Whether you love knitting, sewing or embroidery you’re bound to have a little craft center in your home. It might just consist of a
craft table with all your threads and beads stored there, or you might have gone the extra mile and got yourself a
dress form to really show off your creations. Whatever your situation, an embroidery machine is bound to be a welcome addition to your personal creativity area.
If you love embroidery, but don’t have the time to hand stitch, an embroidery machine is what you should buy. An embroidery sewing machine is quite similar to regular
sewing machines, with the key difference between the two being that the latter allows you to create beautiful embroidery designs with less effort. However, buying the best embroidery sewing machine is not the easiest task, considering the market is literally brimming with options. So, if you’re not sure about which machine is right for you, our embroidery buying guide should be of great help.
Some embroidery machines can be used for both embroidery and sewing machine tasks so if you don’t currently own a sewing machine, buying a combination model is highly recommended. First thing to consider is, of course, what you’ll be using the embroidery machine for: business or personal use. Business embroidery or large-scale embroidery should be done on a robust machine, one that offers superior stitch speed and a large embroidery area.
Embroidery machines, whether big or small, are often a sizable investment so it’s best to go with a top name brand such as Singer or Brother. These esteemed brands not only offer you excellent customer support, but most of their products are backed by an impressive warranty (some as long as 25 years). Next, and regardless of the price of the embroidery sewing machine, it must be outfitted with essential features such as bobbin winding from the needle, automatic thread cutting, and a needle threader or pressure sensor.
If you’re going to be creating large embroidery designs, look for a machine that offers a large throat space aka harp space (the amount of space between the needle and machine body). As mentioned earlier, some embroidery machines can be used for sewing tasks as well so if you plan on doing both, this type of machine is probably ideal for you.
Embroidery hoops are an important tool for achieving stunning embroidery results. Many of the best embroidery machines come with a variety of embroidery hoop sizes for a larger embroidery field. Lastly, consider the number of embroidery designs built into the machine; it’s even better if the machine allows you to connect to a PC or load designs from a thumb drive.
Price
As with most products, the price of embroidery sewing machines will depend on the features it comes with. You can always skimp out and invest in a cheap product, but take note that lower-priced embroidery machines usually won’t be able to satisfy novice embroidery needs. The price of most high-end embroidery machines includes a wide range of accessories such as a drop feed, which can spike up costs if bought separately. There are several budget-friendly embroidery machines that offer excellent features such as a large hoop size, high stitch speed, and a whopping 25-year warranty, making it a great choice for both novice and seasoned embroiders.
For quick reference, a cheaper embroidery sewing machine will do most of the essentials such as having the basic stitches, sew a wide range of fabrics, and some may even come bundled with a few accessories. This range of machines is ideal for those just getting their feet wet with the art and those who don’t have the budget for a higher-end model.
A middle-range embroidery sewing machine will be outfitted with a large number of designs and embroidery capabilities such as an automatic needle threader. And lastly, a sewing embroidery machine loaded with all the bells and whistles is for the serious embroiderer. High-end features within this range include a large touchscreen and a plethora of designs to choose from.
Features
Embroidery sewing machines can be found in several different sizes and features. The more the features, the higher the price; hence it is important to choose a machine that has all the essentials for your needs.
The list of features that can be found in an embroidery machine is rather extensive, but here are a few that will help both novice and seasoned create basic embroidery.
- Ability to connect to PC to upload and download designs or be preprogrammed with embroidery designs
- Stitch speed of at least 350 stitches per minute
- Computerized operation
- Warranty of at least 5 years
- Great customer support should you need it
- Large harp space or embroidery area
- Designed for all skill levels
After considering the features of an embroidery machine, it’s wise to get a feel for its construction—such as its weight—so that you can move it around should you need to.
Construction and Design
Most embroidery machines weigh less than 50 pounds, depending on what components are attached to it. In order to create large embroidery designs, look for a machine that has a nice-sized multi-position hoop. Although not essential, it’s nice to have an onsite touchscreen that lets you view designs as you embroider and indicate when it’s time to switch threads. And if you’re going to be creating a wide range of designs, large and small, look for a machine that has a generous embroidery field or workspace.
Performance and Ease of Use
Some sewists may disagree, but it is highly recommended that you check the respective embroidery machine’s user-friendliness before making an investment. Both beginner and professional embroiderers should look for ease-of-use in locating and selecting the embroidery designs. Also, it is highly recommended that you choose a machine that is fitted with a USB port in order for you to transfer designs back and forth. If you like to add pizzazz to your embroidery designs and want to take your creativity to a whole new level, invest in a machine that includes monogramming and lettering fonts. This feature will help you personalize several items including cushion covers, napkins, kitchen towels, and similar objects.
Embroidery is not a cheap hobby and in fact many people use this form of art to run a business from home. Although Brother and Singer offer the best embroidery-specific models, we did additional research to uncover three more embroidery sewing machines from top name brands worth exploring. When shopping for an embroidery sewing machine, the model you choose is purely based upon your budget and the scope of your projects. To ease your buying decision, here are the top 5 choices, including a few models that come bundled with a wide range of accessories.
Shopping for an embroidery sewing machine can be an overwhelming task, but we hope that our research and reviews have proved useful in making the best choice.
