If you enjoy creating personalized pieces, a monogramming or embroidering machine can allow you to add designs to any fabric item. These machines help you to create your own designs to create unique, one of a kind pieces that will wow your family and friends.
Our research team has reviewed over 30 sewing machines to see how they operate. We’ve compiled our list of top picks and our editor’s choice, the Brother LB5000M Marvel Edition offers fantastic features with a modest price tag. However, we’ve also ranked other machines at different price points to ensure that there is a top pick for everyone.
Our team of researchers deliberated for hours to find the best sewing machine for monogramming. We’ve looked at the functionality and performance of each machine including the number of fonts and designs offered. We’ve also looked at the stitch length, sewing speed, needles and other features that impact the usability for beginners and more experienced users. We’ve presented these findings in a simple overview table and a list of detailed reviews. But we’ve also included a buying guide to assist you in making your final purchase decision.
Other features: 10 button hole styles, automatic thread cutter, LCD display, 7 feed dog points, 8 accessory feet, USB port
The Brother LB5000M Marvel Edition may be the best computerized sewing machine for monogramming and sewing denim on our list. This is our editor’s choice because it’s a feature packed 2-in-1 sewing and embroidering machine with a color LCD touchscreen display to preview your edits before you even begin stitching. The embroidery design editing features are impressive, you can change the thread colors, move designs on the screen and place the lettering in arc with a simple touch of your finger.
The LB5000M Marvel Edition features 80 built-in embroidery designs and you can easily import more designs with the USB port. This machine features needle up/down variable speed control and a drop feed function to make creative free motion sewing easier. There are 103 built-in stitches to select and the expanded workspace is great for larger and bulkier projects. There are 7 quick change sewing feet, they are: spring action zigzag, zipper, blind stitch, buttonhole, button sewing, overcasting and monogramming. As it’s the Marvel edition, this machine has a Marvel Superheroes Design Pack code to get 10 fun designs from ibroidery.com.
Other features: 11 accessory feet, advanced needle threading system, dial stitch selector, adjustable screen brightness
The Brother SE1900 is a well-regarded embroidery sewing machine, it’s our premium pick because it’s a great upgrade path from the fantastic SE400 model. The may be the best Brother sewing machine for monogramming with features, such as: 240 sewing stitches, 10 buttonhole styles, 11 lettering fonts and 138 built-in embroidery designs. If that’s not enough you can even design your very own unique stitches right on the machine. The memory locations on the machine allow the user to import embroidery designs purchased from third party suppliers. The imported designs are transferred using a standard USB memory stick using the built-in USB port.
The Brother SE1900 has a generous 5” by 7” embroidery field to create larger designs. The automatic threading and LCD touchscreen make this an easy machine to use but it can be used for complex embroidery projects. This would be an excellent machine for a more advanced user interested in starting their own business or at home. An included CD contains some handy designs but some of them are a little outdated.
Other features: 13 one-step button holes, stitch sequencing with memory, built-in needle threader, adjustable stitch length and width
The SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960 is one of the best computerized machines available today, it’s packed with useful features and very versatile. This machine has a shallow learning curve, it’s easy to use and it can handle your embroidery and monogramming tasks. The automatic thread cutter is a welcome addition and you can thread the machine in a shade under 6 seconds with practice. Singer has included 960 built-in stitches, 13 buttonhole styles and 5 monogramming fonts with variable speeds to match your skill level.
The SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960 has a clear cover so you can visually monitor the bobbing without leaving your seat. This machine has a drop in bobbin system making it simple and efficient to use daily. The lengths and widths of the stitches can be adjusted with the automatic stitch adjustment feature. There is a needle up/down button that allows you to sew without worrying about the exact needle positions. Overall this is a solid machine for monogramming, the 5 included fonts are useful, but there are better options on our list at this price point.
