Where To Buy Sewing Machine
Brother sewing machines have cutting-edge technology and features, all while being easy to learn and easy to use. Generous lighting, large touchscreen displays, and tons of ergonomic features make Brother machines easy and comfortable for quick fixes and long projects.
where to buy sewing machine
With a host of new sewing, quilting, and embroidery innovations, wireless LAN capabilities for increased efficiency, and app-based features for your mobile devices for expanded productivity, the Luminaire 3 Innov-ís XP3 will help you achieve perfection in every stitch.
With an all-metal chassis and up to a 25-year warranty on select models, your Brother machine is built to last. Each machine is built by hand by Brother employees in Brother-owned facilities so we can ensure that every machine meets our high standard of quality and reliability.
In preparation for writing this guide, I spoke to several sewing professionals to get their advice and personal requirements for a good machine. This group included sewing teacher Léana Lu of SewLeana, professional tailor and jeans-making queen Lauren Taylor, tailor and workwear designer Kelly Hogaboom, sewist and accessibility advocate Samantha Waude, and sewing-ergonomics expert Rose Parr.
To assemble an initial list of models for potential testing, I consulted recommendations from publications such as Good Housekeeping and The Strategist, scoured Reddit and the forums on PatternReview.com, looked at reviews from Amazon and Joann customers, and polled sewing friends near and far, in person, over email, and on Instagram, where the modern sewing community is alive and well. I also asked sewing machine manufacturers about their best sellers and fan favorites.
For this guide, we focused on machines that cost $500 or less and were simple enough for beginners to use but had features and options that more advanced sewists might be able to take advantage of. We also prioritized versatility, seeking out flexible machines that could work well on a variety of fabric and project types.
Adjustable needle position: This feature allows you to move the needle off-center (to the left or right) while straight-stitching, which is helpful to get professional-looking edge stitching and essential for precise stitch placement on tiny surfaces as in lingerie sewing or detail work.
Thorough manual: A great manual is clearly written, offering general use instructions, troubleshooting tips, maintenance guidelines, and advice regarding what stitches to use when. Be wary of machines with skimpy or poorly written manuals, since they probably portend other issues with support down the road.
Built-in needle threader: Most machines come with a built-in needle-threading mechanism to save sewists the often frustrating work of grappling with the tiny eye. However, in practice, some of these mechanisms are fussier to use than just doing it yourself. Still, if you have poor eyesight, a good needle threader can be a huge help, no matter how finicky it is.
The 2017 update to this guide included testing of seven models. In 2022, we tested 12 machines, including our former picks and new contenders. Six of the machines were mechanical and six were computerized, and they ranged in price from about $150 to $500.
In updating this guide, I put our 12 candidate machines through their paces and came out the other side with a dress, a jumpsuit, an athleisure ensemble, a backpack, a tote with many useful pockets, a pair of overalls, a quilt, and a pile of finished mending and alterations that had been staring at me pleadingly from their basket of shame for far too long.
Extensive testing in such practical applications helps reveal quirks that might not present themselves in quick run-throughs of comparison tests, as in the case of the machine that started stitching just fine on a quilt sandwich (not a snack, but actually the term for batting between layers of quilting cotton) but soon began making a horrible banging sound as it stitched. (It could quilt, yes, but it was absolutely making its complaints known to the management. It would rather not.)
If you purchase your machine through a dealer, you may miss out on some discounts or extra-fast shipping and convenience, but dealer machines often come with classes, tune-ups and other servicing, or other perks in exchange for buying directly. Plus, by visiting your local dealer, you support local businesses and have the opportunity to try a machine out before you buy it.
The Brother CS7000X seems almost too good to be true thanks to its combination of a reasonable asking price, a wide variety of computerized stitches, reliably excellent performance, an impressive range of accessories, and a surprisingly compact footprint (just 16 by 8 inches, in its included hard cover). All together, these things make it an easy recommendation for anyone looking to pick up their first sewing machine.
