If you are anything like me, you spend much of your free time in creative and crafting endeavors and have done so for a while. You have learned how to use a sewing machine and have graduated from basic use to advanced, and are ready for a sewing machine that can keep up with you.

You may already have an idea of what you are looking for, but in the event that this is the first machine you have purchased for yourself, or, if you are looking to spend your money wisely but don’t have the time to do the research, there are a few tips I’d like to mention.

Here are our Top 3 machines for advanced sewers.

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Janome Memory Craft 6500P Sewing Machine

The Janome Memory Craft 6500P is a high-speed sewing machine at an impressive maximum stitching rate of 1,000 stitches per minute. It has a staggering 135 built-in stitch options, including the letters of the alphabet, and 7 types of buttonhole selections.

This well-lit machine has a huge throat space of 9” by 5”, and an advanced 5-piece feed dog system for sending through thick material evenly in conjunction with the extra high presser foot. In short, you can stitch through a variety of fabric layers and thicknesses, and often with room to spare.

For that professional looking finish with ease, the machine comes with a twin needle guard for duplicate rows of even stitching, or for a more home sewn look utilized often in quilting, a hand-made stitch option is available.

It has the refreshing feature of a vertical rather than horizontal thread stand for a variety of spool sizes and thicknesses, as well as the other amenities we have come to know and love as sewers, such as the automatic thread cutter, locking stitch button, reverse button, start/stop button, and knee lifter.

It also has a last stitch memory recall feature, something great when experimenting with new designs or fabrics.

Brother Quilting and Sewing Machine, PQ1500SL

For your money, as an advanced seamstress who also quilts, you will not do better than this incredibly fast straight-stitching machine, at up to 1,500 stitches per minute, with an ample workspace that is 5.7″ high and 8.6″ wide, and that includes a bed extension table for quilting or other large pieces of fabric, and comes with 7 sewing feet.

Pieces of fabric with varying thicknesses are fed through evenly thanks to the 4-option feed dog system synced up with presser foot pressure for smooth stitching finishes, and a built-in knee lifter which acts as a third hand for lifting the presser foot when needed for pivoting, something crucial for detailed or quilt work.

Time-saving features of this machine include the well-lit work area with LED light, an automatic thread cutter, and fast needle threader, as well as a drop-in bobbin.

It has the considerate feature of a built-in thread stand for cone thread use, a feature not seen on older machines, and the more popular way to purchase thread currently because it results in less time changing thread spools.

Also, with a 7 mm maximum stitch length, utilizing basting stitches couldn’t be easier. If this isn’t enough, the machine comes backed by the 25-year limited warranty and free technical support for the life of the product.

SINGER Heavy Duty 4432 Sewing Machine

As someone with projects to complete and little time to spare, at the end of the day, you may simply want a powerful, LED lit machine with a variety but not all-encompassing number of stitching options, that will handle thin or thick fabric, feed it through evenly, and at a high rate of stitching speed.

After all, you have all the skill you need to make what you want; you just need a machine that can keep and hold up. If this is the case, look no further.

The SINGER brand, which backs this product by a 25-year limited warranty, is one known and cherished for quality sewing machines.

This is a low frill machine by today’s standards, but has a powerful motor and extra high presser foot for handling thick and tougher fabrics, such as canvas or denim, and does so at a maximum stitching speed of 1,100 stitches per minute.

With the adjustable presser foot pressure and 3 variable needle positions, however, lightweight sheers are also easily well sewn.

When you purchase this durable machine with 32 built-in stitches and automatic needle threader, combined with your creativity and experience, you have all you need to get the job executed flawlessly every time, without taking out a bank loan.

Tips on buying the right advanced sewing machine

If you are looking to spend your money wisely but don’t have the time to do the research, there are a few tips I’d like to mention.

  • An easy to operate machine isn’t just for beginning sewers. In fact, if you are advanced in skill level, you will want a sewing machine to help you make your creations more efficiently, meaning with a quick bobbin winding system, an automatic needle threader, and a faster stitching speed.
  • In addition to a more efficient machine for rate of output, you likely will be seeking a machine with an ample and well-lit work area for larger projects requiring more fabric, such as for quilts, blankets, or bulky clothing items.Sewing machines at the lower price range unfortunately often lack the space needed to comfortably shift material as it is being stitched.
  • Sewing machines full of features that don’t pertain to your craft of choice may result in overspending, so be certain to look for those attributes most often used. For instance, if you create items with lots of piecework, you don’t necessarily need hundreds of stitch types, but would want a machine that has a start/stop button so the foot pedal is not always necessary, as well as that will automatically complete your backstitching when a new row of stitching is added.
  • Contrarily, if you love design and innovation when sewing, the more stitch types and compatible sewing feet, the better! As with anything, you can spend as much as you want on something, but more expensive does not mean it is better if you don’t use the additional features included at the higher price point.
  • A sewing machine that either comes with or can be backed by a prolonged warranty is indicative of a company that stands behind its product. As you know, in the sewing world, there are only a few industry name brands that are widely recognized, and the reason is due to a history of quality and a customer centered approach. So while a company new to the market may have machines that have more bells and whistles, such as looking pretty in a nice shade of pink or green, you may not want to risk the investment of time and frustration as the company experiences its learning curve at your expense.
  • Durability is a must for a frequently used machine. This means sewing machines that have a stronger engine and are built of mostly metal internal parts are preferred. I wouldn’t recommend a machine that boasts that it is lightweight, for example, because it means it has internal plastic parts that can break and not feed through material well, and isn’t tough enough to sew through a variety of thicknesses of fabric.

Final Thoughts

To pick the best machine for your advanced sewing needs, clearly, you have options.

If you are looking to continue down the road of sewing crafts and adventures and doing so with little effort, lots of speed, and known durability, a machine with a large selection of stitching varieties, such as the Janome 6500P, may appeal to you.

Perhaps though you have already experimented with stitch selections and just want a high speed, easy to use, straight stitching machine that is perfect for both quilting and sewing and getting your projects done.

If that is the case, you will find it in the Brother PQ1500SL. Between these two extremes, I’ve presented the Singer 4432, with a middle ground of stitching options, that has a high stitching speed and powerful motor for all fabric types, and that should last you a lifetime.

To make the best decision for you, consider what you want most out of your machine, and therein you will find your answer. Have confidence you have made the best selection; you will not be disappointed.