5 Best Embroidery Machines for Hats and Caps, Whatever Your Skill Level

By
Jean Chaney
Jean Chaney
Research Writer
Jean is the brains behind her fashion label. She's a whiz with a needle and thread, and has been sewing since she was old enough to hold a pair of scissors. Jean has always read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Isabel Misner
Isabel Misner
Expert Consultant
A professional seamstress. Isabel has her own video blog where she shares her experience about all the aspects of sewing – from choosing suitable materials to step-by-step read more
Last updated: August 12, 2023
JustToSew is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here

An embroidery machine for hats is a dedicated device which can offer you an array of features and benefits that a standard sewing machine can’t. If you’re intending to embroider hats, towels, denim or work on many other similar types of projects, then the best embroidery machine for hats is an essential buy to ensure you derive the best results every time.

This in-depth review takes five of the best-selling machines available for purchase on Amazon and aims to focus on such features that we believe are crucial to look for in your chosen embroidery machine for hats. Concentrating on those specific features such as the type of embroidery machine, the built-in designs, stitches, fonts, the embroidery field size, its USB connectivity, warranty information, and whether any hat hoops are included with each model, we highlight each machine’s best features. Rounding each review up, we finish with a brief pros and cons section, where applicable, for you to get an overall view at a quick glance.

We’ve taken the time to scour the current market and brought you what we believe to be five of the best models available to buy. Giving you a final rating for each one, based on our many years of extensive reviewing, we’ve presented our findings in easy to read review tables while compiling a helpful buying guide and answers to some of those commonly posed questions. By doing this, we feel we’ve been able to assist you in making that choice of the best embroidery machine for hats.

Quick Summary

  • "Study and durable embroidery machine with 175 built-in designs and 2 fonts, with a generous embroidery area"
  • "Embroidery-only machine with 160 designs and an large embroidery field, great for a small business"
  • Best Embroidery Machine for Hats and Shirts: Brother SE1900
    "Sewing and embroidery combo with 138 in-built designs, it is a great model for hats and shirts"
  • Best Home Embroidery Machine for Hats: Brother PE800
    "Embroidery-only machine with a large LCD screen and a 5 x 7-inch embroidery field"
  • Budget Pick: Brother SE600
    "Affordable embroidery and sewing machine that comes ready with 80 designs and 6 fonts"

Top 5 Embroidery Machines for Hats

?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6239 people in the past 30 days
9.9
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.5
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.7
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.9
1
Features
  • Type: embroidery and sewing
  • Hat hoop: not included
  • Designs: 175
  • Fonts: 2
  • Embroidery area: 6.7 x 7.9 inches
  • USB connectivity: yes
  • Warranty: 6 months

Extra features: built-in needle threader, automatic thread cutter, comes with extra-wide table, 60-800 stitches per minute embroidery sewing speed, comes with a cleaning brush

Our Best All-Around Embroidery Machine for Hats is the Janome Memory Craft 9850. We believe this model offers as much as you can possibly find and indeed want from such a machine, while at an exceptionally great price. Claimed to be jam-packed with features, this is said to rival even those top-line embroidery machines. Offering 175 designs which are built-in, and six exclusive fonts for monogramming, there is also access to a USB port here where you can import your designs. Stating endless possibilities, this has plentiful room to work on and even comes with an extra wide table should you wish to expand on your workspace. There are four additional hoop sizes available for this machine, including a hat hoop, which unfortunately does not come with the machine. However, it does come with a bobbin holder and an embroidery foot. The sewing speed is at an ideal rate of 400 to 860 stitches per minute and the simple electronic control panel located to the front of the machine is a welcome addition when working on all tasks. This allows you to reduce, enlarge, drag and drop, flop and rotate, combine, paste, copy, programme jump and thread trim all while allowing you to directly jump to the desired stitch point if you wish to. There is also a built-in needle threader and automatic thread cutter which merely work to enhance your embroidering experience every time. Though there’s no hat hoop included here, you can purchase one directly from Janome.

Customers of the Janome Memory Craft 9850 find this an exceptional machine with many already sold on the Janome brand before making this purchase!

