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Best sewing machines for beginners 2027: tried and tested by experts
Jonny blends rigour with the ridiculous to find what works, from chasing Bluetooth trackers nationwide to piercing bin bags with a force gauge.
The best sewing machines make your sewing projects easier, whether you're mending clothes or making them from scratch.
We've focused on the best sewing machines for beginners and tested models from Brother, Janome, Singer, John Lewis and more, including budget options costing less than £100.
We enlisted the help of sewing experts who tackled a range of tasks to assess how easy each machine is to set up and use, and how well they cope with different fabrics and buttonholes.
Three sewing machines won over our testers to earn our Best Buy recommendation, while one Great Value model offers great performance at an attractive price.
How our tests find you the best
We've tested 15 sewing machines
We buy the UK’s bestselling sewing machines, and our panel of expert sewers puts every one through the same tough tests. That way, you can see exactly how they compare.
Everyday fabrics
We run cotton, satin and jersey through each sewing machine to test stitch settings. We find the models that handle every fabric with ease.
Heavy-duty handling
We stitch through four layers of thick fabric. We love machines that glide through and don't recommend those that jam, groan or vibrate.
We also test...
Ease of setup, buttonhole precision, foot pedal control, lighting, noise levels and if the manual is a helpful guide or a confusing puzzle.
The sewing machines we tested
The sewing machines we tested are listed below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the sewing machine test results.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buys recommendations.
| Sewing machine | Price | Score | Number of stitches | Everyday fabrics* | Thick fabrics | Buttonholes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableGet Full Access for just £5 per month for your first 3 months. Cancel at any time. Already a member? | 95% | |||||
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| 73% | ||||||
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| 65% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableGet Full Access for just £5 per month for your first 3 months. Cancel at any time.
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Dates tested: October 2026, February 2024. Page last checked: November 2026. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
*Tested on cotton, jersey, denim and satin.
All the sewing machines we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best sewing machines from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
Bernette b35
Most recently tested October 2026
Number of stitch options 23
Accessories included Zigzag, hemmer, zipper, satin stitch, button sewing, blind stitch and buttonhole feet, four bobbins, pack of needles, seam ripper, two screwdrivers
Need to know 6kg, 29 x 37.5 x 17cm (HxWxD), mechanical, front-loading bobbin, built-in needle threader, one-step buttonhole, free arm, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 5mm, two-year guarantee
Brother AE1700
Available from Argos (£129) (Only available in-store)
Most recently tested February 2024
Number of stitch options 17
Accessories included Standard, buttonhole, zipper and button sewing feet, darning plate, four bobbins, pack of needles, oval screwdriver, foot controller, cover
Need to know 5.3kg, 27 x 36 x 14cm (HxWxD), top-loading bobbin, four-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 5mm, three-year guarantee
Brother FS40WTS
Most recently tested October 2026
Number of stitch options 40
Accessories included Wide table, zigzag, overcast stitch, monogramming, blind stitch, buttonhole, zipper and button sewing feet, seam ripper, cleaning brush, pack of needles, spare bobbins, L-screwdriver, dust cover
Need to know 5.9kg, 31 x 41 x 17cm (HxWxD), computerised with LCD screen, top-loading bobbin, automatic needle threader, one-step buttonhole, speed control slider, maximum stitch length 5mm, maximum stitch width 7mm, three-year guarantee
Brother LK14S
Most recently tested February 2024
Number of stitch options 14
Accessories included Standard, buttonhole and zipper feet, two bobbins, pack of needles, screwdriver, foot controller, cover
Need to know 4.6kg, 26.5 x 35.5 x 14cm (HxWxD), top-loading bobbin, four-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 5mm, three-year guarantee
Hobbycraft 19S
Available from Hobbycraft (£89)
Most recently tested February 2024
Number of stitch options 19
Accessories included Standard, zipper, buttonhole and button sewing feet, darning plate, seam ripper, edge/quilting guide, pack of needles, spool holder, four bobbins, l-screwdriver, oil bottle, second spool pin, spool pin felt, cover
Need to know 5.4kg, 27.5 x 36 x 16.5cm (HxWxD), front-loading bobbin, four-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 5mm, two-year guarantee
Husqvarna Viking H Class E20
Available from Sewing Machines Direct (£199)
