I thought it might be time to tackle an often asked question – is one brand of sewing machine better than another? The answer is yes…and no…but it’s the explanation as to why I give such a wishy washy answer that will help you decide which is is really best for you.
This topic is heavily debated amongst even the most experienced so for those just beginning to sew it’s almost a minefield of confusion. I hope things will seem a little clearer as you make your way through this post.
First, let’s narrow the focus down to just home sewing machines and exclude the industrial models. I’ve put together a chart comparing some basic information about each of the most recognized and widely available brands on the market today:
| Brand | Current Product Count | Stitch Quality | Available Online or Dealer Only | Lowest Price Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Lock | 25 | 2 | Dealer Only | * |
| Bernina | 13 | 1 | Dealer Only | * |
| Brother | 48 | 3 | Online | $75 |
| Elna | 19 | 1 | Dealer Only | * |
| Husqvarna Viking | 14 | 1 | Dealer Only | * |
| Janome | 50 | 2 | Some Online and some Dealer Only | $150 |
| Juki | 8 | 2 | Online | $160 |
| Pfaff | 18 | 1 | Dealer Only | * |
| Singer | 53 | 3 | Online | $85 |
* Note: Are Baby Lock sewing machines made by Brother? Several sites say they are however that’s not accurate. Baby Lock is a completely separate company headquartered in Missouri and privately owned. However, it does appear that at least some of their sewing machines are made in the same plants that make Brother machines which is why they sometimes look similar and may be made of some of the same materials.
* Note: Why isn’t Kenmore on the list? Sears stopped selling Kenmore brand sewing machines around the beginning of 2012.
(There are a few other names I left off mostly because they produce niche machines or don’t have more than a few models in the home sewing machine market.)
Reading the Comparison Table
I know, at first glance this table doesn’t really tell you which brand is “best” but it’s the starting point we need for the discussion. This table shows you all the names of manufacturers that offer home sewing machines in the US.
I’ve excluded industrial models, sergers, long arms and embroidery-only machines. I included combination sewing and embroidery machines.
The brands are listed alphabetically with counts of their current model offering, a rating for their stitch quality (1-3 with a 1 being the best), their online or dealer only availability and a note about the lowest priced machine in their line-up as defined by current listings on Amazon.
The high end manufacturers sell their products exclusively through dealers. I’ll have to fill in their lowest priced product over time through some additional research. For now it’s safe to assume that if there’s an asterisk in the low price column that figure is probably higher than what’s noted for the other brands.
The only thing this table will tell you immediately is how the brands rank when looking at stitch quality. Those with a 1 (Bernina, Elna, Husqvarna Viking, and Pfaff) are the names that would earn you an “Ah!” or two from even the most experienced sewers in your local quilting club.
Those are also the brands that cost the most. If you were sewing commercially in order to sell your finished goods, the difference in stitch quality might be a serious consideration in pushing you towards one of those brands. For the rest of us, the stitch quality alone might not be enough to warrant the additional expense so keep reading in order to better understand how you might choose between the different brand options.
What is Stitch Quality?
There’s a little bit of “the beauty is in the eye of the beholder” when it comes to gauging stitch quality. In many cases, you could look at a row of stitches produced by a high end machine, compare them to a row of stitches produced by a budget machine and not see any significant difference.
Across all brands, most models have controls that will allow you to fine-tune the thread tension in order to get a nice, even stitch.
Where you can best see a difference in quality is by testing out a straight stitch on a number of machines. There’s very little room for error in a straight line and any differences in the position of each stitch and directionality stand out more.
The neatness of the stitch relies on how well the fabric is pulled through by the feed dogs, how much manual intervention is required on the part of the sewer to keep the fabric straight, and how well the thread moves through the top and bottom thread mechanisms.
This means that the quality of the stitch is heavily reliant on the design and construction of the machine’s internal parts.
How Can One Sewing Machine Brand Make Themselves Better Than Another?
How does one brand manage to make itself better than another? This is competition at its most basic – its what businesses all around the world do regularly in order to stay on top. They distinguish themselves through a “unique selling proposition”. In other words, they find their niche in which they can exceed by providing some combination of service, quality, and price that is special to them and their target audience.
