8 Best Sewing Machines for Monogramming Everything
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If you have decided you want to monogram towels, clothing, blankets, and any other personal items, you will need a sewing machine that monograms. Either that or plan to monogram by hand with a needle and thread!
I prefer to machine embroider monograms rather than hand embroider because it takes less time and is less labor-intensive.
Therefore, I’ve put together this guide for how to pick the best sewing machine for monogramming depending on your needs. Read on to learn more!
What is a monogram?
Technically, a monogram is a combination of two or more letters to form a design or symbol.
The letters can be intertwined or placed side by side. Often, monograms represent a person’s initials and thus consists of three letters. Monograms can personalize clothing and many other personal belongings. (See: how to monogram a lunch box tutorial for an example!)
For example, here is a three-letter initial monogram I created with embroidery software. The letters aren’t overlapping, but the middle letter is larger than the other two.
Here is a simple monogram using letters that are all the same size. This type of monogram can be created using the built-in alphabet stitches on a sewing machine.
What is a monogramming sewing machine?
Now, when we talk about a sewing machine that monograms, there are three different kinds of machines you may be referring to.
First, there’s a sewing machine that has a built-in monogramming font or two. There are many sewing machines that have a full arsenal of sewing stitches and then a couple of built-in fonts. These are computerized sewing machines, but they are not computerized embroidery machines. While you can use anything built into the machine, you cannot import fonts or monograms from your computer. This type of machine is able to form the monogram you saw above with equal-sized letters.
If you want to design your own monograms or make letters of different sizes, then you are likely looking for a sewing machine that is also an embroidery machine and as such monograms. Embroidery machines are typically costlier but offer much more functionality and variety.
I’ve written a very in-depth post about some of the best combination sewing and embroidery machines, which all have the ability to sew, import designs, and use their built-in fonts to create monograms. You can also purchase an embroidery-only machine that doesn’t have built-in sewing capabilities if you want just a monogramming machine.
And if you’re looking for a sewing machine that can do free-motion monogramming, this is possible with any sewing machine. No need for a special type, but there’s a learning curve, so make sure to watch tutorials if you have no experience.
I’ll split these reviews up into two parts to cover the first two types so you can decide which type of monogram sewing machine you’re looking for.
Best Monogramming Sewing Machines that Aren’t Embroidery Machines
Now, again, these are sewing machines that have monogramming fonts but don’t have the ability to import additional fonts or designs. If this isn’t what you’re looking for, just skip on over this to monogramming embroidery machines.
1. SINGER | Quantum Stylist 9960 Computerized Portable Sewing Machine
- Number of monogramming fonts: 5
- Stitches: 600
- Presser Feet: 18
- Design Import: None
Now, the Singer Quantum Stylist sewing machine is still not a traditional embroidery machine, but it does come with five alphanumeric stitch fonts. These are just five of the 600 included stitches with this machine! It’s a diverse monogram sewing machine that will allow users to quilt, make clothes, applique, craft, and so much more.
In terms of the monogramming fonts, you are limited to just those 5 fonts as there is no way to import additional font files. You are also limited in size and the ability to edit aspects of the font. However, you are always able to use any of the decorative stitches to do free-motion embroidery.
Fun features of this sewing machine include a thread trimmer button, built-in needle threader, included wide table, and one-touch stitch selection from a computerized screen.
It includes an impressive 18 presser feet, several of which are an overcasting foot, walking foot, zipper foot, clear piping foot, button foot, and even a stitch in the ditch and braiding foot.
Overall, the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 is an incredible value for its features, but it’s not going to be able to make fancy three-letter, differently-sized monograms without free-motion embroidery on your part.
The less commercially available Singer monogramming machines, the Singer Quantum Stylist 9980 and Singer Stylist 9985, include 820 stitches (5 fonts) and 960 stitches (6 fonts), respectively, if you’re needing even more variety!
2. Brother HC1850 Quilting Machine
- Number of monogramming fonts: 1
- Stitches: 130 (185 if including the 55 alphanumeric stitches)
- Presser Feet: 8
- Design Import: None
The Brother HC1850 sewing machine is a computerized sewing and quilting machine that includes one monogramming font. This font is a one size, one style fits all font. The font is not “decorative” and is an unchangeable 1/4″ tall. It’s also not a font that you’ll be able to use to make traditional 3-letter monograms where the middle letter is larger.
However, if your main goal of monogramming is just adding your child’s name to their clothes or a label to a quilt, then you’ll be golden with this sewing machine that monograms! Of course, if you’re interested in free-motion embroidery, the Brother HC1850 has everything you need to create beautiful monograms!
The Brother HC1850 sewing machine is a full-featured Brother sewing machine. It comes with a detachable, wide table and a small LCD screen allowing for stitch selection and changing stitch length or width.
It also has an automatic needle threader, automatic drop feed, and has a jam-resistant, top-drop bobbin. As a loyal Brother sewing machine user, I can attest to how easy setting up and threading a Brother sewing machine is.
Read my full Brother HC1850 review!