Most recently tested February 2024
Number of stitch options 32
Accessories included Standard, zipper, satin stitch, buttonhole, quilting, free motion-darning and blind hem feet, l-screwdriver, seam ripper/brush, pack of needles, three bobbins, seam guide, two spool pin felts, cover
Need to know 6.5kg, 27.5 x 37 x 17cm (HxWxD), front-loading bobbin, one-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 5mm, two-year guarantee
Janome 2200XT
Available from Sewing Machines Direct (£195)
Most recently tested February 2024
Number of stitch options 22
Accessories included Standard, zipper, hemmer, sliding buttonhole, satin stitch and overcasting feet, four bobbins, pack of needles, seam ripper, two screwdrivers (small and large), hem guide, oil, cover
Need to know 5.6kg, 26.5 x 36 x 13cm (HxWxD), front-loading bobbin, four-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 5mm, two-year guarantee
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Janome 4400
Available from Hobbycraft (£187)
Most recently tested February 2024
Number of stitch options 21
Accessories included Standard, zipper, hemmer and buttonhole feet, darning plate, four bobbins, pack of needles, seam ripper, two screwdrivers (small and large), hem guide, oil, cover
Need to know 5.8kg, 26.5 x 36.5 x 13.5cm (HxWxD), front-loading bobbin, one-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 5mm, two-year guarantee
Janome 7025
Most recently tested October 2026
Number of stitch options 24
Accessories included Standard, blind hem, buttonhole and over-edge feet, spare bobbins, pack of needles, seam ripper, screwdriver, large and small spool caps, spare spool pin, quilting guide, hard cover
Need to know 7kg, 28 x 42 x 17cm (HxWxD), mechanical, see-through bobbin cover, automatic needle threader, one-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 5mm, side thread cutter, drop feed, two-year guarantee
John Lewis JL110
Most recently tested February 2024
Number of stitch options 14
Accessories included Standard and buttonhole feet, darning plate, three bobbins, pack of needles, seam ripper, cover
Need to know 5.5kg, 26.5 x 36.5 x 13.5cm (HxWxD), front-loading bobbin, four-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, available in five colours, two-year guarantee, compatible with Janome accessories
John Lewis JL220
Most recently tested February 2024
Number of stitch options 21
Accessories included Standard, sliding buttonhole, blind hem and zipper feet, freehand embroidery/darning foot, darning plate, four bobbins, seam ripper, pack of needles, cover
Need to know 5.5kg, 26.5 x 36.5 x 12.5cm (HxWxD), front-loading bobbin, automatic needle threader, four-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 5mm, available in five colours, two-year guarantee, compatible with Janome accessories
Pfaff Smarter 140S
Available from Sewing Machines Direct (£239)
Most recently tested October 2026
Number of stitch options 21
Accessories included Standard, clear view, blind hem, zipper and buttonhole feet, three bobbins, pack of needles, seam ripper/brush, screwdriver, edge guide, large and small spool caps, auxiliary spool pin, felt pad, hard cover
Need to know 6.2kg, 29 x 41 x 20cm (HxWxD), top-loading bobbin, built-in needle threader, four-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 6mm, two-year guarantee
Singer 3321 Talent
Available from Argos (£200)
Most recently tested October 2026
Number of stitch options 21
Accessories included All-purpose, zipper, buttonhole and button sewing feet, edge/quilting guide, bobbins, pack of needles, seam ripper/lint brush, screwdriver, spool caps, auxiliary spool pin, spool pin felt, darning plate, soft cover
Need to know 5.9kg, 30 x 41 x 17cm (HxWxD), top-loading bobbin, automatic needle threader, four-step buttonhole, free arm, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 6mm, two-year guarantee
Singer Heavy Duty 4423
Most recently tested October 2026
Number of stitch options 23
Accessories included Standard, zipper, buttonhole and button sewing feet, three bobbins, seam ripper, edge/quilting guide, pack of needles, spool holder, l-screwdriver, auxiliary spool pin, spool pin felt, cover
Need to know 6.4kg, 27.5 x 38 x 16cm (HxWxD), top-loading bobbin, automatic needle threader, one-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4mm, maximum stitch width 6mm, two-year guarantee
Singer Promise 1408
Available from Hobbycraft (£195)
Most recently tested February 2024
Number of stitch options 8
Accessories included Standard, zipper, buttonhole and button sewing feet, three bobbins, darning plate, pack of needles, l-screwdriver, seam ripper/brush, two spool pin felts, edge/quilting guide, cover
Need to know 4.8kg, 27 x 35 x 16cm (HxWxD), front-loading bobbin, four-step buttonhole, maximum stitch length 4.2mm, maximum stitch width 4mm, two-year guarantee
How we test sewing machines
Many free-to-access websites review sewing machines using just one tester, basing scores on their preferences. These sites may also receive sewing machines free of charge, directly from manufacturers.
