With advice from Kaye, one of our sewing machine experts at Sew It, Hornby. Prices update from our website.
What's the best sewing machine for beginners? Kaye's honest answer is that it depends on what you want to sew and how much help you want from the machine. So we've put four machines we often show new sewers side by side: the Brother FS60X, Brother A80, Brother A150 and Janome DC6050. Kaye recommends all four for beginners who mainly want to do dressmaking, mending and craft projects. The differences are in how you choose your stitches and the extras each one adds.
Best sewing machine for beginners: the quick answer
All four suit beginner dressmaking. The Brother A80 ($749) is the easy everyday choice. The Brother A150 ($849) sews letters, remembers your stitch changes and has an automatic thread cutter. While, the Janome DC6050 ($990) also includes an automatic thread cutter and has the strongest motor of the four. The Brother FS60X ($555) is the lowest price.
Jump to: Side-by-side table · Brother FS60X · Brother A80 · Brother A150 · Janome DC6050 · Common questions
Beginner sewing machines side by side
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see all the machines.
| Brother FS60X | Brother A80 | Brother A150 | Janome DC6050 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suits | The lowest price | Easy everyday sewing | Lettering and saved stitch changes | The strongest motor and fabric control |
| Price | $555 | $749 | $849 | $990 |
| Type | Electronic | Electronic | Computerised | Electronic |
| Built-in stitches | 60 | 80 | 150 | 50 |
| One-step buttonholes | 7 | 8 | 10 | 3 |
| Sews letters | No | No | Yes, 3 alphabets | No |
| Automatic thread cutter | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustable foot pressure | No | No | No | Yes, 6 levels |
| Choosing a stitch | Buttons and small screen | Dial and screen | Touch keypad and screen | Direct stitch keys and backlit screen |
| Top speed (stitches per minute) | 750, with speed control | 850, with speed control | 850, with speed control | 820, with speed control |
| Automatic needle threader | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cover | Soft cover | Hard cover | Hard cover | Hard cover |
| Extension table | Optional extra | Optional extra | Optional extra | Included |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 1 year mechanical, 5 years electrical |
Electronic or computerised sewing machine: what's the difference?
You'll see both words used for the same machines, and the brands use them loosely. In store, Kaye uses a simple rule:
- Electronic: dial-and-go. You pick a stitch, the machine sets it up for you, and you sew. The FS60X, A80 and DC6050 work this way.
- Computerised: the machine can also sew letters, remember the changes you make to a stitch, and put letters and stitch designs together into a sequence. Of these four, that's the A150.
Neither is better for learning on. It comes down to whether you'll use those extras.
Brother FS60X: the lowest price
Suits: new sewers who want to spend as little as possible on a machine that still has a screen and plenty of stitches. It's a popular choice, with 60 stitches, 7 buttonholes and a speed limiter so you can slow right down while you learn.
Choose another if: you find small screens hard to read. Kaye finds the FS60X screen smaller and harder to read than the others, so feel free to have a look in store or book a video demonstration. It also comes with a soft cover, where the other three have a hard cover.
Included: zigzag, buttonhole, zipper, overcasting, blind stitch, monogramming and button feet, four bobbins, needles, a soft cover and a foot control. The WT17AP wide table is available as an extra.
Brother A80: the easy everyday choice
Suits: beginners who want a machine that's simple to drive. You turn a dial to choose from 80 stitches, and the screen shows what you've picked. It has automatic needle threading and reinforcement stitches, plus a clear dial-and-screen setup that keeps everyday sewing straightforward.
It comes with a twin needle for parallel top-stitching. The tension handles fabrics from sheers to stretch knits and denim.
Choose another if: you'd like to sew names and words, save your stitch changes, or have the machine trim your threads for you. That's the A150.
Included: hard cover, seven feet including zipper, overcasting and blind stitch, twin needle, eyelet punch and four bobbins. The WT15AP wide table is available as an extra.
Brother A150: computerised, with lettering
Suits: sewers who want to add names, labels or short words to their projects, or who enjoy decorative stitching. It has 150 stitches, three alphabet styles and 10 one-step buttonholes. You can join letters and stitch designs together into a sequence, so a name or a border sews out in one go.
At the push of a button, it also remembers the changes you make to a stitch. Adjust a stitch's width or length, switch off, and your adjusted stitch is still there next time. That saves writing your settings down or taking a photo on your phone.
The automatic thread cutter trims the top and bobbin threads at the press of a button. It's a small thing that you'll use every time you sew.
Choose another if: you you expect to sew thicker fabrics or multiple layers regularly. The Janome DC6050 can form a stitch through around 8–9 mm total thickness, compared with around 5 mm on the A150.
Included: hard cover, seven feet, twin needle, eyelet punch and four bobbins. It takes the same WT15AP wide table as the A80, available as an extra.
Janome DC6050: the strongest motor
Suits: sewers who want a machine with more push. Kaye rates the DC6050's motor as the strongest of these four, which helps when you're sewing over thick seams and heavier fabrics.
Six levels of foot pressure let you ease off for leather and knits, then press harder for denim, so fabric feeds evenly instead of stretching or slipping. Your everyday stitches have their own keys, and the backlit screen shows the recommended foot plus the stitch width and length. It has an automatic thread cutter, a needle up/down button and a rigid die-cast aluminium frame.
Choose another if: you want lettering or lots of decorative stitches. The DC6050 has 50 stitches and 3 buttonhole styles. The warranty is also set out differently: 1 year mechanical and 5 years electrical, where the Brothers have 3 years.
Included: seven feet including zigzag, overedge, zipper, satin stitch, blind hem, 1/4" seam and automatic buttonhole, plus a hard cover and its own extension table. The table gives you a bigger flat surface around the needle, which helps when you're sewing larger pieces like skirts and curtains.
What if I want to quilt?
These four are dressmaking machines first. They'll piece simple patchwork, but for quilting, the space to the right of the needle and the right accessories matter more than stitch count. Our guide to choosing a quilting machine covers what to look for.
Common questions
Is the Brother A80 or A150 better for a beginner?
Both are easy to learn on and share the same top speed and feet. Choose the A80 for everyday sewing and mending. Choose the A150 if you'll use lettering, saved stitch changes or the automatic thread cutter.
Which of these handles denim?
All four will sew denim. The Janome DC6050 has the strongest motor of the four and lets you increase foot pressure for heavier fabric. If you regularly sew denim or many thick layers, compare our Singer Heavy Duty machines as well.
Do I need a computerised machine to learn to sew?
No. Plenty of people learn on an electronic or mechanical machine. Kaye's tips for choosing your first sewing machine will help you work out how much help you want from yours.
Not sure which one fits?
Ask us which option fits your sewing. Call 0800 555 375 or visit us at Unit J, 375 Main South Road, Hornby, Christchurch. We'll happily demonstrate any of these machines in store or via video if you can't get in.
We service machines on site, so help is close by after you buy too. You also have our 10-day money-back guarantee, price match and finance options.