Everybody is used to the regular sewing machines that many people own and use, as it is pretty normal to have an idea about them. However, considering that you are here reading this article, you need something else: embroidery machines, especially those for custom designs.
In this article, I will mention the best embroidery machines for custom design. You need to know that all the machines come from the Brother brand!
Here we go!
Key Takeaways
- If you’re looking for a machine that can be used for both sewing and embroidery, I would definitely go with the Brother SE600. It has everything you would need.
- In my opinion, the most versatile machine out of them all is the Brother SE1900. It can handle anything you throw at it and it can be used for regular sewing as well.
- For a better user experience, and especially if you’re a beginner, I would say you should buy an embroidery machine with pre-installed designs, as they allow easier usage.
- If this is your first machine, do not spend a lot of money on it. Get a budget machine so you can learn the ropes first, and then move on to other things.
Top 5 Best Embroidery Machine For Custom Designs
1. Brother SE600 Sewing and Embroidery Machine – Best Overall
The first machine listed in this article is the amazing Brother SE600, which is the best overall and the machine that I love working with!
The first thing I would like to mention about this machine is that I do both regular sewing and embroidery! So, basically, this machine is not only great for embroidery, but it is a 2in1 sewing machine that helps us with everything.
Whenever in use, you will notice how great the designs are that this machine has built-in. The designs are 80 in number, and what amazes me most is the fact that it allows different combinations. If you want to write something, there are fonts divided into six in English and three in Japanese. I use mostly the English ones.
This machine doesn’t get on my nerves, and that’s just because it’s an automatic needle threader that doesn’t lose my precious time. Also, with a great LCD, I am, and you will be aware of how your embroidery procedure is going.
Summary
Key Specifications:
- Material: Metal
- Weight: 26 Pounds
- Dimensions: 21.18 x 15.51 x 16.54 inches
- Work Space Dimensions: 4 x 4 inches
- Stitches: 103 Built-In
- Designs: 80
- Fonts: 9
What I Like About It
- Great For Sewing & Embroidery
- Portable
- Easy To Use
- You can import designs with a USB
What I Dislike About It
- Compared to other machines, this is a bit slow
Why Should You Buy It?
With its amazing versatility of usage and all the features that it owns, this machine is definitely one of the most perfect choices when it comes to embroidery machines in general. Hence the way it is listed, you will be using the best overall sewing machine for embroidery!
2. Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine – Best For Custom Hats and Shirts
Here goes the great Brother PE800, the machine mostly used for hats and shirts. By the way, I mostly use it for shirts because who wouldn’t want to have a cool embroidered shirt? I know I do!
Anyways, this machine, in my opinion, is the cutest one that you can find! Its compact form factor will allow you to take it wherever you go, as it is also known as the portable Brother machine. By the way, it is also a very durable machine!
Besides the design, there is also something else that I adore! The embroidery area or the working space is quite big and allows me to put whatever I need on there. While working with it, you will also be able to notice your whole job on its LCD screen, which is a tough and touch one.
Something worth mentioning is that it has a total of 138 designs, and besides them, you can also put your own custom designs via the USB port it has. Whenever I use it, I say it feels like working on a computer, not a machine!
Summary
Key Specifications:
- Material: Plastic
- Weight: 13.74 Pounds
- Dimensions: 21.75 x 19.02 x 19.09 inches
- Work Space Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches
- Stitches: 80
- Designs: 138
- Fonts: 11
What I Like About It
- Large Embroidery Area
- It has an LCD touchscreen
- It’s pretty fast
- Easy To Use
- Great for small businesses & hobbyists
What I Dislike About It
- It can’t be used as a sewing machine
- Might not work well with all threads
Why Should You Buy It?
In case you love to embroider shirts and hats, there is nothing better than the Brother PE800, which is made having you in mind! Besides that, based on its speed, you will be working with a very fast sewing machine.
3. Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine – Best Quality
The pretty Brother PE770 cannot be left unmentioned! This machine is one of the most used machines that many “embroidery worker” love and use. I have used it as well, and I am more than satisfied with it.
Made of metal, this machine is one of the strongest embroidery machines that you will ever find. What I used to love most about this machine is the combination of purple and white colors, which is super-pleasant to a human’s eye.
Just like on the machine I mentioned above, the working space is with the same measurements, allowing quick movements of whatever piece of cloth or fabric you are embroidering.
It is another computer if I might say so! This machine also owns a USB port which will help you bring your designs and put them on the built-in memory, besides the 136 designs it already has. Now, please tell me what could be better. Oh yes, there are 430 built-in stitches which are even better!
Summary
Key Specifications:
- Material: Metal
- Weight: 26.95 Pounds
- Dimensions: 21.2 x 16.9 x 17.3 inches
- Work Space Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches
- Stitches: 430 Built-In
- Designs: 136
- Fonts: 6
What I Like About It
- You can import designs
- It’s a very reliable machine
- You can edit & store all your designs
- It’s a computerized machine
What I Dislike About It
- Not that suitable for beginners
Why Should You Buy It?
Durability is one of the main concerns for some people, and if you are one of them, let me tell you that the Brother PE770 is definitely the one that waits for you, as it is known as the one with the greatest construction!
4. Brother SE1900 Sewing and Embroidery Machine – Most Versatile
Another super-cute and excellent machine that you can use to do your custom design embroidery is the Brother SE1900, and based on its features and usage, it is and should be known as the most versatile machine you can ever find.
