Hello, beginner sewers, how is life going?
This is 2020, and now that you have decided to buy a sewing machine, you need to be careful. There are a lot of crap machines on the market. Even the top sewing machine manufacturers have their fair share of crap machines.
I am not joking here; 90 % of the sewing machines released by the top sewing machine manufacturers in the US doesn’t make it to the top list.
There are only a handful of machines that can be called a ‘Class Apart’ from all its siblings.
Best sewing machines for beginners 2020 in simple words, a beginner needs an easy to operate, durable sewing machine with top-class stitch quality.
Honestly, this is a hard combination to get. During my early sewing days, I had a lot of trouble with choosing a good sewing machine. I have gone through a lot of crap machines and lost a lot of money as well.
But now, after all, these years of experience with sewing machines, I have acquired enough knowledge to pick the best of the lot. In this content, I will help you to find the best sewing machine that suits your needs as a beginner.
We are well into 2020, and a couple of machines that featured in the top 10 list last year has gone out, and a couple of new entries have come in.
I think 2020 has more rank swapping than last year.
Here is the list of 10 best beginner sewing machines you can get in the US. I have deliberately kept the list very reasonable because I honestly feel that it is the maximum amount a beginner spend on a sewing machine.
Of course, you can buy expensive machines if you have money, but I think you would be better of growing your skills with a beginner machine and then switch over to an advanced machine at a later stage.
Editor’s Choice Best Sewing Machines For Beginners
Brother CS6000i Sewing Machine
2017 has been a comeback year for Brother CS6000i. Last year CS6000i lost its top rank to XR9500PRW because the later was very aggressively priced. Brother CS6000i is now the best beginner sewing machine you can get in the US.
It has been on top for straight nine years (yes, it was released in 2007 and is still the best).
I think you can now call this machine a ‘Legend’ because of its successful run for such a long duration. Its features, durability, and stitch quality, has been tried and tested over all these years by thousands of users.
It is also the most sold sewing machine in the US. CS6000i ticks all the checkboxes as far as beginners are concerned. The ease of use and user-friendly features made it popular among beginners.
You can call it an all-rounder regarding stitch quality. The stitch quality is consistent across a variety of fabrics, including multiple layers of denim.
Main Features
- Computerized sewing machine
- 60 built-in stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- Top drop-in bobbin
- Programmable needle up/down
- Sewing start/stop and variable speed control
What beginners will like?
Feature-packed, stitch quality, durability, aggressive pricing, and ease of use
Cons:
Not a lot to talk about. Some may say that the machine is over nine years old, and it is aging. But for me, the quality is all that matters.
Singer 4423 Sewing Machine
Singer 4423 is very different from other sewing machines on this list. It is the only heavy-duty sewing machine on this list.
You can easily say that Singer 4423 is the best heavy duty sewing machine. The best thing about 4423 is its powerful motor. The motor can churn out 1,100 stitches/min, which makes it the fastest beginner sewing machine.
In addition to that, the machine has the beginner-friendly features like the 1-step buttonhole, top drop-in bobbin, automatic needle threader, etc.
The stitch quality is excellent as well. Even though the machine doesn’t have a lot of built-in stitches, the combination of aggressive pricing, user-friendly features, and quality made it famous.
Main Features
- Mechanical Machine
- 23 built-in stitches
- Top drop-in bobbin
- Automatic needle threader
- 1-step buttonhole
What beginners will like?
Powerful motor, fast sewing, beginner-friendly features, affordability, stitch quality, and ease of use
Cons:
At this price point, you can’t expect a 100% heavy-duty machine. Yes, there are plastic parts for sure. Eight plus layers of denim are not recommended on this machine.
Brother XM2701 Sewing Machine
This guy just came to the stage and stole the show. XM2701 instantly eclipsed XL2600I, which is its predecessor. Brother XM2701 has become the best sewing machine in the round price capable segment.
If you are looking for an inexpensive beginner machine, look no further. It is a quality machine. The stitch quality is excellent, but you can’t sew too many layers of denim on this machine as it is not designed for such heavy-duty sewing.
The best thing about XM2701 is that it offers so many beginner-friendly features that none of its competitors have. It is a class above all other machines in the price bracket.
Main Features
- Mechanical Machine
- 27 built-in stitches
- Top drop-in bobbin
- Automatic needle threaded
- 1-step buttonhole
What beginners will like?
Feature-packed for the price, affordability, and stitched quality
Cons:
Not ideal for multiple sewing layers of denim (4 plus). Dim work light.
