Embroidery Machine vs Sewing Machine: Which One Should You Buy?

If the project in mind is a name stitched onto a cap, a seam joined on a shirt, or a design repeated across a run of bags, the machine choice matters before the fabric is cut. An embroidery machine vs sewing machine question has a direct answer: a sewing machine joins fabric with stitches, an embroidery machine stitches designs onto fabric, and a combo machine does the joining and the design work in the same unit. The rest of this guide compares the gear that shows the difference in practice, so the choice follows the work, not the label on the box.

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What each machine actually does

A sewing machine joins fabric. Its stitches include straight stitches, decorative stitches, mending stitches and buttonholes, as listed for the SINGER machine in the gear section below, and it works with a foot control or, on that machine, a start and stop button. An embroidery machine does not join seams in the usual sense. It stitches a design onto fabric held in a hoop, using a design file from an app, a library or a USB transfer, and it moves the hoop under the needle while the design forms. A combo machine contains a sewing machine and an embroidery machine in the same unit, with sewing stitches and embroidery designs listed together, and it switches between sewing work and hoop work.

Embroidery machine vs sewing machine: the gear

Brother SE700 Combo

The Brother SE700 is a combo machine, so it covers the sewing side and the embroidery side in the same unit. The listing states 103 built-in sewing stitches and 135 built-in embroidery designs, with a Wireless LAN connection and the Brother Artspira app. The bundle in the listing includes a 4 inch x 4 inch embroidery hoop in duplicate, a 4 inch x 6.75 inch embroidery hoop and a 1 inch x 2.5 inch embroidery hoop, plus 40 polyester embroidery thread spools at 500m each. The display is a 3.2 x 1.8 LCD color touch screen. The listing states a weight of 15.0 pounds and dimensions of 8.0 inches x 16.0 inches x 12.0 inches. No warranty term is stated in the listing.

SINGER Smart HD 9120

The SINGER Smart HD 9120 is a sewing machine with an optional embroidery path, which makes it different from a combo machine that includes embroidery out of the box. The listing states 200+ stitches, a built-in needle threader, a jam-free drop and sew bobbin system, a speed control lever and a start and stop button that can be used instead of the included foot control. Embroidery comes through the 900E embroidery attachment, sold separately, with the free CREATIVATE app giving access to more than 150 free embroidery designs stitched in a 170 mm x 100 mm hoop. The app also controls the machine from a mobile phone, with guided setup, stitch control, tutorials and project inspiration, and it works with iOS and Android. Eco Mode puts the machine to sleep after 20 minutes of inactivity, and a touch of a button wakes it. The listing states a weight of 18.2 pounds, dimensions of 7.9 inches x 16.9 inches x 11.8 inches, and a 1 Year Manufacturer warranty.

Brother PE900 Wireless Embroidery Machine

The Brother PE900 is an embroidery-only machine, and the listing states that plainly, so it suits a buyer who already has a sewing machine or who only needs designs. The listing states a 5 inch x 7 inch embroidery field, a 7.4 inch space from needle to arm, 193 built-in embroidery designs and 13 lettering fonts, with 9 English, 3 Japanese and 1 Cyrillic fonts listed. Designs come through the Artspira mobile app, with 50 free embroidery designs stated for the app, or through a wireless LAN transfer from a PC, or through a built-in USB port. The display is a 3.7 inch LCD touchscreen with on-screen editing for letter editing, zoom, resizing, rotating, repositioning and combining designs. Color Sort adjusts the order of multi-color designs, and Jump Stitch Trimming trims excess thread jumps within the color. The listing states a weight of 21.0 pounds, dimensions of 17.48 inches x 9.488 inches x 11.811 inches, and a limited warranty period of 1 year for parts, labor and accompanying accessory items. The listing also states the product is intended for sale only in the US at 120 volts, and any other use or sale may void the warranty.

