Machine guide
Best sewing and embroidery machine combos
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Top picks at a glance
Compare all picks
Closest match for the job
Brother SE2000, 5 x 7 in field with Wi-Fi
Combines a 5 x 7 inch embroidery field with 241 sewing stitches in one machine.
See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon
Most for the money on paper
Brother SE700, 4 x 4 in field, lowest-priced combo
103 sewing stitches include 10 one-step auto-size buttonhole styles.
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Most complete listing
Brother NQ3550W bundle, 6 x 10 in field with BES Blue
Combines the 6 x 10 inch field with 291 sewing stitches in one machine.
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A combo machine sews like a normal computerized machine, then takes an embroidery arm that moves a hoop under the needle. One machine saves money and table space, which is why combos are the usual first step into embroidery. The catch is that you cannot sew and embroider at the same time, and swapping the arm on and off gets old if you do both every day. If you plan long embroidery runs while sewing garments, two separate machines can be the smarter buy. For everyone else, the number that matters most is the maximum embroidery field: 4 x 4 inches covers monograms and small logos, 5 x 7 inches handles most shirt and tote designs, and 6 x 10 inches or larger fits jacket backs. After that, compare built-in designs, the screen you edit on, and how designs get to the machine. This guide compares eight combos using only the facts in each Amazon listing.
Compare the picks
- Brother SE2000, 5 x 7 in field with Wi-Fi
- Max embroidery field
- 5 x 7 in
- Built-in designs
- 190+ (plus 50 downloadable)
- Sewing stitches
- 241
- Screen
- 3.7 in LCD touchscreen
- Brother NQ3550W bundle, 6 x 10 in field with BES Blue
- Max embroidery field
- 6 x 10 in
- Built-in designs
- 258
- Sewing stitches
- 291
- Screen
- 3.67 in color LCD touchscreen
Janome Skyline S9, 5 in touchscreen and AcuFeed Flex- Max embroidery field
- 6.7 x 7.9 in
- Built-in designs
- 250
- Sewing stitches
- Not stated
- Screen
- 5 in color touchscreen
Janome Memory Craft 1000, 300 stitches and auto presets- Max embroidery field
- 5.5 x 5.5 in
- Built-in designs
- 241
- Sewing stitches
- 300
- Screen
- 3.5 in color touchscreen
Janome Memory Craft 9850, 6.7 x 7.9 in embroidery- Max embroidery field
- 6.7 x 7.9 in
- Built-in designs
- 173
- Sewing stitches
- 200
- Screen
- LCD
- Brother SE700, 4 x 4 in field, lowest-priced combo
- Max embroidery field
- 4 x 4 in
- Built-in designs
- 135
- Sewing stitches
- 103
- Screen
- 3.7 in LCD touchscreen
Brother SE1900, 5 x 7 in field, 240 stitches- Max embroidery field
- 5 x 7 in
- Built-in designs
- 138
- Sewing stitches
- 240
- Screen
- 3.2 in LCD touchscreen
SINGER SE9180, 7 in touchscreen and Wi-Fi- Max embroidery field
- 170 x 100 mm hoop included
- Built-in designs
- 150
- Sewing stitches
- 250
- Screen
- 7 in color touchscreen
| Pick | Max embroidery field | Built-in designs | Sewing stitches | Screen | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother SE2000, 5 x 7 in field with Wi-Fi | 5 x 7 in | 190+ (plus 50 downloadable) | 241 | 3.7 in LCD touchscreen | - | Amazon |
| Brother NQ3550W bundle, 6 x 10 in field with BES Blue | 6 x 10 in | 258 | 291 | 3.67 in color LCD touchscreen | - | Amazon |
| Janome Skyline S9, 5 in touchscreen and AcuFeed Flex | 6.7 x 7.9 in | 250 | Not stated | 5 in color touchscreen | - | Amazon |
| Janome Memory Craft 1000, 300 stitches and auto presets | 5.5 x 5.5 in | 241 | 300 | 3.5 in color touchscreen | - | Amazon |
| Janome Memory Craft 9850, 6.7 x 7.9 in embroidery | 6.7 x 7.9 in | 173 | 200 | LCD | - | Amazon |
| Brother SE700, 4 x 4 in field, lowest-priced combo | 4 x 4 in | 135 | 103 | 3.7 in LCD touchscreen | - | Amazon |
| Brother SE1900, 5 x 7 in field, 240 stitches | 5 x 7 in | 138 | 240 | 3.2 in LCD touchscreen | - | Amazon |
| SINGER SE9180, 7 in touchscreen and Wi-Fi | 170 x 100 mm hoop included | 150 | 250 | 7 in color touchscreen | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · Brother
Brother SE2000, 5 x 7 in field with Wi-Fi
See price on AmazonThe PE900's embroidery features in a combo machine: 5 x 7 inch field, color sort, jump stitch trimming and Wi-Fi, plus 241 sewing stitches and 8 sewing feet.
What the listing offers
- Combines a 5 x 7 inch embroidery field with 241 sewing stitches in one machine.
- Includes 8 sewing feet and a hoop, per the listing.
- Same Advanced Color Sort and jump stitch trimming as the PE900.
Limits to know
- Costs more than the PE900 if you already own a sewing machine.
- Stitch speed is not stated in the listing.
Pick 2 · Brother
Brother NQ3550W bundle, 6 x 10 in field with BES Blue
See price on AmazonA 6 x 10 inch sewing and embroidery combo with 291 stitches, 258 designs, Wi-Fi, BES Blue software and a 5 x 7 inch magnetic hoop in this bundle.
