Best sewing machine on Reddit
287 reviews from r/sewing, r/SewingForBeginners, r/quilting and 22 more subreddits
287 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Brother
4.2
(99)
"I have a Brother. It’s a horse. Good machine."
"Brother XR3774 easy sturdy and nice accessories $159 or HD Brother ST371HD same price as the 'stinKer HD' but better quality."
"I think Brother, Janome and Juki offer the best value for $ in new machines, in ascending order of preference."
"Get a Brother starter XM2701 all you need to sew is straight and zig zag."
"I bought a Brother XR3774 when it was on sale on Amazon and I LOVE IT!"
"I have a Brother CS7000x and I love it!"
"Can recommend Brother XM2701 or SM3701 on Amazon."
"Literally any basic machine. My $160 brother basic model got me through 2 fashion design degrees and worked for 15 years before I decided to upgrade."
"It’s one of the most basic machines you can buy, but it’s seriously been a powerhouse."
"The Brother SQ9285 from Walmart runs around $228 and is quite a solid machine for the price."
#2
Janome
4.4
(53)
"I love my Janome."
"Janome is a gold standard for this in my book."
"Check out the Janome MOD line, I have the 30 and I've put 2000+ hours of runtime into it."
"If you have the money get yourself a Janome Sewist 725s or check out the HD3000 if you want something even more sturdier."
"I am actually really surprised at the performance you can get out of this."
"I have this sewing machine. It works very well for smaller things."
"I love my Janome Sewist 725s."
"I have a late 90s Janome that is just fantastic."
"I was able to sew a denim jacket with a Janome DG 1522, only $200."
"My wife got this one and absolutely loves it."
#3
Singer
3.7
(47)
"I myself have owned a singer 401a since I started and she's a beast of a machine."
"I have a Singer machine that my husband bought for me at Walmart nearly 30 years ago."
"I have a Singer 201 and it makes the best buttonholes of any machine I’ve owned."
"The owners have to take intensive class from dealers to sell the machines like Babylock, singer, brothers etc."
"I have my trusty workhorse vintage Singer that I use for almost everything."
"Get a hand-crank vintage Singer! You can get them for a song and they literally last lifetimes."
"I loved my Singer machine, my grandmother bought it for me when I was 14 and it still works great."
"I'd get one of the Singer models that are made of steel."
"I bought a singer heavy duty for around $100 on sale."
"You’ll get a lot more for your money with an older machine."
#4
Juki
4.5
(18)
"Definitely look into an industrial straight stitch and overlock machine under the juki brand."
"I had a singer and made me question myself is sewing was for me, then changed to Juki and made me eager to keep sewing."
"I was able to get my Juki F600 for $100 off of marketplace."
"The Juki f300 has great reviews and she probably wouldn’t outgrow it."
"If she uses it for work, I think you should consider industrial machines. Juki is one of the best"
"I’m dreaming about the Juki TL-2010Q."
"My Juki F600 just had its first repair last fall."
"I replaced it with a Juki HZL-F300. I was stunned at the difference."
"Look at the Juki F300 (though like most non-embroidery machines, you cannot kern letters). Can use 7mm Brother feet."
"Janome or juki are probably going to be your best bet. I especially love juki."
#5
Bernette
4.5
(8)
"I loved my first machine I got at my local quilt shop. It was a bernette b05 Academy!"
"I have a Bernette (Bernina) Sew and Go that I absolutely love!"
"We bought our daughter a Bernette. It’s solid, simple and has nice features."
"My nephew just got a Bernette 05 Academy and he loves it."
"I upholstered a car with my Bernette b37."
"I’d go with a Bernette by Bernina."
"Bernette B05 Academy (mechanical) or B38 (computerized) fit the requirements."
"I have a Bernette mechanical machine which was right in that price range."
#6
Bernina
4.4
(8)
"Every costume shop I’ve worked at though had Bernina 1008s or the lowest end digital Berninas."
"I gave my daughter a used Bernina."
"I have a Bernina from 1982 and it goes great."
"I’m a Bernina lover."
"Try to see if you can find old Bernina."
"Personally, I’d go for a used Bernina of Pfaff."
"You were unlikely to get a better machine for that money."
"Bernina used to make a domestic “industrial” machine."
#7
Sailrite
4.2
(6)
"A sailrite machine is the best fit."
"The sailrite machines are pretty decent value."
"Sailrite makes some pretty affordable machines for leather."
"Love my sailrite."
"I've had a sailrite for a few years and really appreciate the small package and portability."
"Check out Sailrite they have some pretty cool little machines for decent prices."
