The Best Sewing Machines We've Ever Tested
Are you an aspiring fashion designer? Creator of colorful quilts? Even if you simply wish to expand your tailoring skills past a needle and thread, the right sewing machine will enhance your craft. But with so many models available on the market, how do you choose what’s right for your at-home sewing needs?
We tested 24 models of sewing machines and sergers in our Des Moines lab, evaluating each on their ease of setup, performance, design and features, and overall value. Using cotton and denim, we observed how well they could execute basic stitches like straight and zigzag, and we explored special features like buttonholes and decorative and embroidery stitches.
For expert insight on what to look for when purchasing a sewing machine, we consulted with Shae Haning, owner of the Oklahoma-based Tallgrass Tailor and the host of the “Sew Show with Shae” on YouTube, and Elise Chase-Sinclair, costumer and sewing blogger.
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It creates clean, straight stitches with ease.
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The amount of features could overwhelm some beginners.
This Brother sewing machine is very easy to put together, even compared to other Brother models we tried. It comes with a quick guide to simplify the setup process, equipped with a paper manual that we used to take down notes and keep track of key settings for later sewing sessions.
Its many useful features include a light, buttonhole capability (which was quite effective), a needle threader, and a twin needle feature. The machine comes with several different feet suitable for both quilting and decorative sewing needs, as well as accessories like a seam ripper and extra needles.
Threading the bobbin was a breeze during testing, and the stitching was straight, clean, and easy. Though the tension needs to be tweaked a bit for some of the features, it's easy to use straight out of the box for straight sewing. We tried two different sewing designs and found them both to be sleek and simple. The stitching was also very even, demonstrated through the five decorative designs we tested on this machine. Overall, we found this Brother to be one of the easiest to sew on out of all the other machines.
Even after six months of use, the machine is still meeting our standards. While some of us found the basic machine easy enough for beginners, others found the various features to be a bit overwhelming. Regardless, we think the advanced capabilities are ideal for those who plan to level up their sewing over time. This machine performed better than equivalent models from other brands and stands out even more for being an absolute steal.
Type: Computerized | Dimensions: 16.26 by 7.01 by 12.48 inches | Weight: 10.14 pounds | Number of Built-In Stitches: 110 built-in utility, 55 alphanumeric stitches, and 8 buttonholes | Speed: Not listed
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![Close-up of a person sewing different thread patterns using the Brother XR9550 Sewing Machine.]()
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PHOTO: Wade Review / Henry Wortock
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![Close-up of the Brother XR9550 Sewing Machine's control panel.]()
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PHOTO: Wade Review / Henry Wortock
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![Close-up of a person threading the bobbin on the Brother XR9550 Sewing Machine.]()
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PHOTO: Wade Review / Henry Wortock
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![Close-up of the Brother XR9550 Sewing Machine's needle and presser foot.]()
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PHOTO: Wade Review / Henry Wortock