This post contains affiliate links. For more information, visit my disclosure page.
- Best Overall
- Brother SE600 Embroidery Machine
- Built with a free arm
- Built in USB port
- Monogram software
- CHECK AVAILABILITY
- Premium Choice
- Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Sewing Machine
- High quality
- Mirror imaging
- 25 year warranty
- CHECK AVAILABILITY
- Great Value
- Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine
- Bright LED lighting
- Step by step tutorial
- Grand slam package
- CHECK AVAILABILITY
Are you a creative soul who dreams of personalizing his belongings, whether it’s clothes, linen, or home decor, with the most decorative applique? You should definitely try embroidery! It’s fun and easy to learn, and if you’re committed enough, can even be a full time business opportunity for you.
To help you on this journey, we have come up with a list of the 7 best embroidery machines for beginners, and we are also sharing with you a detailed buying guide on how to choose the best embroidery machine for you.
Top embroidery machines for beginners
Here are our top 7 picks for the best embroidery machine for beginners this 2021. We have included a detailed review of each machine, our favorite things about them, and all the important details you need to know!
Brother SE600 Embroidery Machine
Our top pick is the Brother SE600, an Amazon’s Choice computerized embroidery machine made by a trusted brand. It’s an excellent entry level machine that’s built with a large 3.2” touchscreen LCD display and a 4 by 4 inch embroidery field.
It’s a dual-purpose embroidery sewing machine that features an automatic needle threader and a jam-resistant drop-in top bobbin, as well as seven sewing feet, an embroidery arm, and a hoop. If you’re looking to get more into sewing, check out these best coverstitch sewing machines.
With this one, you can take your pick from a wide selection of built-in designs and fonts to create a perfectly personalized project, or choose from more than a hundred sewing stitches to sew clothes, crafts, and more.
- Amazon’s Choice embroidery and sewing machine combo
- Versatile and easy to learn/ use for beginners
- Built with a free arm and a bright LED lighting
- Built in USB port and access to iBroidery.com for more designs
- May be purchased with a monogram software
Product specs
Functionality: embroidery and sewing
Embroidery area: 4×4”
Fonts: 6 lettering fonts Patterns: 80 built-in (1000+ on iBroidery.com)
Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Sewing Machine
Ranking second is primarily a sewing machine that moonlights as an embroidery and quilting machine. It’s loaded with lots of easy to use features that let you unleash your creativity when it comes to embroidery, sewing, quilting, and beyond.
This high speed machine is built with an automatic needle threader and an easy to load top drop-in bobbin, and can perform up to 850 stitches per minute, so you can finish your projects in no time. Plus, it comes with 18 different presser feet to accommodate almost any type of sewing task.
The best part? You can have so much fun with the 600 built-in stitches, and even work on larger projects since this machine is designed with an extension table.
- Amazon’s Choice embroidery sewing machine
- High quality, versatile, and easy to use
- Equipped with mirror imaging and stitch elongation
- May be purchased with an accessory kit or scissor set
- Comes with a 25 year warranty
Product specs
Functionality: embroidery, sewing, and quilting
Embroidery area: not specified (comes with extension table)
Fonts: 5 alphanumeric fonts
Patterns: not specified
Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine
Taking the third spot is another amazing machine manufactured by brother, the PE800 embroidery machine. It’s also got a 3.2” touchscreen LCD display, but this time an even larger 5 by 7 inch embroidery field with a matching hoop included.
This monogram machine is equipped with 138 embroidery designs that include quilting and floral patterns, as well as 11 different fonts for lettering and monogramming, such as english, japanese, and cyrillic font styles, so you can stitch your name and more on almost any fabric.
You can even edit the patterns by rotating, resizing, or flipping the design image! This machine is also equipped with an automatic needle threader, and comes with a lot of extras such as obbins, needle set, a variety of other tools, and a dust cover. Plus, it can be purchased with a grand slam package containing all the accessories and embroidery patterns you could ever wish for!
- Easy to use embroidery machine
- Built in USB port and bright LED lighting
- Comes with a step by step tutorial and user’s manual
- Comes with a 25 year warranty
- Can be purchased with a grand slam package (CD with 15,000 embroidery designs, 64 embroidery threads, and other sewing accessories)
Product specs
Functionality: embroidery only
Embroidery area: 5×7”
Fonts: 11 monogram and lettering fonts
Patterns: 138 built-in designs
Singer Futura XL-550 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
Next up is the Singer Futura XL-550, an embroidery sewing machine that’s equipped with 215 sewing stitches and 125 embroidery patterns that you can even customize on your computer, such as by combining various designs and adding lettering.
This machine easily lets you be creative and add your personal touch on any type of clothing and other items, especially with its automatic needle threader, swift and smart threading system, drop in bobbin, and large sewing space.
