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by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Consumer Reports is one of the few sources that conducts comparative reviews of sewing machines, focusing on a ratings chart that compares the models on performance, ease of use, features and other… attributes. Judges perform tests with a variety of fabrics, threads and stitches. Six mechanical, nine electronic and three embroidery/sewing machines are rated. Consumer Reports considers an automatic buttonhole to be tops among features, followed by an automatic needle threader, a top-loading bobbin, feed dog adjustability and speed control. Electronic models are easier to use overall, with more options, but they are also more expensive.
by Contributors to Joann.com
This site has a large number of user reviews of the several dozen different sewing machines it sells, which means that reviews are current. Many reviews from experienced stitchers offer detailed accounts of… machines' strengths and weaknesses. Customers especially like the Brother CS6000i, an inexpensive computerized sewing machine, and the Singer Touch & Sew 7462. On the downside, there are only reviews here for the sewing machines sold at Joann's, so there are no write-ups for Bernina, Janome, Kenmore or other brands.
by Editors of Choice magazine
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
This short video from Good Housekeeping notes that editors tested five sewing machines (though it's not said which machines were tested) on 10 fabrics. The Euro Pro Shark and Brother CS-6000i are… recommended, but little is said of the machines. The Euro Pro is said to be simple to use, and the Brother has a good buttonhole function. Without knowing what other sewing machines were tested, this article isn't as helpful as it might be.
by Contributors to Sears.com
Aside from some coverage at Consumer Reports, the Sears website is one of the few places to find reviews on Kenmore sewing machines. While many machines don't yet have any reviews, a few models have more… than 20 comments from owners. Five Kenmore electronic and computerized machines get excellent scores from owners, and each gets more than 40 comments. Reviews for two machines, the Euro-Pro Dressmaker II and the Singer Inspiration, are much lower.
by Editors of Choice magazine
This older review is also extremely insightful and is a better resource than Consumer Reports. Choice's expert, who has 30 years of experience, tests seven machines on a wide variety of fabrics. There's… also a good buyer's guide section; editors say automatic needle threaders don't actually work very well. The Bernina Activa 125 (discontinued) is rated the best machine here, with the nicest stitches and the best buttonholes, along with easy one-touch controls and clear instructions. The current Activa model numbers are 220, 240 and 210; the models vary in price according to the number of features. Higher-priced Activa sewing machines have more stitches, greater stitch-memory capability and more presser feet. The Janome Memory Craft 3500 is rated number two; it stitches well, though buttonholes were not quite as nice. Controls are easy to use.
by Hope Meng
by Natalie Zee Drieu
by Contributors to PatternReview.com
This site, where owners can review their own machines, is more helpful than other forums because there's a specific review section, allowing readers to hone their searches. However, we wish reviewed… machines were given an overall rating on the summary page. As it is, you'll have to do your own calculations. This is an excellent spot to look for owner reviews once you've narrowed your choice to a few models, and there are some recently written reviews here. You'll have to register to read most of the reviews.
by Carol Fresia and Judith Neukam
This excellent article is full of tips on how to shop for a sewing machine, including a checklist you can use during the test drive. Although 31 models are indeed listed along with each model's… specifications, testers Carol Fresia and Judith Neukam stop short of rating these sewing machines, which range from basic to fancy. However, each author comments on her favorite machines. Both liked the Husqvarna Viking Lily 535 (now discontinued), Janome Memory Craft 3500, Elna 6003Q and Brother Pacesetter, which makes particularly good buttonholes. The overall conclusion is that your choice comes down to personal preference. This review is now very outdated, and Threads sadly no longer reviews sewing machines.
by Sharon Darling
These individual machine reviews are skewed toward quilters, who especially look for good tension, needle up/down control, accurate ¼-inch stitching, foot-pressure adjustment, speed control and appliquŽ… eatures. We wish reviewer Sharon Darling had compared the machines to each other, but individually, these are smart, practical reviews. Unfortunately, the most recent review is from 2007 and the site does not seem to have been updated since then. Many of these machines are discontinued. Reviews are mainly positive; the Singer Quantum XL-6000 has some excellent unique features. The Janome Jem Platinum 760 is a great featherweight choice. Other embroidery machines, like the Baby Lock Ellageo, Pfaff 2144 and Janome Memory Craft 9500 get good ratings. The Janome DC3050 is a very good basic machine, with nice features and three one-step buttonholes; the Pfaff 2056 (updated model Pfaff 2058) is also rated well.
by Contributors to Amazon.com
by Sewing Machines
by Editors of Threads
This frequently updated link lists features of newly released sewing-machine models. Since model numbers change frequently and new models are constantly appearing on the market, this is a good resource for… monitoring those changes as you shop for a machine. However, it's not a good place to look for comparison reviews on sewing machines. New models receive a quick summary of features and aren't compared to other machines.
by Contributors to Threads
Gatherings is a discussion forum managed by Threads magazine. There are thousands of posts here regarding the best sewing machine, but unless you are searching for a specific model, it's hard to get a sense… of which might be a favorite. Nearly every brand gets some good ratings from owners, and there's a general sense that machines were better in years past. It's noted that no machine is made in the U.S. anymore. This site is worth a look when you've narrowed your choice to a few models.
by Susan Druding
This article isn't very useful in helping identify the best sewing machines. Rather, About.com guide to quilting Susan Druding passes on some general thoughts about various brands. For example, Druding says… quilters like Pfaff for its built-in walking foot. Some like Bernina's knee-lift presser foot option. Interestingly, she states that Singer's most popular model is the Featherweight, which hasn't been produced in years. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Contributors to Target.com
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Brother CS6000I 60-Stitch Computerized Free-Arm Sewing Machine with Multiple Stitch Functions
 from Amazon.com New: $165.48 In Stock.
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Singer 7470 Confidence Electronic Sewing Machine
from Amazon.com New: $499.99 In Stock.
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