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STITCH CHECK

How we check

Stitch Check reviews machines for people spending $300 to $3,000 who have outgrown a beginner model. Every verdict starts from the manufacturer's own data, and every spec on the site can be traced back to a source.

We are a spec-check publication. We read spec sheets, manuals, retailer listings and owner reports; we do not claim to have operated the machines. When owner evidence appears on a page it is paraphrased, attributed and labelled as owner reports, mixed signals or buyer signals.

01
Manufacturer specs first

Speed, stitch types, throat space, feed system and weight come from the maker's spec sheet or manual.

On the page: a source line under every spec table. Missing data shows as [verify], never a guess.
02
Cross-checked at the retailer

We compare the maker's data to the Sewing Machines Plus listing and bundle.

On the page: conflicts go in "Where sources disagree" and "Check before you buy".
03
Scored against the job

A serger is scored as a serger. Stitch count doesn't earn points on a heavy-duty or quilting page.

On the page: one score out of 10, with the job it was scored for.
04
Re-checked when things change

New model, discontinued model or a changed bundle: the page is re-checked and re-dated.

On the page: "Specs checked [month year]" in every verdict box.

What the score weighs

JobWeighs mostWeighs least
Heavy dutyMotor, presser-foot lift, feed, needle systemStitch count, screens
SergersDifferential feed, threading, stitch optionsAccessory bundles
QuiltingThroat space, stitch quality at speed, frame fitDecorative stitches

Scores run 0 to 10 with one decimal. An 8 means we would buy it for the job without hesitation; a 7 means it does the job with limits we name on the page; below 7 we would rather send you elsewhere. The score is for the job the page is filed under, so the same machine can carry different scores on different hubs.

How we're paid

Buy buttons link to Sewing Machines Plus through an affiliate network. If you buy, we earn a commission at no cost to you. Every buy button says "affiliate". Dealer-only brands (Baby Lock, Bernina) have no buy button and no affiliate relationship; we send you to their dealer locator. Commission never sets the rank.

Spotted a wrong spec?

Tell us which page and where the right figure comes from. We fix it and re-date the page. corrections@stitchcheck.com

Who runs it

Stitch Check is published by North Park, doing business as Stitch Check, in Delaware. Editorial questions: hello@stitchcheck.com.