5 Best Sewing Machines For Curtains – Under $200

A honest and impartial list of 5 best sewing machines you can get for curtain making. The list is deliberately kept under $200 as it meets most requirements of a curtain sewer.

Those sub $100, lightweight sewing machines simply won’t work with curtains. When you buy a sewing machine, it must provide a frustration free ownership for at least 5 years (honestly, you can’t expect the modern sewing machines to last over 5 years. That’s how they are made). Quality should be the top priority in your selection. You must filter the machines according to quality and from the filtered list, choose the best one that suits your requirements.

If you are looking for a machine to sew curtains, then you need to have a sewing machine that can deal with a large amount of fabric. A machine that can deliver consistent results over extended work hours is what you want. Cheap machines won’t be able to handle heavyweight curtain fabrics. There are computerized and mechanical sewing machines in the market. A mechanical sewing machine will be enough for you, if your sole purpose is curtain making. Computerized sewing machine on the other hand will offer a lot of flexibility with options like programmable needle up/down, variable speed control, variety of stitches etc. So I would recommend a computerized sewing machine for curtain making.

Curtains need large workspace, so a machine with a large extension table is the one to look for. Here I have created a list of 5 best sewing machines for curtain making, that cost under $200. I hope this list will help you make a decision.

1. Brother XR9500PRW

XR9500PRW ticks all the check boxes as far as curtain making is concerned. It has a fair range of stitch length adjustment for long stitches. It comes with an extension table. The stitch quality is excellent, especially with bulky fabrics. It can sew for extended work hours without stalling, thanks to the powerful and reliable motor. Moreover, it is one of the quietest machines around. Above all, it is very much affordable as well. If you are looking for frustration free ownership, Brother XR9500PRW is definitely the one to consider. It is the best in the under $200 price category.

Main Features

  • 100 built-in stitches
  • Start/stop button and variable speed control
  • Automatic needle threader
  • Programmable needle up/down
  • Extension table

Cons : The automatic needle threader will take couple of attempts to get used to.

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2. Brother HC1850

I would recommend Brother HC1850 over Brother XR9500PRW, as it is slightly more advanced than the later. The unstable price is the only reason why I had to rank HC1850 below XR9500PRW. Sometimes HC1850’s price shoots right up and sometimes it becomes the most value for money sewing machine. Price keeps on changing, so you should compare the prices of both the machines. Go with HC1850 if it is priced below or anywhere close to XR9500PRW (It is a steal, trust me. I have been monitoring the price for the past 24 months). The stitch quality is excellent. The biggest advantage of HC1850 over XR9500PRW is the extra 30 built-in stitches you get.

Main Features

  • 130 built-in stitches
  • Start/stop button and variable speed control
  • Automatic needle threader
  • Programmable needle up/down
  • Extension table

Cons : Monograms on light fabrics are not very impressive. Unstable price is another issue.

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3. Brother Laura Ashley CX155LA

Another sewing machine with unstable price but excellent features and quality performance. Laura Ashley CX155LA is normally, much more expensive than the previous two machines, which is understandable from the features on offer. But at times the price goes so low that it creeps into the territory of the above two machines. So my advice for you is, compare the prices of all three and choose the one that offers more value for your hard earned money. You need a strong and reliable sewing machine for making curtains. Laura Ashley CX155LA is one of that kind. It is a limited edition model, so some people are reluctant to buy it (which may be the reason why they reduced the price). Its performance on thick fabrics like denim is very impressive.

Main Features

  • 155 built-in stitches
  • Start/stop button and variable speed control
  • Automatic needle threader
  • Programmable needle up/down
  • Extension table

Cons : Dim work light.

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4. Brother CS6000i

This is the least expensive sewing machine in this list. It is the most popular entry level sewing machine in US. It has all the basic features required for curtain making. It has extension table, long stitch length and a powerful motor. The stitch quality is in the same league of other Brother machines in this list.

Main Features

  • 60 built-in stitches
  • Start/stop button and variable speed control
  • Automatic needle threader
  • Programmable needle up/down
  • Extension table

Cons : Doesn’t have the variety of stitches like other Brother machines in the list.

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5. Singer 7258

The best Singer machine under $200. It has excellent stitch quality and can put in long hours of sewing. Though Singer 7258 comes with slightly less powerful motor than the previous machines in this list, it doesn’t reflect on its performance. This is Singer’s best entry level machine in the market now.

Main Features

  • 100 built-in stitches
  • Start/stop button and variable speed control
  • Automatic needle threader
  • Programmable needle up/down

Cons : Lack of extension table compromises the work space quite a bit. There is no option to lower feed dogs for doing free-motion sewing. So 7258 is not the perfect machine for curtain making, but its performance and affordability won the place in this list.

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