6 Best Embroidery Machines, According to Sewing Experts
Bring your custom designs and stitches to life with these top-tested machines.
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Adding custom designs to clothing can be a time-consuming process, but not with the help of an embroidery machine. Whether you’re new to embroidery or you’re a seasoned crafter, these machines make personalizing jeans, T-shirts and accessories with intricate stitching easier than by hand. While embroidery machines still require practice and patience to master, they’re a great tool to invest in if you want to elevate your designs.
Our Top Pick: Brother SE2000 Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine. This machine impressed our pros with its intuitive controls, big touchscreen and larger than average embroidery area. We love that its easy to operate and that designs can be uploaded wirelessly.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, our DIY pros recently tested 13 sewing machines and embroidery machines. To find top-performing machines that are both user-friendly and capable of advanced customization, we evaluated machines for everything from performance to ease of use and features. Here are our top picks.
Brother SE2000 Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine
Pros
- Large 5" x 7" embroidery area
- Can upload designs wirelessly or via a USB port
- Touchscreen to adjust designs
Cons
- Newer model with fewer reviews
Weight: 38 lbs (with all included accessories) | Built-in designs: 193 designs and 13 fonts | Ability to upload custom designs: Yes, wirelessly or via USB port | Machine type: Single needle
Both an embroidery and sewing machine, this pick from Brother is top-rated for a reason: It's easy to use thanks to the clear controls like a big touchscreen, automatic thread cutting, speed controls and needle up/down — plus, all the accessories you need to get started. The large 5" x 7" embroidery area accommodates a wider range of design sizes and you can easily upload designs wirelessly.
GH analysts appreciate how intuitive Brother sewing machines are to operate, finding them easy to operate the automatic needle threader and wind the bobbin. Note that this is an upgraded model from the popular Brother SE1900 sewing and embroidery machine, so it has fewer online reviews.
Pros
- Easy-to-follow controls
- Affordable price point
- Variable speed settings
Cons
- Smaller embroidery area
Weight: 26.3 lbs | Built-in designs: 80 designs and 6 fonts | Ability to upload custom designs: Yes, via USB | Machine type: Single needle
For around $500, this Brother sewing machine with embroidery options is an absolute steal. With a clear LCD screen, an easy drop-in bobbin, variable speeds and free motion sewing capabilities, it has everything you'll need for sewing and embroidery projects alike. While the 4" x 4" embroidery area is on the smaller side, it has 80 built-in designs, plus a USB port to upload custom images. Our pros found the provided instructions easy to follow, making it the perfect buy for a beginner.
Pros
- Bluetooth capabilities with app
- Massive embroidery workspace
- Includes four different hoops
Cons
- Expensive
Weight: 47.6 lbs (with all included accessories) | Built-in designs: 534 designs and 30 fonts | Ability to upload custom designs: Yes, wirelessly or via USB port | Machine type: Single needle
Boasting a massive 10.1-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth capabilities, this luxury embroidery and sewing machine from Baby Lock has everything you need to handle all types of sewing projects including four different hoops. GH analysts were impressed with its IQ Intuition Positioning App to wirelessly upload custom designs to the machine with ease.
The huge workspace accommodates hoops up to 9.5" x 14" for larger embroidery designs. The touchscreen is easy to navigate and customize any included designs. With excellent ease-of-use features, like automatic thread cutting and tie-off, this machine also works beautifully as a sewing machine.
Janome MB-7 Seven-Needle Embroidery Machine
Pros
- Included accessories such as storage and an embroidery table
- Independent bobbin winder
- Bright LED lights
Cons
- No sewing capabilities
Weight: 50 lbs | Built-in designs: 50 designs and 10 fonts | Ability to upload custom designs: Yes, via USB port | Machine type: Multi needle (7 needles)
If you're capitalizing on the current embroidery trends and selling your designs on Etsy or other online sites, this multi-needle embroidery machine from Janome is worth the investment. You can thread the seven needle heads in advance for quicker embroidery speeds with multiple colors.
With a maximum embroidery size of 9.4" x 7.9", this machine accommodates a wide variety of design styles and has a USB port to upload designs and bright LED lights. Reviewers especially appreciated the large LCD screen, independent bobbin winder (which allows you to wind bobbins while the machine is embroidering!) and a ton of free included accessories, such as storage and an embroidery table. Just note that it doesn't have sewing capabilities.
Bernette B79 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
Pros
- Tie off and automatic thread cutting features
- Massive work table
- Huge 10" x 6.3" hoop size
Cons
- Takes time to master new features
Weight: 47 lbs (with all included accessories) | Built-in designs: 208 designs | Ability to upload custom designs: Yes, via USB port | Machine type: Single needle
GH analysts think that sewing and embroidering with this machine is "a total game-changer." Innovative features like tie-off (no backstitching necessary) and thread cutting can be programmed to happen automatically. You can even customize stitches by drawing on the large touchscreen display.