Brother, for example, has targeted the home sewing market by providing affordable machines with lots of features, making their models highly available online and through dealers, and by creating slightly different versions of the same model in order to keep costs low yet still offer a wide variety of options that fit individual needs.
Singer and Brother have similar strategies but Singer gets to play on their history which gives them an advantage in some areas. Both make lots of sewing machines for beginners and hope to move you up to their more complex machines over time.
A brand can differentiate themselves in a number of ways. They may decide to focus on quality even if it means their product costs more and then target the high end buyer who requires that level of quality for their work.
You know how financial experts explain that you can save money by pinching pennies? You turn your thermostat down a degree, you skip a Starbucks here and there, you replace your old lightbulbs with CFL and the pennies add up over time.
With sewing machine makers, it’s the same sort of thing. The cumulative effect of having a number of improvements in the internal parts and the way in which they work adds up to a better quality of machine. Sure, you can get an automatic needle threader on both a Brother and a Bernina but the design of each is different, the quality of the parts used may be different, and the ease of use may be different. When you make these kinds of minor improvements through all the internal operations of a machine, the overall user experience is just that much better.
Names like Elna and Bernina are manufacturers that fall in this category. While they may not make as many sales, the higher prices make them profitable and they’re highly recommended by those who know their stuff and have personally tried machines from different brand names long enough to know the differences.
You end up paying more for those improvements and that’s why you have to figure out whether or not the higher price is worth it to you. As a beginner, if you buy something of slightly less quality, you may be able to afford more features.
Materials used in production, stitch quality, features, service, price, and the value offered in exchange for the price are all ways that manufacturers can distinguish their brand name.
These different combinations that make up a brands unique selling proposition mean that while one brand might be best at offering the smoothest, most precise stitches another might be best at offering lots of features for a low price.
Let’s Define “Best”
Figuring out what “best” means is the reason for my initial floppy answer about whether one brand is better than another.
We could measure them based on a number of factors:
- Quality
- Price
- Value
- Service
- Reliability
- Longevity
- Popularity
- Name Recognition
But there isn’t a single brand that I would say tops every category and is therefore king of the hill. For example, Elna and Bernina might score really well when it comes to quality but not so well on price or name recognition.
Singer and Brother have name recognition and price cornered but the reliability can be questionable on some models.
Juki makes great machines but most people have never heard of them.
Husqvarna has grown over time by acquiring some other brands and that’s taken them awhile to digest.
Janome has been solidly plugging away at the middle market with a reputation for great quality and solid machines with some affordable models that don’t totally break the bank.
So, what this means is the answer about which brand is best depends on what you really mean by “best”. The top end brands build relatively few machines compared to the lower end brands as you can see in the chart and because of that they’re able to focus on the quality of each. The lower end brands make more models in total so there’s more opportunity to find a model that has the exact mix of features you want – not too many or not too little – and at a more affordable price. However, because they make so many they also risk having some lemons in the group.
Dealer Only Brands vs. Available Online Brands
There’s a rumor out there that sewing machines you can buy online aren’t the same quality as machines you buy from a dealer. I won’t deny there may be some of that. Numerous salespeople will tell you that, too. However, as I’ve mentioned before, sometimes they may say that because they don’t want to lose the sale.
Operating a sewing machine retail outlet is an expensive proposition with slim margins unless the retailer can figure out how to leverage their space into other revenue streams such as the selling of notions, accessories, and classes. That’s why you find some brands relying more and more on places like Jo-Anne’s to showcase their models.
Getting the right mix of inventory and sales to maximize their revenue per square foot is not an easy task.
Singer and Brother rely heavily on the internet to sell their models and almost any model is available somewhere online. Same goes for Juki. Janome makes some models available on the internet while other models are only available through dealers. The other manufacturers only sell their products through dealers.
My semi-educated guess as to why that is revolves around the quality issue. Elna, Bernina, and Husqvarna have targeted the upper end of the spending market. In order to demonstrate that the added expense is appropriate, they need you to see and touch those machines. A salesperson needs to be able to justify the expense. In addition, if they allowed their machines to be sold online it could undercut the retail brick and mortar stores such that they wouldn’t sell as many as they would otherwise and these brands must have determined that they can’t sell enough additional volume to make up for the lost in-store sales.
