Discover 4 Outstanding Sub-$200 Sewing Machines for 2018
In the $100 to $200 price range there are a few excellent sewing machines, and this is a great price segment for anyone who expects to be more than just hobbyist to start looking.
Here we move from mechanical sewing machines (although you can still find an excellent mechanical machine in this segment) into the wonderfully versatile world of computerized sewing machines.
Today we’re going to help you decide on the best sewing machine under $200 by giving you a comparison charts as well as a short summary of the strengths and weaknesses of each of the top 4 models.
Contents
Shortcut – The Winners
| The best computerized sewing machine under $200 at the moment is the Brother Laura Ashley Limited Edition CX155LA. It balances power, features and extras into an irresistible package, including decorative and alphanumeric stitches, quilting feet and oversize table.
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The best mechanical sewing machine under $200 is the Janome 2212, offering the legendary Janome reliability combined with powerful stitching and quilting abilities.
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Here is the full roundup of machines if you want to have more information before making a decision.
Best Computerized Sewing Machine Under $200: The Contenders
I’ve narrowed it down to three machines: the Brother CS6000i, the Brother HC1850, the Brother Laura Ashley Limited Edition CX155LA.
Some recent pricing revisions have meant that an old favorite, the Singer 7258, is no longer available in this price range.
Right from the start I can tell you that none of these machines will disappoint you. They are all very good at what they do and get outstanding user ratings. In the end the difference between them lies in a few key features and some other small pros and cons, which I’ll discuss just now.
First, a comparison table, which will help you easily compare the difference in features between the models.
|
Brother CS6000i |
Brother HC1850 |
Brother LA Limited Edition CX155LA |
|
| Built-in Stitches |
70 |
130 |
100 |
| Needle Threader |
Auto |
Advanced |
Auto |
| Drop-in Bobbin |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| 1-Step Buttonhole Styles |
7 |
8 |
8 |
| Stitches per minute |
850 |
850 |
850 |
| Included Accessory Feet |
7 |
8 |
10 |
| Wide Table |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Free Arm |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Max Stitch Width |
7mm |
7mm |
7mm |
| Presser Foot Pressure Adjust |
Manual |
Auto |
No |
| Thread Cutter |
Manual |
Auto |
Auto |
| Thread Tension |
Dial |
Manual |
Manual |
| Needle Position Up/Down |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Avg Buyer Rating |
4.4 out of 5 |
4.5 out of 5 |
4.4 out of 5 |
| Current Price |
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Let’s compare the main selling points and features of these machines to see which one comes out the winner:
Price
The prices of these machines fluctuate almost daily, so this is only a rough indicator:
Brother CS6000i – Approx. $150
Brother HC1850 – Approx. $150
Brother LA Limited Edition – Approx. $170
The Brother CS6000i can normally be found slightly cheaper than the other three contenders.
Built-In Stitches
The number of stitches is not all that important as you’re not likely to use even half of them. However, variety is always nice and here the Brother HC1850 offers 130 built-in stitches against the 70 of the CS6000i, while the Laura Ashley LE leads the pack with 155 (100 stitches and 55 alphanumeric stitches).
Presser Feet
While stitch numbers may be more academic, presser feet can really expand the versatility and use you get out of a your sewing machine. The bigger variety included with the machine, the better the value of the total package.
The Brother CS6000i offers 7 and HC1850 gives you 8, while the Laura Ashley LE has 11. The actual feet included are also important though.
For the Brother CS6000: buttonhole foot, overcasting foot, monogramming foot, zipper foot, zigzag foot, blind stitch foot and button fitting foot.
For the HC1850, add a quilting foot to the above.
For the Laura Ashley, further add walking foot, 1/4″ quilting foot and quilting guide.
A nice balance on all the machines, and of course you can always purchase additional feet separately.
Quilting Table
If you are at all interested in quilting, all the Brothers offer a detachable quilting table accessory as part of the package.
All the models also give you a few quilting feet, as well as a quilting guide on the CX155LA. The quilting performance is only average though, so for serious quilting projects you should consider a more advanced sewing machine.
Quality and Features
All these models have an excellent reputation. For what are essentially entry-level machines, all three machines deliver accurate and reliable performance.
Brother HC1850 vs Brother CS6000i
The Brother CS6000i and HC1850 are very close in features. The latter however adds the following features:
- needle position up/down key
- 60 extra stitches
- thread sensor
With the price of these two machines often hovering very close together these days, the HC1850 is making more and more sense over the old stalwart CS6000i.
Verdict: Best Computerized Sewing Machine Under $200
(In Order of Recommendation)
Let’s face it, any of these four machines will do a good sewing job. Here are short final summaries on each one to help you decide.
The Brother Laura Ashley CX155LA
- powerful machine for tougher tasks
- great range of features, including quilting support
- incredible range of decorative and alphanumeric stitches
Summary: This machine is hard to beat, and punches above its weight in this price segment. Your $200 won’t buy you a much better computerized sewing machine than this one.
The Brother HC1850:
- Same basic quality and functionality as the CS6000i, but…
- …adds a number of features as laid out in the “Quality and Features” section above
- With very little price difference between the two machines, there is little reason to recommend the CS6000i over it anymore
Summary: Recently reduced in price to about the same level as the CS6000i, this is the best bang for your buck in this price segment. The Laura Ashley CX155LA just beats it on features and performance though, and for just $20 – $30 more the difference CX155LA is probably a better option.
The Brother CS6000i:
- Offers outstanding value for the price
- Handy quilting table and two quilting feet included
- Excellent reputation in the industry
Summary: For sheer dollar for dollar value, this used to be the clear winner until the price adjustments to the other machines. It remains a trusted and popular sewing machine in the industry with a solid reputation, but hard to recommend over the similarly priced Brother HC1850 anymore.
A Final Word
The Laura Ashley Limited Edition CX155LA is the best sewing machine on offer at under $200.
As the cheapest of these machines for a long time, the Brother CS6000i was hard to beat. It has firmly entrenched itself as the #1 best-selling sewing machine on Amazon, and I don’t see it losing that spot to any of the other contenders in this lineup anytime soon.
However, while still a safe bet, the price fluctuations at the moment that often leaves the price of the HC1850 in the same range as the CS6000i makes the former a better choice with its wider range of features.
Best Mechanical Sewing Machine Under $200: Janome 2212
Not everyone wants a computerized sewing machine. Mechanical sewing machines offer simplicity and reliability, although you get a smaller variety of stitches and features than you do on computerized models.
The best mechanical sewing machine in this price range is the Janome 2212.
Quick Features:
- 12 stitches
- 5 piece feed dog
- 4mm max stitch length
- 5mm max stitch width
- vertical oscillating bobbin
- 1 four step buttonhole
- free arm
- reverse lever
While this is not a heavy duty machine, it can still take on tougher jobs than most entry level machines, and can sew multiple layers together with no problem.
You don’t get a huge variety of stitches, and this is best used as a workhorse machine for straight stitching, zigzag, blind hem and similar jobs.
Despite its limitations, this is an excellent, durable machine ready to take on even challenging jobs. Operation is very easy. Even if you fancy a computerized machine with all the bells and whistles, the Janome 2212 is a solid backup to have and also a great machine for beginners.
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