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Sewing Machine Reviews & Ratings

Sewing Machine Reviews

Welcome to Sewing Machine Ratings.  We provide expert reviews of all brands and types of sewing machines. 

From Singer and Brother to Juki and Janome, we cover all the major sewing machine brands and provide comprehensive reviews and consumer ratings to help you find the best sewing machine.  Make an informed decision!

 

See the latest Sewing Machine Reviews for 2020 & 2021 below...

Singer M1000 Sewing Machine

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Singer M1000 sewing machine
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83.2 The Singer M1000 sewing machine is a very affordable unit that is advertised by Singer as a “mending machine” (according to Singer the M1000 is designed predominantly for basic mending and repairs). It does not have many features and it is not powerful. This is not a machine you can use for large projects or that deals well with heavy fabrics. However, it does have a place as a lightweight, portable, easy-to-use sewing machine that is best for quick mending and small, simple projects.

Janome 41012 Sewing Machine

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94.8 This is an inexpensive Janome sewing machine that is a good choice for beginning sewists. It is also mechanical (as opposed to computerized), lightweight, and many owners report taking it to classes or sewing groups. In addition, you get basic, stretch and decorative stitches – a total of 12 stitches. However this is not the best machine for projects that require sewing through multiple layers of fabric or dealing with heavy fabrics. It just doesn’t have the power. Also, you cannot lower the feed dogs so if you want to do free motion sewing you have to cover the feed dogs with the darning plate.

Janome MOD-30 Sewing Machine

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93.0 The Janome MOD-30 is a reasonably priced, computerized sewing machine. This is not a heavy-duty Janome so it isn’t really a fit for those looking to sew the likes of thick denim or leather. It is, however, quite good for light/medium sewing work – garments, home decor, quilting, etc. It is also very easy to use and a great fit for the budding sewist. In addition, it is lightweight and comes with a carry handle for portability. The MOD-30 has 30 built-in stitches and it runs smoothly and quietly. However, some owners feel the unit is constructed with too much plastic and that the lighting is a little dim.

Juki HZL-G220

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Juki HZL-G220 Sewing Machine
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89.8 The Juki HZL-G220 is a full size, computerized sewing machine that’s great for quilting, crafting, and sewing garments. It has many built-in stitch patterns and comes with a host of features, but is still fairly easy to setup and use. Owners like the G220 and highlight the machine’s quality stitches, its ability to tackle thick fabrics, and the built-in thread trimmer (folks can’t say enough good things about this feature). It is, however, a heavy machine - over 20 lbs – so it’s not really designed for portability, and like many Juki machines it doesn’t come cheap.

Brother XR9550PRW Sewing Machine

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Brother XR9550 Project Runway sewing machine
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93.9 The Brother XR9550PRW (the PRW stands for Project Runway – the television show) is a computerized sewing machine that is getting very good ratings from owners. It has many stitches, sews smoothly and comes with a host of accessories. It is also very easy to use and is a good choice for the beginning sewist. It does have some downsides however, and some owners experience thread jamming, tension and bobbin issues, and there are even situations where the machine simply stops working altogether. Fortunately the positive reports far outweigh the negative.

Singer 8280 Sewing Machine

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Singer Prelude sewing machine
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82.6 The Singer Prelude 8280 is a very basic, mechanical sewing machine. Controls are simple and the unit would best fit entry level sewists or perhaps those who intend to do small, occasional projects. This is a fairly lightweight machine and the provided instructions are quite good. However quite a few owners have reported issues with thread jamming and tension. The machine seems rather temperamental and some folks find sewing with their 8280 frustrating.

Janome Memory Craft 6650 Sewing Machine

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92.2 The Janome Memory Craft 6650 is a very versatile sewing machine. It has a host of features including 170 stitches, 2 alphabets, independent bobbin winding, and a max sewing speed of 1000 stitches per minute. It is great for quilting and all manner of home projects. This is a sturdy and powerful, yet quiet machine. The outer body and interior frame are metal so the unit is on the heavy side but not too bad. Owner ratings for the MC6650 are excellent, however it is probably best for the more experienced sewist. It is not really a good candidate for a beginner or for someone looking for portability.

Singer M3500 Sewing Machine

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Singer M3500 sewing machine
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61.3 The Singer M3500 is an affordable, compact mechanical sewing machine. It is lightweight and comes with 32 stitches. Some owners have reported that it is quite easy to use and that it is a good fit for the beginning sewist. However there are also a host of complaints - from bobbins jamming, to skipped stitches, to issues with the needle threader. Many owners have found one problem or another with this particular machine and as a result we’d probably give it a miss.

Janome Sewist 740DC

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92.4 Owner ratings for this sewing machine are good. Janome’s often have good owner ratings. The Sewist 740DC is a sturdy computerized sewing machine that runs smoothly, makes great stitches, and is fairly easy to learn and operate. It also comes with a host of handy features. However some owners report issues, more-so than we see with some other Janome machines. Is it a good buy? Probably - given the significant number of happy owners. But it may still be a little bit more of a risk than some of the other Janome machines on the market today.

Brother GX37 Sewing Machine

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Brother GX37 sewing machine
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92.0 The Brother GX37 is a mechanical sewing machine with 37 stitches. It is generally quite affordable and the owner ratings are very good. This is a lightweight unit and as a result is a good choice for people taking classes or going to sewing gatherings. Owners report that the machine runs smoothly and quietly, and they also like that it feels very sturdy. However, this isn’t the best machine if you are dealing with heavy fabrics.

