Embroidery Combo vs Embroidery Only Machine: Which Should You Buy?

A combo machine sews and embroiders, while an embroidery-only machine embroiders and does not sew. That difference answers the embroidery combo vs embroidery only machine question: buy the combo if you also sew garments and want sewing plus embroidery from the same machine, and buy the embroidery-only machine if embroidery is the only work you need done.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. LaserEngraveHQ earns a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.

Embroidery combo vs embroidery only machine: the core difference

A combo machine is a sewing machine with an embroidery unit added. It sews seams, stitches buttonholes and handles garment construction, and it also embroiders designs within its hoop. An embroidery-only machine drops the sewing side entirely: it cannot sew a seam, and its whole design goes into embroidery features rather than sewing functions. The Brother PE900 listing states this plainly: the PE900 is an embroidery-only machine and does not function as a traditional sewing machine.

The choice comes down to the work you already do. If you sew clothes, quilts or bags and want to add embroidery to finished pieces, a combo keeps both jobs on the same machine and saves bench space. If you only embroider patches, caps, shirts and gifts, an embroidery-only machine spends its build on embroidery alone: the PE900 with a 5 x 7 inch field, the S-1001 with 10 needles and a 1200 SPM maximum speed.

What a combo machine gives you

A combo gives you a full sewing machine first. The Janome Memory Craft 1000 lists 300 built-in stitches, 12 one-step buttonholes and 3 fonts for monogramming and lettering, plus optical bobbin thread monitoring and automatic thread cutting. The Brother SE700 lists 103 built-in sewing stitches and a bundle of presser feet including zigzag, monogramming, overcasting, zipper, blind stitch, button fitting, buttonhole and embroidery feet. Both machines also embroider: the Janome lists 241 built-in embroidery designs on a 3.5 inch color touchscreen, and the SE700 lists 135 built-in embroidery designs with a 3.2 x 1.8 inch LCD color display touchscreen and wireless LAN.

The trade is hoop size. Combo machines here hoop smaller areas than the dedicated machines: the SE700 standard hoop is 4 x 4 inches, and the Janome maximum is 5.5 x 5.5 inches. Neither combo listing states automatic color changing, while the S-1001 lists auto color changing across its 10 needles.

What an embroidery-only machine gives you

An embroidery-only machine spends its build on embroidery features. The Brother PE900 offers a 5 x 7 inch embroidery field, 193 built-in embroidery designs, 13 lettering fonts, a 3.7 inch touchscreen, Advanced Color Sort and Jump Stitch Trimming, with wireless LAN and a USB port for file transfer. The Smartstitch S-1001 goes further into commercial work with 10 needles, a 1200 SPM maximum speed, a 9.5 x 14.2 inch embroidery area, a 7 inch touchscreen, auto thread trimming, auto color changing, a self-lubrication system, thread break detection and laser embroidery positioning.

The trade is that you still need a sewing machine for seams, hems and buttonholes. Weights differ across the four machines: the PE900 weighs 21.0 pounds and the S-1001 weighs 93.0 pounds, against 15.0 pounds for the SE700 and 22.0 pounds for the Janome. If your bench holds a single machine and you sew as well as embroider, that trade matters more than the larger field.

The gear, ranked

The four machines below are ranked by overall fit: design and stitch counts, field size, and warranty terms.

Janome Memory Craft 1000, combo

The Janome Memory Craft 1000 is the strongest combo here, with 300 built-in stitches, 241 built-in embroidery designs, 12 one-step buttonholes and a 5.5 x 5.5 inch maximum hoop on a 3.5 inch color touchscreen. Its warranty is also the longest stated: a 25 year limited warranty on mechanical parts, a 2 year limited warranty on electrical parts and a 1 year limited labor warranty. Who it is for: a maker who sews garments and wants embroidery in the same machine with the widest stitch and design counts here. Who should skip it: a maker who embroiders caps and large commercial runs, since the hoop stays at 5.5 x 5.5 inches.

Brother PE900, embroidery-only

The Brother PE900 is the clearest embroidery-only pick for home use, with a 5 x 7 inch embroidery field, 193 built-in embroidery designs, 13 lettering fonts, a 3.7 inch touchscreen, a 7.4 inch space from needle to arm, wireless LAN and a USB port. Advanced Color Sort orders multi-color designs to reduce color changes, and Jump Stitch Trimming trims excess thread jumps within a color. Its warranty is a 1 year limited warranty covering parts, labor and accompanying accessory items. Who it is for: a maker who embroiders only and wants a generous field with strong design and lettering counts. Who should skip it: anyone who also needs to sew seams, since the listing states it does not function as a traditional sewing machine.