Have you ever watched the show Shark Tank? Entrepreneurs propose their businesses to a panel of individual investors in hopes of earning an investment in their company so they can grow. The investors are called sharks. Sometimes the sharks will turn down what looks like a great business because the product requires a lot of demonstration and advertising in order for the consumer market to understand the product’s benefits. That’s what those higher end sewing machine brands are up against. Recommendations from others leads you to the only door to getting one – a dealer – and the dealer handles the sales pitch.
I’ve found 248 currently available sewing machine models from the most 9 most recognized brands all competing for your wallet and they each have very finely tuned strategies for getting their name in front of you.
Buying the Best Might Not be YOUR Best Move
I’ve pretty much laid out that there are so many factors we could use to rank the brands that it’s hard to say there’s one that wins across the board but let’s say that Elna, Bernina, and Pfaff beat the others hands down when it comes to just the quality factor. That doesn’t mean that you should buy one of those, necessarily.
Here’s a real life scenario we can use as an example – my mother-in-law is quite the crafter. She hand makes 3D cards, she quilts, she sews, she stamps, makes scrapbooks, loves all kinds of paper crafts and she loves to dabble in new projects. She doesn’t do any one thing exclusively. She has a large craft room my father-in-law lovingly tolerates. He and my son joke that getting a special day out with Grandma is a trip to the craft store.
She already spends a reasonable sum each month just on craft supplies. She and my father-in-law are very thrifty. They are financially comfortable but still very careful about what they buy. They want things to last and they’ll make something do for as long as possible but that doesn’t mean they buy the top brand of anything. They buy specifically with reliability and their needs in mind.
If my mother-in-law had $400 to buy a new machine, she might be able to get a pretty basic but very reliable, high-quality Elna. It wouldn’t have a lot of stitches, wouldn’t handle embroidery but would do general stitching extremely well.
For someone who likes to dabble, try new things, loves color and the arts, that might not be the best use of her money. She’s not sewing all the time nor is she sewing for profit. For her, crafting is a hobby and the more she can try the happier she is.
That means that a brand like Singer or Brother might be her best bet where she could get a combination sewing and embroidery machine for the same $400.
The financial value returned for your dollar spent needs to be taken into consideration. Some machines just offer so much that while they may not have the most supreme stitch quality you’ll enjoy it more and get more for your money because you’ll be able to do more with it.
In addition, as my mother mentioned when she and I were discussing this post, no matter which brand is best or which model of that brand is best, you may not be able to get your hands on it anyway.
If you live in a city with only a limited number of dealers and those dealers are each carrying only a limited selection of available models, your choices are immediately limited to what’s online and what’s at those stores unless you want to buy something untested from a dealer in another city and have it shipped to you. Doing so, of course, eliminates some of the benefits you get from buying through a dealer such as free classes, buying notions at a discount or getting annual maintenance inspections.
Single Model Winners
One brand might not rank high on the overall comparison but might have some stand out models in the mix that offer more features than options from higher quality brands. The Singer 9960 comes to mind because the combination of stitches and features offered for the price are simply outstanding.
Another model that fits this criteria is the Brother CS6000i. It’s been on the market for years and probably has the most online reviews of any other model. When Brother came out with a near twin in a pretty white and pink frame with the exact same features PLUS 10 more stitches, I thought for sure the CS6000i was going away. I was shocked that not only did the other model (the CP7500) not take over as the lead seller for Brother but that they actually appear to have stopped selling it – which was often available for the same or less money!
To me, that says the market was so entrenched for the CS6000i that Brother couldn’t justify continuing with the other model even though it offered more value. Unfathomable to me but that goes to show you the importance of recognition and a proven track record.
What This Means for You
Oh, I know – you came here wanting a definitive answer about which brand was better than another and now you see there is no clear answer. However, brand alone should not be your deciding factor when it comes to which machine to buy and that’s really the point of this discussion.
In order to choose wisely you must first outline what you need your sewing machine to do, determine the features the machine must have in order to best accomplish the things on your list, figure your budget, and then find the models available to you online and locally that offer all of those things, have the highest ratings, and give you the most value for your money.
Comparing the final options on your list point for point will help you narrow down the choice that fits you to a T.
