Machine embroidery is not just for girls, and despite the historical association with sitting and sewing and creating pretty patterns to show off at the next cotillion, men using sewing and embroidery machines is on the rise. Just like yoga, essential oil diffusers, and anti-aging creams, the best embroidery machine offers guys something a little different to unwind with while also learning a new skill that will pay off.
It’s not like these machines are given manly nicknames either (rejected ideas include The Stabber, Embroidery King 7000, and Guns ‘n’ Sew-ses) but that’s because they don’t need them. Instead, they are appealing as they are without the threat of often-too-fragile masculinity being put at risk.
Just like any skill you can learn, embroidery and sewing help put the mind at ease. It puts you into a zone and helps you focus your energy somewhere other than sports, TV, and video games. And if anyone tells you to man up, you can tell them to drag their knuckles into the 21st century with the rest of us.
The Best Embroidery Machine
1Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Embroidery Machine
The Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 is our top pick for the best embroidery machine around for several reasons. It boasts high speeds that manages up to 850 stitches per minute while the automatic needle threader saves time, any mistakes and relieves stress. To top it all off, it’s portable, so you can get your embroidery done whenever, wherever, too.
It’s cheap, too, which makes it perfect for beginners who don’t want to take too much of a risk on their first embroidery machine. Despite the price, though, it’s still effective and reliable, with a plethora of stitch styles and 13 built-in buttonholes that make you feel you’re using a much more expensive machine.
Portable design
High speed
Automatic needle threader
13 built-in 1 step buttonholes
Variety of stitches
Extension table
Easy to load top drop-in
- BrandSinger
- Model9960
- Weight20 Pounds
2Janome MB-4S Four-Needle Embroidery Machine
Where do we begin with the Janome MB-4S Four-Needle Embroidery Machine? It provides everything you could need and a host of things you never knew you needed, too. With 3MB memory, you can store up to 1.5 million stitches or 100 designs for limitless (mostly, anyway) potential.
The LED light allows you to work deep into the night, while the on board controls ensure simplicity even for newbies. The automatic bobbin winding is a huge time-saver, while its ability to complete 800 stitches per minute is up there are some of the best around.
Remote Computer Screen
LED light
3MB memory
Automatic thread cutter
Bonus hoop package included
Bobbin winding
800 stitches per minute
- BrandJanome
- ModelMB-4S
- Weight64 Pounds
3Brother 5 x 7 Inch PE770 Embroidery Machine
Spreading its field and offering more space for greater embroidery potential, the Brother 5” x 7” PE770 is perfect for those looking for an expansive space for large, ambitious projects. It comes with 136 designs (which you can edit) already set on the machine and the memory function allows you to increase this further for those nights you feel like experimenting with surreality.
It delivers 650 stitches per minute, which isn’t the fastest, but with a variety of other features, you won’t mind it too much – and true art takes time, after all. The reliable threading ensures little chance of mistakes or jams, while the chance to explore six different fonts offers plenty of potential for casual, formal, and just downright silly projects.
Expansive field
136 built-in designs
Memory function
650 stitches per minute
Reliable threading
Design editing
6 lettering fonts
- BrandBrother
- ModelPE770
- Weight27.1 Pounds
Embroidery Machine Buying Guide
How We Chose Our Selection Of Embroidery Machines
We never like to make other machines feel bad when making our selection but it has to be done. Here’s how we narrowed down our guide to find the best embroidery machines available.
Brand - Anyone who knows anything about embroidery will have had their eye out for the top brands, but we don’t like to focus all our energy on what some consider being the most popular brands. Instead, we looked for a wide range of brands to ensure a variety of features and functions to appeal to all needs and skill levels.
Price - Embroidery is a pricey hobby, however, we don’t believe in excluding anyone just because of their budget. Instead, we looked for a wide range of products so it doesn’t matter if you’ve been doing this for years and sit atop a throne of gold or are looking to get into the hobby, there is a machine you can afford.
Reviews - Our favorite part of our research and our most trusted method is reading customer reviews. These give us an idea of how well a machine operates when compared to machines of the past after being used by those who know much more than we do about embroidery. Reviews also help us understand any potential issues and allow us to determine how well the machine holds up years down the line.
Features To Look For In Embroidery Machines
To guarantee you don’t get stitched up when it arrives at your door, check out these key features to ensure you find the best embroidery machine for you.
Power - The more powerful the machine, the more manly you will feel when embroidering pretty flowers and rainbows onto your daughter’s backpack. The power determines how many stitches per minute your machine can handle, and this ranges from around 400 to over 800.
More is not always better, though, and while faster stitching will accelerate your projects, it could also cause problems when working with more intricate designs so consider a machine with ‘turtle mode’ besides offering high speeds.
Embroidery Stitches And Designs - The amount of potential stitches and designs will give you a variety of styles to explore and can make the whole purchase eventually pay for itself. More designs is an attractive prospect, while different stitching styles allow you to work with different clothes and accessories.
Some machines allow you to download or customize designs so you can upload your own images to embroider.
Quality - Your embroidery sewing machine should deliver the quality needed for what you intend to use it for. Obviously, high quality is crucial regardless of the machine, but for personal use, you may not consider high quality as important as if you were using it in a professional setting.
Easy Setup - Anything with an easy setup is a winner as far as we’re concerned. If you’ve never used an embroidery machine before, simple setups can ease the pressure and stress when getting started, and this will also make it easier to load and reload bobbins, threads, and other accessories.
Even if you’re experienced with machines, easy setup means you can get back to work much quicker while also minimizing the learning curve from working on a new machine.
Embroidery Machine FAQ
But what if you’ve never even seen an embroidery machine but are nevertheless intrigued? Here’s a useful little guide to get you up to date with what on earth we’ve been talking about.
Q: What is an embroidery machine?
A: An embroidery machine is a machine that allows you to create what is essentially stitching art. With them, you can craft decorative designs on clothes, upholstery, accessories, and more to give them more of a pop. If you like to customize your outfits, they are a crucial necessity to help you explore the potential.
Embroidery machines differ from sewing machines (despite fundamental similarities) by being capable of creating more elaborate and complicated designs, whereas sewing machines are typically only used to stitch materials together.
That being said, you will find many machines can do both sewing and embroidery.
Q: What is the best embroidery machine for home use?
A: Any of the products we’ve selected would make an excellent embroidery machine for home use. Unlike industrial machines, one needed for use at home should be compact while still offering enough features to experiment with your creativity.
Q: What is the best sewing and embroidery machine for beginners?
A: For beginners, you can’t go wrong with a Brother embroidery machine. These boast enough quality to get you started without making you feel overwhelmed with the amount of features. Everyone is different, though, so you may prefer something more or less complicated. If you have friends or relatives with an embroidery machine, it’s a good idea to practice on these to get used to the operation before purchasing.
Q: How much does a good embroidery machine cost?
A: A good embroidery machine will set you back at least $200, but it all depends on your skill level and what the scope of your projects. Bigger, better machines with a wider range of features and capabilities can cost as much as over $4000, but these are targeted towards experienced embroiderers, whereas cheaper options are closer to $500.
Sources:
- 10 Tips To Buying Your First Embroidery Machine - Sewing Mastery