3. Brother XR9550prw Project Runway Sewing Machine
- Number of monogramming fonts: 1
- Stitches: 110 (and another 55 alphabet stitches)
- Presser Feet: 8
- Design Import: None
The Brother XR9550prw sewing machine is among the best Project Runway sewing machines and is very similar to the Brother HC1850 sewing machine.
Instead of 130 stitches, you’ll get 110 stitches. Operationally, these two machines are identical and their font is the same, too. It’s just a preset font allowing you to add small letters to fabric. Again, you won’t be able to create large monograms unless you are interested in learning free-motion embroidery.
Learn more in my Brother XR9550prw review of features if you are interested!
And lastly, another similar Brother sewing machine, the Brother SQ9285, has the same font but comes with 150 stitches plus the 55 alphanumeric stitches. You can read more about it on Walmart.com.
4. Janome 4120QDC Computerized Sewing Machine
- Number of monogramming fonts: 1 English (but option for European accented and Russian letters)
- Stitches: 120
- Presser Feet: 8
- Design Import: None
The Janome 4120QDC is one of many well-loved Janome sewing machines with a built-in alphabet.
It comes with one primary English mode, but there is an option to add European accented letters or Russian/Cyrillic characters. You can change the size just a bit on the letters and do lowercase or uppercase, but this is still not an embroidery machine.
However, this diverse machine sews, quilts, and boasts several on-screen editing features. Unlike the Brother sewing machines that monogram, the Janome 4120QDC has an actual touchscreen. Thus, it offers a little bit more to the user.
It has an extra-high presser foot lift to accommodate thicker projects and a nice-sized workspace as well.
Its one-hand needle threader makes threading the sewing machine a breeze, and several automatic features such as thread trimming and easy bobbin winding make setup and use so simple.
5. EverSewn Sparrow 30 Sewing Machine
- Number of monogramming fonts: 2
- Stitches: 310
- Presser Feet: 7
- Design Import: None
EverSewn isn’t as well-known as a sewing machine brand as Brother, but it comes with a loyal following. They produce technologically advanced products at affordable prices.
This is the sewing machine my Mom currently uses, and she loves it! It’s got two basic alphabet fonts with, as you guessed it, minimal editing capabilities. But, it will be perfect for small lettering.
The Sparrow 30 includes an oversized wide table and features automatic thread cutting, adjustable presser foot pressure, and a memory function to save your favorite stitch combinations.
Its slightly less featured companion, the Sparrow 25, has 197 built-in stitches and one built-in font.
Best Embroidery Machines for Monogramming That Also Sew
To reiterate, combination sewing and embroidery machines are computerized and will import any design that you can dream up and create.
These embroidery machines will have built-in fonts for monogramming, but you can also import your own. This means either buying fonts or pre-made monograms online or designing your own using embroidery software. (I show you how to design a monogram embroidery file in Sew What Pro if you want to check that out!)
The biggest consideration when determining which monogramming embroidery machine to purchase will be the size of the monogram you want to design.
Each embroidery machine will have a maximum hoop size, which corresponds with a maximum embroidery area. This is the largest monogram you will be able to create unless you split your design and stitch it in several sections. The least expensive embroidery machines will offer a 4″x4″ hoop size, and the size and price will go up from there.
If you plan to start a home embroidery small business and need to monogram, for instance, at least 7″ monograms, save yourself the headache of splitting every design, and purchase an embroidery machine with a larger hoop size to accommodate those designs. It’s not the end of the world to split designs, but it can be time-consuming to line everything up perfectly after stitching the first section, and time is money!
I’m listing these sewing machines that monogram AND embroider below in order of hoop size: small, medium, and large.
1. Brother SE600 or SE625 Sewing and Embroidery Machine for 4″X4″ Monograms
- Maximum Embroidery area: 4″X4″
- Number of Monogramming Fonts: 6 English, 3 Japanese
- Stitches: 103
- Embroidery Designs: 80 included (SE625 has an extra 200 on a CD)
- Presser Feet: 7
- Design Import: USB
One of the most affordable small embroidery machines is the Brother SE600. It’s a combination sewing and embroidery machine that packs a punch.
The Brother SE600 features a 4″x4″ embroidery area, which isn’t humongous, but again, with embroidery software, you can split designs to allow your machine to embroider even larger areas. You have the option to import any design you find online (or create with software) to the machine using a USB.
In terms of built-in fonts, there are 6 fonts that come in sizes small, medium, or large. This allows you to put together 2 small letters and one large letter on the screen to create a monogram. There are also built-in frames and borders to jazz up the monogram a bit.
I own the Brother SE625 embroidery machine and love its ease of use! I embroider anything and everything with it. If you compare the Brother SE600 vs SE625, the only differences are in the color of the faceplate and a CD with an extra 200 designs that come with the SE625. So, these are almost identical machines.
I especially love how you can set it to automatically trim threads, do reverse/reinforcement stitches, and how you have the ability to edit patterns on the color touchscreen.
Read my Brother SE600 and Brother SE625 reviews for more information!
