If you are excited to try sewing for the first time and you are looking to buy your first sewing machine or maybe you are an experienced tailor that wants to upgrade from manual to a mechanical sewing machine, then this article will be useful to you. The reason you should buy or upgrade to a mechanical sewing machine is simple-speed. Speed matters when sewing clothes and a mechanical sewing machine will give you more speed, more stiches designs and fine finishing than you can with a manual machine. Here are the top sewing machines to buy whether you are from a beginner to advance designers.
FEATURES | Brother XM2701 Lightweight Full-Featured Sewing Machine | Singer Start 1304 Sewing Machine | Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW Electric Sewing Machine | Singer Simple 3232 Portable Sewing Machine | Singer Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine |
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Sewing Speed (Stitches per minute) | 800 spm | 750 spm | 850 spm | 750 spm | 1100 spm |
Needle thread system | Automatic | Manual | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Button hole type | one step button hole | 4 steps automatic button hole | 5 one step button hole | 1 step button hole. | 1 step button hole. |
Number of in-built stitches | 27 built in stitches | 6 built-in stitches | 50 built-in stitches | 32 built-in stitch | 23 built-in stitches |
No of Presser feet | 6 | 3 | 7 | 4 snap on | 4 snap on |
Bobbin system | Jam-resistant top drop-in bobbin | Class 15 | Drop in | Drop in | Drop in bobbin Class 15 |
LED Light | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Assembled Product Weight | 15.8 lbs. | 11.5 pounds. | 15 pounds | 12.2 pounds | 14.6 pounds |
Machine type | Mechanic | Mechanic | Computerized | Mechanic | Heavy duty mechanical |
Dimension | 5.90 x 15.30 x 12.10 Inches | 13 x 7 x 11.5 inches. | 19.5 x 10.8 x 16 inches | 15" L x 7.5" W x 12" inches | 15.5 x 6.25 x 12 inches |
No. of needle position | Double | 3 | |||
Slider speed control | No | No | No | No | |
Thread tension | Automatic | Automatic | Manual | ||
thread Cutter | Automatic | Manual | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Brother XM2701 Lightweight Full-Featured Sewing Machine (For Beginners)
Brother XM2701 at a Glance PROS ✓ 27 unique stitches ✓ top drop-in bobbin works great ✓ 3 needle positions ✓ Automatic needle threader ✓ Comes with 6 sewing feet ✓ LED light at work area ✓ Free-arm capability ✓ Lightweight and portable
CONS ✕ Does not come with case or cover. ✕ It doesn’t feed straight so you need to use the walking foot all the time
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Why we chose this Sewing machine
Brother XM2701 Lightweight full-featured Sewing Machine is one of the best sewing machines to begin your journey into sewing because it’s easy to use and affordable. Even if you have never seen before, the instructional DVD video it comes with is clear to anyone to understand. From simple concepts to stitches designs, auto threading and buttonholes, the DVD covers them all that you can start sewing within a few hours.
For a sewing machine, Brother XM2701 has more stitches than other machines in the same price range. It houses 27 unique built-in stitches. This is more than enough to handle all your stitches needs as most people use the straight or zigzag stitch for everyday sewing projects. It also comes with 6 quick-change sewing feet for buttonhole, zipper, narrow hemmer, blind stitch, zigzag and button sewing.
The decorative area has a turn dial to select a stitch, the stitch length, and the stitch width. At a maximum sewing speed of 800 stitches per minute, you can hem denim, fleece, blankets, curtains etc including doing a little embroidery on materials that are up to 6mm thick-just be sure to use the correct needle and thread.
For easy access, Brother XM2701 has a top drop-in bobbin and comes with 3 additional bottins. The drop-in bobbin is very easy to use and you can see when the bobbin thread is getting low so you can change it before you run out.
Brother XM2701 sewing machine is lightweight, extremely quiet and has 3 needle positions. The built-in automatic needle threader will spear you the hassle of dealing with a small hole when threading a needle. At the touch of the plastic lever located on the side, the machine pulls the thread through the needle so you can start sewing.
Considerable attention is given to avoid thread jamming, though this can occur if the bobbin is not wound properly. Winding the bobbin as well as threading it is easy though threading from the spool down to the needle takes practice since the take-up lever is recessed into the machine.
Also, it has a built-in thread cutter, built-in LED light, and a free arm. Being a free-arm sewing machine, it will give you more room to sew sleeves, skirts, etc. If you find yourself sewing after dark or in a dim environment, the LED will come handy to provide light for your sewing space.