I am a true beginner. Haven’t sewn since 7th grade… Wow! Long time ago! I am having difficulty deciding between a few machines. They are the Brother CS6000I, Singer 7258 and the Janome Magnolia 7330. I understand the first two are much more beginner machines but have read mixed reviews related to them being ‘finicky’ and having ‘error codes’. What are your thoughts on those machines? My goals now are small crafts, baby blankets and other fun things but eventually getting into making quilts (but I think I will have someone else do the actual quilting). Thanks!
Stefanie – When I took sewing in junior high (probably also in 7th grade) I nearly tore my hair out. Like you, it was quite some time before the thought to give it a try again ever entered my mind. Maybe the machines are just different now or I just have more patience (no, that can’t be it…) but I swear I don’t know why I thought it was as challenging as it was back then.
Here are the differences I’d focus on with those three machines:
1. The Singer and Brother both have more stitches to choose from than the Janome (with the Singer having more than either of them).
2. The Janome has a slightly more robust feed dog so it will do very well with all kinds of fabrics. The other two come close but with 6 points of contact instead of 7.
3. The Janome will cost about twice as much (or slightly more) than the other two.
I have the 7330 myself and I absolutely love it but every time I go to sew I wish I had more stitches to choose from but that’s because I like the fun stitches. Not everyone has a need for those.
All three have my favorite features like the Start/Stop button and speed control.
With all that, since you mentioned making those fun projects, if you could see using more of those creative stitches in your crafts then I’d go for the Singer 7258. It’s just a touch more solid than the CS6000i and gives you lots of extra stitches. If you don’t see a need for those extra stitches go with the Janome. It’s a joy to work with!
My wife and I are shopping for a machine. We do not intend to craft our own clothes, but, with a three year old boy, we need to hem and mend of course. We also want to do window treatments for our home. I have sewed before on my mother’s (now antique) Singer Featherweight 221. That was a long time ago….. So, we are looking for a suitable machine. I have been looking at Janome. Please offer your advice. I’d like to keep the price under $575.00 if possible. Thank you!
Michael, Janome has some great options under that price range that would suit your needs. I’d first look at the Janome 8077 which is exactly the same as the Magnolia 7330 (which is what I have) but without the flower emblems and somehow that reduces the price by about $30-40. 😉
The 8077 has great automation, a selection of utility stitches that will certainly handle mending and your window treatments and it’s very easy to use. Works through anything, very straight, easy to thread, and you can sew without the foot pedal.
If you *really* want to spend more, though, then look at the Janome DC2013. The performance and features are very close to the 8077 but with 20 additional stitches. While I haven’t done a review on the DC2013 I’ve reviewed the DC2011 and DC2012 and that line has always scored very well.
Sincerely,
Erin
My two girls (ages 5 and 7) want sewing machines this Christmas. I have researched, read, etc… but I’m still not sure what to purchase.I know enough not to buy a toy sewing machine. I do not want to spend over $70 per machine…just not sure how much they will be into yet. Also, I do not sew…threading a needle is a challenge, so whatever is adult dummy proof. What do you recommend?
Thank you in advance!
Heidi
Heidi – So sorry for the delay in responding! The holidays have me running from one thing to the next.
My recommendation would be to go with the Brother XL2600i as it’s my top choice for under $100 but it’s just over that $70 mark. Any way you can get them one they can share (I ask, having children of my own and knowing that’s not always a good idea…)? 😉
Another option – but also just over the $70 mark – is the Brother JX2517
. It has 17 stitches instead of 25 but it has a drop-in bobbin and functionality is similar to the XL2600i. It also has a pretty floral design on the front which your girls might find more attractive than the look of the XL2600i.
A final option – but I have not tested it or reviewed it at all – is a special Janome that Walmart has available called the Janome 10-Stitch Derby Sewing Machine
which comes in great colors for kids.
It’s currently less than $70 and only available at Walmart. It weighs 5 pounds, has a 4 point feed dog, a nice kid-friendly sewing speed of 350 stitches per minute and a drop-in bobbin. I can’t find much more than that on it but Janome seems to do a very good job making sure all of their products live up to their well-earned reputation so I can’t imagine it’s too risky a buy and those colors are so fun.
Sincerely,
Erin
Wondering your recommendations on a sewing and embroidery or a combo machine for a beginner trying to start a home side business?