    Why are we impressed?
  • Vast embroidery field
  • Completely embroidery focused machine
  • 4 Hoop sizes included
  • Great digital use
    What negatives must you be aware of?
  • Hat hoop not included
  • Not intended for sewing projects
Also Product Ranking:

?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 8193 people in the past 30 days
9.7
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.6
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.5
9.7
Features
  • Type: embroidery machine
  • Hat hoop: not included
  • Designs: 160
  • Fonts: 6
  • Embroidery area: 7.9 x 11 inches
  • USB connectivity: yes
  • Warranty: 2 years

Extra features: 2 and 3 letter monogramming, on-screen editing functions, comes with multiple embroidery hoops

Janome is a company renown for producing some of the world’s best embroidery machines, and the Janome Memory Craft 500E is a further testament to their continued brilliance. With an extra-large table, 160 inbuilt embroidery designs, six fonts, this machine is from the top drawer. Apart from all these, you can easily load designs on the machine with the USB port. This means your embroidery possibilities have no limits at all with this machine.

One of the most impressive things about this unit is its 860 stitches per minute embroidery speed, allowing you to complete many tasks in a short period. It also comes with programmable jump thread trimming, adjustable speed, flexible stitch traveling, auto-return post-thread break, and adjustable hoop positioning. When you combine all these advanced features with the incredible speed on offer, you have a magnificent machine on your hands that is completely accurate, while letting you get more done in less time.

To make sure less time is spent on adjusting the embroidery machine and letting you spend more time producing your favorite designs, the machine comes with an advanced needle threader and automatic thread cutter. To further increase your convenience, the unit also comes with a colored LCD. However, you’d need some time to learn all of these. Besides, the machine may be too expensive for beginners.

Customers of the Janome Memory Craft 500E find this an outstanding, commercial embroidery machine which has many features and is also a surprisingly larger surface area than many other similar types of machines.

    What are its best features?
  • Extra-large working table
  • 160 inbuilt designs
  • Incredible speed
  • LCD display
    What could be improved?
  • Learning curve
  • Too expensive
Also Product Ranking:
Read full review: janome 500e review
?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 6969 people in the past 30 days
9.2
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.8
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.8
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.0
9.2
4
Best Home Embroidery Machine for Hats

Brother PE800

Features
  • Type: embroidery-only
  • Hat hoop: not included
  • Designs: 138
  • Fonts: 11
  • Embroidery area: 5 x 7 inches
  • USB connectivity: yes
  • Warranty: 25 years

Extra features: large color LCD screen, comes with 4 bobbins, needle set, 3 screwdrivers, a dust cover, and cleaning brush

The Brother PE800 gets our vote for the Best Home Embroidery Machine for Hats. At a more affordable rate for the home embroiderer, this is also voted by Amazon as their Best Brother PE800 Machine and has even received the Women’s Choice Award for the most recommend embroidery machine. A lightweight and simple design, this is a visually pleasing model which benefits from a color touch LCD display on its front panel. This ensures unlimited design options whereby both the USB port and built-in memory combined here encourage and allow you to store your own customized or even purchased designs for future reference. Offering the use of an expansive field area, the larger workspace created here means you can tackle those larger of projects with ease, and there is no need for continual rehooping in the process. Better still, this LCD touchscreen allows you to preview all of your plans in color and even lets you switch the thread colors to get a better overall impression. With 138 embroidery designs built in already, there are also eleven lettering fonts, ten frame shapes, and a total of 14 border styles as excellent additionals. Most impressive about this machine is that you can derive the same results as those more commercial of devices here in the comfort of your own home with the editing feature included. This allows you to increase and decrease your design sizes, mirror image, and cut to your preference.

Customers of the Brother PE800 claim this the perfect model for hobbyists and professionals alike and makes embroidering a pleasure.

    What do we love it for?
  • Embroidery focused machine
  • Color LCD screen
  • Expansive field area
  • Editing features available
  • Good small accessory pack included
    What were we disappointed with?
  • No hat hoop included
  • Common bobbin and thread problems
  • Some find it limited in its capabilities
Also Product Ranking:
Read full review: brother pe800


?
Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 7895 people in the past 30 days
9.0
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.5
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.7
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.7
9.0
5
Budget Pick

Brother SE600

Features
  • Type: embroidery and sewing machine
  • Hat hoop: not included
  • Designs: 80
  • Fonts: 6
  • Embroidery area: 4 x 4 inches
  • USB connectivity: yes
  • Warranty: 25 years

Extra features: 103 built-in stitches for sewing, extra bright LED sewing area, automatic needle threader, color LCD display, free arm, comes with 3 pre-wound bobbins

