Human beings are creative beings. Among the arts, the craft of embroidery has been entrenched in human civilization worldwide for thousands of years. From the Chinese embroidery works of the 3rd century BC to the 17TH century works in the medieval Islamic world, which showed high status, embroidery is loaded with cultural and historical significance. Today, home embroidery machines for beginners have made embroidery accessible to anyone interested in learning this craft.
If embroidery evokes the terrifying image of bending over a piece of cloth with a needle and stitching away for days on end, then worry not.
Since the development of machine embroidery in the industrial revolution, even more significant strides have been made in this field. Computerized embroidery machines have made what was once a slow, painstaking process -with a considerable possibility for error- has now become a quick, efficient process.
You now have hundreds of designs at your fingertips and a machine at your disposal that takes all the hard work out of embroidery, leaving you to enjoy your hobby fully. Whether you are an enthusiastic hobbyist or looking to transition into business eventually, there is something for you.
Best Home Embroidery Machine for Beginners
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Brother SE1900 Sewing and Embroidery
When it comes to embroidery machines, versatility is the name of the game, and the Brother SE1900 has this down to a pat. This machine is built to offer excellent sewing and embroidery functions with many extra features.
The 3.2” LCD is a handy tool when flipping through the manual, previewing designs, and making changes to them. With 138 built-in designs and 11 different fonts, this machine gives you all you need to start your embroidery project confidently.
The 240 sewing stitches offer more than enough options for both your professional and personal projects. The SE1900 also boasts a 5” by 7” embroidery field, which makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking to do larger designs, as well as an included hoop to keep the fabric taut.
Summary of the key features
- Includes 138 designs and 11 fonts
- 240 built-in stitches
- 5’’ x 7’’ embroidery field
- Eight sewing feet
- Ten auto-size buttonhole styles
Pros
- Large, touchscreen display which is simple to use
- Automatic needle threading
- Extensive embroidery area
- Allows you to import your designs using a USB port
- Wide variety of accessories
Cons
- Complaints with the needle threading
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Brother SE600 Sewing and Embroidery
The Brother SE600 is an upgrade of the SE400-which is arguably the most popular model. This machine has a combination of features that make it an excellent choice for both beginner and intermediate users.
The 103 built-in stitches will allow you to work on heavy and lighter fabrics indiscriminately, making it more efficient decorating your project.
Besides the 80 built-in embroidery designs that already come with the machine, you can also add your personal or downloaded designs to its internal memory via a USB 2.0 port.
These designs are easily viewable and highly adjustable from the 3.7” LCD touchscreen. You can preview how the completed design will look and make changes to it, such as changing the thread color.
The embroidery area is 4” x 4”, which is sufficient for most embroidery designs, though it is smaller than other machines. You no longer need to abandon your work when it grows dark- all you need to do is turn on the LED lights and keep on embroidering.
Summary of the key features
- 80 embroidery designs and six lettering fonts
- Free arm to use when sewing sleeves and cuffs
- Seven sewing feet
- Drop-in top bobbin
- Automatic needle threader
Pros
- Affordable
- USB connectivity for the easy importation of designs.
- Dual-purpose machine- can be used for sewing and embroidery.
- 3.7’’ LCD screen to view and adjust your designs
- Easily portable
Cons
- Smaller embroidery area
Why You Should Buy the Best Home Embroidery Machine for Beginners
- Speed and Accuracy
You simply cannot achieve the same level of accuracy with your designs when embroidering manually, not to mention speed. Embroidery machines offer the unique opportunity to finish your designs quickly and exactly how you intended for them to be; so that you can move on to other projects.
2, Output
If you plan to start a home embroidery business from your hobby gradually, the best home embroidery machine for beginners will give you far greater Output, which will translate into higher profit margins for you.
- Easy Learning Curve
The best home embroidery machine for beginners doesn’t need a high level of expertise to use. Anyone can learn how to use it. Most machines also come with a user manual and instructional videos to learn how to use them that much easier.
How to Shop for the Best Home Embroidery Machine for Beginners
Here are some factors you should consider before settling on a home embroidery machine
- Type of machine
Dedicated vs. combo machine – A dedicated embroidery machine is an excellent choice if you are only looking to specialize in embroidery or already have a sewing machine.
However, a device with both sewing and embroidery functions is a great value option if you want to do both sewing and embroidery. You can even get a machine that also has quilting functionality.
Single needle vs. multi-needle machines- A single head, single needle machine typically has one head with the needle, bobbin, and thread and is much more affordable than the alternative and a good starting point for an embroidery beginner looking to work on simple projects.
Multiple needle machines, on the other hand, can have anywhere between 4 to 10 needles. This is what you should get if you are looking for a more industrial style machine with faster stitching speeds and multiple hoop attachments.
- Brand
While this may seem the opposite of every shopping guide that said, “Don’t pay for the brand,” certain brands become popular and well-loved for a reason.
They have a wealth of market experience and knowledge behind them in that field and make products that are trusted by loyal customers.
Getting a warranty and spare parts from a known brand will also be much more straightforward. This doesn’t mean that you should only pay attention to the brand name; on the contrary.
