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You’ve likely noticed when shopping for a sewing machine that there are endless options. There isn’t one machine that is perfect for everyone. Artists, quilters, crafters, designers, and students all have different needs, and some have multiple sewing machines that serve different purposes. When deciding what machine to buy, ask yourself what you need the machine for. Will it make your craft easier? Do you have the space for it, and does it make sense financially? To help you decide if you have the best machine for what you want to sew, or whether you should add another machine to your sewing room, this roundup reviews different types of machines and whose needs they serve best.
The Brother SM1400 is lightweight, sturdy, and great for beginners and crafters. Weighing only 12 pounds, this machine is highly portable, whether you’re moving it in and out of a storage closet or taking it with you when traveling. The SM1400 has 14 built-in stitches including a buttonhole, automatic bobbin winding, and a backstitch lever. It has all the basic features one looks for in a beginner machine—and it’s affordable. (If you are just starting to sew and shopping around for the right machine, check out our article on the best beginner sewing machines here.)
The best machine for students and crafters is the Singer Heavy Duty. It is a workhorse that can sew through thick layers, and it won’t break the bank. And it’s versatile, sewing not only through denim and canvas but thinner fabrics as well, thanks to its adjustable pressure foot. At 15 pounds, the Heavy Duty is light and portable. It has 22 stitch options including a buttonhole and a backstitch lever, and if you need to sew quickly, this is one of the faster domestic sewing machines out there, throwing down 1,000 stitches per minute.
The Brother PE800 is great for artists, crafters, and small businesses. This single-needle embroidery machine does one thing only, embroidery, and is one of the most recommended machines of its type out there. The 17.6-pound PE800 comes with 138 preloaded designs and a USB port to upload your own designs. One of the most important features to think about before purchasing an embroidery machine is the hoop size; make sure your artwork will fit into the 5-by-7-inch hoop workspace. (If you require more space, read our recommendations for a broader selection of embroidery machine here.)
The professional sewing machine category lies somewhere between lightweight domestic models and heavy-duty industrial machines. Professional machines are great for designers, artists, and quilters. There are some great options in this niche category, but the Juki TL2010Q is one that stands out. It sews only a straight stitch but can handle heavy layers, making it great for crafting bags and quilts. The TL2010Q weighs 25 pounds, heavier than our first three recommendations but still portable. It has adjustable feed dogs and adjustable speed control, perfect for all the free-motion stitching of your dreams. It sews fast—1,500 stitches per minute—and has automatic thread trimming, knee-lift presser foot, and automatic needle threading. The TL2010Q comes with a walking foot and extension table.
The Juki DDL-8700-H is a powerful industrial machine that is great for designers and professionals looking to easily sew through anything including leather, canvas, and upholstery-weight fabrics. It is also impressive for garment making, can work around the clock, and sews much faster than the other machines on this list, achieving 5,500 stitches per minute. The DDL-8700-H has an automatic knee-lift lever and a separate automatic bobbin winder on the side. This machine is attached to its own table and weighs 57 pounds; you will not be moving it around easily!
If you are looking for your first overlock machine or you want to keep multiple sergers threaded in different colors, the Janome MOD-8933 is a great choice. It fits the bill for students and designers but can be used by anyone who wants the seams on their sewing projects to last longer and look professionally finished. The Janome MOD-8933 is affordable and easy to thread. It has a metal frame, quick change rolled hem, a retractable upper knife, and 3- and 4-thread stitch options. Wavy, uneven seams on knits will be banished because the Janome MOD-8933 has differential feed. This also means you will be able to create scalloped, lettuce-edge finishes and gathers when desired.
The Baby Lock Regent is a longarm machine for quilters looking to streamline their process. Longarms are very specialized sewing machines that load all layers of your quilt together and topstitch everything efficiently. (Yes, you can do what a longarm does on your home sewing machine, but the larger the quilt, the harder this becomes.) The Baby Lock Regent has an 18-inch throat space, a max sewing speed of 2,200 stitches per minute, external bobbin winder, and customizable speed control. Its LCD touch screen has a low-bobbin warning and a stitch counter and allows you to runs diagnostics. If you don’t have the budget or space for this costly, specialized machine, you can rent time on one at your local quilt shop or send your quilt out to be finished.