Which is the best computerized sewing machine?
A lot of people ask me this particular question. The answer to this question requires a lot of explanation because it depends a lot on your budget.
It depends on how much money do you have to spend on a computerized sewing machine. In the U.S, you can get computerized sewing machines for a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.
So you must first decide how much you are going to spend. To explain things in a simple manner, here I have compiled a list of top 10 computerized sewing machines.
Even though this is a list based on price, priority is always given to quality; price comes second only.
One thing you need to be very careful about is the quality of a computerized machine. A higher price doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a great sewing machine, so you need to be picky.
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What is a Computerized Sewing Machine?
If you are a beginner and wondering as to what a computerized sewing machine is, you don’t have to look any further as this post will give you a perfect picture of what a computerized sewing machine is and in what ways it is different from a mechanical sewing machine.
A lot of beginners are actually pretty unsure if they should buy a computerized sewing machine or a mechanical sewing machine. In this post, we will walk you through all the essential differences between a computerized machine and a mechanical machine. By the end of this post, you should be able to choose between the two with much ease.
A computerized sewing machine is mainly focused on offering users easy operation and it is achieved using small monitor displays. Just as the name suggests, a computerized sewing machine uses a small computer to offer users easy control over various operations such as moving the needle bar, the tensioning discs, the feed dog, and other operations.
Most importantly, such a machine comes with various automated processes that can be controlling the speed, controlling the stitches, making a buttonhole by pressing a button. One salient feature in a computerized machine is that it comes with more advanced stitching patterns since it has better control over the various motors that move the needle.
Here are some features that computerized sewing machines usually come with:
- Automatic needle threader
- Automatic tension
- Automatic needle up & down
- Automatic thread cutter etc
- Built-in-stitches
- Buttonholes
- Lcd screens
Now that we know what makes a computerized sewing machine, it’s time that we look into the important differences between a computerized sewing machine and a mechanical sewing machine. A mechanical sewing machine is essentially operated using a foot pedal while a computerized sewing machine comes with a start/stop button.
Another salient difference is that a mechanical sewing machine comes with a comparatively much lesser number of stitch patterns than a computerized machine. However, mechanical sewing machines are more affordable than computerized sewing machines.
It can be also an ideal choice for those that are not tech-savvy. However, adjusting stitch length, and tension is by far, more convenient in a computerized sewing machine. A computerized sewing machine can also help you accomplish your sewing tasks much faster and with better accuracy.
Here are some mechanical sewing machines:
- Janome HD3000
- Singer 4423
- Janome 2212
- Brother XL-3750
- Janome HD1000
Some computerized sewing machines are:
- Janome DC2014
- Brother HC1850
- Brother CX155LA
- Brother DZ2400
- SINGER 9960 Singer 7258
Buying a computerized sewing machine or a mechanical sewing machine is completely your call and at the same time, it also depends upon your budget and skills. However, if you are not allergic to technology, and if you want faster and accurate work, a computerized sewing machine is the best option for you.
With that being said, it is also important that you select the machine that comes with the right features to perfectly meet your requirements.
Reviews of the Computerized Sewing Machines 2020 – (Editors’ Choice)
When I started my sewing career, I didn’t know about all these things, but now I have enough experience to identify the best and the worst sewing machines. I hope this list will help you make a decision.
1. Janome 001DC2014 – Ideal Computerized Sewing Machines for Beginners
Janome sewing machines are always much more expensive than Brother and Singer machines. DC2014 is no exception; this is the most expensive sewing machine on this list.
There is no option about the quality of this machine, though. It comes with 50 built-in stitches and all other features you get on a computerized sewing machine.
If not for the price, more and more people would have considered buying this machine. The ability of this machine to sew through heavy-duty fabrics is commendable. It is a reliable workhorse for sure.
Cons:
For the price, some might feel that the number of built-in stitches is very less. A lower price tag would have made this machine much more appealing.