Again, buttonholes are important for perfect finishing which is why the machine comes with a buttonhole foot, button fitting foot and auto-size buttonholes, so you can create buttonholes sizes for any sewing project. The foot pedal operates just like with car pedals. It is very responsive and allows you to control the speed of the sewing machine by applying more or less pressure of the foot over the pedal. The machine does not require oiling.
POINTS TO CONSIDER
Although Brother XM2701 has a drop feed that you can do free motion quilting with, it doesn’t include quilting feet. You may need to purchase a free motion quilting foot. Another point is that the sewing machine does not come with a cover.
Verdict: If you're a beginner looking for a good sewing machine with great features without having to spend a ton of money, this is a sewing machine that is definitely for you.
Singer Start 1304 Sewing Machine
Why we chose this Sewing machine
Singer Start 1304 is a beginner-friendly sewing machine that will not overwhelm you with extra features. It can also be used by those who have a few years of experience under their belt but do not want anything complex. The sewing machine is lightweight, solidly built and durable with minimal maintenance to last you for a good number of years. The reason it’s on our list is that for a low budget sewing machine, it’s is quite efficient. The machine comes with an instruction manual which I recommend you read, to set up the sewing machine and know what it can do.
To get you started, it comes with useful accessories like snap-on presser feet (buttonhole foot, all-purpose foot and zipper foot), needle plate screwdriver, seam ripper and lint brush, Instruction manual, class 15 bobbin, quick-start guiding manual, LED sewing space light, dual spool pins, darning plate for free-motion sewing, preset stitch length and width, pack of needles, power line cord, carry handle, foot control, spool pin felts, automatic 4-step buttonhole and extra-high presser foot lifter. These accessories can be conveniently stored in the accessory tray compartment located at the front of the machine- the area that you remove to access the bobbin compartment.
SINGER START 1304 AT A GLANCE
PRO ✓ Easy to use with diagrams showing what to do ✓ LED light with plenty brightlight ✓ The three plastic presser feet (buttonhole foot, all-purpose foot and zipper foot) ✓ Free-arm capability ✓ Heavy-duty durable frame to keep the machine stable ✓ Preset stich height and weight
CONS ✕ Only 6 built-in Stitches ✕ The needle breaks easily ✕ Constantly unthreads itself ✕ Machine speed can only be controlled with foot pedal ✕ Instruction manual is difficult for beginners to understand.
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One thing that sets the Singer Start 1304 apart is that it comes with lots of diagrams. For stitches, there is a clearly labeled selection dial showing the stitch designs. With 6 basic built-in stitches, you can choose from straight stitch, satin stitch, zigzag stitch, blind hem, scallop, and buttonhole. Another advantage is the preset stitch length and stitch width and the ability to do reverse sewing.
At a speed of 750 speed per minute, which is fast, you can use stitches for basic sewing and hemming for materials like muslin, chiffon and flannel fabrics. Although the machine can work on heavy fabrics like curtains and denim material, you will need a heavy-duty needle as the ones supplied with the sewing machines are not strong enough. You can also use this machine to sew buttons and making buttonholes to give your clothing the perfect finishing.
Again, there are diagrams on the top of the machine showing how to run the thread from the spool to the bobbin winder. The machine comes with one bobbin and 3 extras in the accessory bag. To wind a bobbin, press your feet on the pedal and once it’s full, it stops.
Considerable attention was placed on the 3 plastic presser feet (buttonhole foot, all-purpose foot, and zipper foot) so it easily snaps on and off. With the flip of the finger on a lever, you can raise or lower the presser foot especially when sewing thick materials. The pressure on the pedal controls the speed of the sewing machine. This machine has been designed with the free-arm capability that will give you more sewing room to maneuver while sewing. Sewing is cool as the sound of the machine is moderate.
POINTS TO CONSIDER
Unlike some sewing machines within this price range, this sewing machine does not have an automatic needle threader. Rather, it has a diagram showing how to thread the machine.
Secondly, the needle is not strong and gets broken easily. To work with heavy with thick layers of fabric like denim, you will need to invest in some heavy-duty needles.
Another point is this machine doesn’t have speed control. The only way to control sewing speed comes from how much pressure you apply to the plastic foot pedal.
Lastly, the sewing machine constantly unthreads itself and the instruction manual that comes with the machine is a little difficult to understand. You may choose to watch Youtube videos instead of reading the manual.
