Whether you’re a beginner wanting to do basic hemming, or a super-sewer with your sights set on a complicated quilt or creative curtains, a good sewing machine is your best ally. Indeed, with needle power back in fashion, your machine can take pride of place in your home – and if you choose the right one, it can last you a lifetime.
Here’s our pick of the best sewing machines money can buy, covering everything from entry-level machines for first-timers to specialist models for embroidery or heavy-duty materials. And if you don’t know your buttonhole from your bobbin, or your feed dog from your free arm, our buyer’s guide gives you the low-down on what to look for.
How to choose the best sewing machine for you
What types of sewing machine are there?
- The most commonplace are electronic sewing machines; these are powered by a single motor and operated with a foot pedal, freeing up your hands to guide the fabric and adjust the speed with ease. A simple dial lets you select stitch types and lengths. Great for beginners through to experienced sewers.
- For more complicated jobs, computerised sewing machines come into their own. These use several motors to control different functions of the machine, ranging from needle up/down function to maximum speed control. Their precision control vastly expands the number and type of stitch types available – sometimes even letting you create your own – which you can select either using buttons or on an LCD display. Many computerised machines also have memory functions, which can be useful if you do a lot of sewing.
- Finally there’s overlockers: these are finishing machines, designed specifically for stitching edges. This makes them perfect for hems and seams, although some also have options for decorative stitching, and can be good for sewing knitted fabrics too. In general, you’d use an overlocker as a second sewing machine, in addition to your main one.
What features should I look for?
Beginners will definitely want an easy threading system, and sewers of all types should look for a selection of stitches, along with a range of stitch widths and lengths to suit the kind of tasks you’ll be doing.
As a general rule of thumb, for dressmaking, straightforward crafts and alterations, a basic machine should be fine, as long as it has several different lengths of straight stitch, a choice of zigzag stitches and automatic buttonhole – along with a free arm if you’re including sleeves and pockets.
For more advanced crafts, as well as embroidery, quilting and home furnishings, you’ll need a wider range of stitches and – if you plan to use thicker fabrics - a heavier duty machine. Sewers who spend many hours at their machine may also benefit from advanced features including memory options, dual-feed and knee-lift.
How do I make sense of all the jargon?
Choosing a sewing machine does involve getting to grips with some specialist language, but there are plenty of good online glossaries. Once you’ve mastered the terms, head to a specialist shop like John Lewis and get an expert to talk you through which ones you really need. Ideally, try before you buy.
Is there anything else I should consider?
Sewing machines can be light and compact, or they can be big and heavy: think about whether you need a machine that can be easily moved it out of the way when it’s not in use. But don’t just default to choosing the smallest, lightest machine: these can feel less steady, with smaller controls and a smaller sewing area which could limit your scope.
Finally, think about accessories. Check what the machine comes with, find out whether there are additional ones you can buy, and ascertain whether the machine has built-in storage space for them.
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The best sewing machines to buy
1. Janome 7025 Sewing Machine: The best sewing machine for beginners
Price when reviewed: £229 | Buy now from John Lewis
There’s no shortage of simple sewing machines designed for beginners, but this is our favourite by far. It’s not too heavy to lift, yet it feels extremely robust, with parts built to last – and it’s surprisingly quiet too.
Thanks to the clear and comprehensive instructions, it’s incredibly easy to set up and get going. Three dials enable you to select your stitch type (from a list of 24, including embroidery and utility), and the bobbin is both simple to load and easily visible, so you can see how much thread is left. The automatic one-step buttonhole feature is a particular highlight – it’s a doddle to use, even for novices. Storage capacity is on the stingy side, but otherwise this is a fantastic machine that feels very intuitive to use.
Key specs – Type: Electronic; Stitch options: 24; Weight: 7kg; Warranty: 2 years
2. John Lewis JL110 Sewing Machine: Best budget sewing machine
Price when reviewed: £109 | Buy now from John Lewis
If your sewing needs are limited to the occasional minor repair, this is a great-value entry-level machine with 14 stitch options, a four-step buttonhole feature and a darning plate. It’s compact and lightweight, with an easy set-up process so you can get stuck into your sewing without delay – and it’s available in three pretty pastel shades, which makes a change from the normal uniform white.
While it feels sturdy and has a powerful motor, it does have some limitations – notably, there’s stitch length control but no width, and the bobbin isn’t the easiest to access if your thread gets knotted up. Also, the zipper foot isn’t included. Still, for the money it’s a great little sewer.
Key specs – Type: Electronic; Stitch options: 14; Weight: 6kg; Warranty: 2 years
3. Janome 6234XL: Best overlocker
Price when reviewed: £449 | Buy now from Amazon
If you’re looking for a professional finish on hems and seams, you’ll love this advanced machine: its twin needles give precision control over pretty much every kind of household fabric you can think of. The colour-coded guides make threading a cinch, and there’s a self-threading lower looper too. It even arrives already threaded with cones, so you won’t waste any time in getting started.