What the listing offers
- Combines the 6 x 10 inch field with 291 sewing stitches in one machine.
- Bundle includes BES Blue software and a 5 x 7 inch magnetic sash frame hoop.
- Long list of included feet, among them free motion open toe quilting and adjustable zipper/piping feet.
Limits to know
- Screen is smaller than the NQ1700E's 4.85 inch display.
- Highest price of the home sewing and embroidery models here.
Pick 3 · Janome
Janome Skyline S9, 5 in touchscreen and AcuFeed Flex
See price on AmazonJanome's premium combo with three hoops up to 6.7 x 7.9 inches, 250 designs, AcuFeed Flex layered feeding and wireless apps for editing, monitoring and placement. It suits quilters who embroider.
What the listing offers
- AcuFeed Flex layered fabric feeding is listed with changeable feet for quilting.
- Three hoops are included, from 3.9 x 1.6 in up to 6.7 x 7.9 in.
- Automatic presser foot lift, thread cutter and needle up/down are stated.
Limits to know
- The listing does not state the number of sewing stitches.
- It is the priciest combo here; the Memory Craft 9850 lists the same maximum field for less.
Pick 4 · Janome
Janome Memory Craft 1000, 300 stitches and auto presets
See price on AmazonA Janome combo with 300 stitches that load recommended settings automatically, 241 designs, a lever-based hoop tightening system and automatic thread cutting. It suits sewists who sew more than they embroider.
What the listing offers
- Selecting a stitch loads the recommended settings and presser foot automatically, according to the listing.
- Optical bobbin thread monitoring warns you before the bobbin runs out.
- The two-stage hoop tightening lever helps center fabric before locking it.
Limits to know
- The 5.5 x 5.5 inch maximum is square, so tall designs fit less well than on a 5 x 7 field.
- Wireless transfer is not mentioned in the listing.
Pick 5 · Janome
Janome Memory Craft 9850, 6.7 x 7.9 in embroidery
See price on AmazonA Janome combo with a 6.7 x 7.9 inch maximum embroidery size, 173 designs, 200 stitches, automatic thread cutter and automatic thread tension. It suits buyers who want a larger field for mid-range money.
What the listing offers
- The 6.7 x 7.9 inch maximum is larger than any 5 x 7 inch combo here.
- Automatic thread cutter, memorized needle up/down and automatic thread tension are listed.
- Two and three letter monogramming and arc editing are built in.
Limits to know
- The listing does not mention wireless transfer or the screen size.
- Only 2 embroidery fonts are listed, fewer than the Brother combos.
Pick 6 · Brother
Brother SE700, 4 x 4 in field, lowest-priced combo
See price on AmazonThe entry sewing and embroidery combo: 4 x 4 inch field, 135 designs, 103 sewing stitches with 10 buttonhole styles, Wi-Fi and Artspira app support.
What the listing offers
- 103 sewing stitches include 10 one-step auto-size buttonhole styles.
- Wireless LAN transfer and Artspira mobile app for drawing custom designs.
- Eight sewing feet and an embroidery arm are included.
Limits to know
- 4 x 4 inch field limits you to small motifs and monograms.
- No color sort feature is listed, unlike the PE900 and SE2000.
Pick 7 · Brother
Brother SE1900, 5 x 7 in field, 240 stitches
See price on AmazonA sewing and embroidery combo with a 5 x 7 inch field and 240 sewing stitches. It suits a beginner who wants the larger hoop and a capable sewing machine in one body.
What the listing offers
- 240 sewing stitches with 10 auto-size buttonhole styles are listed.
- 5 x 7 inch field with included hoop and 8 sewing feet.
- Advanced needle threader and jam resistant drop-in top bobbin.
Limits to know
- The listing does not state how designs are transferred to the machine.
- No wireless features are listed, unlike the newer SE2000.
Pick 8 · SINGER
SINGER SE9180, 7 in touchscreen and Wi-Fi
See price on AmazonA Singer combo with 250 sewing stitches, 150 embroidery designs and a large 7 inch color touchscreen. mySewnet Wi-Fi sends designs and progress alerts, and endless hoop capability helps with borders.
What the listing offers
- The 7 inch color touchscreen is the largest screen among these beginner machines.
- Automatic needle threader, built-in thread cutter and tie-off button are listed.
- Endless hoop capability is listed for continuous borders.
Limits to know
- The included 170 x 100 mm hoop is smaller than a 5 x 7 inch field.
- Check the current mySewnet terms on the listing before relying on the app features.
Read before you buy
- What you need to start machine embroideryThe starter list for machine embroidery beyond the machine: stabilizers, thread, bobbins, needles, scissors, designs and software, plus what you can skip at first.
- Machine embroidery thread weights and typesWhat 40 wt, 30 wt and 60 wt embroidery thread mean, rayon versus polyester, which bobbin thread to use, and how to pair each thread with the right needle.
- Machine embroidery stabilizer chart for knits, wovens, towels and capsA machine embroidery stabilizer chart matching tear-away, cut-away, wash-away and toppings to knits, wovens, towels, caps and sheer fabrics, with hooping tips.
- Machine embroidery needle sizes and typesWhich embroidery machine needle to use: 75/11 versus 90/14, sharp versus ballpoint, titanium coating, and how to match the needle to fabric and thread.
- How to set up and use a Brother embroidery machineHow to use a Brother embroidery machine from unboxing to first stitch-out: attaching the unit, threading, winding the bobbin, hooping, loading a design and starting.
More guides: Embroidery machines
Thread & Feed chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.