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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 2021 & 2022 below...

Janome HD5000 Sewing Machine

Details

91.7 The Janome HD5000 comes in two colors and is fully mechanical – there is nothing computerized on this sewing machine. It is described by Janome as “Heavy Duty” and consumer comments, for the most part, bear this out. Owners describe the HD5000 as a sturdy workhorse. It has a limited number of stitches (18) and some folks wish there were more, although stitch quality is said to be very good. This is an uncomplicated machine and is easy to setup and to operate. It may be a good fit for both the beginner and the more experienced seamstress.

Singer Quantum Stylist 9985 Sewing Machine

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Singer Quantum Stylist sewing machine review
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85.2 There has been an evolution of the Singer Quantum Stylist sewing machine, from the 9960 to the 9980 to the more recent 9985. They are all similar but do have some key differences - # of stitches, # of alphabets, extension table, LCD interface, etc. The 9985 is currently the pinnacle of sewing machines in the Quantum Stylist stable with over 960 stitches and a color LCD touch interface with voice assistant. But the machine is not perfect and there are issues. In addition, the base 9960 is no slouch and is less expensive.

Janome Sewist 725S Sewing Machine

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97.1 The Janome Sewist 725S is a mechanical sewing machine and it is rather “bare bones”. It includes the essentials, but there are not a lot of fancy features. As such, many owners report that it is simple, very easy to use, and a great fit for beginners. The unit is also fairly quiet and it sews smoothly. The manual is easy to follow, with well written content and good illustrations. Despite the simplicity of the 725S, you will get a needle threader (one hand), 23 built-in stitches, a one-step buttonhole, a reverse sewing lever, and a host of accessories.

Singer SM024 Sewing Machine

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Singer SM024 sewing machine review
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83.4 The Singer SM024 is an affordable, mechanical sewing machine. It does not have many features but if you are a budding sewist this may work in your favor as the unit is fairly easy to use. It is also lightweight and has a built-in carry handle which make it well suited for taking to classes. However, it isn’t that powerful and will struggle with thicker fabrics. Also, the lighting is a bit weak and some owners report issues with tangling bobbin thread and even needles breaking.

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.

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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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