In use it runs smoothly and quietly, without a puckered or stretched edge in sight. We also like the conversion feature that allows you to quickly switch to rolled hemming without changing the needle plate. Whether it’s decorative over-edging, gathering or pin tuck, this makes a fabulous additional machine to use alongside your main one – and if you’re not au fait with the ways of overlockers it comes with a genuinely useful instructional DVD.
Key specs – Type: Overlocker; Stitch options: n/a; Weight: 9kg; Warranty: 10 years
4. Singer Modern Quilter 8500Q: Best for quilting
Price when reviewed:£899 | Buy now from John Lewis
The 8500Q is a big beast: you’ll need to clear a large space in your home for it, and it’ll clear out your bank account too. But for serious quilters, this versatile machine is well worth it. With nine utility and 176 decorative stitches, plus precise extra-large circles, the world is your oyster in terms of creating unique quilting designs – and the long arm and extension table, along with superior lighting and the knee-lifter, mean you can tackle really big and complicated projects with ease.
With three speed controls, the machine is also noticeably faster than others. In fact, our only niggle is that “drop and sew” bobbin system can lead to a big mess of thread. This isn’t a machine for the casual hobbyist, but for crafting fanatics this is as good as it gets.
Key specs – Type: Computerised; Stitch options: 105+; Weight: 10.8kg; Warranty: 2 years
5. Toyota Oekaki Renaissance Sewing Machine: Best modern design
Price when reviewed:£449 | Buy now from Hobbycraft
Oekaki is Japanese for “to draw”, and this appliance lives up to its name by enabling free-motion embroidery. You’ll need some patience to get the hang of it, but templates are included with ideas, and it opens up a world of creative possibilities.
The machine itself is a looker too: we adore its sleek curves and hot colours, and the LCD screen where you select the settings is nice and clear. There’s an impressive 50 stitch options to choose from – although you may have to rummage a bit to get to the one you want – and the Oekaki deals with a range of fabrics with ease, as well as being quick and easy to thread. As a final plus it’s lightweight and transportable, and can be operated by either hand or foot. In all, it’s a superbly versatile machine that definitely stands out from the crowd.
Key specs – Type: Computerised; Stitch options: 50; Weight: 6.5kg; Warranty: 3 years
6. Brother JK4000: Best for intermediate sewers
Price when reviewed:£299 | Buy now from John Lewis
This fully computerised machine ticks a lot of boxes. Its 40 stitch options (including utility and decorative) are easy to select using the dial and LCD screen, and the one-step buttonhole feature means you’ll be all set for projects both simple and complicated. There’s LED lighting and a slide speed control to help with precision work too – and you can optionally use the stop-start button instead of the foot pedal.
Clear and concise instructions make it a cinch to set up, and the needle threader works beautifully once you get the knack (although it can take a few goes). Indeed, it’s so easy to use a lot of beginners could get away with using this too. As a bonus, it’s one of the quietest machines we’ve tested, too.
Key specs – Type: Computerised; Stitch options: 40; Weight: 7.3kg; Warranty: 3 years
7. Singer Heavy Duty 4432 Sewing Machine: Best for curtains and heavyweight fabrics
Price when reviewed:£279 | Buy now from John Lewis
Basic sewing machines can struggle with stretchy fabrics, multiple layers and heavy materials like denim and leather. Not so this industrial looking machine: it boasts an exceptionally powerful motor, as well as a robust metal frame and stainless steel plate.
It’s a real workhorse too, and stitches surprisingly quickly. You get 32 stitch options, with a one-step buttonhole function, and an automatic needle threader that works a treat. The bobbin wind system and free arm are both handy too. If we had to gripe, we’d note that the dust cover is flimsy, and our model didn’t come with printed instructions in English – but there is a useful tutorial CD. In all it’s a seriously good sewing machine.
Key specs – Type: Computerised; Stitch options: 32; Weight: 6.4kg; Warranty: 2 years
8. Janome Atelier 5 Computerised Sewing Machine: Best luxury buy
Price when reviewed:£999 | Buy now from Amazon
This seriously upmarket sewing machine has a huge 9mm stitch width and a generous 201mm of arm space, which will appeal to more experienced sewers. It’s extremely powerful (up to 1,000 stitches per minute) and there’s a whopping 170 stitches to choose from – include no fewer than four built-in alphabets – all of which are displayed in the lid when opened. It also has automatic thread cutting, twin needle sewing and the ability to combine stitches, along with automated one-step buttonholes in 10 different styles.
Despite all these features, we found it really easy to get going. Yes, it costs and arm and a leg, but it’s a voyage of sewing discovery and you will quickly wonder how on earth you lived without it. Just be aware that its size and weight make it hard to stow away – and the bobbin holder can be tricky to click into place when winding.
Key specs – Type: Computerised; Stitch options: 170; Weight: 14kg; Warranty: 2 years