The best part is it gives you a large embroidery field and a multi-hoop capability that lets you go as big as 18 by 11 inches, so you can create large designs with ease. It even comes with a variety of softwares to help you customize your designs!
- Versatile sewing and embroidery machine
- Large embroidery area with multi-hoop capability
- Comes with AutoPunch, HyperFont and Advanced Editing softwares
- Connects to PC via USB cable
Product specs
Functionality: sewing and embroidery
Embroidery area: 10×6”
Fonts: 5 outline lettering fonts
Patterns: 125 built-in designs
Janome Memory Craft 400E Embroidery Machine
Here we have another promising embroidery only machine that’s packed with an assortment of features, and comes with a large 7.9 by 7.9 inch embroidery field that gives you a wide range of possibilities when it comes to embroidery crafts.
It’s a great option for a mid range embroidery machine that rivals some of those top of the line models. It can sew up to 860 stitches per minute, making it a high speed machine that lets you finish projects quickly.
Plus, it’s also fully programmable, including the stitch, speed, trimming, and the embroidery format that you can edit on-screen on its full color touchscreen LCD display. All in all, it’s a versatile machine that gives you a great value for your money.
- Versatile mid-range embroidery only machine
- Built with an automatic needle threader and easy set bobbin
- Built in USB port for design transfer
- Designed with adjustable hoop positioning
Product specs
Functionality: embroidery only
Embroidery area: 7.9×7.9”
Fonts: 6 monogramming fonts
Patterns: 160 built-in designs
Brother SE1900 Computerized Embroidery Machine
Yet another worthwhile option is the Brother SE1900, which is a computerized machine that works not only for embroidery, but also for monogramming, sewing, and quilting. It’s professionally engineered yet easy to use, making it perfect for a beginner who wants to learn and expand his horizons.
You can create almost any project with its 240 built-in stitches, 138 embroidery patterns, and 11 monogramming fonts, which includes outlines, serifs, scripts, and sans fonts. Even better, you can save your customized stitch settings with the My Custom Stitch feature.
Finally, you can also edit your designs, combine designs and add lettering, choose your color palette and threads, make a variety of adjustments, and preview everything on the 3.2” smart touchscreen display.
- Versatile and easy to use embroidery sewing machine
- Programmable custom sewing stitch settings
- Built with an automatic needle threader
- Built in USB port for design transfer
Product specs
Functionality: embroidery, sewing, and quilting
Embroidery area: 5×7”
Fonts: 11 monogramming fonts Patterns: 138 built-in designs
Janome Memory Craft 500E Embroidery Machine
Last on this list is a promising embroidery machine that offers a wide range of functionality. It features a pretty large embroidery area, and comes with an extra wide working table, so you can easily craft large projects.
It’s an easy to operate embroidery machine that lets you reflect your personal style on your garments, accessories, and home decor items by embellishing them with your chosen design or monogram lettering. In fact, it even comes with 2 or 3 letter monogramming capabilities.
This machine is also equipped with advanced on-screen editing functions that enable you to create and customize designs directly on the machine, which you can preview through the touchscreen color LCD screen.
- Easy to use embroidery only machine
- Built in USB port for design transfer
- Comes with four embroidery hoops
- Comes with a wide variety of tools and accessories
Product specs
Embroidery area: 7.9×11”
Fonts: 6 monogramming fonts
Patterns: 160 built-in designs
Which of these do you like the most? If you’re not fully sold on any of these products, we recommend to also try Babylock embroidery machines. And if you’re having difficulty picking the right one for you, below is our buying guide to help you make the best decision.
How to choose the best embroidery machine
It can often be tough to make the decision of whether or not to purchase an embroidery machine, and if so, which one to get. We totally understand, since these things often cost a lot of money, and don’t appear to have a lot of uses apart from, well, embroidering a piece of cloth.
But, there’s actually so much more that you can do with one, and we assure you, it’s more than worth the investment. So, to help you out, here are all the things you need to know about embroidery machines, so you can make the right decision on buying the best embroidery machine for you.
How much is an embroidery machine?
In general, embroidery machines cost more than a typical sewing machine, and even more so if you get a high end one with a variety of purposes. The machines on this list are for beginners and hobbyists like you, and cost around 300 to 1000 dollars. Meanwhile, industrial embroidery machines cost upwards of $5000.
Now, while it may seem like a good idea to buy an entry level machine if you’re just starting out, if you have any plans on pursuing embroidery as a serious hobby or even a business, you’ll want to invest in a better machine that can grow with you and meet your demands.
Types of embroidery machines
As you can probably guess, there are many different types of embroidery machines designed for a variety of purposes, from home use to commercial use. We can categorize these types based on the machine’s design, and the kind of embroidery it’s equipped for.
