Best Beginner Sewing Machine · Embroidery machines

Best Embroidery Machine for Beginners: Easy First Picks

For most beginners, the best embroidery machine is the Brother SE700: it sews as well as embroiders, has a 4×4-inch field with 135 built-in designs, and takes designs wirelessly. If you already own a sewing machine, the embroidery-only Brother PE545 has the same field and designs for less. If you know you want bigger designs, step up to a 5×7-inch machine such as the Brother PE900.

Home embroidery machine stitching a wildflower design on white cotton held in a hoop

Our top 3

Top picks at a glance

Best overall: sews too#1
Brother SE700 machine

Brother SE700

Premium price range

A full sewing machine plus a 4×4-inch embroidery unit, 135 designs and wireless transfer; NBC Select’s best multitasker for beginners.

See details ›
Best embroidery-only#2
Brother PE545 machine

Brother PE545

Premium price range

The same 4×4 field and 135 designs as the SE700 without the sewing side, plus a 3.7-inch screen and tutorial videos.

See details ›
Best for bigger designs#3
Brother PE900 machine

Brother PE900

Premium price range

A 5×7-inch field, 193 designs, jump-stitch trimming and Color Sort for less babysitting.

See details ›

In detail

Who each one suits

Specifications are each brand’s own; fit notes draw on sewing educators, brand manuals and independent reviews. We have not tested or used these machines ourselves.

Best overall: sews too#1

Brother SE700

The SE700 is a full sewing machine with a 4×4-inch embroidery unit, which makes it the most flexible first machine for anyone curious about embroidery. NBC Select calls it its best multitasker for beginners, and Brother adds wireless design transfer and the free Artspira app.

Why it stands out

  • 103 sewing stitches, 10 one-step buttonhole styles, 135 embroidery designs and 10 fonts (Brother).
  • Color LCD with simple on-screen editing; designs arrive by wireless LAN, Brother’s free PC software or the Artspira app.
  • Automatic thread cutter, advanced needle threader, 4×4 hoop, 8 feet and a 25-year limited warranty.
TypeSew and embroider, 4×4 in field
Stitches / designs103 stitches, 135 designs
ThreadingAdvanced threader, auto thread cutter
Buttonhole10 one-step styles
In the box4×4 hoop, 8 feet, wireless design transfer

Good fit if

  • You want one machine for seams and small embroidery: names, monograms, patches.
  • You like sending designs wirelessly instead of using USB sticks.

Skip it if

  • You already know you want designs larger than 4×4 inches — look at the SE2000.
  • You already own a good sewing machine and only want embroidery — the PE545 costs less.

Brother’s page describes a 3.2 x 1.8-inch color LCD; some listings say 3.7 inches. Check the product page.

Best embroidery-only#2

Brother PE545

The PE545 is Brother’s current entry-level embroidery-only machine, replacing the popular PE535 that Brother now lists as discontinued. It has the same 4×4 field and 135 designs as the SE700 but no sewing function, which keeps the price lower.

Why it stands out

  • 135 built-in designs and 10 fonts in a 4×4-inch field (Brother).
  • 3.7-inch color LCD with drag-and-drop positioning, plus wireless, Artspira and USB transfer.
  • Automatic thread cutter, upper and bobbin thread sensors and built-in tutorial videos, per Brother.
TypeEmbroidery only, 4×4 in field
Stitches / designs135 designs, 10 fonts
ThreadingEasy threading, auto thread cutter
ButtonholeNone (embroidery only)
In the box4×4 hoop, wireless and USB transfer

Good fit if

  • You only want to embroider and already have a sewing machine.
  • You want wireless transfer on Brother’s entry-level embroidery-only machine.

Skip it if

  • You need designs larger than 4×4 inches.
  • You also want to sew seams on the same machine.
Best for bigger designs#3

Brother PE900

The PE900 is embroidery-only with a 5×7-inch field, the size step most hobbyists eventually want for tote bags, quilt blocks and larger motifs. It replaces the PE800, which Brother lists as discontinued, and adds features that cut down on babysitting the machine.

Why it stands out

  • 5×7-inch field, 193 designs and 13 fonts (Brother).
  • Automatic thread cutter plus jump-stitch trimming and Color Sort to reduce color changes, per Brother.
  • 3.7-inch LCD with on-screen editing; wireless, Artspira and USB transfer; 7.4 inches of needle-to-arm space.
TypeEmbroidery only, 5×7 in field
Stitches / designs193 designs, 13 fonts
ThreadingAuto thread cutter, jump-stitch trimming
ButtonholeNone (embroidery only)
In the box5×7 hoop, wireless and USB transfer

Good fit if

  • You want embroidery-only with room for bigger designs.
  • You want to grow into the hobby without buying again soon.

Skip it if

  • Your budget is nearer the PE545’s.
  • You also want to sew garments — look at the SE2000.
Also worth a look

Brother Skitch PP1

The Skitch PP1 is a compact, embroidery-only machine you run from a phone or tablet. Brother says it requires the free version of its Artspira app, which also unlocks 100 free designs, and it uses a magnetic 4×4 hoop, per Brother.