2. Brother HC1850 – Best Brother Computerized Sewing Machine
HC1850 comes with 130 built-in stitches and one built-in monogramming font. The stitches are of high quality. Still, there are better alternatives from Brother for more or less the same price.
Cons:
Monogramming doesn’t look great on light fabrics. The current price is not reasonable at all.
3. Singer 9960 – Best SINGER Computerized Sewing Machine
9960 features in our list of ‘Machines You Can Buy With Your Eyes Shut,’ which is a testimony to the quality of this machine. Feature-wise, no other sewing machine even comes close to 9960 in this list.
It is feature-packed. It has a whopping 600 built-in stitches and five built-in alphabets for monogramming. There are many other advanced features, like mirror imaging and stitch elongation functions.
Stitches come out perfectly on this machine. This has to be the ultimate sewing machine for advanced users.
Cons:
Bobbin jamming was an issue with old 9960′s, but a recent product upgrade has fixed it.
4. Brother SE400 – Best Sewing Machine for Home
If you are looking for a combo of embroidery and sewing option, this is the best sewing machine you can get in the U.S. It belongs to our list of ‘Machines You Can Buy With Your Eyes Shut.’
It has 67 sewing stitches and 70 embroidery designs. Even better is the fact that you can connect the machine to your computer for importing designs from the internet.
The room for creativity with this machine is unlimited. All advanced features like an automatic needle threader, automatic thread cutter are present. The stitch quality is excellent. The price is very reasonable, as well.
Cons:
The maximum embroidery area is only 4″x4″. Those who need a larger area will have to go for an expensive embroidery only machine.
5. Brother CS6000i – Best Sewing Machine for Advanced Sewers
This is the champion computerized sewing machine you can get in the U.S. It is not because of its features; it is mainly because of the price and the value it offers. CS6000i also features in our list of ‘Machines You Can Buy With Your Eyes Shut.’
If you are a beginner, looking for a budget computerized sewing machine, this is the best you can get. It is the least expensive machine on this list. Brother CS6000i is the best seller across all categories of sewing machines.
The reason is its price and performance. It has been the best seller ever since it was released. It has 60 built-in stitches, automatic needle threader, programmable needle up/down, etc.
It has everything a beginner needs and that too for an unbeatable price. That is the reason why Brother CS6000i has been so popular among beginners.
Cons:
Nothing much.
6. Brother XR9500PRW – Best Sewing Machine for Monogramming
XR9500PRW has been voted as the best sewing machine. You can call this a complete beginner’s sewing machine. It has all the features that a beginner needs.
It has 100 built-in stitches, sewing font for monogramming, automatic needle threader, programmable needle up/down, etc. etc.
Most people will be confused over this machine and the previous machine from Singer. Both are great beginners machines and have the same number of built-in stitches, but I prefer XR9500PRW from Brother because of the free motion quilting option. XR9500PRW has the quality and has great features onboard.
Cons:
Not much to talk about
7. Singer 7258 – Our Recommended Computerized Sewing Machine
This is an award-winning beginners sewing machine from Singer. It won the Women’s Choice Award for the best home sewing machine in America.
It is by far the best beginner’s computerized sewing machine from Singer. It has some nice features that beginners will love. It comes with 100 built-in stitches, programmable needle up/down, and an automatic needle threader.
Cons:
No lever to lower feed dogs for free-motion quilting.
8. Brother DZ2400 – Best Basic Computerized Sewing Machine
DZ2400 is the best-advanced sewing machine in the medium price category. It offers a lot of value. It has 185 built-in stitches and 1 sewing lettering font.
As far as the features are concerned, you won’t get a better machine for the price. DZ2400 is the best alternative for the HC1850 we discussed earlier in this list. This machine is a few dollars cheaper and is far more advanced.
The quality of the stitches is really great on DZ2400. Similar to the Laura Ashley machine, you will get a full set of designer accessories with this machine. This definitely will be an excellent choice for a designer.
