On up the price ladder, computerized machines add an even larger variety of practical and decorative stitches. Among less expensive computerized machines, we found rave reviews for the Brother PC-420 PRW Project Runway… Limited Edition. With 294 decorative, stretch and utility stitches, plus 10 styles of one-step buttonholes and three alphabets for monograms, reviewers say the Brother has just about every stitch you could want. In addition, you can create and save your own decorative stitch patterns. Other pluses: a knee lifter that lets you keep both hands on your work and presser-foot leveling that helps keep even pressure over thick seams. This feature works so well that owners say the machine does a great job with jeans hems -- typically a challenge for any sewing machine. Stitch width is adjustable to 7 mm wide -- helpful if you like to create decorative borders on ruffles, placemats or other projects. About the only complaints we found were that the biggest monogram size isn't that big, and the needle defaults to the left position when you turn on the machine.
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