#8
Kenmore
4.5
(4)
"Look for vintage Singers & Kenmores made in the 60's through 80's."
"I used to do a lot of heavy duty work on a 70s Kenmore."
"Honestly, I'd check Facebook Marketplace for an old Kenmore."
"Look for a cam using sewing machine from the 70s like a kenmore."
#9
Pfaff
4.5
(4)
"I started with a used 1950ish Singer, eventually added a new Viking, then became a Pfaff fan about 30 years ago."
"I love my Pfaff 130. It is a beast of a machine."
"If you'd settle on a Pfaff, the Ambition, Expression or Creative line."
"I have a Pfaff 130 and Singer 301A that are both great!"
#10
Babylock
4.0
(4)
"I would suggest visiting a vacuum/sewing machine store. they will have a variety for you to sit down and try."
"My intermediate machine was a Babylock Lyric. It worked great for me!"
"Babylock is also a great brand for beginners."
"I just bought a brand new machine yesterday when my $250 baby lock couldn't handle the quilting I wanted to do."
#11
Singer Heavy Duty
3.7
(3)
"I love my Singer Heavy Duty."
"Hey not a pro here but I have a singer heavy duty and I'm pretty happy with it."
"Don’t buy a new heavy duty singer."
#12
Fiskars
5.0
(2)
"Fiskars rotary cutter (and maybe a cutting mat!)"
"A rotary cutter is game changing. I didn’t get one until over a year into my sewing journey."
#13
Gingher
5.0
(2)
"Gingher makes a cool scissor set that would be perfect for a gift."
"Gingher scissors, thread snips, pressing cloth, pressing ham."
#14
Janome HD1000
5.0
(2)
"I really love my Janome HD1000-BE."
"I have a Janome hd 1000, i love it."
#15
Used Sewing Machine
4.0
(2)
"Also look at thrift stores. Lots of machines donated, when ladies go into homes."
"Please go to a sewing machine repair place and ask the repair people if they have any good used machines for sale."
#16
Eversewn
3.0
(2)
"At that price point, I’d look at Eversewn before Brother or Singer."
"At that price point, I’d look at Eversewn before Brother or Singer."
#17
Sewing Machine
3.0
(2)
"Better quality and older would be my choice."
"Under $200. New? Don’t bother."
#18
Juki DSC Series
5.0
(1)
"If that's what you're after for a cylinder bed machine you want a Juki DSC series."
#19
Baby Lock Zeal
5.0
(1)
"I ended up with a Baby Lock Zeal and love it."
#20
Singer 4411
5.0
(1)
"I LOVE my Singer 4411."
#21
Singer Quantum Stylist
5.0
(1)
"I have the Singer Quantum stylist (about $600) its a computerized machine aimed towards quilters."
#22
Treadle Sewing Machine
4.0
(1)
"I have an antique treadle machine which I love."
#23
Janome Sewing Machine
4.0
(1)
"I’d prefer a Janome to a Brother as a rule."
#24
Pre-owned Sewing Machine
4.0
(1)
"I would check with a sew and vac shop in your area. They usually have pre-owned machines that have been serviced."
#25
Viking Onyx 25
4.0
(1)
"Super sturdy, easy to use, and handles thick fabrics."
#26
Janome 2222
4.0
(1)
"I've had no complaints about my Janome 2222."
#27
Used and serviced machine
4.0
(1)
"Go to your local sewing machine repair shop and purchase a used and serviced machine from them."
#28
Vintage machines
4.0
(1)
"I recommend vintage machines."
#29
Pfaff Ambition
4.0
(1)
"If you'd settle on a Pfaff, the Ambition, Expression or Creative line."
#30
Kenmore/Necchi
4.0
(1)
"I always recommend either an all metal Japanese made machine from the 1950s-1960s."
#31
Janome Arctic Crystal
4.0
(1)
"I purchased a Janome Arctic Crystal recently."
#32
Brother CS6000
4.0
(1)
"I have worked on Brother Cs6000 that was new and very good."
#33
Singer HD
4.0
(1)
"I've had great luck with a Singer HD."
#34
Singer 99 or 201
4.0
(1)
"IMO you should look for a Singer 99 or a Singer 201."
#35
Vintage gear driven machine
4.0
(1)
"For sewing through heavy fabrics, I'd get a vintage gear driven machine."
#36
Singer 15-91
4.0
(1)
"An old Singer 15-91 should handle it fine."
#37
Silver
4.0
(1)
"Please consider Silver. They are a UK company and their machines are manufactured here."
#38
Brother CS 7000
3.0
(1)
"I have a brother CS 7000 that is in your price range, but I only begrudgingly use it as a travel machine."
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