Verdict: Singer Start 1304 is a simple, budget-friendly sewing machine with diagrams so you can easily learn the ropes about sewing.
Singer Simple 3232 Portable Sewing Machine
SINGER 3232 AT A GLANCE PRO ✓ Compact and light weight. ✓ Easy to use ✓ Free arm to sew hard-to-reach areas. ✓ Automatic reverse feature controlled by the push of a single button. ✓ Automatic needle threading saves you lots of time when setting up the machine
CONS ✕ Lacks features, but this is to be expected for such an affordable price. ✕ It is a bit on the noisy side.
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WHY CHOOSE THIS SEWING MACHINE
SINGER Simple 3232 is a sewing machine that makes sewing easy for all levels of sewers. Though it has advanced features, it is simple for beginners to use and not get frustrated while learning. Weighing 12.25 pounds, it’s easy to carry around and does not take a lot of table space. It is not a mountable sewing machine but can be placed on the table.
If you love working with decorative stitches, then you will like this machine. The Singer 3232 has 19 decorative stitches, 6 basic stitches, 6 stretch stitches, and a 1-step buttonhole. While the 32 stitches may not cover all your stitches' needs, they will get you through the daily routine sewing. Though portable, this machine unit has a good sewing speed of 750 stitches-per-minute, so you can complete your sewing projects faster. With the turn of a dial, you can adjust the length and weight to keep seams strong and prevent bunching on any type of fabric. The free arm feature provides easy access to sew difficult areas like cuffs, collars, pant hems etc.
This Singer sewing machine has a front-loading bobbin so you have a clear view of the bobbin thread supply. The bobbin can be easily accessed by removing the compartment at the front of the machine. With the automatic needle threader, threading the entire machine from the spool to the needle’s eye happens in seconds, taking out the stress of fixing the thread to the machine needle by yourself.
For presser feet, it comes with four snap-on presser feet. It also has an extra high presser foot-lifter to make sewing through several layers of thick fabric like quilts, jeans and leather materials very simple. For thick materials, you may need heavy-duty needles than the ones that come with the machine. The automatic, one-step process for creating buttonholes will produce perfect results for your designs with a touch of a button.
Included with the Singer Simple 3232 is an LED light, so you have a bright light in your workspace. It is also able to sew reverse stitching. Simply tap the automatic reverse button and the machine will sew in reverse. The heavy-duty metal frame of the machine prevents it from moving while you’re working on it. This helps keep the machine steady and durable.
The accessories it comes with includes a seam ripper, soft dust cover, darning plate, and 3 additional packs of 2020 sewing needles, Lint Brush, Edge, Thread Spool Caps, Bobbins, L-Screwdriver, Darning Plate, Instruction Manual, Power Cord/Foot Control, and Soft-Sided Dust Cover. The Machine does not need oil.
This Singer sewing machine maybe a little bit noisy than the average machine but not too much. If you do a lot of selling for commercial purposes, this may not be ideal as the sewing machine does not have a lot of features to meet those needs.
Finally, the machine has a front-loading design. If you are a beginner this may be difficult to access and load the bobbin. You can also purchase additional presser feet to suit your needs.
Verdict: Overall, the Singer Simple 3223 is a nice portable sewing machine with 32 built-in stitches, an automatic needle threader and is capable of using a twin needle but it lacks some features to make it a wow factor.
SINGER HEAVY DUTY 4423 (Best Leather Sewing machine)
SINGER HEAVY DUTY 4423 AT A GLANCE PRO ✓ Compact and light weight for a heavy-duty sewing machine. ✓ Saves time ✓ Budget friendly. ✓ Easy to use both for a beginner and the experienced sewers. ✓ Delivers quality stitches for many different fabrics, from thin to heavy duty CONS ✕ Less number of built in stitches. ✕ It is a bit on the noisy side. |
WHY CHOOSE THIS SEWING MACHINE
There are lots of heavy-duty sewing machines but if you are looking for one that is really good and not too expensive, then SINGER HEAVY DUTY 4423 might be a strong contender especially if you are sewing for commercial purposes. The sewing machine is straight forward with features for both beginner to experts.
With 23 built-in stitches so you have a variety of stitches to choose from. They include 6 Basic Stitches, 12 Decorative Stitches, 4 Stretch Stitches, and 1 Buttonhole. With any of these stitches, you can sew through thick layers of fabric up to 6mm with ease such as denim, leather, canvas, upholstery, corduroy, etc. It sews very well on leather fabric like patches on leather jackets and vests. Not only that, but it is also perfect to sew stretchy materials like silk, satin, lycra etc. There are two separate knobs to adjust stitch length and patterns to suit your needs. The knobs are clearly labeled so you can’t miss it.