Smartstitch S-1001 Commercial Embroidery Machine

The Smartstitch S-1001 is a commercial embroidery machine, and its scale sets it apart from the other listings in this guide. The listing states 10 needles, a 1200SPM max speed, a 7 inch touch screen and a 9.5 inch x 14.2 inch embroidery area. Features listed include auto thread trimming, auto color changing, a self-lubrication system, thread break detection, physical buttons, laser embroidery positioning and a precise operating system. Files reach the machine by DST and DSB files from a computer through USB and WiFi. The listing states it can stitch on denim, canvas, leather, caps, shoes and bags, and the starter pack includes machine embroidery threads, stabilizers and bobbin threads, with operation manuals and video trainings stated. The listing states a weight of 93.0 pounds and dimensions of 25.0 inches x 34.0 inches x 33.0 inches. No warranty term is stated in the listing.

Hoop size, design count and speed

Hoop size decides the largest design that fits without rehooping, so compare the hoop figures as listed, without converting between millimetres and inches. The SE700 bundle lists hoops at 4 inch x 4 inch, 4 inch x 6.75 inch and 1 inch x 2.5 inch. The SINGER embroidery hoop is listed at 170 mm x 100 mm. The PE900 embroidery field is listed at 5 inch x 7 inch. The Smartstitch embroidery area is listed at 9.5 inch x 14.2 inch. Design counts also differ in kind: the SE700 lists 135 built-in embroidery designs and 103 built-in sewing stitches, the SINGER lists 200+ stitches with more than 150 free embroidery designs through its app, the PE900 lists 193 built-in embroidery designs with 13 lettering fonts, and the Smartstitch listing states no built-in design count, instead listing 10 needles and a 1200SPM max speed. A speed figure is stated only for the Smartstitch listing, so no speed comparison with the other machines is possible from these listings, and a buyer who needs a stated speed figure should weigh that gap.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying an embroidery-only machine when seams are also needed, since the PE900 listing states it does not function as a traditional sewing machine.
• Assuming the SINGER embroidery attachment is included, when the listing states the 900E embroidery attachment is sold separately.
• Choosing by design count alone, without checking whether the hoop field fits the design size planned.
• Assuming a warranty term where none is stated, since the SE700 and Smartstitch listings state no warranty term.
• Overlooking the voltage note on the PE900, which states sale only in the US at 120 volts, with other use or sale possibly voiding the warranty.

FAQ: lasers and CNC

Can an embroidery machine sew seams?

An embroidery-only machine cannot, as the PE900 listing states it does not function as a traditional sewing machine. A combo machine such as the SE700 lists sewing stitches and embroidery designs together, and the SINGER machine sews on its own, with embroidery through an optional attachment sold separately.

Can a sewing machine do embroidery?

A sewing machine on its own stitches seams and decorative stitches, not hoop designs. The SINGER path to embroidery is the 900E attachment, sold separately, with more than 150 free embroidery designs through the CREATIVATE app in a 170 mm x 100 mm hoop.

What hoop size do I need?

Match the hoop field to the design size planned. The fields listed here are 4 inch x 4 inch, 4 inch x 6.75 inch and 1 inch x 2.5 inch for the SE700 bundle, 170 mm x 100 mm for the SINGER attachment, 5 inch x 7 inch for the PE900 and 9.5 inch x 14.2 inch for the Smartstitch machine.

Do I need WiFi or an app?

An app or wireless transfer is a workflow choice, not a requirement stated for every machine. The SE700 lists Wireless LAN with the Artspira app, the PE900 lists WLAN with the Artspira app and a USB port, the SINGER lists the CREATIVATE app for control and designs, and the Smartstitch lists USB and WiFi for DST and DSB files.

Is a commercial embroidery machine suitable for home use?

The Smartstitch S-1001 is listed as a commercial machine with 10 needles, a 1200SPM max speed, a 9.5 inch x 14.2 inch embroidery area, a weight of 93.0 pounds and dimensions of 25.0 inches x 34.0 inches x 33.0 inches. That scale suits volume embroidery work, while the lighter SE700 combo and SINGER sewing machine suit a smaller bench and mixed sewing and design work.

Related: the sewing and embroidery machines hub, embroidery combo vs embroidery only machine and best rated beginner sewing machine.