Which? tests are different. Our test scores are based on ratings from a panel of experienced sewers who put every machine through the same tasks, and brands cannot buy their way into our testing. We select the most popular sewing machines at major UK retailers, and we pay for every one we test.
We also regularly revisit the sewing machines on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and we retest previous top scorers to check they still stand up.
We’re not influenced by third parties and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers. As a not-for-profit organisation, we have no owners, shareholders or government departments to answer to, so we work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer – nobody else.
Read our full statement of editorial independence.
Ease of use: how easy is the sewing machine to use on different fabrics?
Our expert sewers run four fabrics – soft cotton, delicate satin, stretchy jersey and layers of thick denim – through every machine we buy, rating 20 separate tasks along the way. Every machine is tested in exactly the same way, using its own instruction manual, so no model gets special treatment.
For each fabric, we assess how easy it is to:
- Select the right stitch using the instruction manual
- Set the stitch type, length and width on the machine
- Sew with the fabric
- Control the speed of stitching with the foot pedal
- Backstitch
Ease of setup: how easy is the sewing machine to set up and thread?
We rate seven setup tasks on every machine, from changing the needle to winding the bobbin and threading the machine. If you need a magnifying glass or guesswork to get started, it loses points.
We look at how easy it is to:
- Attach and remove the presser foot
- Change the needle
- Wind thread onto the bobbin and install the bobbin into the machine
- Thread the upper thread and put the thread through the needle
- Raise the bobbin thread
Heavy-duty sewing: can the sewing machine stitch through thick layers of fabric?
We stitch through four stacked layers of thick denim on every machine to find out which ones glide through and which skip stitches, jam or groan.
Hemming a pair of jeans or sewing thick seams shouldn't feel like a workout for your machine, and the ones that struggle don't make the cut.
Buttonholes: how easy is it to sew a neat buttonhole?
Every machine sews a buttonhole onto cotton, and our testers rate four things: attaching the buttonhole foot, lining it up with the mark on the fabric, sewing the buttonhole and the quality of the finished result.
As the stitching is so close together on buttonholes, they're almost impossible to unpick without spoiling the fabric. You can get all the way to the end of a dressmaking project and ruin it with a badly executed buttonhole, which is why we test this so closely.
Instructions: how helpful is the instruction manual?
Our testers follow each machine's manual for every task in the test, then rate how clear and helpful it was. Some machines now come with only a quick-start guide and put the full manual online, and our ratings reflect that.
As you become more advanced, it's likely you'll still need to refer back to the instruction manual. Our testers – all experienced sewers – say they often have the manual open when tackling new sewing projects.
Lighting and noise: can you see what you're sewing and how loud is the machine?
Our testers rate how well every machine lights up the sewing area and how much noise it makes while sewing.
How we choose sewing machines
To make sure our reviews are 100% independent, we never accept free product samples from manufacturers or brands. Instead, we've bought the sewing machines in this guide directly from major UK retailers, including Argos, Hobbycraft and John Lewis.
We pick the most popular models at the retailers that top search results, and make sure we cover the big names in sewing, from Brother, Janome and Singer to Bernette and Pfaff.
We've tested 15 sewing machines and we cater to a range of budgets, from less than £100 to around £300. Everything from simple mechanical machines for complete beginners to a computerised model with an LCD screen has made its way through our tests, which means we can showcase Best Buy models alongside Great Value machines that punch above their price tag.
Which type of sewing machine should I get?
Electronic sewing machines
These are the most popular type and the best sewing machines for beginners. They have all the basic stitches you need to get started as a beginner, which are selected by turning a dial, but aren't as complex to set up as computerised sewing machines.
A basic electronic sewing machine contains a motor in the body, which drives the needle in the top part of the sewing machine and controls other working parts, such as the bobbin and feed dogs – the teeth under the presser foot that automatically feed material through the machine under the needle.
Before electric motors, sewing machines were manual: you powered them yourself, either by turning a hand crank attached to the handwheel or by rocking a foot treadle connected to it with a belt. They’re rarely made today and you’re unlikely to find a new one in UK shops; if you come across one, it'll be a vintage or antique model.
Computerised sewing machines
These are controlled by a computer that is pre-programmed with the correct tension, length and width for each stitch style. They're operated using a touchpad and screen, and with more advanced models you can download programs from your PC or Mac.
Computerised sewing machines can memorise past work and store hundreds of different stitches for you to choose from.
