It’s not thread, it’s not fabric, it doesn’t even come in a box but our new sewing machine finder tool brings its own kind of fun.
Shopping for sewing machines is fun but it’s also a lot of work. The question I get the most often has to do with comparing different models to better understand the variances. This was what drove my mother crazy when she tried to find a great machine for my nieces.
It’s been a couple of months in the works but Sewing Machines for Beginners officially launches a new tool on our site that we hope will make some of that comparison process a bit easier.
Temporarily dubbed the Sewing Machine Finder, it lets you enter a few important details and see a list of sewing machines that meet those details. From that list, you can choose up to 3 machines to compare side by side.
I’m sure it will need tweaking along the way and it only includes those sewing machines we’ve already reviewed so it’s not all encompassing but it might help you sift through all the noise and get down to a few machines that suit you best.
If you’ve got a few minutes, give it a try and let me know what you think. After weeks of driving my programmer crazy (Thanks, Prashaant!), I’ve been anxious to release this for others to try.
You can see our new little toy here:
(Already my mother would like me to get away from all the PURPLE on the finder pages. She’s the artist in the family so I’m headed her way in a few weeks to see if she can’t draw something special for me to use as a background in the future!)
Hi y’all,
I’m looking to purchase a sewing machine which will allow me to monogram as well as do some simple smocking on my children’s clothing. I would preferably like a machine that works along with my computer as I don’t think my free hand monogramming will go over so well. Do you have any suggestions as to what machine I should look into getting?
Thanks so much!
Jaclyn – There are three machines I’ve reviewed on this site that have at least one letter font and great consumer ratings. Because they have a built in font, you wouldn’t need t do any free-hand monogramming. One, however is a combination sewing and embroidery machine and can be connected to your computer so you can download lots of new embroidery patterns.
1 – The Brother SQ9000 has one font and is the lowest priced of the three options. Does not connect to your computer. (Read more here)
2 – The Brother SE400 has five built in fonts AND embroidery functionality. It does have a USB port you can use to transfer designs from your computer to the sewing machines. The Brother SE400 is the middle priced option but is the best value for your money based on the additional embroidery functions (Read More).
3 – The Brother PC-420PRW is the most expensive of the options and has more sewing features for making clothes. (Read more here.)
Hopefully that gets you going in the right direction. 😉
Sincerely,
Erin
Dear Sir, madam, I got a BROTHER Sewing Machine Star110, on the label is: Made in Taiwan, BROTHER N/15800 ACN 001, 393 835, but do not have a manual with it. Would it be possible to you to tell me if I can download one, or can buy one from you.
Can’t find this machine on the site.
Thank you.
LUDMILA
Ludmila – I can’t find much information on that model at all. I’m not sure it was even ever sold in the US as it’s not showing up on Brother’s website in their retired products list. I’ve checked a few other countries and can only find that the model has been replaced with the NS series, if that helps. Good luck!
Sincerely,
Erin
Love your website!!! I am new to sewing, & would like your advice on getting the right machine for my entrepreneurial sewing projects, please. I will be sewing decorative pillows & pillowcases. Some of the fabric will be heavy weight, & thread may be thick. I would also like to do some embroidery. I will probably sew the same pattern (same pillow size & pattern) & embroidery multiple times. I need a little help sewing in a straight line (left to my own devices, most things come out crooked!). As I will be sewing items to sell, speed is also important. Do you have any recomendations? Thanks in advance!
Anna – Oh, how I could relate to this: “I need a little help sewing in a straight line (left to my own devices, most things come out crooked!).” LOL! Don’t worry – many are afflicted with this condition. 😉
Because you’ll be making products that will be sold to others, speed and precision are two important qualities. A Janome machine with a DC motor could be an ideal solution for you. They sew very straight (I hardly need to guide the fabric at all on mine) and the stitching is beautiful. The DC motor means you won’t have an issue going through heavier fabrics. I guess the one question would be how many different stitches you might need? Will you be decorating the pillows and pillowcases with decorative stitches or are they decorative in that they will be of various fabrics and trims but your straight and zigzag stitches would suffice? Something to consider.
If you need a good selection of stitches, you might look at the Janome DC2011. If you don’t need a lot of stitches, take a look at the Janome HD1000.
You mentioned embroidery. If you need a machine that does both, the Brother SE400 is one of the best deals for the price (read my page on it here). Janome makes some wonderful embroidery-only machines and combination machines but they run more than $1000. Not sure what budget you have in mind but taking a look at the Brother option and comparing it to something like the Janome Memory Craft MC 9500 Sewing and Embroidery Machine might help you narrow down your choices.
Let me know what you think and if you need more information. Sounds like a fun business!
Sincerely,
Erin
Thank you for your quick response! I looked at the machines you suggested, and the Brother SE400 looks the most promising. It is a reasonably priced computerized combo sewing/ embroidery machine. Your review was very helpful & detailed. I was also impressed that it also has a side cutter feature which would really come in handy!
But it seems like the Janome machines may be better for helping people sew in a straight line, though the more affordable models lack the embroidery features of the Brother SE400 (my budget is 400-550), and the Janome combo models are out of my price range. To that end, I wonder if there are any attachments or gizmos you can recommend or advice you can give me for sewing in a straight line? Thanks again!
Anna,
I have that ‘affliction’ too! 😉 I’ve have found that a using special quilting foot with a built-in edge guide device really helps making a perfect 1/4″ seam. I’ve also found that if I take a few seconds to mark a seam with a quilting pencil and ruler it is MUCH easier to follow the pencil line and get a great straight seam. By the way, I have the Brother SE400 and find that it is a great all-around machine with many decorative stitches and embroidery capability for under $400. Great deal.
Good luck,
Rick
Great suggestions! Thanks, Rick!
The difference between precision straight stitching on one or the other of these machines is probably not a reason alone to choose Janome. While there’s a lot to be said for the quality of the machines and certainly many benefits in terms of reliability and power, you probably wouldn’t notice too enough of a difference between sewing straight on one or the other to justify the price difference when the SE400 has the additional embroidery features you want for such a great price. Rick’s suggestions will keep you on track and I you’ll have a great deal of versatility to offer your clients, too. 😉
Sincerely,
Erin
Great ideas! Thank you Erin & Rick for your wonderful advice. The SE400 sounds like the best deal for the money. I am going to get it, along with a quilting foot with a built-in edge guide.
Anna,
I would also highly recommend the Brother SA188 Walking Foot with quilting guide if you are going to do machine quilting.
cheers,
Rick