Built for simplicity, durability, and functionality, it has automatic needle threader, so you don’t have to strain your eyes to thread the needle. It also includes a thread cutter. The internal structure of the sewing machine is built with a tough metal frame which firmly holds all the mechanism, while sewing. Its overall tough structure makes this machine durable with the life span guaranteed to last years.
All things considered, this heavy-duty sewing machine is super-fast in speed compared to other machines in this price range. While other machines within this range do 500-600 stitches per minute, heavy-duty 4423 sews at 1,100 stitches per minute-so be sure to get those clothes finished on time. It also has a top drop-in bobbin which is easy to insert and remove. You can also know when you have run out of thread with this bobbin system.
For presser feet, it has four standard type of feet which includes all purpose, zipper foot, buttonhole foot and button sewing foot. For button holes, it does not disappoint. It only takes one automatic one-step to create the perfect button hole.
Also, it comes with a variety of accessories including all-purpose foot, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, seam ripper/lint brush, quilting guide, needles, bobbins, screwdriver, auxiliary spool pin, spool pin felt are all conveniently located and stored in the accessory tray.
Points to Consider
Although the sewing machine is solidly built, it is really loud and noise.
The machine has only 23 stiches. Generally speaking, 23 stiches will cover your stiches needs but other sewing machines of less price has more stiches than it.
Another point is that there is no switch to control sewing speed from the machine itself. The only way is to figure out how hard or little to press the pedal to get your required speed.
Also, although it comes with an automatic needle threader you still have to weave the thread through the machine.
VERDICT
The Singer 4423 is a competent sewing machine that delivers result on all sorts of fabric from thin to heavy duty sewing and its budget –friendly.
BROTHER PROJECT RUNWAY CS5055PRW ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE
BROTHER PROJECT RUNWAY CS5055PRW PRO ✓ Lightweight & portable to carry ✓ Comes with a vertical Spool Pin ✓ Drop feed system that makes free-motion quilting ✓ Comes with great accessories ✓ Less noisy Cons ✕ LED light not bright enough. ✕ Machine sometimes shakes ✕ Though computerized it does not have an interface and so cannot import designs. |
WHY WE CHOOSE THIS SEWING MACHINE
Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW is a good computerized sewing machine for those who love sewing irrespective of their experience level. The sewing machine is designed to handle all kinds of materials used for the project runway, hence the name. Although it’s not a heavy-duty sewing machine, it can hold its own to sew multiple layers of denim and medium-thick leathers including curtains, bags and other accessories. The brother project runway has an excellent feed system that comes in handy when you are working with tougher fabric like denim. The twin needle to stitch two parallel holes is an added advantage.
At 10.65pounds, it is lightweight to carry about and does not portable in size. For its size, it has a respectable amount of working space, for quilting or other larger projects.
With 50 built-in stitches as well as 87 stitch functions, you can cover a wide range of utility, decorative, heirloom and quilting functions. The stitch length and weight can be adjusted when sewing different designs. It also has a convenient stitch chart print so you can see the various options to choose from. The LCD screen allows you to easily view your selected stitches and sewing information. The LED light will illuminate your work when working with dark fabrics.
The machine has a top bottin winder that you can drop in its place. It is easy to see when you are low on tread. Then again,it also has an automatic thread cutter built on the bobbin and the side for easy cutting. One unique thing about this machine is that it includes a vertical spool pin, which is usually found in more expensive machines-making it easier to check your tension and makes feeding easier on less conventional threads such as metallic ones.
There are 6 presser feet options to choose which include Zipper foot, Zigzag foot, overcasting foot, Buttonhole foot, Blind stitch, button sewing foot, and monogramming foot. It is tremendously easy to swap into each foot. Brother CS5055PRW is a lot quiet compared to most machines.
POINTS TO CONSIDER
Firstly, although it has an LED light, it is not very bright which would make it hard to see details when sewing.
Secondly, the screen where the stitch choices and lengths are listed is hard to read.
Thirdly, being that Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW is not a heavy-duty machine, it shakes a lot. This may also affect its durability.
Finally, although it can sew thick fabrics like denim, it may not be advisable to get this machine if the majority of your work is on thick fabrics.
VERDICT
Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW is a portable mid-level machine with great functionality and accessories to help you produce good quality clothing for runway and fashion at a very reasonable price.