If you want to upgrade to a 5″x7″ hoop size, consider the Brother SE1900 embroidery machine. (You can read my review of the Brother SE1900 sewing and embroidery machine for all the details.) In addition to the larger hoop size, it offers 240 sewing stitches.
2. EverSewn Sparrow X Sewing and Embroidery Machine for 4.75″x7″
- Maximum Embroidery area: 4.75″x7″
- Number of Monogramming Fonts: None built-in
- Stitches: 120
- Embroidery Designs: 100
- Presser Feet: 8
- Design Import: WiFi
The EverSewn Sparrow X is unique in that it does not require design transport via USB. Instead, it works by WiFi. All you need to do is download the free EverSewn Pro app to a WiFi-enabled device of your choice. On the screen of your phone, tablet, or computer, you then edit your designs and control embroidering from your device.
The cool thing about this is you can sit in another room and monitor the embroidery process.
If you’re a newbie to embroidery, let me be the first to tell you: it’s not a quick hobby. Stitching even a small, single-color monogram on my 4″x4″ field takes 4-5 minutes. If you have a large design that requires more than 5 threads, this becomes a lengthy adventure! You have to sit near your machine to monitor when it’s time to change threads. If you have a device, though, to alert you of the machine progress, you can do something else around your house and then return to change threads more efficiently.
One other cool thing about this monogramming sewing machine is it reads all of the most common embroidery file formats (.pes, .xxx, .dst, etc), so you won’t constantly have to convert embroidery files.
You can also purchase this sewing machine from Sewing Machines Plus.
3. Husqvarna Viking Designer Jade 35 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
- Maximum Embroidery area: 9 1/2″ x 6″
- Number of Monogramming Fonts: 2 sewing and 1 embroidery, but software is included to design more!
- Stitches: 120
- Embroidery Designs: 70
- Presser Feet: 8
- Design Import: USB
This Designer Jade 35 sewing and embroidery machine is fully featured at a nice price for the Husqvarna/Viking name.
This is a fantastic machine, and here are a few of the reasons why.
First, it comes with its own Embroidery Intro PC Software. This has another 10 included fonts and the ability to create an unlimited number of other embroidery fonts for monogramming. You can also create decorative monograms within the program. This saves having to buy additional software, which is the case with most embroidery sewing machines that monogram. Of course, you can use a USB to transfer designs to the machine also.
With the Designer Jade 35, you also have the ability to embroider up to 9 1/2″ x 6″ monograms without rehooping and a large 8″ sewing space to the right of your needle.
You’ll also get automatic thread tension, an automatic thread cutter, and a built-in needle threader.
This one’s available here at Sewingmachinesplus.com!
Thank you Aly. Your reviews are helpful. I’m purchasing a brothers sewing machine. With your help I have narrowed down to three possible machines,
Thanks so much, this is really helpful and clearly written. Now I just need to track down your recommendations in the UK. I can’t understand why our supply is so poor over here. Happy new year.
I am looking for something less expensive to put initials on clothes for residents, can you recommend something?
If you want an embroidery machine, the Brother PE535 is usually the most inexpensive when in stock.
In terms of a sewing machine that comes with a lettering font, the Brother HC1850 and XR9550 are usually the least expensive. You have very limited options with fonts in sewing machines, though, so make sure the size of letters will be adequate for the clothes you want to stitch.
Hi Lay, I Recent purchased the singer quantum 9960 and I really do like the machine. However I made the mistake of not getting a machine with USB option or Wi-Fi. I wanted monograming and embroidering but I did not know on the 9960 you cannot increase sizing for monograming. So now I am looking for a machine that has USB for design import and ability to increase letter and monograming size along with embroidering features. I would love the jade 35 or sparrow X, but kind of pricey. Would like to stay under $425.00. It took me months to decide on the 9960 and I choose auto tension over USB (SE 600 brothers was the other choice) I hate having to adjust tension. Any other suggestions?
Hi! I understand the love of auto tension! As for a computerized embroidery/sewing machine, though, the best option for your price range is likely the Brother SE600 or its very similar counterparts (Brother SE625, SE630, LB5000, LB5000S, LB5000M, etc.)
Another option is if you plan to keep your Singer, you could add an embroidery-only machine like the PE535, which is usually slightly less expensive. However, it’s been having supply issues for months now and is really hard to find at a fair price.
Thank you Aly for your suggestions. I will check them all out.
Aly
Sorry about your name error. Auto correct was not correct.
Thanks this is really helpful but a couple of the machines don’t seem to be on Amazon any more. I am looking for a machine to embroider upper case names and numbers on fabric dog collars. That is actually all I want it for but my priority is ease of use and speed as may want to take the machine to a craft fare and do these while customers wait. If you have any specific recommendations I would really appreciate them.
I am looking for a machine that embroiders Hebrew or Arabic letters.
Do you know anything about that?
One option is to purchase any embroidery machine and then download Hebrew and Arabic fonts to add to the embroidery machine. I did a quick check on Etsy and found several Arabic and Hebrew fonts available.