Best Beginner Sewing Machines Under $100

Thankfully, there are numerous great options available for those seeking a sewing machine under $100. You don’t have to break the bank to purchase a machine that can handle the most commonly required sewing tasks on a daily basis.

When compiling this list, I ensured that each machine had received reviews of at least 4 stars on Amazon and included the most commonly used stitches. Ease-of-use was also a top priority in my selection criteria, and despite their low cost, all the machines on this list are manual and incredibly user-friendly, making them ideal for beginners of all ages. These machines serve as an excellent starting point for anyone new to sewing.

Model	# of Stitches	Weight	Drop-in Bobbin	Free-Arm	Auto-needle Threader
Brother XL2600I	25	11 pounds	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brother LS2125i	10	15 pounds	No	Yes	No
Singer Simple 2263	23	14 pounds	No	Yes	Yes
Brother XL2610	23	11 pounds	Yes	Yes	Yes

Brother XL2600i Sew Advance Sewing Machine

The Brother XL2600i is a really nice inexpensive sewing machine. There are a number of reasons that I recommend this machine:

• It has plenty of stitches (25), so you or your loved one will have plenty of options when creating their sewing projects
• It is also light, weighing only 11 pounds, which makes it portable enough to bring to a sewing class or grandma’s house
• The auto-needle threader is a great option for beginners
• One-step buttonhole sewing
• The drop-in bobbin system is also a welcome feature for a beginner

The reasons above, plus inexpensive price make this one tough to beat. We love how easy this machine is to use and have recommended this machine to many people who are just starting out.

Brother XL2610 Free-Arm Sewing Machine

The Brother XL2610 is very similar to the XL2600i. They look almost exactly the same with the main difference being the 2610 is pink and the 2600 is blue. In fact, many people and websites think that the only difference is the color. This is incorrect. True, they are similar in features, but there are a few differences. The main differences are:

• 4 step buttonhole sewing.  This means that you get more options when creating button holes than the 1-step variety which are limited in length to 1 1/8″
• More powerful motor, which means it can go through thicker fabric

The Brother XL-2600 is a great little beginner sewing machine. If you don’t mind spending a bit more (usually only about $10) the XL2000 is a good choice because of the stronger motor and button hole options.

Singer Simple 2263 Sewing Machine

The Singer Simple 2263 sewing machine is also a nice beginner sewing machine. It has plenty of options including 23 built-in stitches, a 4 step buttonhole, auto needle threader. It has been designed with the beginner in mind and it succeeds in this for the most part.

There are couple of reasons this machines ends up third on the list instead of in the top two. The lack of drop-in bobbin system and price difference make this one less of a bargain than the two Brother sewing machines above. This machine is quite often closer to the $100 price mark and really isn’t worth the extra $10 to $20 you’ll be spending on it.

It is still a nice machine though so if you are partial to Singer, this machine has all of the options most users need and something that you will ultimately be happy with.

Brother LS2125i Everyday Sewing Machine

The Brother LS2125i is the least expensive machine on this list. The reasons this machine is number four on our list is that it comes with quite a few less stitches (10) and also lacks the drop-in bobbin system and the auto-needle threader that the other machines come with. It is also a bit heavier weighing approximately 15 pounds.

If you are already an experienced sewer or are purchasing this for someone who is capable of threading a machine on their own then this machine is perfectly fine. Once you get past those differences there really isn’t much wrong with this machine. It sews great, is easy to use and performs the tasks that most users require in their day-to-day sewing activities.

If you want to save a bit of money and don’t care about the missing automation, then the LS2125i is a perfectly good choice.

Final Thoughts

For most users the XL2600i and the XL2610 (both on sale at Amazon) are going to be the most desirable machines on this list. If you want to save a bit of money and don’t care about auto-needle threading then the Brother LS2125i (on sale at Amazon) is a great choice too.