Have been taking classes past 3 months and ready to purchase knowing what I would like to use it for and such. Planning to embroider as well but not sure if I should buy that separately a little later or just get a combo now that is more expensive to get some more features for my buck. Definitely need it first for sewing though, third for quilting.
Planning on using the embroidery for selling items, have some neat ideas not seen on Etsy. Thinking I may try some boutiques around here too when I get quicker. S
Preferred Features: be able to drop the feed dogs or cover them, auto needle tension adjust, 5″ x 7″ area of embroidery with basic on-screen editing for size or rotation, clear bottom bobbin compartment to see it before it runs out of thread or alert of this in advance.
Not looking to pay for a car. What have you heard about brands? Concerned about Berninas from what I have read for embroidery and now that Viking/Singer are a China conglomerate. I was looking at a Brother Innov 1250d so far.
Thinking of buying from a dealer for the free lessons and for advice if there are any problems- with me or the machine of course! Especially since new to all of it.
Any recommendations on brands, machines, articles are welcome.
I have been using an older, baseline Bernina at the shop. Looks like a lot of people swear by Janome but our local Janome dealer here is awful 🙁 At worst I’d drive an hour if Janome was the machine. There is a trade-in Janome MC9700 right now at one of the good shops for $899 that seems like a great deal, although it has a memory card slot, not a USB port, but really who cares on that if you have a memory card reader on your computer I guess. That’s all I can find wrong though really with it regarding reviews.
Thoughts? Thank you so much for your time!
What do you think? Long and short of it, any advice welcome.
Even the highly praised Bernina has some models that are made in Asia. The many Asian factories making European and US products have company employees there for quality control.
For what you want to do, I would get the Brother SE400. You can buy these at WalMart. If you go to the Brother website you can find an overview of various models as well as download the manual (just read or print) for more information. The very expensive models may not have downloads.
Thank you so much for this website! Although this entry was extremely helpful I am still left with more questions. I’m truly a beginner. Although I primarily do a lot of hand stitching I haven’t used a machine since the 7th grade. I’m looking for a simple basic machine for my doll clothing projects, as well as mending clothes and hemming pants. (I’m very short so I have to hem all my pants) My budget is 100 dollars and I have been looking at the Brother JX2517.I’m smitten with the pretty floral pattern, and only need a basic straight stitch and zig zag stitch for hems.
However, I wonder if it’s worth it to purchase the Brother XL2600i, since it has far more positive reviews online, and I can’t find much information on the JX2517… the pretty floral pattern really is winning me over though.
Give the Singer 1507 a try. You can find dealers by going to the Singer Company website. I have one and it sews exactly what you are looking for plus can do buttonholes. There will be a manual and inside a chart listing different fabrics and the type and size needles that should be used.
Hi,I so glad I found your site while trying to do research for a new sewing machine. I’m hoping you can help me- I need some advice for a machine that can go through multiple layers of thicker materials such as denims but with enough power to push over the seams without binding up, bogging down, skipping threads or just getting jammed up and stuck in place with a nice knotted up mess like my current machine(s) grace me with. I seem to need to regularly repair jeans- I also make my own curtains (when the machine is cooperating and working. I’ve also made slip covers, and car seat covers. Luckily no one but me notices the messed up stitches but things usually will fail far too soon because of the skipping stitches pulling apart at seams. I would love to just be able to sew have a consistent stitch and perhaps even make some pretty things like dresses with some special stitches. I’ve stayed clear of that kind of sewing because of the machines I’ve owned. I’ve nearly given up sewing because of the frustrations with them. But, the bug is back, I’ve saved some money and am looking. Do you have a recommendation for something below the 500 mark below 300 would be better. I’m by far not professional but the jamming machines really take all the inspiration away. Please help
Janine, I have a couple of ideas for you. First, take a look at the Singer 9960. If anything, it’s probably more machine than you need but because of the price I think everyone who wants to spend less than $500 should consider it as an option. Next, I’d look at any of the Janome DC machines. The DC means it has a DC motor which has a bit more oomph to get you through those thick seams. They’re going to be a little spendier but they’re super reliable.
Finally, you might really want two different machines. Maybe something like one of the Singer Heavy Duty models (like the Singer 4411 HD) coupled with a Brother CS6000i. You could use the Singer to get through jeans and the Brother for the more fun projects. You could probably get both for well under $500.
Take a look at those and let me know if my notes raise any other questions.
