The Best Embroidery Machines of Sep 2023

Brother SE1800 Sewing and Embroidery Machine (Discontinued)

Update: The SE1800 was recently discontinued and no longer available. We recommend Brother SE1900. Links in this review redirect to the SE1900. Click here to read feeback from other SE1900 users or visit this link to check the most current price.

The Brother SE1800 is a combo sewing & embroidery machine. This machine is ideal for those who do embroidery as a hobby or those who want to run a home embroidery business. It is a single-needle machine with a 5” x 7” embroidery field.

It also comes with a 5” x 12” multi-position hoop, which lets you work on large embroidering without the need to stop and re-hoop.

What I like about this machine is how easy it is to set up and use. Even if you’ve never used an embroidery or a computerized model in the past, you’ll be turning out beautiful embroidery within a couple of hours of getting the machine. Read through the manual and you’ll be set up and ready to go in no time.

It comes with 136 embroidery designs pre-loaded on the machine and six different fonts for lettering. If you need additional designs, this machine gives you access to software with over 15,000 more designs, patterns, and characters. It even lets you make your own embroidery designs. You can then download the desired designs from your computer onto a USB stick and then transfer it to the machine. The LCD screen gives you some limited editing of designs. You can change the size, position, rotate, and mirror the design right on the machine’s screen.

And when it comes to sewing and quilting, this baby is a gem. It lets you make beautiful, clean, and smooth stitches. You can convert the am into a free-arm for some serious free-motion quilting.

SE1800 is one of the best quilting machines for beginners. It is easy to set up and easy to operate. Even those who have never done embroidery will be ready to go within a few hours of receiving the machine. And the fact that it is a combo embroidery, sewing and quilting machine makes it ideal for those wanting to get into sewing for the first time.

As a home embroidery business machine, it is an ideal machine as long as you are not getting huge orders. If that is the case, then you’ll be thinking of getting a multi-needle machine at a much higher cost. This machine is tough and produces A++ quality embroidery.

Whatever your reservations, you’ll fall in love with this machine and feel like you just paid Corolla price for a Ferrari. Everyone I’ve spoken to loves it, and it comes very highly recommended.

Update: The SE1800 was recently discontinued and no longer available. We recommend Brother SE1900. Links in this review redirect to the SE1900. Click here to read feeback from other SE1900 users or visit this link to check the most current price.

Brother PE770 Embroidery-Only Machine (Recently Discontinued)

Update: Brother has discontinued the PE770 so it’s no longer available. We recommend Janome Memory Craft 400E. It’s a high-quality machine with high ratings and a large 7″ X 7″ embroidery field. Its large full-color LCD touchscreen gives you plenty of on-screen editing functions and design previews. We highly recommend it so go check it out. Click here to check the most current price or visit this link for feedback from real users.

Brother is well-known and reputable when it comes to embroidery machines, so it’s no surprise my first two picks are this brand. That is not to say the others I’ve picked aren’t as good. It’s just that I can’t stick all of them at #1.

The PE770 is an embroidery-only machine. It is essentially the embroidery-only version of the SE1800 I reviewed above without the “grand slam package” (You can get the “grand slam package” version of the PE770 here).  It is an ideal machine for someone looking to embroider at home for family and friends.

This machine works perfectly for home embroidering but can also handle the workload of a small business. It’s not ideal for large orders because you won’t be able to sew fast enough to keep up with demand. For simple embroidery designs with fewer colors, it might just work for large orders, but for intricate multicolor embroidery designs, you certainly need a multi-needle machine.

The Brother PE770 is a single-needle machine with a 5” x “embroidery field, which should be enough to handle most embroidery works you’ll ever have to do. You will be able to work on large designs and even combine designs without the need to re-hoop.

The machine comes with 136 embroidery designs pre-loaded and six different fonts for lettering. If you need more designs, a USB port allows you to download embroidery designs from your computer onto the machine. It also has a card slot that lets you embroider designs from a Brother embroidery card. You can purchase the design cards separately.

It comes with an LCD screen that allows to you do some basic editing of designs such as resizing, rotating and reflecting the design.

Because this is essentially an embroidery-only version of the SE1800, you can consider the review above as a review of this machine as well.

You will have to buy separate hoops that will allow you to embroider caps and other pockets of already made clothes.

We placed this machine on the list because it is easy to use, affordable, and makes beautiful embroidery. Your projects will turn out great, and your customers, family, and friends will be unable to differentiate between your work and those made on a $5,000 machine. After you receive this machine, set it up and start embroidering. You’ll fall in love with it, and the recipients of your work will fall in love with whatever you make for them.