Be keen on the features that matter most to you and read on customer reviews for the product. Choose the best home embroidery machine for beginners that suits your specific needs.
- Connectivity
The ability to make and use your bespoke embroidery designs is vital in the creative process. Get a device that allows you to quickly transfer your designs or those you download to the machine.
Most computerized embroidery machines have a USB port, a card slot, or can be connected directly to your PC to make the entire process seamless.
- The display
Squinting at a small screen to see your design can be a frustrating, even painful, experience. Get a screen with a generous size, which will allow you to see the design without struggling.
Extra display features that will make the machine great to use are; full color, touch capability, and drag and drop feature. Ensure that your device allows you to preview and edit your final design before stitching begins.
- Embroidery area
Your choice of embroidery size will mostly depend on the size of designs you see yourself making the most. You can go for smaller-sized hoops if you want to do smaller designs (4 inches) or go as big as 12 inches if you wish to larger designs.
A multi-needle machine works best for those who want to work with different sizes as there are multiple attachments of various sizes.
More On Home Embroidery Machine for Beginners
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Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9850
Janome is not a new name in the embroidery and sewing world. It is a brand whose success mainly comes from customer loyalty. The Memory Craft 9850 has all the best features to make your embroidery, fabric crafting, and sewing a resounding success.
Apart from having a sturdy, durable build that makes it suitable for heavy-duty sewing, the 200 built-in stitches complement this feature allowing you to choose the best stitch for your particular fabric.
This machine has 175 built-in embroidery designs from which to choose, which somewhat make up for having only 2 European-character fonts. These designs can be previewed and edited from the full-color LCD touchscreen.
If you are not satisfied with the included formats or just want to do something bespoke, you just need to transfer your designs via a USB port to the machine’s internal memory of up to 3MB.
With embroidery speeds of 60-800 stitches per minute and sewing speeds of up to 1000 stitches per minute, this machine can easily make the switch from home use to professional use if you decide to do so. The five white LED lamps in 3 locations also make this device ideal for low light conditions.
Summary of the key features
- Automatic thread cutter and tension
- 3MB storage capability
- 6.7’’ by 7.9’’ embroidery area
- LCD full-color touchscreen
Pros
- LED light system
- Multi-needle embroidery
- Sturdy, durable body
- Fast embroidery speeds
Cons
- Few lettering fonts
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Brother PE535 Embroidery
If you are plan to invest in an embroidery-only machine, then the Brother PE535 is the way to go. This is an affordable embroidery machine full of features designed to make your embroidery project fun and easy.
This machine comes with 80 built-in designs and nine lettering fonts- 6 English and 3 Japanese, which should be more than enough for beginners.
The option to make adjustments to the letter spacing and edit the letters makes this a perfect tool for anyone who wants to venture into monogramming.
You can also transfer downloaded designs to the device’s in-built memory via the USB port. Like most other computerized embroidery machines, the PE535 comes with a color LCD screen to preview your designs and a unique drag and drop feature that comes in handy when you want to position your design on display.
Summary of the key features
- 4’’ by 4’’ embroidery area
- 3.2’’ LCD display
- 80 built-in embroidery designs
- Nine lettering fonts
Pros
- Affordable
- USB connectivity
- Full-color LCD touchscreen
- Automatic needle threading
- Drag and drop feature
Cons
- Cannot function as a traditional sewing machine
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Janome Memory Craft 350E Embroidery
Janome was the first company to bring embroidery machines into the home, and this shows in their extremely user-friendly Memory Craft 350E. It is a step-up from the Janome 350E.
It offers the great functionality of other Janome embroidery machines, with a significant improvement being the lack of a bulky, external embroidery arm. The embroidery hoop simply locks into place after you tighten a small knob.
Another fantastic feature that makes the 350E a class leader is the multiple connectivity options. You can transfer downloaded designs to this device’s in-built memory via a USB memory key, a PC Design card, or an ATA card.
This is in addition to the 100 embroidery designs that come pre-loaded. The backlit LCD boasts a drag and drop feature for specific placement of a design on an embroidery area as well as a zoom feature.
Summary of the key features
- Comes with 3 embroidery hoops of 5.5’’x7.9’’ and 5’’x4.3’’
- Embroidery only machine
- Backlit LCD Touchscreen
- Fast microprocessor
- 100 built-in designs
Pros
- Multiple connectivity options
- Drag and drop editing
- LCD touchscreen display
- Automatic thread cutter
- Bright LED lights
Cons
- Few built-in fonts
- Thread tension needs to be adjusted manually
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Brother PE800 Embroidery
The Brother PE800 is an embroidery machine that is perfect for beginners. If you tend towards large designs, the 5’’x7’’ embroidery hoop is made for you.
You can also choose from 138 built-in designs that come pre-loaded or transfer your design via a USB port. With 11 fonts, ten frame designs and14 border styles; it will be a long while before you can get through all possible combinations.
But what makes the PE800 genuinely unique are the several editing tools at your disposal. You can mirror, rotate, increase, and decrease the design images to your satisfaction, as well as preview them before applying to see how the final result will look.