Thanks!
Sincerely,
Erin
Thank-you so much for your response Erin… I’ll be off to look tomorrow in search – I’m so excited!
I’m so glad I found your website. Thank you. I’ve been researching all over the Internet for a good sewing machine for me. I’m a beginner but would like a machine that will be durable and sew through thicker fabrics. I’ve narrowed down my choices based on availability at Walmart since I need a machine ASAP for a sewing class. Out of these three, which would you recommend I get? Janome jw7522 (same as jw5622), Singer 44s or brother XL2600i. Thank you!
Hello Erin, this site is awesome, thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge!
I have sort of the same question as Janine, I’ve been working with a 90’s Singer for years but it started jamming and making knots and sometimes… not making stitches at all.
I want a sewing machine to make fashion garments and also quilting (maybe to sell, not sure yet) what I want is basically this: good stitch quality and decorative stitches for quilting/patchwork.
I’ve been visiting dealers and they offered me the following: from Brother SQ9000, CS6000i and BM3850 and from Singer 6180 and 2010.
I’ve read lots of bad reviews about Singer 6180, I’m more inclined to choose Singer though, I’ve never used a Brother… but I wanted to know if you could give me a piece of advice about this, I apppreciate it in advance!
Melina
I am a long time sewer. I sew my own clothes often and have had a hand me down Viking which is now dying. I want a high quality reliable machine which will do buttonholes, have upper and lower feed, fine zigzag and work well with sheer fabrics, silks and thick woolens. Do you have any ideas for me? thanks so much for your helpful article.
I am looking to buy a new sewing machine. I have sewed on a White Euroflair 8910 for 15 years. I have begun quilting classes and will be making quilts for personal use. I want a machine that can sew over 8+ layers of fabric. I have looked a Berninas and Brothers at the local sewing store and feel overwhelmed at the $3000 to $4000 price tags. Can you help me please?
Hi,
My 30 old Viking has died and is not repairable. I need to find a new machine and do not need to stay below $500 or at the bottom. I do costuming for a community theater group, alterations on wedding and prom gowns, light upholstery and drapery sewing so I have to work on all kinds of fabric from satins & chiffon to velvets and upholstery materials. I may need to make 100 costumes for a show over a 2-3 month period. I have pulled out a 1950’s Singer to get me by and it is great but I would like something with some of the newer features. I also have a Baby Lock serger. I would like something that is good with multiple layers and makes good button holes has a free arm, good lighting and perhaps a needle threader. I have sewn for 40 years but I don’t embroider much or quilt yet. Would you have recommendations for me?
Jan
Patricia, The Singer 1507 sounds good, but it has a vertical bobbin.Someone who is new to sewing machines may prefer a drop in or horizontal bobbin. My experience with a vertical/front loading bobbin in the Singer 237 was hell. I gave the machine to my Dad, who was very handy, and even he found it to be a lemon. The bobbin would sometimes fall out as the machine was sewing!
My 22 year old Bernina 1230 (A Workhorse!!!) just locked up on me. Fixable IF you can find the parts. I just shopped Viking Husqvarna and the machines are the price of cars now. With that said – a LOT has changed in 22 years and if you love to sew and can afford an investment, I’m finding these newer machines to be VERY intuitive. I’m self-taught but have done years of costuming for professional theaters, home alterations and even boat cover repairs. My Bernina handled it and more. She owes me nothing and I’m thinking of trying one of these new fangled Vikings using no interest payments (because who has that kind of money lying around). Just saying!!
My wife wants a sewing machine for the holidays. She sews frequently, but I think she would classify herself as an intermediate sewer. She pinned the Singer 7258 Stylist and the Brother SQ 9000 on Pinterest. Any advice or recommendations on either machine? Help!
What a thoughtful spouse checking out her Pinterest boards. Smart! The SQ9000 is a retired model so if you can find it the price is probably higher than it should be. There are a couple of replacement models Brother currently produces that have the same body style, stitches, and features. The Brother SQ9185
would be a great choice.
Between those two – the 7258 and the SQ9185 – the Brother machine has more stitches, more work space (slightly larger frame), and the ability to monogram because of the built in font. Plus it comes with the extended work table so if she’s doing any quilting or working on curtains (anything with lots of excess fabric) she’ll have that additional support to keep the weight of the excess fabric from pulling while she works.