The first thing that I would like to mention is that this machine is very easy to use. That concludes this fact more is the automatic needle threader which doesn’t waste your time in any way, as it doesn’t waste mine.
You will be thrilled to use its massive number of stitches and designs that are entirely built-in to the machine. They are indeed some of the greatest ones one can find.
On the 3.2-inch LCD screen, which is on the right part of the machine, you will be able to check how the embroidery process for custom designs is going and check what you have been doing for that period.
As I mentioned, this machine is quite versatile, and that’s because you can also do regular sewing along with embroidery. Its wide workplace allows you to put any material of any size.
Summary
Key Specifications:
- Material: Metal
- Weight: 22 Pounds
- Dimensions: 23.19 x 13.43 x 11.54 inches
- Work Space Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches
- Stitches: 240 Built-In
- Designs: 138
- Fonts: 11
What I Like About It
- It has a great 3.2″ LCD Display
- Large Embroidery Area
- It has 7 built-in fonts and many built-in designs
- Can be used for both sewing & embroidery
What I Dislike About It
- Expensive
Why Should You Buy It?
The amazing Brother SE1900 is the machine made for you that love versatility and love to embroider texts! The high number of fonts that it owns, will allow you to choose and write whatever you may want! It is indeed a machine that will help you get through everything!
5. Brother PE550D Embroidery Machine – Best Budget
Brother machines are known as the high-end ones, but when it comes to Brother PE550D, you will not have to spend much money as it is cheap.
As far as the design and the build are concerned, this machine is quite durable and based on looks; it is very similar to the machines I already mentioned above and most other Brother machines.
The most exciting thing about this machine is its built-in design. You will find a total of 125 designs, but something even better is the 45 Disney designs that it has, and you can easily embroider your children’s clothes with their favorite Disney characters.
You can put your own custom-made designs on this machine in case you use its USB port, and you can save them so that you can use them whenever you want. In this case, there is also the LCD screen, which will help you go through the embroidery process and clearly understand what you are doing.
Summary
Key Specifications:
- Material: Metal + Plastic
- Weight: 14.99 Pounds
- Dimensions: 16.5 x 7.8 x 12 inches
- Work Space Dimensions: 4 x 4 inches
- Stitches: not specified
- Designs: 125 + 45 Disney Designs
- Fonts: 9
What I Like About It
- Very Easy To Use
- A ton of designs built-in
- It has a USB port which you can use to import designs
- Affordable embroidery machine
What I Dislike About It
- Small working area
Why Should You Buy It?
Listed as the best budget machine, you will be thrilled to find out that Brother PE550D is one of the most affordable machines that come from the Brother brand itself! Also, if you are a parent, make sure to have this one while creating some great Disney embroidery for your kids!
What to Consider Before the Purchase: The Buying Guide
Designs
Based on everything that I mentioned above, you should know that the perfect thing to check out is the pre-installed designs. That way, you can start using the machine directly after purchasing it in order to create custom designs,
By the way, you can also check whether there is a USB port so that you can put your own works in there!
Checking Out the Process
The capability of checking out the designs that you are working with is something inexplicably good, and there is nothing better to show that than the LCD screen that a machine may have. Always check for a machine with an LCD screen, so that you can follow your whole embroidery process.
Usage and Versatility
I love versatility, and I am pretty sure that you love it as well! Nothing says versatility in an embroidery machine beside the fact that it can also be used for regular sewing. You will be more than good to go with a machine that can do both embroidery and sewing.
Price Range
Embroidery in general is a high-priced job, and the machines that are specially made for that come at higher prices. When it comes to choosing a great machine for custom designs, you should always have in mind the price that it comes at along with the budget that you have separated for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need for embroidery machines for custom designs?
Hence its name, you need designs of all kinds! Plus, you can make sure to use a machine that accepts your custom designs, meaning that it would be better to use a machine with a USB port!
What materials can I embroider?
In order not to list a lot of materials, I would like to tell you that the materials that you cannot embroider are silk, rayon, and satin. Everything else that comes to your mind is free regarding the embroidery process.
Is it easy to start with embroidery?
Embroidery is known as the most exciting hobby and the cheapest one to start your job. I wouldn’t like to say that it is the easiest one, but once you find a great beginner machine for it, you are ready to go!
Closing Words
Finally, I can say that several devices may function as embroidery machines for customized designs. The secret to saving a lot of money is to know exactly what you need in a machine.
While patches can be created by almost any machine, you will need to spend more money for a more comprehensive design field if you require something to serve as a t-shirt embroidery machine for significant art.
It’s always preferable to have more than just enough, and spending a little more on a computer with superior capabilities will speed up the payment process if you intend to sell your work. It will be worth the purchase.
Further Reading
I know you are eager to learn more about sewing machines and everything about the sewing world, so I’m not going to let you go with only this article.
Let’s see! I’m pretty sure you have clothes made of viscose fabric, and now you are wondering if viscose shrinks, so if you want to know more about it, all you have to do is check the article, and you will have all the necessary details.
Next in line is an article about leather stitch types if you want to know more about all the methods you can use to stitch leather.
And last but not least, I can suggest an article about Gymshark sportswear. So, if you are thinking of purchasing Gymshark sportswear but are unsure if they are with it, if they shrink, then you can read the article and find out if Gymshark clothes shrink.
Sewing is definitely one of my biggest hobbies. I’ve been doing it since i was young, thanks to my mother. I specialize in sewing, and that’s what i mostly write about.