The Brother SE600 is our Budget Pick choice here and is also one of the best embroidery machines for beginners, as it’s priced at a reasonably low cost and therefore more accessible if you’re after a decent embroidery model. Once again with the fantastic Brother name behind it, this model benefits from being a computerized sewing and embroidery machine. The technology included in this model is outstanding and lets you make good use of a touchscreen which is large and in color. Better still, by offering a computerized version, you can perform all tasks in an instant such as accessing the 103 built-in stitches, importing your very own design files, and previewing and making changes on the screen before attempting each task. There is an enhanced embroidery field available here alongside a hoop, foot, and embroidery arm. The automatic needle threader reduces strain on your eyes and saves you time on every task, while the super bright LED included illuminates your work area to ensure a well lit and easily accessible working space for all sewing jobs. There is no fishing required for the bobbin on this Brother machine either, with a jam-resistant and quick set drop-in bobbin element featured. Finally, all cuffs and sleeve work are made more accessible with the use of a convertible free arm, ensuring this remains one of the more practical of embroidery models on the market.

Customers of the Brother SE600 love being able to access machine embroidery tasks at a lower price and thoroughly recommend this as a great starter model.

    What stands out?
  • Great low price
  • Perfect starter machine
  • Extra bright LED sewing area
  • LCD Color touchscreen
    What cons did we manage to find?
  • Hat hoop not included
  • More simplistic of models
  • Claims of ongoing operational niggles
Also Product Ranking:
See more...
Read full review: brother se600


Things to Consider

We’re confident by now that by looking through these extensive reviews, you’ll have a clearer idea of the best types of embroidery machines for hats that are currently the more popular of models on the market. Now you’ve had a chance to read through five of these models in more detail, why not enhance your knowledge a little further by reading through our extensive buying guide? This is where we’ve thoroughly researched and completed an entirely helpful section whereby, we elaborate on those features we mentioned throughout our reviews and highlight in more detail what we consider to be the most important when it comes to selecting that perfect embroidery machine for hats.

Benefits of getting a top-quality embroidery machine for hats

IMG_5461A top quality embroidery machine for hats will offer those more specific and detailed features that allow you to instantly work on hats and caps of all types and sizes – while providing you plentiful designs, stitches, and fonts as you do. Such a machine specializes in the technical areas of embroidery, which is on the next level to sewing. Additionally, a top-quality device here will offer you a selection of different hoop types and more importantly, a hat hoop, whereby you can create, decorate, embellish and personalize your hats to your liking.

Important points to consider when choosing a hat embroidery machine

  • The size of the embroidery field
  • How brightly lit the sewing area is
  • The selection of stitches and designs built-in
  • How many hoops types there are – and whether a hat hoop is included or readily available to purchase separately
  • USB Connectivity – the ability to transfer and store your own designs as well
  • How swift the machine is to thread
  • Brand of the machine might be a changing factor once you’ve chosen a reliable manufacturer like Brother sewing machines.

Type of machine

In this instance, there are usually two types of machines available. One is a complete embroidery machine which allows you to work on just embroidery tasks on throughout, like the Brother PE800,  Janome Memory Craft 9850 Brother PE770. The other is a combination of embroidery/sewing machine which also enables you to undertake a variety of sewing tasks as well as those more specialized embroidery projects, like the Brother SE600. Your choice here is mostly dependent on what you’re intending to use your machine for and whether you want to solely specialize in just embroidery or are keen to use the machine for optional sewing jobs as well.

Number of designs and fonts

bigstock_embroidery_of_colorful_mandala_233124133For many sewers, this is perhaps the most critical feature, especially when embroidering hats as you want to be able to choose from many options. All these machines have a broad array of built-in designs, stitches, and fonts, and therefore you’ll need to make sure the ones you’ll be working with are available. Such a vast selection means you don’t have to come up with your own ideas each time.

However, if you’re looking to expand on the standard preset designs and fonts, look for the model which allows your own designs to be imported and stored on your machine, therefore increasing your creative output.

Does it come with a hat hoop?

Equally important is the addition of a hat hoop with your embroidery machine. It’s ideal if your chosen model comes complete with a standard hat hoop, but as you can see from the reviews above, not all do. However, if not make sure you can get hold of one easily and also that it can indeed be fitted to your intended machine type. Though they aren’t vital to embroider hats and caps, the results are much better, and therefore this is one product definitely worth purchasing and investing in as soon as possible.

Embroidery field size

As embroidery is intricate and applied to a broader range of material types, the size of the model’s embroidery field is an essential factor. Look for those models that offer increased area or even an extension table, like the Janome Memory Craft 9850, so you can continue to work on all projects with ease, allowing you to maneuver each project as you need to as you embroider.