If monogramming and quilting is on her list of projects the SQ9185 will serve her better – other than that they’re both great options. 😉
BTW .Elna is made by Janome. Many of their models are identical. I have found Janome to be the best machine for the money. Wide range of models and prices. Take your needs list to their store and try out their machines. On another note sewing machine dealers sell the same models online that they do in store..those that they are allowed to sell on line.There is no difference..if they say it is a Janome 66000…it is!I purchase online since I don’t need classes, the warranty is with the mfg.you can usually get free shipping and you do not have to pay state sales if you do not live in the dealers State.
I have sewn on most of the brands over the years and at this time have an old Singer, an old Viking and Pfaff, a Viking Designer SE, and a Brother Quattro 6000. All are good machines but the SE and Quattro are good at embroidery….touchy and fussy for heavy fabrics and long sewing periods. I have also found that people have as many problems with a dealer as they have with the problems with the new machines. …Bernina dealers seem to be the worst by far!! All this to say, I think I may go with the Juki hzl 6000. Excellent reviews and can’t find bad ones,however, a dealer is hard to find, so many have purchased them on-line with good results…a little scary for me. There is a dealer in my Phoenix area. Just my thoughts…
Carol – we probably don’t live all that far apart from each other. 😉 I’m in Glendale and enjoying the quiet morning now that Super Bowl – and the numerous helicopters and blimps that flew overhead for a solid week – are done.
Good points on the dealer issues. While no one wants a sewing machine with a short shelf life it’s easy these days to think of them as easily replaceable. However, the more you spend, the more important it becomes to understand dealer support, manufacturer support, and available maintenance for the machine one chooses on top of features and performance.
I’ve also read very good things about Juki and have done one (two?) reviews on their machines. If you have the name of the dealer in town let me know. I’ll have to add it to my list of places to visit. Always looking for places I can get my hands on new models for testing.
Good luck with your search and thanks for sharing!
Sincerely,
Erin
Do You have any experience or comments on Toyota? My local Viking and Pfaff dealer is selling also Toyota sewing machines and was recommending these, saying these being same level of quality.
Erin, I truly need help narrowing down a new sewing machine. I’ve been sewing off-and-on for many years, and my old automatic sewing machine (a Singer) has had it! Currently, I am looking for a sewing machine under $400 (give-or-take), with functions like automatic needle threading; walking foot; blind stitch; strong motor like I guess a DC motor. I’ve been searching on Amazon now for several months and just cannot commit to a machine.
Initially, I was interested in the Singer 9960 Quantum (however, there has been too much fluctuation in the price, and now it is out of my price range). Lately, I’ve been looking at the Juki HZL-G110; Janome DC series; Singer 9340; Singer 9980…I am just so confused! I just don’t know how to figure this out.
I simply just want to select a quality stitching, durable, sewing machine that I can use for routine sewing/crafting (to include working with heavy materials). I also want to start learning how to quilt. Can you please give me a recommendation?
Sincerely,
Rhonda
Hi Erin! Great web site! I’m wondering if you’d help me with a recommendation.
I currently have a Kenmore sewing machine, for which I paid $50 for at the outlet store…back in 1978. I love it, but it’s getting ready to give up the ghost.
I quilt (want to do more, possibly to sell), sew clothes and costumes for the grandchildren, gymnastics and ballet costumes, alter ready-to-wear for myself, hem, mend. All purpose kind of stuff. I don’t have any interest in machine embroidery, at least for now.
My must haves are simple: free arm, zig zag, blind hem, reasonable button holes, little or no maintenance required from me. I don’t want to have to oil it after every use (or ever), for example. Yearly maintenance that I have to pay for offends my frugal senses.
So, in light of all that, I’m really captivated with the BabyLock Crescendo. What???
Well, what attracts me is the 11″ harp space, the fitted button hole thing, the mu-vit foot, and that laser light. But how useful is that light likely to be? Is it just a fancy gadget that won’t be of much use really?
I’m uneasy about a computerized machine. I tend to buy things and keep them forever. I’d be really bummed if I spend $4500 on a machine and then the motherboard went out in ten years, and isn’t replaceable. I’m very frugal. Maybe a high end machine isn’t for me, but if not now when? I’m 64, not yet retired, and this will be my last big purchase.