Update: Brother has discontinued the PE770 so it’s no longer available. We recommend Janome Memory Craft 400E. It’s a high-quality machine with high ratings and a large 7″ X 7″ embroidery field. Its large full-color LCD touchscreen gives you plenty of on-screen editing functions and design previews. We highly recommend it so go check it out. Click here to check the most current price or visit this link for feedback from real users.

Singer S10 Studio Embroidery Machine (Discontinued)

Update: Singer recently discontinued the S10 so it’s no longer available. We highly recommend taking a look at the Brother PE800. It’s one of the best out there for home and small business use. It features a 5″ X 7″ hoop, a large color LCD screen, a USB port, built-in memory, and many more features. Click here to check the current best price or visit this link to get feedback from real users.

This machine makes it onto my list due to its price and ample embroidery field size.

The S10 has features comparable to higher-priced machines. It’s ample 5.5” x 5.5” embroidery field size means you can work on large designs without the need to re-hoop often. It also has a 2” x 2” field for working on smaller designs. The size is big enough to let you work on almost any project you get.

The 55 pre-loaded embroidery designs mean you will be making awesome gifts for your children or grandchildren within minutes of getting this machine. And if you need additional designs, this machine comes with software that has over 2,800 ready-made designs to choose from. The software also has over 100 pre-made designs that you can edit to meet your specific needs. You can even make your own designs from scratch with the included software. You save the design onto a USB stick and transfer it onto the machine’s built-in memory via the USB port.

You also have a choice of three different fonts for lettering. And you can adjust the font size on the screen to suit your needs. Add beautiful borders to your projects with the 18 pre-loaded border designs.

The LCD screen allows you to do some basic editing. You can adjust the size, rotate, reflect, and even combine designs right on the machine’s screen. I love the “trace design feature.” What this does is to move the hoop to create the design outline at a press of a button. This way, you can see the position of the design before the machine fills it in. If you don’t like the position, you simply undo the outline and reposition it.

This machine is so easy to use even for someone who has never used an embroidery machine before. Read through the guidebook, and you’ll be set up and ready to go within a few minutes. And if you get stuck, there is a help button on the machine itself. Press this button, and you can access guides like how to thread the machine, how to insert the bobbins, how to change needles, etc. will appear on the LCD screen.

And it comes with features such as automatic threading, presser foot pressure sensor, and automatic thread cutter. The drop-in bobbin system makes it easy to insert the bobbin, and the transparent cover means you can easily see when you are about to run out of bobbin thread.

Singer S10 is one of the best machines because it is affordable, durable, makes beautiful professional-grade embroidery, and is very easy to use. And this machine will work as a starter option for a budget-conscious person who wants to start a home business until they start getting more orders. You will not have any problems with it, and you’ll not regret buying it.

Update: Singer recently discontinued the S10 so it’s no longer available. We highly recommend taking a look at the Brother PE800 embroidery machine. It’s one of the best out there for home and small business use. It features a 5″ X 7″ hoop, a large color LCD screen, a USB port, built-in memory, and many more features. Click here to check the current best price or visit this link to get feedback from real users.

Brother SE400 Sewing and Embroidery Machine (Discontinued)

Update: Brother has also recently discontinued the SE400. We highly recommend the Brother SE600 embroidery & sewing combo machine. It is a replacement of the SE400 and one of the best selling models out there. Visit this link to check most current price or go here to get feedback from real users.

I mentioned the Brother SE400 is one of the best sewing machines in my sewing machines review. Well, it turns out it is an excellent product as well.

The SE400 is a combo sewing & embroidery machine, which is excellent for the beginner sewing enthusiast. With this machine, you can embroider and sew beautiful items for your home, family, friends, and even customers.

It comes with a 4” x 4” embroidery field, which is smaller than the machines I’ve reviewed above. It might be big enough for your needs, but if you need to, you can purchase a larger hoop for larger designs.

Brother believes so much in the quality of this product that they are offering a 25-years limited warranty and lifetime phone support.

You can choose from 70 pre-loaded embroidery designs and 5 different fonts for lettering. The machine can connect directly to your computer via a USB cable allowing you to transfer embroidery design files onto your machine’s built-in memory.

This machine is not the best for a home embroidery business, but if you are on a tight budget, then this is an excellent starter machine.

I believe this is a sewing machine first and an embroidery machine second. It makes beautiful, clean, and smooth designs. However, the hoop size means you may find yourself working longer to complete projects that other machines will do much faster.

If you are a beginner hobbyist, then this is an excellent starting point to learn embroidery. The machine is easy to use with inbuilt tutorials and automated processes. You will be making beautiful items within minutes of reading the quick start guide.