The massive work table and the largest hoop size, at 10" x 6.3", accommodates oversize embroidery designs. The Bernette boasts an impressive 1,000 stitches per minute speed. After testing, all GH analysts agreed that this was one of their favorite machines, though it takes time to master all the features.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- 4" x 4" embroidery field
- LCD touchscreen
Cons
- No sewing capabilities
Weight: 15 lbs | Built-in designs: 80 designs and 9 fonts | Ability to upload custom designs: Yes, via USB | Machine type: Single needle
Embroidery machines tend to be bulky and quite heavy, but this model from Brother is just an embroidery machine with no sewing capabilities, so it's much lighter yet it still has a 4" x 4" embroidery field. Our pros love that it comes equipped with an LCD screen to see your designs in color and that it features a USB port to upload custom designs. In our tests, it embroidered floral designs and text with ease. GH Lab pros found it easy to set up, thread the machine and choose a design, making it a great option for beginners.
How we test embroidery machines
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested dozens of embroidery machines, sewing machines and sergers over the years. Our experts gathered machines from top brands on the market and tested each in the Lab to see which is worth buying whether you're a novice sewer or an old pro. In our latest test, we tested 13 different machines, evaluating each machine based on the following criteria:
✔️ Features: Embroidery machines continue to innovate with new capabilities cropping up on higher-end models. When testing, we look for features such as the ability to upload custom designs, a variety of hoop sizes, automatic thread cutting/tie off and included accessories. We also compare these features to the price and performance of the machine to see if they're actually worth paying for.
✔️ Ease of use: Especially for those new to embroidery, setting up an embroidery machine can be a difficult task. GH analysts evaluate the readability of each instruction manual and all included accessories. We also assess the difficulty of changing the hoop, choosing a design, threading the needle as well as adjusting the tension and speed.
✔️ Performance: For this test, we set up multiple different embroidery designs, including florals and text, to determine how accurately the machine embroidered. We note any inaccuracies or difficulties with creating an embroidery design. GH analysts also upload a custom design when available. If the embroidery machine had sewing capabilities, we also assess the machine's sewing performance.
What to look for when shopping for the best embroidery machine
✔️ Size: If you plan on taking your machine to sewing classes or groups, opt for a smaller machine. Although it won't have as many bells and whistles, larger embroidery machines can weigh over 50 pounds.
✔️ Sewing ability: While some embroidery machines have sewing capabilities, others are just for embroidering. However, most single-needle embroidery machines also act as sewing machines.
✔️ Hoop options: The design area will limit how big your embroidery designs can be. Most machines have a hoop length from 4 to 10 inches.
✔️ Designs: While embroidery machines will have a number of built-in designs, you're not limited to just the included ones since many also feature a USB port to upload custom designs. Pro tip: Check out if the brand has an online site to view thousands of more embroidery options.
What's the difference between a single-needle vs. multi-needle embroidery machine?
Embroidery machines are either single or multi-needle, meaning you can either only use one color at a time (single), or the machine can hold multiple colors (multi). Most embroidery and sewing machine combos are single-needle machines. On these machines, you can still make designs with multiple colors, but the machine will prompt you to change the thread each time.
Multi-needle machines will hold the different thread colors simultaneously, so you don't have to change them manually for faster embroidery speeds. Just note these models tend to be bigger and pricier because they're typically designed for home businesses.
How do I use a computerized embroidery machine?
Be sure that you have a few necessary tools on hand to achieve the best results: sharp scissors, embroidery threads and sturdy fabric. Follow these basic instructions to get started on your embroidery journey:
- Create your design: Either pick a design that's included in the machine or upload one via the USB port. When first starting, we recommend choosing a built-in design with minimal colors because intricate, colorful designs are more challenging.
- Select machine inputs: Based on the design you choose, make sure the number of colors and the stitching order is accurate on the machine. On a multi-needle machine, check that the thread colors correspond correctly to the numbers on the needle heads.
- Frame the fabric: Lay the fabric in the hoop (make sure it's wrinkle-free first!) and check that all stabilizers are in place before inserting the inner ring of the hoop. Place the hoop in the machine and confirm that the needle is starting exactly where you want the design.
- Start: Press the start button and make sure to stop when you need to switch the color.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Emma Seymour is the assoicate director at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she's worked since 2018, overseeing in-Lab and consumer tests for sewing machines, embroidery machines and sergers. With a degree in fiber science and apparel design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience and sewing expertise.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
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