Popular brands that produce computerised sewing machines include Bernina and Juki.
Overlocker sewing machines
These are designed to stop fraying and to give a professional finish to the seams of a garment. They are typically used in addition to a regular sewing machine – you can’t use one on its own as its functions are limited.
You can use an ordinary sewing machine to neaten an edge with a zigzag stitch; however, an overlocker does this more easily and neatly than a sewing machine.
Overlockers are best suited to more advanced sewers. They usually sew with three or four threads at once, so they’re trickier to thread and set up than a regular sewing machine. It’s worth getting confident on a standard machine first.
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Which is the best sewing machine for beginners?
If you're just starting out or only sew occasionally, an electronic model will probably suit your needs.
As a general rule of thumb, look for a sewing machine with different presser foot attachments. A zipper foot, buttonhole foot and a plastic foot for delicate fabrics is a good selection for beginners.
Look for a range of stitches, too. Several different lengths of straight stitch, a choice of zigzag stitches and an automatic buttonhole are the bare minimum.
Decorative stitches are nice to have, but they aren’t worth paying much more for unless you're confident you'll progress to creating work with decorative embellishments.
Log in or join Which? to see the specific models we recommend for beginners, and to find out how all the sewing machines performed in our hands-on tests.
What type of fabrics can sewing machines handle?
- Cotton Basic machines will easily handle cottons and slightly heavier fabrics such as denim, but may struggle with thicker materials, such as those you'd use to make soft furnishings.
- Thick fabrics These include fleece and denim. They require a longer stitch length than thinner fabrics – check the machine you're interested in offers a genuine choice of long and short stitches.
- Delicate fabrics These can include silk or satin, and they need light handling. If you're using them the majority of the time, choose a machine that lets you reduce the pressure of the presser foot so you’ll decrease the risk of snagging your fabric on the needle plate. Other useful extras include a Teflon-coated plastic foot, which sometimes works better than the standard presser foot, and a fine needle.
- Stretch fabrics Sewing stretchy fabrics such as jersey or Lycra is a challenge, so look for a sewing machine with a stretch stitch that will help you get the best results.
- Curtains Look for a machine with a large sewing bed or extension table to handle large panels of fabric. You'll also want one that can cope with sewing multiple thicknesses of fabric of different weights.
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Sewing machine features to look out for
Buttonhole function
Most modern sewing machines enable you to sew a buttonhole easily, with specific stitches and accessories. There are typically two types to choose between:
- Four-step buttonhole This involves sewing each side of a buttonhole individually by selecting stitches sequentially to create the left side, top, right side and bottom.
- One-step buttonhole This automatically creates all four sides of the buttonhole, without you having to select the stitches. Most measure the size of your button and automatically create a buttonhole of the correct size.
Automatic needle threading
This is a mechanism that threads the upper thread through the needle for you.
It can be a bit fiddly to get the hang of, but it's a useful timesaver once you know how to use it. It removes the need for passing the thread through the needle manually.
Knee lifter
This is a lever that can be pressed with your knee, which allows you to lift the presser foot and drop the feed dogs without taking your hands off your work.
It enables you to move the fabric freely for quilting, sewing around curves and embroidery – ideal for large projects or for giving you an extra hand for fiddly jobs.
Sewing machine carry case
Check whether your chosen sewing machine comes with a carry case or if you'll need to buy one separately.
A hard case, rather than a soft cover, makes it much easier to store and move the machine around.
How does a sewing machine work?
Every stitch is made from two threads: a top thread, which runs from the reel through the needle, and a bottom thread wound onto a small bobbin underneath. Each time the needle goes down, the machine links the two threads together inside the fabric, while small teeth under the presser foot (called feed dogs) move the fabric along for the next stitch.
- Top thread The reel sits on the spool pin and the thread follows the thread guide (usually numbered) down to the needle. The tension dial keeps it tight enough for neat stitches.
- Bottom thread You wind thread onto the bobbin using the bobbin winding spindle on top of the machine; the bobbin stopper halts it when it's full. Then drop the bobbin into its housing, either at the front or under the needle plate.
- Fabric The presser foot holds your fabric flat as you sew. Raise and lower it with the presser foot lever.
- Stitches The stitch selector picks the stitch, the length and width dials set its size, and the reverse lever sews backwards to lock the end of a seam in place.
- Speed The foot pedal (not pictured) controls how fast you sew. Turn the handwheel to move the needle by hand.
- Thread cutter A small blade for snipping threads, so you don't need to reach for scissors.