Update: Brother has also recently discontinued the SE400. We highly recommend the Brother SE600 embroidery & sewing combo machine. It is a replacement of the SE400 and one of the best selling models out there. Visit this link to check most current price or go here to get feedback from real users.

Janome Memory Craft 200E Embroidery Machine (Discontinued)

Update: Janome has discontinued the 200E so it’s currently unavailable. We recommend Brother PE535, which is a highly rated and capable machine. Click here to read reviews from other users of this machine or click here to check the most current price.

For those looking for a good option for their home, the Janome 200E is one of the best for making home embroidery gifts for friends and family. Janome is well known as the company that first introduced consumer models. Before that, these machines could only be found in factories

The 350E is an embroidery only machine. It has a 5” X 5” embroidery field size, which is ample for most of the designs you’ll ever stitch. It is an easy-to-use machine suitable for the beginner sewing enthusiast.

You have 73 pre-loaded designs to choose from and three different fonts for lettering. There is a USB port that lets you copy designs from your computer and transfer them to the machine if you need additional designs.

There is a touchscreen LCD screen that lets you do some limited editing of designs such as resizing, rotating, and the entry of monogram lettering. Other features include auto-threading, auto thread cutter, high presser foot lift, 650 stitches per minute motor. The touchscreen is handy and guides you quickly through a lot of tasks.

The Janome 200E is purposely built to do just one job, which is to embroider. As a result, this little nugget produces end products that are comparable to much more expensive combo machines.

Update: Janome has discontinued the 200E so it’s currently unavailable. We recommend Brother PE535, which is a highly rated and capable option. Click here to read reviews from other users of this machine or click here to check the most current price.

What type is best for you?

There are many factors to consider before buying an one. The types of projects you do, whether you are a hobbyist, a serious enthusiast or a professional, will all affect the machine you end up picking.

But first, let’s take a look at the types of embroidery machines available on the market today. There are three broad configurations. These are:

• Single head, single needle
• Single head, multi-needle
• Multi-head, multi-needle

Single head, Single Needle Embroidery Machines

The single head single needle machines look just like your usual sewing machine having a flatbed bottom and a removable embroidery unit. It has a single sewing head with a single needle. This type is relatively easy to use and often a starting point for beginners. Some are computerized to help in creating more intricate designs.

During embroidering, the single head machine’s needle remains stationary, and the embroidery arm moves to create the desired design. There is only a single point of hoop attachment. The hoops are usually smaller than that of a multi-needle and typically range from 4 X 4 inches to 8 X 12 inches. Single needle models often have speeds ranging from 300 to 1000 stitches per minute.

The main plus of this machine is that it is easy to use and great if you are just a hobbyist who enjoys making embroidery items for friends and family.

However, this type of machine is not the most efficient if you sew as a source of income. Let me explain what I mean. Let’s say you decide to start sewing to earn extra income or as your primary source of income. You’ll find yourself having to embroider several of the same patterns and have to change threads each time you come to a new color stop. This is not an efficient way to work on embroidery projects.

Another drawback to this type of machine is that there are limitations if you want to hoop ready-made accessories and garments. Take the pocket of a tote bag, for example. If you’re going to embroider the pocket, you’ll most likely have to remove it, embroider it and sew it back onto the bag. This is because of the flatness of the machine’s bed and limitations on the hoop. You’ll agree that this is not the most efficient way to work.

If you only sew for a few people, then this type of embroidery machine is best for you. However, if you want to embroider and earn an income from it, this is not your best option. You’ll need a multi-needle option.

Multi-Needle Models

For those who run a sewing business from home or are serious hobbyists and crafters, a multi-needle is a game-changer. This type of machine is a perfect tool to have for anyone who wants to complete larger projects in a faster time.

There can be up to 10 needles on this type of machine, and each of the needles can hold a different color of thread. This means that you don’t have to stop embroidering and change threads when you need to work with a different color thread like you would on a single needle machine.

You’ll often find 2 points of hoop attachment on a multi-needle embroidery machine. It usually has larger hoop sizes ranging from 4 x 4 inches to 14 x 14 inches. You can expect speeds between 400 to 1000 stitches per minute and much higher speeds for heavy-duty models.

The main advantage of this type of machine is that it finishes multi-colored embroidery patterns faster, easier, and with a higher degree of precision than single-needle machines.

This machine also comes with the ability to add additional hoops, which make it easier to embroider on the pockets of apparel and bags, the leg of a pair of pants, sleeves, etc. And you won’t have to destroy any seams to achieve this.

This type of machine is also a favorite for embroidering on hats.

