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Best sewing machines in Australia

Our editorial team looked at hundreds of customer reviews and ratings to find the 7 best sewing machines you can buy right now.

Ericka Pingol
Ericka Pingol

Updated

Fact checked
Female clothing designer working from home

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The best sewing machines in Australia

A sewing machine is a versatile piece of equipment that you can use to create custom clothing, decorations and accessories. It also allows you to repair or alter unused and torn garments.

For this guide, we evaluated hundreds of customer reviews and ratings to give you an in-depth look at seven of the best sewing machines in Australia right now. To help you with your buying decision, the list below shows each sewing machine's features, price and pros and cons. There are choices for a variety of uses, from sewing machines for beginners to sewing machines for quilting.

How did we pick this list?

Our editorial team chose the products on the list based on customer reviews and ratings from Amazon. For each category, we carefully selected parameters based on our research and determined the sewing machines with the highest ratings within those parameters.

Read more about our methodology below.

Best overall sewing machine: Singer 4423 Heavy Duty Extra-High Sewing Speed Sewing Machine

Pros

  • Works for a wide range of fabrics
  • Has an automatic needle threader

Cons

  • Not computerized
  • Some customers said it doesn't include a plug and adapter

Specs: Material: Metal | Weight: 14.5lbs | Operation: Mechanical/manual | Dimensions: 15.5 x 6.25 x 12 inches

Price (RRP): $456.30

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Why we chose it

We recommend the Singer 4423 Heavy Duty Extra-High Sewing Speed Sewing Machine as the best overall sewing machine in Australia right now. It has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from thousands of customers on Amazon.

This sewing machine is perfect for heavy-duty projects. Its powerful motor also lets you sew faster, saving you time. Apart from having 97 stitch applications for any fabric, this heavy-duty sewing machine has a one-step buttonhole. It also has a built-in needle threader and an easy stitch selection dial.

Many customers praised this sewing machine for being versatile, mentioning that it works for both beginner and professional sewers. Several others said that the quality is superb and works for most types of fabrics. A few customers complained about it being expensive, but mentioned that its performance justifies the price tag.

What users say

This machine does the lot, you just need to adjust the tension accordingly. I like it so much that I've now ordered the singer heavy duty overlocker too." Read reviews.

Best sewing machine for beginners: Janome 2212 12 Stitch FullSize Freearm Sewing Machine

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Not easy to set up
  • Tends to run inconsistently

Specs: Weight: 15.3lbs | Thread tension control: Manual | Bed type: Free arm/flat bed convertible

Price (RRP): $189

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Why we chose it

We recommend the Janome 2212 12 Stitch FullSize Freearm Sewing Machine as the best sewing machine for beginners. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.

The Janome 2212 sewing machine is an entry-level machine with a 4-step buttonhole. It also has a dial pattern selection and stitch and width length adjustment for ease of use. Apart from having 12 built-in stitches, its free arm and drop feed is perfect for all types of sewing.

Customers raved about the machine's ability to perform basic sewing functions well. Others noted that despite being an entry-level sewing machine, it works like a heavy-duty one. A few customers also liked that it's lightweight, which makes it easy to move around. Several customers complained that their sewing machine didn't come with accessories, but this is an isolated issue.

What users say

Exactly what I wanted. A cheap, easy-to-use machine. I'm a beginner and just make pretty easy stuff." Read reviews.

Best sewing machine for quilting: Brother FS100WT Free Motion Embroidery/Sewing and Quilting Machine

Pros

  • Computerised
  • Can perform both quilting and sewing

Cons

  • Not cheap
  • Some customers said it's not beginner-friendly

Specs: Weight: 16.53lbs | Dimensions: 51.5 x 32.2 x 45.6 centimetres | Power source: Corded electric

Price (RRP): $678.68

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Why we chose it

Our pick for the best sewing machine for quilting is Brother's FS100WT Free Motion Embroidery/Sewing and Quilting Machine. It has a 4.7 rating out of 5 stars from over 500 customer reviews on Amazon.

The Brother FS100WT is ideal if you want a computerised machine for sewing, embroidery and quilting. It has 100 stitches and 8 buttonholes. In addition to having one set of alphabets, it also has an automatic needle threader and a speed control slider. It also has a start/stop button and a few presser feet.

Customers gave positive feedback on the machine's intuitive design. Others praised it for being easy to operate and offering a wide range of stitches. Many customers also said that it's easy to pack. However, some reviews said that this sewing machine is not beginner-friendly.

What users say

Love everything about this machine. Easy to operate, looks good, has a wealth of stitches and it is so quiet when in operation." Read reviews.

Best cheap sewing machine: Bernette Sew and Go 1 Swiss Design Sewing Machine

Pros

  • Perfect for beginners
  • Portable and lightweight

Cons

  • Needles tend to hit the metal part
  • Noisy

Specs: Material: Metal | Dimensions: 9 x 12 x 14 inches | Weight: 15.9lbs | Operation: Manual/mechanical

Price (RRP): $325

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Why we chose it

If you're looking for the best cheap sewing machine, we recommend Bernette's Sew and Go 1 Swiss Design Sewing Machine. It has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

The Bernette Sew and Go 1 sewing machine is a mechanical, entry-level model, ideal for sewers on a budget. It comes with 10 stitches, with a maximum stitch width of 55mm. It also comes with four presser feet, including a buttonhole foot and a zipper foot. This sewing machine's hook system is front loading as well.