Cons:
The thread holder looks fragile.
9. Brother Laura Ashley CX155LA – Best Affordable Computerized Sewing Machine
This is a limited edition sewing machine model from Brother, which surprised even its competitors with the ease of use and quality of stitches. As CX155LA is a limited edition model, most people were skeptical in the beginning, but the kind of response you get from its users is incredible.
Even those who bought this machine were actually surprised about its quality. It is slowly making its way to the top. It has 155 built-in stitches and one lettering font.
Other advanced features like programmable needle up/down and automatic needle threader are also there. You will also get a complete set of designer accessories with this machine.
Cons:
LED work lights could have been brighter.
10. Brother PC420PRW – Best Professional Computerized Sewing Machine
PC420PRW already features on our list of ”Machines You Can Buy With Your Eyes Shut.” As far as quality and performance are concerned, this machine is right up there with the best. But this is slightly expensive.
It is the second most expensive sewing machine on this list. PC420PRW is a sewing machine for advanced users. It has 294 built-in stitches along with three lettering styles.
It even has an automatic thread cutter on board. The machine works equally well on both heavy and lightweight fabrics. The custom stitch feature is one thing I like about this machine.
With this feature, you can easily design your own stitches and store it in the built-in memory of the machine.
Cons:
Not much to talk about
Are You Looking For Computerized Sewing Machines? Here’s What You Need to Consider
A lot of people who are beginners in sewing think that computerized machines for sewing might be their best bet. Well in all likelihood it is a fact that cannot be ignored or overlooked. This is because a person using a computerized machine can repeat the same design any number of times with the same accuracy.
However, this might not be possible with a mechanical or electronic machine when done by beginners. Apart from being costly, these computerized machines are heavy and complex to use in most cases.
Once you get to know how to use it, chances are high that you would love using it all the time due to the simplicity it has brought into sewing. So, if you are a person who has decided to go ahead with a purchase of a computerized machine there are a few things to be considered and they are listed below.
Important Features
Since you have already decided on investing with a computerized machine for sewing it is better if you get one that is fully loaded. This is provided you have the budget for the same.
A fully loaded machine would necessarily have all the important features that you would want and the ones that can make sewing easier and simpler.
These features may include right from the basics like threading a needle to the most complex tasks like stitching different designs.
Detailed Manual
You must get a manual with almost all computerized sewing devices. However, ensuring having a detailed manual is important. This is because you may be required to accomplish varied tasks that might not be easy to master.
Cross-checking the manual might help in these cases. To make sure that you have all details covered, make sure you have a manual either on a compact disk or one that is available on the company’s website.
Technical Support
Despite having a user manual or instructions on how to use the sewing machine you might need some external help at times. This is common with machines that are computerized for sewing purposes.
A technical support team that you can call and take advice from may solve most of the questions that you may have. They can also help you quickly troubleshoot a problem if one arises while on a project.
Effective and Easy Handling
Apart from having an effective machine you can choose one that is easy to handle too. This can work wonders if you are a person who might stay with the sewing machine for hours at a time.
If the machine is easy to handle you can end up saving time and ensure that you are not stressing yourself too much. This can help increase your productivity to a great extent too while you are on different projects.
The Durability of the Machine
After investing a lot of money in a sewing machine that is computerized you would not want to spend more on different parts. Buying a machine that is durable and can last long can sort this problem for you.
Parts of these machines may end up costing you a lot of money. So, while you invest you might want to ensure that you are getting your money’s worth by all means.
Comparisons
Doing comparisons of different variants, manufacturers, and prices can help you a great deal. This is because it would ensure that you are getting the desired features and capabilities in the machine you invest in.
Getting on the internet and doing comparisons of different equipment can ensure that you can differentiate and select the one that is optimal for you. You are also likely to get a price advantage while doing this.
Reading testimonials or reviews of machines can also give you an edge while selecting the best-computerized sewing machines.