I planned to spend $1-2k on a machine, but don’t have a problem paying cash for a higher end machine. The bells and whistles are fun, and I love them, but aren’t necessary. However, I want a machine I can love, love, love….for the rest of my sewing days, probably 20 years or so.
I looked at Bernina’s. They seemed a little pricey for what you get. Janome’s didn’t do anything for me.
The Juki, maybe, but it’s not an all purpose machine. I’d have to buy something else for the zig zag work, and I don’t really have room for two machines.
I’d like a serger, but don’t really have room for it, either, so it would be great if the sewing machine could fulfill most of those duties, too.
I’ve been to the local dealers a few times. I like the Bernina dealer better, but those prices! At the other dealer I keep being drawn to the Brother/BabyLocks. The Symphony would be ok, the Aria would be great, and the Cresendo would make my heart sing!
But how do you justify spending that much money for the kind of sewing I do?
Can you tell that I’m conflicted? High end? An inexpensive mechanical? Help!
Mel, you’re cracking me up! I do completely understand being torn between those options, though, and there’s a lot to consider. First, though, let me put your mind at ease regarding computerized machines. Yes, it’s possible that something will happen to it BUT the speed with which you can do things that took so much longer to do before is just phenomenal. My mother is your age and she’s been sewing on her 1973 Kenmore for – OMG – over 40 years now. She wasn’t sure she wanted to try a computerized machine, either, but in buying some for her grandchildren she’s had a chance to play around with them and agrees that the new features are pretty amazing.
Plus, if the cost of computerized parts follows the trend of other technology the replacement costs shouldn’t increase and, in fact, should decline over time.
However, if you’re going to make that kind of an investment you do want a machine that has a solid history of low breakdown rates and the Babylock machines do have that going for them as well as lower prices overall. Bernina and Janome have that same reputation but the prices are just so much higher than many Babylocks when the performance is awfully darn close.
My neighbor bought a quilting arm machine that’s as long as a car. When she showed it to my husband and I, our jaws dropped. The thing is massive! However, quilting is her one, big passion. She wanted to be able to produce the best quality pieces and have as much flexibility for design and size as she could manage. Knowing her and her goals it made complete sense.
I think if you identify your goals, too, it will help you choose. What is it you want the machine to help you do? Things like: make larger quilts, have more flexibility with designs, have more stitches, perform machine embroidery, automation to improve speed of production, reliability, etc. Then look at the features on each machine that deliver on those goals. If you didn’t list “sew straighter lines” as a goal, then maybe the laser light isn’t a necessity and goes on your “nice to have” list (although there are some stand alone lasers you can buy for use with any machine – just something to keep in mind).
Then look at which machine delivers best on your must-haves, not on the nice-to-haves. Then any of those nice-to-haves that come with the machine you select will just be the icing on the cake. 😉
On your list of possibilities I didn’t see any I wouldn’t get so I think if you just outline goals and define features as must-have vs nice-to-have you’ll have no problem choosing (but let me know if you have questions along the way!)
Sincerely,
Erin
Enjoyed your article. I am looking for a new machine and am also conflicted over what to get. I currently have a Viking Huskystar that I have had for over 10 years and it has served me well, my only complaint was that it bogged on thicker fabrics. I have done and still do a LOT of sewing so it has gotten a lot of use over the years. Lately it has been having some issue, last time I had it in for service I’m told it has a bad bushing that is not available therefore it is not repairable, it’s only a matter of time before it wears to the point it won’t sew anymore. Till then I am looking.
I have always used a more mechanical machine and I think that is what I would prefer. I want something that can handle being used a lot, sew through heavy fabrics easily, I really like the up/down needle feature (mine has that now) I want to be able to adjust presser foot pressure, top loading bobbin, and a decent variety of stitches (stretch, feather, blind hem etc) I really don’t need a lot of bells and whistles but I do want a reliable machine that will last a long time and stitch well (I do a lot of alterations so quality of stitch and work is important) But, I don’t want to break the bank. I have looked at the Viking Emerald 118 and also some Elnas. Any suggestions???
I also have an old Bernina Record (over 30 years old) that sews beautifully but doesn’t have some of the features I prefer, it is more of a back up machine and can handle heavy fabrics.