Singer 2277 Sewing Machine
This machine is a new entrant for this year. 2277 is Singer’s answer for Brother XM2701. Both machines come in the same price range.
Singer 2277 is the best entry-level Singer machine. The machine has a lot of features for the price (but not as much as the Brother XM2701).
Singer 2277’s USP is its stitch quality and affordability. The stitch quality is excellent. 2277 has many beginner-friendly features, but the lack of top drop-in bobbin is a big miss.
Main Features
- Mechanical Machine
- 23 built-in stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- 1-step buttonhole
What beginners will like?
Useful features, affordability and stitch quality
Cons:
No top drop-in bobbin. Not ideal for multiple layers of denim. Tricky automatic needle threader might require a couple of attempts.
Janome 2212 Sewing Machine
This simply has to be the best Janome machine. It is not a feature-packed sewing machine by any stretch of the imagination.
In fact, it lacks even the basic beginner-friendly features like an automatic needle threader, 4-step buttonhole, top drop-in bobbin, etc. But where it makes up for the features is in the stitch quality.
This mechanical sewing machine is a stunner regarding stitch quality. It can sew through anything you throw at it.
The build quality is top-notch and doesn’t even doubt about durability. Old mechanical sewing machines will love Janome 2212 because it seems like one from the Classical Singer era.
Main Features
- Mechanical Machine
- 12 built-in stitches
What beginners will like?
The stitch quality, ease of use, smooth operation and durability
Cons:
Misses out on so many beginner-friendly features
Brother CS5055PRW Sewing Machine
This guy has been around for a while now. CS5055PRW is an electronic sewing machine, not a digital one like CS6000i (the first machine on this list).
The stitch quality is one thing that keeps this machine in the competition. It has some excellent features as well.
Main Features
- Electronic sewing machine
- 50 built-in stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- Top drop-in bobbin
What beginners will like?
Stitch quality and useful features
Cons:
Getting the right amount of tension needs practice. The machine is not ideal for four additional layers of denim. The biggest bummer of CS5055PRW is that it comes in the price range of the ever-popular Brother CS6000i. The later has better features and performs better as well.
Brother XR3774 Sewing Machine
Almost two years after its launch, Brother XR3774 has started to build some reputation. Even then I think, aggressive pricing would do the world of good for this sewing machine.
This is a mechanical sewing machine with some excellent features and good stitch quality.
Main Features
- Mechanical sewing machine
- 37 built-in stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- Top drop-in bobbin
- 1-step buttonhole
What beginners will like?
Stitch quality.
Cons:
We don’t find any con in this product.
SINGER 7256 Fashion Mate 70-Stitch Computerized
Singer 7256 is a new entrant on our list. The machine has been in the US market for quite some time now. The sudden jump in the ranking is mainly due to better pricing. Unlike Singer 7258, which we already discussed, this one is an electronic sewing machine.
So this one misses out on features like programmable needle up/down, speed control slider, etc. These features are essential, especially the needle up/down button, which works like an extra hand.
So I would recommend 7256 only if it is priced significantly lower than 7258. The stitch quality of 7256 is excellent. The machine operates quietly and smoothly.
Main Features
- Electronic machine
- 70 built-in stitches
- Top drop-in bobbin
- Automatic needle threader
What beginners will like?
Affordability, stitch quality, durability, and a lot of stitch options
Cons:
The work light LED is dim. Similar to 7258, this one also lacks a drop feed option.
Singer 7258 Sewing Machine
If you ask me which is the best Singer beginner machine, I would answer Singer 7258 all day. If it is a Singer, it has to be Singer 7258, at least in the beginner category.
Quality and features are the two things that made 7258 so famous. The machine is easy to use, and it has a lot of beginner-friendly features as well. The stitch quality is excellent.
Main Features
- Computerized Machine
- 100 built-in stitches
- Sewing start/stop and variable speed control
- Top drop-in bobbin
- Automatic needle threader
- Programmable needle up/down
What beginners will like?
Feature-packed, stitch quality, durability, and ease of use.
Cons:
No drop feed option for free-motion quilting. The foot pedal could have been more responsive.
Brother XR9500PRW Sewing Machine
This machine lost its top position mainly because of the fluctuating price. However, XR9500PRW is an absolute champion regarding performance and features. It is no lesser than the previous machine on this list.
XR9500PRW has more features than CS6000i, so you can expect the price to be a tad bit higher than CS6000i.
But at times, the price gap becomes colossal, which works against XR9500PRW. The machine is so feature-packed that even an advanced sewer will find it useful, forget beginners. The stitch quality is excellent across a variety of fabrics.