Singer Simple 2263

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Singer 1512
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81.4 The Singer Simple 2263 is an inexpensive mechanical sewing machine that is indeed “simple” to use and work with. Owners feel it is great for basic clothing adjustments/mending and home projects, and it is a popular machine with beginners. The 2263 has 23 built-in stitches and a built-in needle threader. It is also fairly lightweight, making it a good candidate for taking to classes or sewing gatherings. However, some owners have found that their 2263 has issues with tension control, bobbin jamming/tangling, and the needle threader.

Singer C5200 Sewing Machine

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Singer 1512
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56.1 The Singer C5200 is a computerized sewing machine with 80 built-in stitches.  It also has an LCD control panel, a free arm, and it includes an extension table.  Owners find it fairly user-friendly and report that it makes a nice stitch.  However there are a host of complaints about the machine and many folks find that the C5200 has issues with thread jamming and breaking.  There are also a number of other concerns such as a reverse button that sometimes doesn’t work, breaking needles, and noisy operation.  Overall, in our opinion, there are too many negatives reported to make this unit attractive.

Janome 1600P-QC Sewing Machine

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97.3 If you are looking for the ultimate mechanical sewing machine that only sews straight stitches, then look no further than the Janome 1600P-QC.  This is a sturdy, workhorse of a machine that is as close to industrial as you can get without paying the really big bucks.  Owners like their 1600P and praise it for its ability to sew through almost anything and to sew extremely fast (up to 1600 stitches per minute).  This is also a very popular machine with quilters.  On the other hand if you want a lightweight unit, something with a host of stitch options, or if you are a beginner, then this is likely not the best machine for you.

Juki HZL F300 Sewing Machine

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Juki HZL F300
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92.7 The Juki Exceed HZL-F300 is one of three popular computerized sewing machines in Juki’s Exceed series (F300, F400, F600).  The F300 is the most affordable but it still packs a punch. Owners are very pleased with this Juki and some describe it as an “excellent buy” and an “awesome machine”. It produces a quality stitch, sews smoothly, is powerful yet quiet, and feels sturdy.  It also comes with a host of great features. However there are some grumblings that it doesn't include a knee lift, and some folks have had issues with the bobbin winder and the automatic needle threader.

Singer 1512 Promise II Sewing Machine

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Singer 1512
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81.3 The Singer 1512 Promise II sewing machine is a very basic machine with a limited number of features.  It is also very easy to use.  This lack of complexity, coupled with the ease of use, makes the 1512 a good fit for the beginner.  The machine does come with some good features, including 13 stitches (basic, decorative, buttonhole), a free arm, a built-in thread cutter, a reverse lever, and adjustable stitch width.  Build quality is average but then this in not a particularly costly machine.  Some owners describe it as a decent machine on a budget.

Janome 3160QDC Sewing Machine

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93.2 The Janome 3160QDC is a lightweight, computerized sewing machine.  It is more affordable than the popular 4120QDC and is a great fit for quilters, home crafters, and those who want a portable machine for classes, sewing groups, etc.  The 3160QDC is also very easy to use and a good choice for the beginner and even the more advanced sewist.  It sews smoothly, includes many useful features, and comes with a host of built-in stitches.  However, there are some complaints that the lighting is a little weak.

Janome C30 Sewing Machine

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94.9 The C30 is an entry level computerized Janome sewing machine.  But don’t be fooled.  This is still a very capable machine, it simply doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you may find on more expensive units.  Consumer ratings for the C30 are excellent and owners like that it is very easy to setup and operate.  They also like that it is lightweight and portable (has a built-in handle).  In addition, the C30 has a one handed needle threader which owners absolutely love. There are very few complaints about this machine, although several folks wish it had a higher quality soft cover.

Janome Arctic Crystal Sewing Machine

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82.8 The Janome Arctic Crystal is an entry-level mechanical sewing machine.  It is compact, lightweight and fairly basic.  It’s a sturdy unit that comes with 15 built-in stitches and it is also easy to setup and to operate.  As a result, it is a popular choice with beginners.  Most owners are pleased with the Arctic Crystal but some report that the lighting is too dim and that they have to deal with thread tangling issues.

Janome 128 Sewing Machine

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86.1 The Janome 128 is a very simple and basic sewing machine with only 8 stitches.  It is also relatively inexpensive.  Janome often refer to the 128 as a “value-priced” sewing machine.  Owners like the unit’s ability to tackle thick materials, its light weight, and its ease of use.  It is popular for taking to classes, and the compact size, aluminum frame, and built-in carry handle make it very mobile. However, some folks have had issues with thread jamming and inconsistent stitches.  Many owners are also disappointed that it does not come with a built-in thread cutter.

Janome 49018 Computerized Sewing Machine

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92.8 The Janome 49018 is a computerized sewing machine with an aluminum interior frame.  As a result of the frame the machine is very lightweight and is a great choice for taking to classes.  This is also a fairly basic unit that is easy to use and to setup.  It is a good fit for the beginner or novice sewist.  Owners are pleased with the high quality of stitch, the smooth operation (little vibration), and the ability to tackle thicker materials.  On the downside some people have had issues with the machine-winding bobbin and the 49018 does not come with a large number of stitch options

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Kick-start your purchase by reading our helpful Guide to Sewing Machine Buying.

If you are looking for a brother sewing machine or a singer sewing machine or another brand of machine, you will want to read our reviews. We write about a wide range of machines including those for beginners, those for advanced users, computerized sewing machines, and mechanical units. We also provide ratings for each and every model we investigate, and where we can, videos and even manuals.

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About me...
About me - sewing machine ratingsHello!  My name is Alison and I started Sewing Machine Ratings over 10 years ago. Since then I’ve reviewed scores of sewing machines. Sewing has been a hobby for me since I was a young and I love to make my own clothing.
 
My website should help you find the best machine for your sewing needs. In addition to reviews, I gather owner ratings for each machine and calculate a score. So you can quickly compare one machine to another and also see how others feel about their sewing machine before you buy.
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