When choosing an embroidery and sewing machine combination, consider the quality of the build, features, and price. Look for a machine that offers both embroidery and sewing capabilities for the best value.

You want your hobby or business to run trouble-free. Reviewers often overlook this key component. In my fifty years in the industry, I have never met anyone who likes frustration and aggravation. These things are key to not enjoying a hobby.

Strong warranties, quality construction, and service centers nationwide are important for making and enjoying your purchase. Metal frames and ball bearings on balanced shafts are also key components in the manufacturing process.

I reviewed both embroidery alone and a mix of embroidery, quilting, and sewing machine. When looking at your personal Best Buy you should consider both designs with the price.

Pay attention to the number of embroidery designs included with the machine as they represent value. Think of your machine as a computer that sews and the designs and software included as added value.

Newer machine designs operate on the latest electronics which results in easier operation and more memory and speed. Embroidery as well as quilting involve these two key elements. automatic needle threaders are also a key feature as you will change the thread spools often.

Having a color viewing LCD screen is also a must. This will help you see your thread color options and your font selection before you start.

Review

I see so many best reviews posted by people who from my point of view are clueless on the subject. The best sewing and embroidery machine depends on your experience, budget, and expectations. It’s a personal choice. The one-size-fits-all approach that so many reviewers take is a lazy one.

A person who already has a 4×4 should generally never purchase another machine without additional embroidery field size.

Sure if you are looking for a machine under 600.00.

Then everyone will recommend a Brother as they are the only manufacturer that builds a machine in this price range. These machines are good. However, many customers end up wanting a bigger hoop machine. They often desire a 5×7 or 6×10 size shortly after purchasing one.

The real problem with making the 4×4 purchase is that you will lose a lot of money when you sell or trade in the machine. The reason so many trade it in is the limited size of the 4×4. You are by and large limited to small pocket designs.

4X4 Embroidery Field to consider.

• Brother PE 545
• primarily found at Walmart just ask the stock boy/girl.
• 135 built-in embroidery designs and 10 built-in lettering fonts
• 4″ x 4″ Maximum embroidery area
• Wireless LAN
• High plastic content , Small motor.
• Brother PE 550d
• 125 built-in designs.
• 9 font styles.
• Built-in tutorials.
• Built-in memory for importing embroidery designs from USB
• English/Spanish manual included.
• High plastic content small motor.
• Built-in Disney designs.
• 4” x 4” Embroidery Machine with Built-In Disney Designs.
• 125 Built-in Embroidery Designs and 9 Fonts.
• Amazon, Office depot ext.
• Most sewing embroidery shops do not have the 4×4 size. Customers often regret buying it because they lose 50% of its value and factory warranty after minimal use.

The Brother 5×7 Best Buys.

These machines offer larger designs and as a result provide a much higher “keeper” value.

Brother dominates this product level again offering more choices than any other manufacture.

• Brother NS 1250e Embroidery
• Embroidery machine Mom and Pop Shops that offer expert help.
• 193 built-in embroidery designs (including 13 fonts)
• 650spm maximum embroidery speed
• 5” x 7” Maximum embroidery area
• Zero Tax outside S.C. Free shipping
• Combination Sewing/Quilting and Embroidery Machine with color 3.2 inch LCD touch screen display on screen editing.
• Features include: Custom Stitch, 5 Lettering Fonts, 240 Stitch Selections, On-Screen Editing, and Built-in Embroidery for easy use.
• 35 Disney/Pixar character designs with embroidery hoops in two sizes. Max speed of 850 stitches per minute for quicker embroidery.
• Automatic Thread Cutter, quilters Feed Dog 7 Points with knee lift, Pro Drag and Drop Editing with Curved Text on Screen Editing. Built in On-Screen Help , Trial Position/Layout feature, Pattern Rotating Feature, Automatic Needle threading system, Realistic Preview function.
• Metal frame inside skeleton
• Brother pe 900
• The embroidery machine features 193 built-in embroidery designs and 13 built-in embroidery fonts.
• 5″ x 7″ Maximum embroidery area.
• 650 stitches per minute, you can create more in less time.
•  3.7” LCD display, which allows for easy on-screen editing, including letter editing, enhanced zoom, resizing, rotating, repositioning, and combining designs.
• Mom and Pop Zero Sales Tax and everyone else.
• Jump Stitch Trimming function.
• Automatic Needle threader.
• Metal Frame inside skeleton