There aren’t any negatives with this type of machine. Perhaps the only thing you’ll complain about is the cost. It is more expensive but worth every penny if you consider what you can do with it. A lot of complex tasks can be completed at just the press of a button.

There are commercial, single-head, and multi-needle machines that have more than 10 needles. These often have larger sewing fields in terms of both depth and width.

Multi-head, multi-needle.

The last type of is the multi-head, multi-needle machines. If you embroider hats a lot, then  this type is the only way to go.

These are commercial machines and very expensive. They are usually made up of many embroidery machines hooked onto a single unit. This allows you to work on multiple projects at the same time.

If you work on large orders or simply want to have a much faster machine, then a commercial model may be the only way to go. It may be expensive to purchase but will pay off big in the long run.

So, in conclusion, if you only do the odd embroidery from home as a hobby, then the right model for you is the single-head, single-needle machine. But if you start sewing and embroidering to earn extra income, or work on large quantities of embroidery, then a multi-needle embroidery machine is your best option. If you also want to embroider in unusual places such as pockets, inseams of pants, sleeves, and hats, then a multi-needle machine is what you need.

Tips for Picking The Best Embroidery Machine For Your Needs.

• Brand: What embroidery machine brand should you get? In general, most of the name brand machines are well built. Perhaps the most well-known sewing machine brands are Brother, Singer, Janome, Juki, Babylock, Tajima, Barudan, and Bernina. All of these brands produce quality embroidery machines. A good brand will provide excellent customer service, multi-year warranty, and after-sales support.
• Purpose of the machine: Are you buying a machine to use at home or for business. If you want to earn income from your embroidery work, you should consider a commercial machine. They are designed to be workhorses that can hand large amounts of work and continues use.
• What functions do you need? Are you looking for a computerized option with loads of automated processes, or are you looking for a mechanical embroidery machine? Modern embroidery sewing machines come with many functions such as automatic threading, automatic thread cutting, presser foot sensors, bobbin winding, etc.
• Throat Width Size: A lot of modern machines come with throat widths that rival those of long arm machines. This gives you a lot of room to maneuver your work during sewing and allows you to work on larger fabrics. You might want to consider a machine with a lot of throat room.
• Standalone or Combination? Some come with an embroidery unit that can be detached from the machine’s body when not in use. These types of machines are combos. You can sew, embroider, and quilt with one machine. So you’ll have to consider if you want an embroidery alone machine or a combination machine. If you already have a sewing machine, then there might be no need to get a combination machine.
• Hoop Size Choices: It will have multiple and large hoop sizes. Machines that have small hoop sizes (less than 300 X 300) will significantly limit the kind of “hooping” you can do.
• Accessories: A good machine will have the ability to take on a wide array of accessories. It can even accept attachments from other brands. The more accessories you can add on to the machine the better
• Built-in embroidery designs: Most modern embroidery machines come with built-in designs. Some have hundreds of embroidery designs that are pre-loaded on the machine. Some machines do not allow the ability to add your own designs to the memory of the machine. They should have computer connectivity so you can add your own designs or premium embroidery designs that you can buy or download from the internet. At the very minimum, you should be able to add designs via a USB memory stick. Some will even allow you to manipulate embroidery designs directly on the machine’s LCD screen.
• Design Software: Some brands offer design software that allows you to create and digitize your own designs and then transfer them to the machine. Some machines only accept designs from their proprietary software. The top embroidery machines should allow you to add designs bought from the internet or those made with other software.
• Support: Some machine brands offer special classes to machine owners where they are schooled on the various functions of the machine. Some even offer advanced embroidery and stitching classes to owners. The top machines will have a good support system that teaches you everything you need to know about your new machine.
• Warranty & After Sales support: A good brand believes in the quality of its products and will offer a warranty that reflects that. Look for multiple years of warranty and excellent after-sales support. There should be parts readily available should you need them. And a telephone support service is essential.

How much should you expect to pay?

I know we are living in tough economic times, and most of us do not have disposable income lining our pockets. However, an embroidery machine can be a significant investment, so it is important to get the best. And to get the best, you should expect to pay higher than average for it. Let’s look at it this way, would you want to buy a cheap machine that breaks down in a few months or will like the one that can last for more than 10 years.

I know we have become a society that has gotten used to throwing things away and getting a new version of the same product year after year. But an embroidery machine doesn’t work that way. For the best multi-needle computerized versions, you should expect to pay upwards of $10,000. A single-needle will cost $500 to $10,000. A decent professional commercial option can cost upwards $20,000. What you get in the end will depend on your budget, the purpose of buying the machine, and the type of machine you want. Our advice? Avoid cheap machines.