbin jams, even though he watched several video tutorials. After some more research, he learned that it works well when he uses the felt bobbin spacer, only uses plastic bobbins, and threads it correctly.
Other buyers were impressed with how durable this machine feels and how it can handle heavy-duty fabrics, such as leather and vinyl.
Pros: Achieves up to 1,100 stitches per minutes, handles heavy-duty fabrics, easy to use, makes great buttonholes, affordable
Cons: Only two speeds and 23 stitches
Buy the Singer Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine on Amazon for $134.99The best computerized sewing machine
The Janome 7330 Magnolia Computerized Sewing Machine features a small backlit LCD screen that lets you choose from 30 stitches, including 6 one-step buttonholes. Using the touch buttons, you can also see what stitch length and width you've selected. There are convenient buttons for tying off the end of the thread, reversing direction, and starting/stopping.
This machine comes as part of six different kits, and the price is currently the same for all of them. So, before buying, take a moment to find the kit that is best for your needs. For instance, I would recommend going with one of the bundles that has a tote case if you plan on moving your 7330 around regularly.
The Janome 7330 is one of the most highly rated machines on the comprehensive expert site Erin Says Sew. The reviewer appreciates that the bobbin is jam-proof and top-loading. Also, she was impressed with how one can start and stop sewing with the push of a button, rather than relying exclusively on the foot pedal. However, she would have preferred more decorative stitches, a dust cover, and adjustable presser foot pressure.
Grandma Likes to Sew found that this is a terrific unit for sewers of all levels. The reviewer liked the superior stitch-work and how durable and reliable the 7330 is.
About 93% of the people who reviewed the Janome 7330 on Amazon gave it a positive rating (4 or 5 stars). One user said the machine runs quietly, can handle several layers of heavy fabric, and has automatic button sewing. Yet, after five years of use, she was only able to figure out how to use the buttonholer attachment after stumbling upon a YouTube tutorial.
Another buyer commented that she uses the machine on a daily basis, and the 7330 was instrumental in her starting a sewing blog and hobby business.
Pros: Useful for sewers of any skill level, runs quietly, durable, automatic button sewing
Cons: Only 30 stitches
Buy the Janome 7330 Magnolia Computerized Sewing Machine on Amazon for $449 (originally $599)The best quilting sewing machine
What makes the Brother CS6000i Sewing and Quilting Machine special is the extras and the number of stitches it can handle.
First of all, the oversized table attachment is designed for quilting and other larger projects. There are also eight quilting feet to choose from. You can store your CS6000i in the included hard protective case. There are 60 stitches to choose from on the LCD screen, including 7 buttonholes. Brother backs the quality of this unit with a 25-year limited warranty.
Good Housekeeping recommends the Brother CS6000i as a good computerized sewing machine for beginners. The reviewer found it to be easy to transport and use. They also liked how the add-on wide table worked well for larger quilting projects.
Grandma Likes to Sew recommends this unit as one of the best values for your money. The reviewer noted that the auto-threading, pedal-free sewing, and speed control were easy enough for beginners to use. Sewing from Home suggests buying the CS6000i for quilting projects because the foot holder quilt guide, wide table, and the spring-action quilting foot all lent themselves well to quilting projects.
There are more than 5,800 5-star reviews of the Brother CS6000i on Amazon. Numerous of them use this model for making apparel, handbags, accessories, and other projects as part of their sewing business.
Many buyers were impressed with the number of stitch options they get with such an affordable machine. Another popular feature is the effortless threading of the bobbin and needle. The only common complaint was that the highest speed is not particularly fast.
Pros: 60 stitches, comes with a wide table attachment, easy threading of the needle and bobbin, 25-year limited warranty
Cons: Some complaints about the tension
Buy the Brother CS6000i Sewing and Quilting Machine on Amazon for $142.99The best luxury sewing machine
The Janome DC5100 Computerized Sewing Machine is great because it has 167 stitches that you can select and edit on the control panel. Among the stitches are five one-step buttonholes and every letter of the alphabet.
This computerized machine also has enough memory to store up to 50 patterns so you can easily duplicate a project. The kit comes with 11 presser feet, extra needles and bobbins, and a carrying case with a handle so you will have everything you need to get started out of the box. You just need to buy some thread.
Wirecutter recommends the Janome DC5100 as the best sewing machine for intermediate sewers. The reviewer found that it can handle everything from delicate clothing projects to heavy curtains and quilts.
Of the dozens of units Erin Says Sew tested, this machine is one of only three to receive a perfect 5-star rating. She recommends this unit because she found the motor to be incredibly powerful and the array of stitches to be unique and helpful. The only negative she noted is that there is only one font for monogramming, and it isn't particularly exciting.
One Amazon buyer noted that she is able to use the DC5100 while her baby is sleeping, whereas her old machine would inevitably wake the baby up. The main complaint is that the letters are somewhat sloppy looking.
Pros: 167 stitches, powerful motor, handles a broad array of fabrics, well-written user manual
Cons: Expensive, unimpressive and non-adjustable font
Buy the Janome DC5100 Computerized Sewing Machine on Amazon for $649The best portable sewing machine
For its price, the Brother HC1850 Computerized Sewing and Quilting Machine has an impressive selection of features. You can use this unit to monogram letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and even some non-standard characters. The stitches include 8 auto-buttonhole styles, 12 heirloom stitches, 94 decorative stitches, 14 quilting stitches, and 42 garment construction stitches.
Like the Brother CS6000i, the HC1850 is great for quilting and comes with a spring-action quilting foot, detachable wide table, and the ability to do free-motion quilting. Plus, the kit includes bobbins, needles, spool caps, a seam ripper, instructional DVD, eight presser feet, and more.
Good Housekeeping recommends the Brother HC1850 because it comes with an easy-to-follow instructional DVD that shows beginners how to get started. It found that it was light and portable enough to bring along to classes. However, it note that the sewing speeds are fairly slow.
Quilter's Review recommends this unit because it balances affordability and features quite nicely. The reviewer was impressed with how simple it is to thread the needle, but she warned against using it for serious quilting because of the small neck and the presser feet don't rise enough for thicker quilts.
Approximately 88% of the people who reviewed the Brother HC1850 on Amazon gave it 4 or 5 stars. One buyer wrote that it's her third sewing machine and her favorite. She uses it for embroideries, quilting, and sewing. She is disabled and found it fits her needs thanks to the foot pedal-free use and light weight.
Another experienced sewer was impressed with the embroidery stitches this unit produces. The biggest complaint is with the 25-year warranty, which buyers found misleading. One buyer was disappointed when hers stopped working after a year and Brother would not replace it.
Pros: Only weighs about 10 pounds, 130 built-in stitches, comes with an instructional DVD
Cons: Runs slow, misleading warranty, doesn't come with a case or cover
Buy the Brother HC1850 Computerized Sewing and Quilting Machine on Amazon for $179.81