• Brother SE 2000 Combination.
• 193 built-in embroidery designs and 241 built-in sewing stitches.
• 5″ x 7″ Maximum embroidery area.
•  10 styles of one-step auto-size buttonholes, the My Custom Stitch feature, and a Jump Stitch Trimming function.
• Automatic Needle threader.
• wireless LAN capability.
• 3.7” LCD color display screen
• Mom and Pop and loads of internet shops note Mom and Pop save you on Sales tax plus they offer much higher levels of service.
• Metal Frame inside skeleton

The 5X7 design provides a much larger design space allowing you to be more creative in combining multiple designs to create totally unique displays.

Note that Brother machine warranties cover 25 years so having a warranty is a big deal.

Those of you who plan on using the machine more often and want to embroidery and sew and even quilt, may want to look at machines with 6×10 or larger embroidery field.

This machines will allow you to be much more creative. You can combine multiple designs in order to create much more personal embroidery on larger items.

6×10 Embroidery field Best Buys.

 Husqvarna Viking Topaz 50 Embroidery-Combination.

Delivers at the top of this class with a 14 11/64 x 7 7/8 design area. This model is a combination sewing, quilting, and embroidery machine.

Automatic Jump Stitch Trim eliminates trimming time as you create beautiful embroidery designs. EXCLUSIVE SENSOR SYSTEM™ technology senses your fabric thickness for perfect, even feeding. 150 Embroidery Designs and 2 Embroidery Fonts in three different sizes included. 

Hoops: DESIGNER™ Royal Hoop, 360 x 200 DESIGNER™(14 11/64 x 7 7/8,) Splendid Square Hoop, 120 x 120 (4.23x 4.23)

• The Design Positioning feature lets you join large embroideries with perfect placement every time.
• Internet updates ensure that your DESIGNER TOPAZ™ 50 sewing and embroidery machine is always up-to-date.
• Large sewing surface – Almost 10” workspace at the throat area.
• Update your machine with latest software via internet.
• DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED IN SWEDEN.
• The SEWING ADVISOR® feature helps improve your sewing by choosing the best settings and providing on-screen advice.
• Metal Frame inside skeleton
• 20-year warranty

Brother NQ3550W Combo Embroidery Sewing Machine.

• 258 built-in embroidery designs, including 140 frame pattern combinations, and 13 lettering fonts for your embroidery side. The machine includes 291 built-in stitches, 10 types of buttonholes, and 5 lettering fonts. It can handle large embroidery projects with a 6″ x 10″ field. The 8.3″ space from needle to arm allows for easy fabric maneuvering, especially with quilts.
• A brilliant and sharp 3.67″ color LCD touch screen display welcomes you with an easy user interface. Here, you can edit on the screen by changing letters, zooming in, resizing, rotating, moving, dragging, and combining designs.
• Make your own custom designs by combing designs and lettering. Send designs wirelessly from your PC† to your machine when connected to a wireless network, using Design Database Transfer. (No USB needed.
• • Automatic Height Adjuster (AHA) built-in on the Brother NQ 3550W Combo Embroidery Sewing Machine. Keep a steady stitch length on all fabric thicknesses with this combo machine. This feature works to fight stitch elongation. Custom Stitch This enhanced feature allows you to combine and edit custom and built-in stitches to create your own.
• 850 Stitches Per Minute will speed up your longer runs. Embroidery Area up to Inches 6″ x 10 provides much larger workspace, great for the back of jackets. Sewing & Quilting Features include quilting plus 7 longer versions of Feed Dog to better feed thick materials.
• Includes 8.3″ x 12.2″ work surface (12.6″ x 21.1″ with Wide Table. My Custom Stitch Feature Enhanced included!
• Metal Frame inside skeleton
• 25-year warranty