What is the Advantage of a Computerized Sewing Machine?
If you are contemplating on what type of sewing machine to purchase you ought to consider the key aspects of each. While a manual machine is simple to use and has limited possibilities in terms of stitching the computerized one has endless potentials.
Although it may be a costly investment one can consider it well worth the money spent if they are likely to use most features it has. To know why you may need a computerized machine for your sewing needs you have to know the advantages it has over other options.
We list some of the common advantages that these machines possess over manual or electronic machines used for sewing. By reading the below advantages you would be able to decide if purchasing a computerized version of a sewing machine is required or otherwise.
Time Saving with Automation
Anyone who is into sewing would come to agree that there are loads of things they do which take up most of their time. These things are considered time-consuming and stressful, to say the least. The simple task of winding up a bobbin or threading a needle can consume a lot of time than the sewing part itself.
With a computerized machine, you are getting these things done in an automated fashion. When most of the things are automated with a simple push of a button you can end up saving a lot of time you otherwise spend on them. This means that you end up saving a lot of time which can be otherwise used towards real sewing.
High-Quality and Different Stitching Types
Unless your level of sewing is on par with the experts you cannot achieve high-quality stitching with manual or electronic machines. However, with computerized machines for sewing, you can produce stitching of high-quality with minimal effort.
Since a computer is programmed and hidden under the hood it makes your job a lot easier than you may have ever thought possible. Obtaining different stitching types can often be a herculean task with an electronic or manual sewing device.
With pre-programming options available on these computerized machines this can be a cakewalk for most people. Once you download or pre-program a specific stitching type you can reproduce it endlessly with a simple touch of a button on the device.
Better Control
Controlling a sewing machine and large pieces of fabric can be a nightmare for people using mechanical sewing machines. Even electronic machines can make this job a little tasking for most people.
This is due to the lack of control of the fabric and the machine. Coordinating both together on mechanical or electronic machines can be tough even for the most experienced. If you use a computerized machine these things can be easier for you.
You can have better control since the computer takes over most of the difficult tasks. It is pre-programmed to ensure that your sewing task is simpler by giving you the best control that you can only dream of.
Standard Finishes
Duplicating a project that you had done with your electronic or mechanical sewing system can be an impossible task, to say the least. The same does not apply for a computerized machine as you can repeat the process any number of times with perfection.
This means that you can achieve standard finishes each time you work on a specific project on sewing. If you are a professional this can come in handy when you take up projects or bulk orders.
Uniformity can be the key to these projects and using a computerized sewing machine can certainly help you achieve this with little or no effort at all.
Improbable Stitches and Patterns
You may come across attractive patterns and stitches on clothes that you may see on a certain display. Reproducing it may be as good as finding a needle in a haystack.
However, if you like a design that you see on the internet you can always download similar ones and have them done on the fabric of your choice. Numerous websites offer free downloads of patterns and stitches that you can use.
These things are only possible when you use a computerized machine for sewing. You can have the designs uploaded and let the machine reproduce or duplicate the same for you in no time at all.
How Do You Use a Computerized Sewing Machine for the First Time?
Ever since the computers came into existence it has changed the way we live our lives. There are a lot of things that have become simpler with the use of computers. Almost every industry out there makes use of the technology and ensures that it is used to the fullest.
This ensures that better results are achieved and removes the chances of human error. The sewing industry is no different and has begun to embrace technology to make things simpler and better.
Computerized sewing machines are quite common these days not just with professionals but also in households. Various brands have come up with their models of sewing machines that are computerized. While some machines have a single computer that manages all tasks others have multiple tiny computers for different tasks.
Irrelevant to these things one has to know how to use a computerized machine for sewing to achieve the best results. We give you a basic guideline on how these computerized sewing systems work. This can help you get over the hurdle and take your first step towards computerized sewing.
Read the Manual
A lot of people might find this task boring but be assured that not doing this can come back to bite you with sewing. The manual is given with the machine for a purpose and it would always be a good choice to go through it completely.