Why it stands out

  • 4×4-inch field with a magnetic hoop (Brother).
  • Designs, placement and editing happen in the free Artspira app, per Brother.
  • Automatic thread cutter, upper and bobbin thread sensors and up to 400 stitches per minute.
TypeEmbroidery only, 4×4 in, app-run
Stitches / designs100 free designs via the Artspira app
ThreadingAuto thread cutter, thread sensors
ButtonholeNone (embroidery only)
In the boxMagnetic 4×4 hoop

Good fit if

  • You are comfortable doing everything from a phone or tablet.
  • You want to personalize ready-made clothes, bags and gifts.

Skip it if

  • You want a screen on the machine and to work without a phone.
  • You want to sew seams or need designs larger than 4×4.

Reviewed notes that threading can be tricky for people who have never used a sewing machine and that the PP1 cannot embroider baseball caps.

Also worth a look

Brother SE2000

The SE2000 combines a full-featured sewing machine with a 5×7-inch embroidery field. It replaces the SE1900, a frequent embroidery pick that Brother now lists as discontinued, and adds a knee lifter and 241 stitches for people who sew a lot.

Why it stands out

  • 241 sewing stitches, 10 one-step buttonhole styles, 193 designs and a 5×7-inch field (Brother).
  • Knee lifter, automatic needle threader, jump-stitch trimming and up to 850 stitches per minute.
  • Wireless LAN and Artspira transfer; 3.7-inch LCD with on-screen editing.
TypeSew and embroider, 5×7 in field
Stitches / designs241 stitches, 193 designs
ThreadingAuto threader, jump-stitch trimming
Buttonhole10 one-step styles
In the box5×7 hoop, knee lifter, wireless transfer

Good fit if

  • You want one footprint for serious sewing and 5×7 embroidery.
  • You sew garments or quilts and want to add embroidered details.

Skip it if

  • You only want embroidery — the PE900 gives the same field for less.
  • You want to stay in the Mid-range tier.

Brother’s product data lists 13 embroidery fonts in one field and 5 in another (likely sewing lettering fonts).

Not sure how big your designs will be?

Start with a 4×4-inch field for names, monograms and small motifs; The Sewing Studio suggests a design that fits a 4-inch hoop for a first project.

Read owner reviews ›

Tips

Three things that make the difference

01

Learn your stabilizer first

Embroidery Library names cutaway, tearaway and wash-away as the three main types. Sew Daily recommends cutaway for knits and denim and tearaway for most woven fabrics.

02

Use embroidery thread and needles

Kimberbell pairs a 40-weight top thread with a 60- or 90-weight bobbin thread, and The Sewing Studio suggests keeping 75/11 and 90/14 embroidery needles.

03

Start small and simple

The Sewing Studio advises avoiding very large, dense or many-colored designs at first, and Madeira says lighter, stretchier fabrics need less dense designs to avoid puckering.

Honest note

A 4×4-inch field is the limit for the SE700, PE545 and Skitch PP1, per Brother. Larger designs need a bigger machine, and Reviewed notes the Skitch PP1 cannot embroider baseball caps.

FAQ

Questions people ask

What is the easiest embroidery machine for beginners?

For most people, a Brother 4×4 machine with a color screen, such as the SE700 or PE545, is the easiest start: Brother lists built-in designs, simple on-screen editing, an automatic thread cutter and wireless design transfer. If you would rather work from a phone, the Skitch PP1 runs from the free Artspira app.

Is a 4×4 embroidery machine big enough?

For names, monograms, patches and small motifs, yes. Brother defines the maximum field as the largest design the machine can stitch in one hooping. For tote-bag fronts, quilt blocks or bigger pictures, a 5×7-inch machine such as the PE900 or SE2000 gives more room.

Should I buy an embroidery-only machine or a combo?

Buy a combo if you also want a sewing machine; buy embroidery-only if you already have one. The SE700 has 103 sewing stitches plus embroidery, while the PE545 embroiders only, according to Brother.

Do embroidery machines come with designs?

Yes. Brother lists 135 built-in designs on the SE700 and PE545 and 193 on the PE900 and SE2000, and says the Skitch PP1 unlocks 100 free designs through the Artspira app. You can also load your own files; .PES is Brother’s format.

What else do I need to buy?

Stabilizer, embroidery thread, bobbin thread, embroidery needles and practice fabric, which The Sewing Studio lists as the ongoing supplies. Brother ships white embroidery bobbin thread with the SE700, SE2000, PE545 and PE900.

Can a beginner embroidery machine do hats?

Do not count on it. Reviewed notes the Skitch PP1 cannot embroider baseball caps, and none of the Brother pages we read for these machines lists a cap frame. Embroider flat items first, such as towels, totes and shirts.

Start with small designs and a machine that makes them easy

Want the full picture? See our best beginner sewing machine picks, compared by project, and the FAQ on features, fabrics and care.