Like the CS7000X, the Quantum Stylist offers several helpful accessibility features, including a speed-control sliding switch, the ability to turn off beeping sounds, adjustable contrast for the LCD screen, and a start/stop sewing button, which allows sewists to use the machine without a foot pedal.
Note that the Quantum Stylist 9960 is virtually identical to another Singer machine, the Singer 8060. According to Singer, the only differences lie in a few accessories that come with one machine but not the other. Specifically, the Quantum Stylist comes with a straight-stitch/patchwork foot and seam guide, while the 8060 does not. And the 8060 comes with a quarter-inch foot and spool pin felt pads, which the Quantum Stylist does not. If you care deeply about one or more of those accessories, your choice should be simple; if not, buy whichever model is cheaper.
There are a few other popular stitches, including the lightning bolt stitch (great for sewing knits in a more subtle line than a zigzag stitch) and the triple stitch (which is often used for seams that bear heavy loads). Less commonly used stitches include decorative shapes (like flowers and leaves) and alphabets, which can be handy for quilting or pieces where you want to mimic embroidery.
When setting a budget for purchasing a sewing machine my best advice is always to choose quality over bells and whistles. Of course, that will depend on your budget which ultimately determines the features that are available to you.
If you have a very small budget, look for a great deal on a quality used machine. Find a dealer who takes trade-ins; they will have done a thorough maintenance on a machine and will give you a small warranty plus a class on operating the machine. If you need a machine that has a heavy-duty motor or some high-end features this might be a good route to take.
At the core of sewing, you really only need two stitches to sew well: A Straight Stitch and a ZigZag Stitch. Almost all sewing can be accomplished with either of these stitches. That said, there are a few additional stitches and/or stitch features that I believe make sewing a little bit nicer.
Many machines will come with all of these feet, however, lower priced machines might not have access to a larger variety of specialty feet. More expensive machines will have a better selection. Another thing to check on is the price of accessories and feet. Some manufacturers charge $30-$50 for their feet.
One of the greatest benefits of a computerized machine is the motor. Because computerized machines are usually higher priced, they tend to have high-powered motors that are ideal for heavy-duty projects.
I always recommend that you purchase a machine locally and develop a relationship with your local dealer. If they are a quality dealer they will match you with the right sewing machine. A good dealer will have an excellent service department that will keep your machine in top shape for many years to come.
Before heading out to shop for a sewing machine, I recommend you do some research on various manufacturers. Knowing a little about the company that manufactures your sewing machine will help match you to the right machine and allow you to make the most informed decision.
I've been sewing for 30 years and one of the reasons I love it is because of my sewing machine. As a theatrical costume maker, I've made everything from heavy corsets and hoop skirts to whisper-thin chiffon dresses and elegantly tailored suits.
I tried a lot of machines before I landed on a second-hand mechanical model that I bought 20 years ago and still use today. If you're just starting out, it's important to find an easy-to-use machine that does the kind of sewing you want, whether it's quilting or simple repairs. No matter how much you might like to sew, struggling with an unresponsive or frustrating machine can turn it into a terrible chore.
That's why I used my own experience, consulted three experts, and tested four machines to evaluate the performance and ease of use for each one. You can check out my full testing methodology below, along with tips on how to shop for a machine.
If you wanted to start a project right away, you could do it without looking at anything besides the Brother CS7000X's Quick Start Guide. This is a great, easy-to-use, beginner-friendly machine with a lot of features that advanced and tech-adverse sewers will appreciate too.
It also has a lot of extra features that make sewing easier for beginners and advanced sewers like the needle up/down button, which allows you to move the needle in a single step. The machine can also be programmed to your preference, so you can set the needle to default to the left or center while sewing, or have the needle stop in the up or down position, which is a great feature to sew sharp corners more easily.
Beginners will especially appreciate that the machine gives a small beep if they're about to commit a user error, like forgetting to push the buttonhole lever down before trying to sew a buttonhole. I also liked the speed control, which tells the machine how fast or slow you want it to go, so you can use slower speeds for more careful work or faster speeds for zipping along straight lines. 041b061a72