Smartstitch S-1001, multi-needle embroidery-only

The Smartstitch S-1001 is the commercial multi-needle machine here, with 10 needles, a 1200 SPM maximum speed, a 9.5 x 14.2 inch embroidery area and a 7 inch touchscreen. Auto thread trimming, auto color changing, a self-lubrication system, thread break detection and laser embroidery positioning suit flat items, hats and T-shirts, and the listing states it stitches on denim, canvas, leather, vinyl, caps, shoes and bags from DST and DSB files over USB and WiFi. No warranty term is stated in the listing. Who it is for: a small shop running multi-color embroidery orders that need speed and a large field. Who should skip it: a home maker short on space, since it weighs 93.0 pounds and measures 25.0 x 34.0 x 33.0 inches.

Brother SE700, combo bundle

The Brother SE700 is a combo machine sold as a bundle with 4 embroidery hoops, 40 polyester embroidery thread spools of 500m each, and a full accessory set including presser feet, bobbins, a seam ripper, scissors and a foot controller. It lists 135 built-in embroidery designs, 103 built-in sewing stitches, a 3.2 x 1.8 inch LCD color display touchscreen, wireless LAN and Artspira app compatibility. No warranty term is stated in the listing. Note the spec table size of 4 x 4 inches is the standard hoop; the bundle adds a 4 x 6.75 inch hoop and a 1 x 2.5 inch hoop. Who it is for: a maker starting out who wants a combo plus thread and hoops in the same box. Who should skip it: a maker who needs a field larger than 4 x 6.75 inches, since even the bundle hoops stay small.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying an embroidery-only machine and then needing seams: the PE900 does not sew, and the S-1001 listing describes embroidery work only, so keep a sewing machine on the bench or buy a combo.
• Buying a combo for commercial multi-color runs: neither combo listing states automatic color changing, while the S-1001 changes color across 10 needles automatically.
• Ignoring hoop size: the SE700 standard hoop is 4 x 4 inches, the Janome maximum is 5.5 x 5.5 inches, the PE900 field is 5 x 7 inches, and the S-1001 area is 9.5 x 14.2 inches, so match the hoop to your largest design before ordering.
• Ignoring warranty terms: the Janome lists a 25 year limited mechanical warranty, the PE900 lists a 1 year limited warranty, and the SE700 and S-1001 listings state no warranty term.

Embroidery combo vs embroidery only machine: the short version

Buy a combo if you sew and embroider: the Janome Memory Craft 1000 leads on stitches, designs and warranty, and the Brother SE700 bundle adds thread and hoops for a starter setup. Buy an embroidery-only machine if embroidery is the only job: the Brother PE900 suits home embroidery with a 5 x 7 inch field, and the Smartstitch S-1001 suits commercial multi-needle runs with a 9.5 x 14.2 inch area.

FAQ: lasers and CNC

Should I buy a combo machine if I never sew?

No. A combo spends part of its build on sewing stitches, buttonholes and presser feet you would not use. An embroidery-only machine such as the PE900 puts that build into its 5 x 7 inch field and 13 lettering fonts instead.

Can an embroidery-only machine sew a straight seam?

Not the PE900: its listing states it is an embroidery-only machine and does not function as a traditional sewing machine. The S-1001 listing likewise describes embroidery work only, with no sewing function stated. Keep a sewing machine for seams, hems and buttonholes, or buy a combo.

What hoop size do I need?

Match the hoop to your largest design. The SE700 standard hoop is 4 x 4 inches, the Janome maximum is 5.5 x 5.5 inches, the PE900 field is 5 x 7 inches, and the S-1001 area is 9.5 x 14.2 inches.

What is a multi-needle embroidery machine?

A machine with several needles that switches thread colors automatically during a design. The S-1001 has 10 needles with auto color changing and auto thread trimming, plus a 1200 SPM maximum speed and a 9.5 x 14.2 inch embroidery area.

Which machine has the longest warranty?

The Janome Memory Craft 1000, with a 25 year limited warranty on mechanical parts, a 2 year limited warranty on electrical parts and a 1 year limited labor warranty. The PE900 lists a 1 year limited warranty, and the SE700 and S-1001 listings state no warranty term.

Related: the sewing and embroidery machines hub, beginner sewing machines and craft machines.