Other features: color touch LCD screen, built-in tutorials, built-in memory, automatic needle threader, adjustable speed settings
The Brother PE535 is an affordable machine that offers a lot of functionality. This machine is equipped with a 3.2” LCD color touchscreen that shows you the design before you make a single stitch. The PE535 is quick, it can make 400 stitches per minute and you can use the built-in color palette feature to change or select the color threads before you begin. The machine’s memory includes 80 embroidery designs, including: floral, borders, holidays and kids styles.
The Brother PE535 may be the best sewing machine for monogramming large font projects. This machine has 9 different fonts to choose from and you can select small, medium and large sizes as needed. There are also symbols and numbers and you can select lower and upper case letters. But, only 6 of the fonts are in English and the remainder and in Japanese. The fonts can be edited to suit your project, they can be aligned as text in angles or curves and you can place text on seperate lines. The spaces between lines of text can be adjusted and you can add more designs using the built-in USB port.
Features
Extra features: 55 alphanumeric sewing stitches, advanced needle threader, drop-in top bobbin, LCD screen
Brother has had a good run lately, so we were expecting a lot of good things the moment this machine arrived. Even then, we were not prepared for just how fantastic the Brother HC1850 is.
With a sewing speed of 850 spm and 185 built-in stitches, it is more than a beginner’s machine. And yet, its ease of use and quality of sewing makes it the perfect option for complete beginners. You can literally learn to sew on this machine, that’s how user-friendly and forgiving we found it to be.
This is a solid, reliable workhorse of a sewing and quilting machine. Whether you’re monogramming, quilting, or just doing basic stitches, you can make adjustments on the fly and keep going for hours every day with no problem.
We really think that it is a commercial-quality sewing machine that one can use to get a business going, and its features ensure an upgrade won’t be needed at least for a few years.
The best computerized sewing machine for monogramming and sewing denim will have a large number of built-in stitches. The exact number will vary a great deal, but every machine will have basic zigzag and decorative stitches covered. When you’re shopping for an embroidery and monogramming machine check the included stitches. It’s also a great idea to get a machine that can adjust the length and width of the stitches. Check the maximum stitch length and width to ensure that the machine can handle your projects.
If you’re new to sewing you may be wondering what an embroidery or monogramming machine is and how it works. As you probably already know, there are different types of sewing machine functions, some machines can fulfil multiple roles and others are more specialized. An embroidery machine in many ways is similar to a sewing machine but it mimics the actions of hand embroidery to create very detailed quilting stitches.
Traditionally, embroidery was highly regarded as a decorative stitching technique using multiple stitch patterns, types and colors. This technique is ideal if you want to create intricate designs or a nice image but it can also handle letters and numbers too. There are elaborate machines that can act as a sewing machine and a quilting machine. But, if someone isn’t interested in embroidery they will not pay for features that they don’t need. This is why we have seen manufacturers make dedicated quilting machines that are capable of embroidery and monogramming.
Monogramming is fun, the best Brother sewing machine for monogramming is fantastic for creative projects such as personalized handkerchiefs, scarves and towels. If you really catch the monogramming bug you will find yourself coming up with all kinds of ideas for personalized items for your family or to give as gifts.
With so many sewing machines on the market, it can be challenging to find the best one for your needs. So, here we’ll explore some of the most important features to consider before you make a final purchase decision.
Many modern sewing machines allow the user to slow down or speed up the sewing process as needed. A good speed setting will control how fast the fabric passes under the needle and to maintain a consistent speed when required. A good example would be sewing along a straight edge.
The speed is often controlled by a foot pedal but the best models may allow the user to control the speed on the machine instead.
The best computerized sewing machine for monogramming and sewing denim will have a large number of built-in stitches. The exact number will vary a great deal, but every machine will have basic zigzag and decorative stitches covered. When you’re shopping for an embroidery and monogramming machine check the included stitches. It’s also a great idea to get a machine that can adjust the length and width of the stitches. Check the maximum stitch length and width to ensure that the machine can handle your projects.
