Brother PC-420 PRW Project Runway Limited Edition

Computerized sewing machines cost more, but they add another layer of sewing functionality: you get the ability to create monograms and labels, you can design custom stitch settings, and you usually get a slew of less common stitch types -- like a hand-stitch effect or keyhole buttonholes. Among less expensive computerized machines, we found rave reviews for the Brother PC-420 PRW Project Runway Limited Edition. This sewing machine includes 294 decorative, stretch and utility stitches, plus 10 styles of one-step buttonholes and three alphabets for monograms. You can also create and save your own stitch designs to the machine's memory. Other extras include a knee lifter which lets you keep both hands on your work, plus presser-foot leveling that helps keep even pressure over thick seams -- a feature that's particularly handy for hemming jeans and seaming thick fabrics. You can adjust the stitch width to 7 mm -- handy 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 (because you're limited to a 7 mm width), and the needle defaults to the left position when you turn on the machine.

The Brother PC-420 PRW Project Runway Limited Edition computerized sewing machine hasn't been subject to professional evaluation, but it has been reviewed multiple times by owners, including some very detailed and critical reviews at PatternReview.com. In combination, these reviews give us a good picture of overall satisfaction.