Machine design
The machine design of an embroidery machine refers to how the machine is operated, what it can be used for, and how many needles it has. This mainly affects the machine’s productivity, usage, and price range.
- Single needle– the most basic embroidery machines are single-needle, which means they have a single head with a stationary needle and a moving embroidery arm. These machines are designed with a removable embroidery unit and a flatbed, and can be used for generic to intricate stitches. These are a nice option for shirts and other garments that require delicate embroidery work.
- Multi needle– on the other hand, more complex multi-needle machines are more equipped for a home business or even a large scale production, since they are high speed, as well as have more needles (4 needle to 10 needle options) and hoop attachment points. A hat embroidery machine usually falls under this category.
- Computerized– finally, there are computerized or combined machines, which function as both embroidery and sewing machines, and are designed with a variety of adjustable features and settings. These come in single-needle and multi-needle variants, and can be used for monogramming, patch making, quilting, and more.
Type of embroidery
The type of embroidery that an embroidery machine is capable of is important because this affects not only the price, but more importantly, how easy the machine is to use, how creative you can get with the designs, and how much you can do with it.
- Computerized– most modern and advanced embroidery machines, such as the ones you’ve seen on this list, are equipped with built-in patterns that you can use and edit, and these also let you create, upload, and save new designs as well as program settings. They’re somewhat expensive, and can connect to a USB or a computer.
- Free motion– meanwhile, if you really want to learn machine stitching and embroidery, a free motion machine gives you complete control when it comes to the stitch, needle, and design, so it’s a great option to learn and grow with while creating fully personalized patterns.
Embroidery supplies
It’s always nice to get an embroidery machine that comes with all the standard embroidery supplies you’ll need as a beginner, as long as the machine itself is high quality and the accessories included aren’t just there to make up for the machine’s lack of features. Most embroidery machines will at least give you the basics, so you can start using it right out of the box.
Aside from needles and thread, you’ll also want bobbins, spool caps, extra hoops, scissors, and other sewing or embroidery accessories. And if you’re getting a sewing and embroidery machine combo, then make sure you also get different types of presser feet.
Patterns
If you’re just starting out, you most likely will be dependent on ready made patterns, designs, and fonts to use as your guide, so you’ll need to look for a machine that has a wide variety of patterns for you to choose from, but more importantly, you need to check whether you actually like the designs you’re seeing.
That said, it’s also wise to go for a machine that easily lets you input other designs, whether ones you downloaded or your own custom patterns. Meaning, the machine should be able to connect to a computer, or better yet, have a USB port that enables a direct pattern transfer, and be capable of editing designs (or gives you access to an editing software).
Embroidery and sewing machine combo
Many embroidery machines nowadays are more like an embroidery sewing machine, meaning, they have various features that enable you to both sew and embroider (and qulit), and there’s little to no difference in price as compared to sole embroidery machines. These are built with the embroidery unit separate from the machine itself.
Hence, if you don’t have a sewing machine yet, getting a dual purpose machine like this one will definitely be a smart investment. And even if you do have a sewing machine already, there’s nothing wrong with having another one on standby, so you can use it when your original is under maintenance, or you can work on two projects at once.
Learning curve
Admittedly, this is quite a tough one. While it’s a wise investment to purchase a multi-purpose machine with a lot of features, it also tends to be more complicated to use, which poses a problem if you’re a beginner who doesn’t really know what he’s doing.
The thing is, single needle and mechanical machines are the simplest and easiest to use and learn with, although there’s a limit in what they can do. Meanwhile, computerized and multi needle machines are better in the long run. So, you need to find a good balance with a machine that you can start with but also grow with.
Size
An embroidery sewing machine comes in a variety of sizes, from small to industrial sized, and this largely affects what you can do with your designs. A mini machine will only give you roughly four square inches of embroidery field, so if you want to create bigger designs, go for a bigger machine, and more importantly, one that lets you use a variety of hoop sizes and shapes.
When it comes to how big of a design you can do with your embroidery machine, the maximum width is actually not the size of the embroidery hoop you’re using, but the distance between the body of the machine and the needle, so you’ll want a longer machine if you want to be able to make bigger and wider designs.
Final tips
To sum everything up, if you really want to find the best embroidery machine that will give you the best value for your money, it’s important to make sure that you check off all the must have features, and you factor in all the things we enumerated above.
Get yourself a machine that you can start and grow with- one that is high quality and durable, versatile, and comes with multi-purpose features.
Some of the most important ones include built-in fonts and patterns that you’ll actually want to use, compatibility with different design editing software, the ability to be fitted with a variety of accessories, and a large embroidery area and display screen.