If you have more designs and fonts on your machine it will offer greater flexibility for your future projects. If you need the best sewing machine for monogramming large font you will need to look at the features closely. Many embroidery machines have a number of in-built features to help the user get the best results. The best modern machines such as the Brother SE1900 have a built-in USB port that allows you to add more designs later.
The number of available buttonholes is important for many people that want a sewing machine that can also offer embroidery functions. This would allow you to sew in a buttonhole in a single step without stopping the machine or touching another control. There are machines available that allow the user to insert the button in a slot and then the machine sews an appropriately sized buttonhole automatically.
There are machines with larger hoops that are great if you want to make larger designs but they don’t stabilize any smaller fabric pieces. A different machine might be a better option for smaller designs but they may not accommodate larger projects. So, it’s important to pay close attention to the specifications of the machine to make sure it can handle the designs you want to use. A better quality machine may have a multi-hoop feature that can finish both smaller and larger designs in equal high quality. This is great for the user because they can switch from smaller to larger projects without enduring delays and wasting their time. The best machines like the Brother LB5000M Marvel Edition allow the user to edit the built-in designs and patterns efficiently. The designs, fonts and patterns can be customized to suit virtually any project.
Threading any type of sewing machine used to be a huge drawback for many users. This can be a tricky process requiring a great deal of hand to eye coordination and this placed sewing at home beyond many potential users. The best modern computerized sewing machines like Brother HC1850 have a self-threading feature known as a needle threader. This system can feed the sewing machine quickly to limit the time downtime and keep the project moving along quickly.
Certain embroidery and quilting machines have a tooth mechanism that allows the user to drop the needle under the fabric. This means that the user can carry out free-style embroidery and even darning with ease.
Older sewing machines had a bobbin that was located inside a recessed compartment that was hard for some users to reach. Threading this bobbin was a difficult process and the time taken to deal with this vital part of the machine could sap creativity. The bobbins on modern machines are far more accessible and easier to deal with. The best machines have a panel that you slide open and then you simply drop the bobbin into the machine. Other models such as the SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960 have a clear cover so that you can see the bobbing working in the machine. This allows the user to notice when the thread is getting low and take appropriate action.
The usual sewing machine base is designed to provide a wide working surface for medium to large projects such as quilts.
A free arm is very different, it’s a narrower working surface with a handy space located underneath so it will not hit any table that it is sitting upon.
The last thing that you need when you feel creative is an embroidery machine that has bad controls and ergonomics. It’s important to have a machine that is easy to use with plenty of functionality that can grow with you as your skills develop. The machine must be responsive to any pressure placed upon the foot pedal without growling and stalling. The fabric needs to move under control and it should be easy to change the thread as needed. If you want to work with thicker or heavier fabrics you will need a machine that’s heavier duty. Every control needs to be within reach for better control and the layout should be ergonomic. Many modern machines have a bright LED color touchscreen display that provides valuable feedback. This is a great place to preview stitches and the screen needs to be easy to read and responsive.
With any purchase the old adage of “you get what you pay for” is probably true. However, you can get a great embroidery and monogramming machine for a modest price in the current market. Manufacturers such as Brother and Singer are leading the way and this is why we’ve included their best machines on our list. Ideally, you should test out a sewing machine in person, but this is not possible in many cases and so we must rely on informed reviews such as this one. So, it is very important that the sewing machine you choose is backed by a solid warranty. This shows that the manufacturer has confidence in the product and you have peace of mind that you’re covered if something goes wrong. Every machine on our list has a great warranty to ensure that it will work well for years to come.
As we’ve discovered, there are some fantastic monogramming sewing machines on the market. From the great value Brother HC1850 that is not only lightweight, but is easy to use to the premium Brother SE1900 that not only provides access to 240 stitches, but allows you to design your own, machines are available with features to support beginners through to more experienced crafters.
However, the stand out as the best sewing machine for monogramming has to be our editor’s choice, the Brother LB5000M Marvel Edition is intuitive to use and has 80 built in designs and 103 stitches. You can even preview your edits on the color touchscreen display, so you can quickly find yourself monogramming everything around your home.