Firstly, you would have to understand that you are dealing with a complex piece of machinery that is controlled by a computer. To be able to comprehend with it reading the manual is important for you as a user.
The better you understand the manual the easier the operations become for you while you take your first baby step in sewing.
Always Follow Instructions
It might be quite tempting for you to experiment with different things after purchasing your first computerized sewing machine. However, you are better advised to leave that part for later after you have mastered using the machine.
Adhering to the instructions provided would always help you understand the machine completely. Once this is done you would be able to create pieces of mastery with your sewing machine.
Believe in Trial and Error
Even with the most advanced and well-programmed sewing machines, there are bound to be a mistake or two. You would have to do specific stitches and patterns more than once before you can get the picture-perfect outcome from the machine. Remember, mistakes at the start do not compound to failing but learning.
Watch Tutorial Videos and Images
The concept of you never being too old to learn perfectly fits with learning how to use a computerized sewing device. There are videos, pictures, and tutorials available in abundance on the internet with various platforms.
It is a good idea to make use of them to learn valuable lessons. This would teach you in real-time how the machine works and how to initiate the first step. Almost all brands would have YouTube videos dedicated to teaching you how to use your machine.
Ask Questions
Although a computerized sewing machine can be unpacked and used immediately after purchase you should go through the learning process. Learning with manuals, videos, and tutorials can be good.
However, there are chances that you may still have some unanswered questions. Ensure that they are answered before you begin using your machine. Without appropriate knowledge and unanswered questions, you might end up damaging the machine even before you begin using it.
Apart from seeking help from the manufacturer’s technical support team, you can use blogs on the internet too. There are so many people out there who would have more knowledge about your machine than you can ever imagine.
These people would be more than glad to help you get started with the machine you have purchased.If you can follow these basic things and begin using your computerized sewing machine you are likely to get most things right.
It is always a good idea to have an open mind that is ready to learn. This way you can begin to master using the equipment that you have purchased. You can soon begin to create pieces of mastery with the computerized sewing machine you have purchased.
Top-rated Computerized Sewing Machines Comparison Chart
| Model | Stitches | Drop-in Bobbin | Auto Needle threader | Stitches Per Minute | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janome 001DC2014 | 50 | Yes | Yes | 860 | 6.6 x 14.8 x 11 inches |
| Brother HC1850 | 130 | Yes | Yes | 850 | 16.3 x 7 x 12.5 inches |
| Singer 9960 | 600 | Yes | Yes | 850 | 17.2 x 8.2 x 12 inches |
| Brother SE400 | 185 | Yes | Yes | 710 | 20.28 x 14.96 x 15.16 inches |
| Brother CS6000i | 60 | Yes | Yes | 850 | 16 x 6.7 x 11.4 inches |
| Brother XR9500PRW | 140 | Yes | Yes | 1300 | 11.45 x 6.69 x 16.02 inches |
| Singer 7258 | 100 | Yes | Yes | 750 | 14.5 x 7.5 x 12 inches |
| Brother DZ2400 | 185 | Yes | Yes | 850 | 11.45 x 6.69 x 16.02 inches |
| Brother Laura Ashley CX155LA | 100 | 850 | 12.48 x 8.03 x 17.32 inches | ||
| Brother PC420PRW | 294 | Yes | Yes | 850 | 17.32 x 7.87 x 11.41 inches |
Final Verdict
I think you are still confused over which one is the best computerized sewing machine. Let me break it down for you
Looking For An Advanced Sewing Machine
- Go for Singer 9960 (for features) or Brother DZ2400 (for value for money)
Looking For A Beginners Sewing Machine
- Go for Brother CS6000i (for low price) or Brother XR9500PRW/Singer 7258 (for features)
Looking For A Sewing & Embroidery Combo
- Brother SE400 all the way
These are my views; you can choose the one that suits you.
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