On most machines, a spool of thread sits on top, and the thread is passed down through the needle and into a smaller spool called a bobbin, which sits under the needle. The threaded needle is pushed through the fabric by the motor, hooks the bobbin thread on the underside, and pulls it back up. In 2022, we tested 12 machines, including our former picks and new contenders. Six of the machines were mechanical and six were computerized, and they ranged in price from about $150 to $500.
With an all-metal chassis and up to a 25-year warranty on select models, your Brother machine is built to last. Each machine is built by hand by Brother employees in Brother-owned facilities so we can ensure that every machine meets our high standard of quality and reliability. Brother Industries is known for its production of consistently reliable products. Considering the technology they use, their products also carry affordable price tags.
The decorative stitches benefit from technology like the Back to Beginning key and auto-lockstitch setting, and the 14 one-step auto-size buttonholes are both beautiful and very easy to stitch. The CS7000X costs less than many of the other sewing machines we tested but comes with more features and delivers better all-around performance. It offers more preprogrammed stitches (70) than you can find in the Janome C30 (30) and any of the mechanical machines we tried, and it includes more presser feet (10) than the Brother HC1850 (eight) and the Bernette 37 (five). It’s equipped with eight different automatic buttonholes, and the included manual is a great resource for making the most of these options, letting you know when you might choose to use a keyhole buttonhole versus, say, a stretch buttonhole. Less necessary stitches include options such as little daisy-chained rows of hearts—not as practical as, for example, a lightning stretch stitch but fun to play with and cute for decorative use or quilting.
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Certainly, computerized sewing machines are more expensive than their mechanical counterparts, but they have significantly more to offer. The sewing machine is operated using a display, which is generally a touch screen with a modern swiping function on the more expensive models. Operation is very intuitive and the logistics and menu operation of the integrated software is similar to that of a computer or a smartphone. Additional settings can be adjusted under the setup option – these settings may be more or less extensive depending on the model.
The Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 is more solidly built than the Brother CS7000X, more stylish, and more flexible in the size of the sewing surface. It has a ton of features, stitches, and accessories, and it includes some extras usually found on much higher-end machines, such as an automatic thread cutter. Are you a long-time quilter, sewer, or embroidery artist, or are you eager to jump in with both feet and learn? Each Brother sewing, embroidery, or quilting machine offers a unique artistic experience, and all come with the security and time-tested integrity of a brother embroidery sewing machine. Brother offers warranties of up to 25 years on all their machines, ensuring your work (and fun!) stays moving for years to come.