Many customers raved about the sewing machine being portable and providing basic sewing functions. Some customers also said it is easy to use, especially for beginners. However, several customers said it is too noisy.

What users say

This sewing machine is very easy to use. It's easy to thread the bobbin and thread the machine and it sews well." Read reviews.

Best sewing machine for kids: Cool Maker Sew N' Style Sewing Machine with Pom-Pom Maker Attachment

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Pricier compared to other sewing machines for kids
  • Battery operated

Specs: Material: Plastic | Weight: 2.3lbs | Power source: 4 AA batteries

Price (RRP): $290

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Why we chose it

Our pick for the best sewing machine for kids is the Cool Maker Sew N' Style Sewing Machine with Pom-Pom Maker Attachment. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from over 800 customer reviews.

The Cool Maker Sew N' Style sewing machine comes with 2 sheets of glitter fabric, 2 pre-cut projects and pop-out patterns. It's perfect for kids wanting to try sewing. It's also operated by four AA batteries.

Customers gave positive feedback on this sewing machine's user-friendliness. Some mentioned that their kids were able to sew their own projects easily with it. Others also raved about it being safe to use. However, some customers criticised it for being battery-operated instead of having a wall plug.

What users say

This is the coolest little machine. My 6-year-old makes tons of things completely by herself with this." Read reviews.

Best manual sewing machine: Janome HD3000 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine

Pros

  • For both beginners and professionals
  • Can stitch through thick layers of fabric

Cons

  • Not for leathers
  • Some customers say the machine tends to skip during stitching

Specs: Material: Metal | Weight: 18.7lbs | Dimensions: 10 x 19 x 15 inches | Power source: Treadle

Price (RRP): $429

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Why we chose it

Our pick for the best manual sewing machine is the HD3000 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine from Janome. It has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from more than 100 customers on Amazon.

This sewing machine comes with 18 stitches and a heavy-duty frame. It also has a free arm and a drop feed. In addition to a 6.5mm stitch width, it includes a 5-piece feed dog. Its thread tension control is manual, while its hook type is top loading.

Customers praised this sewing machine for being versatile. They said it can stitch a wide range of fabrics. Many mentioned that it was easy to use and set up, even for beginners. Some also raved about its durability. However, a few reviews said that it can't sew through thicker leathers, which is to be expected.

What users say

I love my new machine. I haven't found anything it can't sew through yet." Read reviews.

Best portable sewing machine: Neala Mini Electric Portable Sewing Machine

Pros

  • LED lighting function
  • Has 2 power source options

Cons

  • Speed is not adjustable
  • Some customers said that the material feels cheap

Specs: Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 24.6 x 23.4 x 15.6 centimetres | Weight: 2lbs | Power source: Power supply or batteries

Price (RRP): $189.27

Buy at Amazon

Why we chose it

We recommend Neala's Electric Portable Sewing Machine as the best portable sewing machine in Australia. It has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

The Neala Mini Electric Portable Sewing Machine has a built-in thread cutter. As well as operating from two power sources, it also includes a needle threader and a spare needle. It has manual and pedal switches and a LED lighting function as well.

Customers raved about this sewing machine being affordable and easy to set up. Some customers said that it was perfect for simple stitching, particularly for repairing garments. Others said that the LED lighting function was helpful for more precise sewing. However, some customers complained that its speed is not adjustable.

What users say

Would recommend if you're looking for a beginner sewing machine." Read reviews.

Methodology

20
Brands considered
58
Products compared
7
Best sewing machines chosen
  • We compared over 50 sewing machines from 20 different brands.
  • We assessed hundreds of online reviews and ratings from Amazon customers.
  • The products on this list were chosen by our editorial team and were not selected based on commercial relationships.

Sewing machine buying guide: How to choose the best sewing machine for you

Do I need a sewing machine?

A sewing machine is more accurate than stitching with your bare hands. It's also a lot faster. As well as giving you an outlet for creativity, a sewing machine allows you to alter or repair worn out or unused clothes. They're also versatile – you can make clothes, accessories, decor and gifts with a sewing machine.

However, sewing machines can be expensive. They may also take up a lot of space if you live in a smaller home. You also have to make sure to use your sewing machine regularly for it to work properly, and it will require maintenance, which you will need to learn how to do yourself or pay for a professional to do.

An alternative to a sewing machine is stitching by hand, especially if you only need to mend torn clothes. Another option is using fabric glue or fusible bonding web. A fabric glue provides a temporary or permanent bond on fabric without sewing. Fusible bonding web, on the other hand, allows you to bond two pieces of fabric permanently with the heat of an iron.

How to compare sewing machines

  • Consider what you want to use it for. Do you want a sewing machine to learn how to sew or to mend some clothes? Are you a skilled sewer looking for a heavy-duty machine with more sophisticated features? Determine what you want out of a sewing machine before purchasing one.
  • Make sure to buy a more affordable sewing machine if you haven't been sewing for long. But if you're a long-time sewer that likes to sew regularly, a more expensive, heavy-duty machine may fit the bill.
  • Consider if you want a computerised, electric or manual/mechanical sewing machine. Computerised and electric sewing machines allow you to create more precise and decorative stitches. They also have more automated features. However, manual and mechanical machines are more affordable and beginner-friendly.
  • Consider the sewing machine's weight and size. If space is an issue, you may opt for a portable or mini sewing machine. However, if you plan to use your sewing machine at home, a more sophisticated one with more features may work better.
  • Think about the service and warranty before buying a sewing machine. Ask about the length of the warranty and its coverage. You might also want to find out if maintenance service is included.

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