The machine is pretty lightweight as well. XR9500PRW is the best sewing machine for beginners who attend sewing classes. You can easily carry them.
Main Features
- Computerized Machine
- 100 built-in stitches
- Sewing start/stop and variable speed control
- Top drop-in bobbin
- Automatic needle threader
- Programmable needle up/down
- 1 Font for monogramming
What beginners will like?
Feature-packed, stitch quality, durability, lightweight, quiet operation, and ease of use.
Cons:
Beginners will need a couple of tries to get used to the automatic needle threader. You may not get it to work straight away. There is no problem once you get the hang of it.
How to Choose a Sewing Machine for Beginners
Beginners always take the first step. Whatever the subject, device, or machine is, it must always be easy to start with. Or the novice will lose the interest to learn. They will fear to take the first step. Here we are talking about sewing machines.
We all know how the sewing machine has evolved throughout the years. Not just the look, even the features changed leaps and bounds. When you have new features to add, the machine becomes tough to understand.
So, here we start our discussion by letting you know a sewing machine with all the complicated features is not a sewing machine for an amateur.
A Simple Machine
Let’s elaborate that thought. And we will have to remind you again about the first step. Anything first has to be easy. For example, the first step towards education has to be learning the alphabet. It cannot be the words or sentences.
Similarly, a sewing machine for beginners will have to be a basic one. It has to be a simple machine that is easy to use and sew with. Keep that in mind, and you will find your perfect sewing machine.
Mechanical Sewing Machine
When it comes to a simple sewing machine, nothing is simpler than a mechanical sewing machine. There are computerized as well as electrical sewing machines, but for a beginner, the learning must start with mechanical sewing machines.
They cost less as well. After learning a few things on the sewing machine, one can progress towards the computerized ones. But at the start, a beginner should sew with a mechanical sewing machine.
Computerized Sewing Machine
At this stage, where you have completed some sewing projects with your mechanical sewing machine, you can invest in a computerized sewing machine. Computerized, because they have some solid features that make sewing easy and fast.
Even in the case of a computerized sewing machine, you need a simple one. Not the one with hundreds of built-in stitches and other intricate features. But simple doesn’t mean there will be no features in your machine. There will be some features but at a lesser amount and only the must-have ones.
Let’s discuss a few of them below to make it easy for you to understand what you need to consider in a computerized sewing machine that is for beginners.
Built-In Stitches
When it comes to automated sewing machines, built-in stitches in them have no limit. Too many built-in stitches are going to make things tough for you. So, for a beginner, the lesser is always better. You need only three to six basic built-in stitches.
Straight, zigzag, and stretch stitches, these three and a couple of more are enough for a beginner. You can easily complete a good amount of sewing projects with the basic stitches. Many times, even the most skilled sewist don’t use all the built-in stitches that a computerized sewing machine has to offer.
So, as a novice, you know you will not use the maximum stitches. Stay within ten at the most, and that’s more than enough. And there are some really good sewing machines with only the basic built-in stitches. Try to buy one of them.
One-Step Buttonhole
All the computerized machines either have four-step buttonholes or one-step buttonholes. The more advanced machines have a varied style of buttonholes. But for simple projects of a beginner, a one-step buttonhole is perfect.
If you have learned stitching buttonholes with zigzag stitches, trying the four-step buttonholes will not be any difficult. Because it is much easier than that, but our choice will be a sewing machine that has a one-step buttonhole.
Auto Threader
Beginner or the most skilled, none enjoy straining the eyes. And when you keep trying to put the thread through the needle eye, your eyes are strained beyond tolerance. You have to have an ultra high-level eyesight and a steady hand to thread the needle at one go.
So, better to have the auto needle threader in the machine. As a beginner, you have better things to struggle with, so leave the job of threading to your computerized machine. It will save you time, will make you less frustrated and protect your eyes as well.
Bobbin
There are two types of bobbin systems in a computerized machine. Either it will be a top-loading drop-in bobbin or a front-loading bobbin. Between the two, the top-loading drop-in bobbin system is the best for a beginner.
In a front-loading bobbin system, you have to follow a few steps to load the bobbin, which includes removing the accessory compartment. They are not even easy to do for a person who has been doing it for years. On top, it consumes too much time.
So, even the experienced sewists prefer top-loading drop-in bobbin. Because in a top-loading bobbin system, you have the see-through cover plate to see how much thread is left in the bobbin. And when needed loading, you just need to move the plate and raise the needle. Remove the empty bobbin and drop in the new one, and that’s just it.