USB connectivity

USB connectivity is perhaps now more sought after than ever on these machine types as by having this, you can not only receive machine updates when they occur but most importantly import designs from your computer to your machine itself. This is great if you’ve designed a particular project on your PC and want to be able to enhance it, display it, and work from it on your actual embroidery machine. All these reviewed machines offer this facility.

What else will you be using it for?

As embroidery machines offer a great deal of creative license, you may want to ensure that you can, in fact, perform many other different jobs and tasks with your intended machine.

If you’re considering tasks such as embroidering towels, shirts, denim items, or even monogramming, it’s worth ensuring that your machine accommodates this.

It’s also great to see what other projects each model suggests it can be used for, alongside embroidering hats. This will ensure you get the best possible usages out of your chosen model and are able to produce a wealth of projects as and when you please.

Warranty

Because the embroidery types of machines are the costlier on the market, especially when compared to a standard sewing machine type, you may want to ensure that you get a good warranty attached to your purchase. This offers you that added peace of mind should anything happen to your machine during use and you need to get it repaired, get a parts replacement, or even get it replaced swiftly. The Janome Memory Craft 9850 offers a shorter limited six-month warranty here, but all four remaining machines deliver on an ideal 25-year warranty.

Tips

БезымянныйAn embroidery machine has so many potential projects to offer all sewers. Therefore, to ensure that you get the very best from your dedicated embroidery machine for hats, here are a few tips to help you:

  • Be open to learning new tricks and skills on these machines. There is a wealth of information available and many designs, stitches, and patterns to boot – so be prepared to learn many new skills as you get used to your model and what it can do.
  • If you’re new to machine embroidery, start small and work up gaining experience to tackle those more challenging projects. This way you allow your skills to grow and don’t get frustrated by taking on projects that become impossible, therefore dulling your enjoyment of the craft in an instant.
  • Don’t attempt to buy a wealth of additional items for your machine until you’ve had time to get to know it. Plenty of products that many sewers buy, and even find included with their machines purchase, don’t always end up being used. Get started stitching and then work on your list from thereon.
  • Ensure generous space around you when you embroider. Though these model types have larger embroidery fields and often extended tables, you will need a good deal of space for your machine and your essentials items. Ideally, find an area where you have access to move around and don’t need to keep packing up after short sessions each time.
  • Finally, don’t be afraid to do various test stitches and see for yourself exactly what your machine can offer you. There’s no point in having an embroidery machine that gives you around 250 stitches or so, and you only ever use one of two of these. Experiment with small swatches of spare fabric, and you may be surprised at just how much your machine type can actually offer your crafting needs!

FAQ

How often should I change the needle?

It’s recommended that you replace the needle of your machine on average around every eight hours of embroidery time. Furthermore, if you’re using a particularly tough fabric that tends to dull your needle naturally, or if you’re working on an extensive project, it’s also a good idea to look at replacing it each time you finish, before moving onto the next project.

Is a hat hoop necessary for embroidering hats?

A hat hoop is strongly recommended for embroidering hats, especially if you want a good outcome. Without the use of such a feature, you’ll find it a more challenging task to work on. When using a hat hoop, you need to ensure that you place it in securely, so it remains straight and centered throughout. Without the aid of a hoop, this is increasingly difficult to maintain. If you’re going to be embroidering hats on a regular basis, this is one feature worth having to hand, whether it comes with the machine itself or is purchased separately.

How do I make a 3D puff embroidery design?

A most popular of embroidery design, the 3D puff can be easily achieved by selecting the right software or using the correct program on an embroidery machine. The effect of such a configuration is lettering or art which puffs out above the rest of the details on the hat. Any decent embroidery machine should have this design feature as standard as it is a popular option when it comes to hats and caps.

Our verdict

We hope you’ve enjoyed this informative review and now have a better idea of what these machines can do for your embroidery projects, especially when it comes to embroidering your hats and caps. We feel that the notes and detailed reviews all combine here with our buying guide to present you with a better all-round view of what machine will suit your individual needs the best.

Our top pick here is the Janome Memory Craft 9850 for its ability to offer an extensive all-round embroidery experience while delivering almost commercial like results, rivaling its more expensive counterparts. The second on our list here is the Janome Memory Craft 500E Embroidery Machine which offers an advanced embroidery machine for anyone keen on embroidering their hats at a professional but accessible level. Finally, the Brother SE1900 is our third pick as we can’t help but be impressed by its fantastic benefits!

Rest assured that every one of these reviewed models is from highly reputable brands and all offer the best embroidery machine for hats, enabling you to get that perfect model for your personal embroidery preferences.

9,9
Total Score
Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9850 - Editor’s Choice
Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

X