Brother NQ1700E Embroidery-only Machine

6″ x 10″, On-Screen Editing, 199 pre-digitized fonts, 2 Embroidery Frame Sets 5″x7″ and 6″x10″ Extensive design On-Screen Editing.

• Offers 199 pre-digitized fonts with editing and personalization options
• Provides over 800 embroidery patterns.
• Features monogram creation, name drops, and drawing tools for applique conversion.
• Compatible with ScanNCut for effortless applique creation.
• Includes a word collage function for word embroidery patterns.
• Allows FCM file import and conversion to Applique.
• Includes 258 built-in embroidery patterns, 140 frame design combinations, and 13 embroidery alphabet styles.
• Transfer designs wirelessly from your computer to your machine using the Design Database Transfer feature on a wireless network. (No need for a USB.)
• Embroider easily on a big 6″ x 10″ area, with 8.3″ space from needle to arm for bigger projects. Additionally, the compact faceplate offers improved visibility for needle changes.
• Edit your designs is easy with on-screen editing. Zoom, resize, rotate, move, and combine features for as you desire on the large easy to view 4.85″ LCD touch screen.
• LED lights that will provide the brightness in your work space to speed up your project.
• Embroider quickly at 850 stitches per minute to make more items in less time.
• New features like Color Sort, Auto Thread Cut, and Advanced Thread Trim will increase your productivity.
• Metal Frame inside skeleton
• 25- year warranty

Brother PR680W Multi Needle Embroidery Machine

If you embroider a good bit or if you want to set up a small business then the 6 needle Brother is the cat’s meow. The machine has an embroidery area that measures 8 inches by 12 inches. It also comes with 100 designs, 18 font styles, and 140 frame patterns. Additionally, there are 50 lettering fonts and 50 utility stitch designs included.

First thing first is the automatic needle threader. To use many colors and sew big designs, you need bigger thread spools and quick thread changes. This machine is known for its fast thread change and high-quality construction.

Crosshair Embroidery- Droplight Lase- Connect Wirelessly- Reach up to 1,000 stitches per minute in seven seconds- Color Grouping- Color Management, and Color Sort Short Cut Key and Lock Mode Feature-

 8” x 12” embroidery area LED Lighting Color- LCD Touchscreen Display- large 10.1″ built-in high-definition display.

6 multi-needle machine is excellent for cap and hat embroidery.

The library offers a variety of tutorials. These include 100 embroidery designs, 18 font styles for monogramming, and 140 frame patterns. Additionally, there are 50 lettering fonts, 50 utility stitch designs, and 10 buttonhole styles in 3 sizes.

Artspira Mobile App, automatic needle threading system. 

25-year warranty

You can order this dream machine from Mom and Pop online or drop in the local store. The main advantage of buying online could be the large savings on sales tax.

The Crosshair Embroidery Droplight Laser helps with precise needle placement. It illuminates your fabric, indicating where the needle will land.

It’s accurate to within 0.5 mm and can handle materials up to 1 mm thick. This crucial attribute makes it one of the top embroidery machines for beginners. Eliminates guesswork and mistakes.

• 16 built-in video tutorials so you can learn as you go.
• Metal Frame inside skeleton

If you have a model with a 5×7 or larger embroidery size, it will last for over a decade. The only exception is if you choose to upgrade to a larger, more advanced model.

These machines are computers that sew, embroider, and offer on-screen guidance. There are many helpful videos on YouTube and numerous Facebook pages dedicated to the brand you choose. If you have any questions please give me a call at 843-903-6299 or email [email protected]