Free Arm
Beginners tend to avoid stitching big projects. Projects like jackets, quilts, or massive gowns, these are not what one can expect from a beginner to sew. So, the machine you are buying for a beginner must have a free arm. A free arm makes sewing tight spaces easy.
As a beginner, you will have less control over the machine. You will find handling the machine difficult. So, if it doesn’t have the free arm option, it will limit you in many ways. So, make sure to invest in a sewing machine that has a free arm.
And once you gather enough experience, you can start sewing bigger projects on that very machine. Then, how experienced you become, you will still need to sew collars, hems, and pant legs. So, a machine with a free arm proves to be a better investment than the one which doesn’t have one.
Reverse Stitch
When you have the reverse stitch option, you can secure the stitches both at the beginning and the end. In most computerized sewing machines, there is a sole button for reverse stitching. So, when you can create knots with just one push on the button, you better not miss having it in your sewing machine.
So, all in all, you need to try two types of machines as a beginner. The mechanical sewing machine will be the first step and the computerized one the second. And in an automated sewing machine, you will need a maximum of five to six features.
If you get a sewing machine that has these few features, you can buy it for a beginner. Trust us when we say these are enough for you to work for at least a couple of years and become a Pro sewist.
Read Our Blog…
How to Use Sewing Machine for Beginners
Sources…
- https://crafts.tutsplus.com/articles/a-buyers-guide-to-your-first-sewing-machine–craft-12119
- https://www.shinyhappyworld.com/2010/12/how-to-choose-a-sewing-machine-for-a-beginning-sewer.html
Hi there! I’m a beginner and found this article super helpful. I’m starting to design and sew lingerie and want to know which machine would be the best for more delicate pieces ?
Well, my own point of view, you can try “Brother CS6000i Sewing Machine”.
Hello! I am starting to make my own outdoor gear. After I do a lot of smaller projects, my goal is to make my own ultralight backpacking tent. I will be using ripstip polyester, silpoly, and mesh. The Brother XM2701 has a ton of great reviews, and seems to have ease of use. However- I am concerned this will not be heavy duty enough for my goal project. What do you think/would recommend? Thanks a bunch!
Thanks for your comment. I think, “SINGER Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine” can be perfect for your project.
I recently bought a Singer 4432 “heavy duty“. I only did an hour’s sewing with it, off and on over a few days, when it got stuck in reverse. I had to return it for a refund. Apart from the dubious quality, it’s not a particularly nice machine for beginners, the stitch speed is too fast and the buttonhole option isn’t particularly good (the stitch is too long and it can’t be changed). Afterwards I spoke with a Singer expert who told me that, since the company went bust a few years ago, Singer machines are now made by third party manufacturers for the brand owner, to lower quality standards than previously when the brand was family owned. Also, it’s not particularly ‘heavy duty’ as some of the most important moving parts which should be metal are plastic. Overall I would say avoid it.
Thanks for your information. You will be glad to know that, “Singer 4432” is one of the best customer choice sewing machine. I want to tell you, please buy sewing machine in right place.
Hi Barbara
I am intending to do a beginner sewing class soon. Then i would ideally purchase my own sewing machine. My intention is to mainly sew for my family and myself but with the future view of sewing for clients. Please advice as to which sewing machine to purchase with the later goal in mind.
Thanks,
Hannaan
This is actually depends on your own decision.
But my own point of view, “Brother CS6000i Sewing Machine” can be perfect for you. Thank you…
Hi, this list is amazing, it really does make choosing a sewing machine less of a hassle. Am just about to start a millinery business working with sinamay fabric and thick stretchy fabrics. Which do you recommend. Thanks
My own point of view, “Singer 7258 Sewing Machine” can be perfect for you. Thank you
Hi Barbara,
I’m a beginner and would like to buy a machine that’s it’s parts are not going to give out on me in one year. My sister in-law got one that after one use she had trouble with he bobbin, I don’t want to spent too much on a machine that I will probably be using for small projects only.
Thanks for your comment. For small projects, you can use”Brother CS6000i Sewing Machine”.
Thank you so much for this article. Very helpful. My daughter is 13 and now into all things crafty. I kick myself everyday for selling my sewing machine. Looking for a good starter machine for her but also something that she can grow/advance into. I know a lot of the basics already but would definitely get her into some sewing classes eventually. I just don’t want to invest too much in a machine. Any advice?
Well, I think that, “Brother XM2701 Lightweight Sewing Machine” can be appropriate for your daughter. Thank you 🙂