The step-by-step instructions on carrying out certain activities and the bilingual user manual make this machine perfect for beginners. The automatic needle threading function will save you the time you would have otherwise spent trying to push the thread through the eye.
Summary of the key features
- 5’’x7’’ embroidery area
- 138 built-in designs
- 11 lettering fonts (7 English, 3 Japanese, 1 Cyrillic)
- 3.2” full-color LCD touchscreen
Pros
- Large embroidery area
- Multiple lettering fonts
- USB connectivity
- Numerous built-in designs
- Automatic threading
Cons
- It is an embroidery only machine
- Costly
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Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine
If you are planning on owning an embroidery machine that you can easily use at home, but one that can also make a smooth transition into an embroidery business, then the PE770 is the machine for you.
This machine’s creative possibilities are endless- with 240 unique stitches and 136 built-in designs, and six fonts. If you plan to do reasonably large embroidery projects, the 5”x7” embroidery area will suit you well.
The 1.4’’x2.7’’ black and white display is a bit disappointing but is made up for by the multitude of editing features that this machine offers.
Apart from downloading and transferring designs via a USB port, this machine is compatible with ibroidery (where you can get thousands of designs) and allows you to use the card slot to stitch designs from Brother. The automatic threader and trimmer make working this machine that much simpler for a beginner.
Summary of the key features
- 136 embroidery designs
- 5’’x7’’ embroidery area
- Six lettering fonts
- LED-lit work area
- Automatic needle threader
Pros
- 240 built-in stitches of good quality
- Expansive embroidery area
- Multiple editing features
- 25-year warranty
- Automatic thread cutter
Cons
- Embroidery-only machine
- Black and white touchscreen
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Janome MB-4S Commercial 4 Needle Embroidery
The Janome MB-4S is an excellent choice if you want to have an ambitious and severe start to embroidery, coming ready for industrial and commercial embroidery.
The 4-needle function gives this machine efficiency and working speed that surpasses single thread machines by far. The embroidery field is also pretty expansive, allowing you to work on more significant projects with a speed of 800 stitches per minute per needle.
The 50 built-in designs are on the low side, but you can create or download your plans and transfer them to this machine using a USB stick since it has an inbuilt memory of 3MB like most of the best home embroidery machines for beginners.
You will also get ten monogramming fonts with the machine. Since the LCD does not allow you to preview the designs, you can opt to invest in a remote computer screen to manage the different settings.
Summary of the key features
- 4-thread function
- 9.4’’by 7.9’’ embroidery area
- 800 stitches per minute per needle
- 3MB memory.
Pros
- Expansive embroidery area
- Programmable jump thread trimming
- Extra-large bobbin
- LED-lit working area
- Automatic thread cutter
Cons
- Costly
- LCD does not allow you to preview the designs
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Mini Sewing Machine Portable Electric Small Household Sewing Handheld
This mini sewing machine is the very definition of beginner-level devices. It would work excellently with a child looking to get into sewing or pursue it as a hobby.
It is incredibly affordable and offers excellent value at its price point. The machine itself is lightweight and highly portable if you plan to move it around.
It comes with 12 built-in stitches that can be used in several creative ways on different fabric types. If you are not that practiced in embroidery, you can set the speed to a slow and later faster pace as you get more experienced.
This machine also has two power supply modes; either battery power or connection to a 220v power source, which is a great backup option if you experience a power outage.
Summary of the key features
- 12 built-in stitches
- LED lighting over the work area
- Two preset speeds
- Two power supply options
Pros
- Portable
- LED lighting
- Easy to use
- Affordable
Cons
- No touchscreen
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Brother SE625 Combination Computerized Sewing
This is the combination that bundles up embroidery, sewing, and quilting to make sure you get the best value from your money.
The SE625 comes equipped with 103 built-in stitches and a fantastic 280 embroidery designs (80 are built-in and 200 come on the CD). The designs don’t stop there; you can decorate bespoke designs by sending them via the USB port.
The automation on this machine is a thing of beauty, and it makes sure that everything runs as efficiently as possible with little effort from you.
Some of the automated features on this machine are memorizing your settings, so you don’t have to reset every time, thread cutting, needle threading, bobbin winding, needle up/down, and stopping when your bobbin thread runs low.
The embroidery area is 4”by 4”, which might not suit you well if you are looking to work on larger projects, but overall, the SE625 delivers on value.
Summary of the key features
- 280 embroidery designs
- 103 built-in stitches
- Smart color LCD
- 4’’x4’’ embroidery area
- LED-lit working area
Pros
- Numerous embroidery designs
- USB connectivity
- Multiple functions
- Adjustable designs
Cons
- Additional designs held on CD instead of USB
Final Thoughts: Home Embroidery Machine for Beginners
The possibilities when it comes to machine embroidery are endless. You can easily find a machine with all the requirements you need to do the best work you possibly can.
The materials you can also work with cover a wide range from heavy to light fabrics, all with different weaves. You need not rein in your creative process anymore due to any limitations that may be encountered in manual embroidery.
For home embroidery, effectiveness and efficiency are two sides of the same coin. With the best home embroidery machine for beginners, it’s a case of heads you win, tails you win.