Top 16 Best Embroidery Machine For Hats

An embroidered hat makes a thoughtful and memorable gift. Companies offer customized baseball caps as marketing items since they represent a notable and modern way to mark a special moment or event.

However, why not make your own personalized baseball caps at home? All you need is an embroidery machine and you are ready to go. Surprise your loved ones with custom gifts or open a small business and make some money on the side. Or make them for yourself and add a personal touch to your look.

The right embroidered hat can be a great addition to your outfit if you get everything right, especially the stitching. In this article, you will learn the deadly sins of embroidering a hat (how NOT to embroider), how to do it correctly and how to select the best embroidery machine for hats available for buy in 2021.

16 Best Embroidery Machine For Hats in 2021

If you want to gift something memorable and thoughtful, an embroidered hat makes a great choice. It is a modern and creative way to mark moments. But choosing the right embroidery unit is hard with so many options on the market. That is why I highlighted these few embroidery models to help you in your search.

• Best Overall: SINGER Futura XL400 Sewing Embroidery Machine
  “Embroidery design editing feature, 6 LED lights, PC-to-machine software, steady, lettering program.”
• Runner Up: Brother SE1900  Sewing Embroidery Machine
  “Side and horizontal stitching, a large LCD touchscreen, a built-in USB port, feature-rich, easy to use.”
• Best Budget: Brother SE400 Sewing Embroidery Machine
  “Great lighting, computer connectivity, great quality stitching, 70 embroidery designs, 5 lettering fonts.”
• Best For Beginners: EverSewn Hero 400 Sewing Embroidery Machine
  “Modern, efficient, 8 different presser feet, 40 built-in embroidery designs, a workspace of 6.5 inches.”
• Best Commercial: CAMFive EMB HT1501 Embroidery Machine
  “Multi-task touchscreen control panel, cheaper than other similar models, a large memory capacity.”
• Best Singer: SINGER XL-550 Embroidery Sewing Machine
  “Automatic needle threader, computerized embroidery system, 125 built-in designs, 5 lettering fonts.”
• Best Brother: Brother SE600 Sewing Embroidery Machine
  “Super versatile, easy to use, convenient, a color touchscreen, 4x4 embroidery field, free accessories.”
• Best for Hats and Patches: Janome MB-4S Embroidery Machine
  “A large memory capacity, a high embroidery speed, a lot of built-in designs, portable and compact.”
• Best for Hats and Shirts: Janome MC 6500P Sewing Machine
  “The best embroidery machine for personal use, hat patch sewing machine, superior feeding system.”
• Best Cheap: Brother SE625 Sewing Embroidery Machine
  “The best combination machine for customizing hats, pattern drag and drop feature, 280 designs.”
• Best Professional: Janome MC 9900 Sewing Embroidery Machine
  “Linear motion embroidery system, lots of editing functions, LED full-color touch screen, compact.”

Comparison Chart 2021

We have sorted and compared the best products on the market at the moment. Check them out and pick the one that matches your embroidery needs. Also, do not forget to check their price on Amazon.

16 Best Embroidery Machine For Hats 2021

If you ask experts if every embroidery machine can embroider hats, they will agree with us. Not every embroidery machine can help you complete tricky projects such as this one. Why and how to pick the one that will? Well, it is because the stitching area of most embroidery machines for hats is very wide.

Best embroidery machines for hats are equipped with round hoops in order to keep your hat in place.

And since you need to embroider the corners at the brim of a hat as well the stitching speed should be slower. Choosing the best embroidery machine can be difficult with so many products available on the market. Scroll down to learn what important features to search for in an embroidery machine for hats.

Now that you have compared the best embroidery machine 2021, let’s review them in detail and find a suitable embroidery machine for you. Make sure to note their pros and cons before you pick one.

Brother SE400 Embroidery Machine

(Budget’s Pick)

We would be lying if we said that we don’t adore this machine just like most experienced sewers. It has a great well-earned reputation because it offers excellent performance and has the power of making all your creative sewing dreams come true! I am talking about the SE400 computerized model by Brother!

It comes with an automatic bobbin winding and needle threading, LCD touch screen, 67 built-in stitches, 70 embroidery designs and 5 lettering fonts you can choose from. However, just like any other machine on the market, the SE400 has cons too such as the insufficient embroidery hoop. And lack of accessories.

Other than that, it is a great embroidery machine for hats that is definitely worth your attention and investment! Now: let’s summarize the main pros and cons and decide if this is the right one for you.

Brother SE1900 Embroidery Machine

SE1900 – one of the most popular hat sewing machines that will blow your mind with all the accessories and modern features. If you are new to the practice, you probably do not know that this is an upgrade of the SE1800 model. It is the perfect combo machine for sewing, quilting, and embroidery.

It comes with an expansive 5x7 embroidery table allowing you to complete any large project in mind. This workhorse comes with 11 fonts for monogramming, 138 built-in embroidery designs, 240 built-in sewing stitches and 10 frame shapes which is amazing. You will also get eight fast-change sewing feet.

However, the best part about this machine is the automatic needle threader. Now: let’s review all the important pros and cons you should take into consideration and decide if this is the machine for you.

Brother SE600 Embroidery Machine

Next on our list of best embroidery machines that is definitely worth your time and attention, Brother SE600 – best brother embroidery machine for hats. It is the perfect sewing and embroidery machine for those looking for an upgrade. It comes with a color touchscreen, 4 x 4 embroidery field and accessories.

If you are looking for the perfect embroidery machine with enhanced features, this is the one. You will get change/preview thread colors, place lettering on arcs, move designs on your screen and much more.

You can even insert your own embroidery designs thanks to the built-in USB port and complete all your sewing projects with the 103 built-in stitches. Now: let’s review the main pros and cons of this machine.

Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine

Another brother embroidery machine that is worth the investment is the PE800 with built-in memory and USB port. If you purchase this model, you will be able to store and import your custom embroidery designs. You will also get a large embroidery field for complex projects, combining designs and lettering.

The Brother PE800 features a large color touchscreen that allows you to view your designs in color. It comes with 138 built-in embroidery designs, 11 lettering fonts, 14 border styles, and 10 frame shapes. You can enjoy the design editing feature that will allow you to rotate or increase and decrease designs.

Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine

If you want something simple but functional, this brother PE770 hat embroidery machine is the perfect choice for you. No matter if you are looking for the best hat embroidery machine for home business or just run onto this review, we can assure you that this is the machine that you have been searching for.

It comes with an expansive 5x7 embroidery working field, 136 built-in embroidery designs, 12 borders, and 10 frames. It also features a built-in memory. Meaning, you will be able to import all the designs you have in mind without worrying about the size or number of designs.

SINGER Futura XL400 Embroidery Machine

(Editor’s Choice)

If you are looking to buy a sewing and embroidery machine that will boost your creativity and bring back the excitement into your life, the Futura XL 400 is the ideal choice for you! No matter if you are looking for the best embroidery machine for home business 2019 or 2021, this is the model you should consider.

You also get 15 embroidery patterns, outline lettering, and 5 fonts! If you plan on opening a home-based embroidery business, the large embroidery hoop will come in handy. Thanks to the inbuilt software, you can create an even larger virtual hoop. Now: let’s check the crucial pros and cons of Singer Futura XL400.

Brother PE550D Embroidery Machine

Last but certainly not least is the Brother PE550D model with 125 designs including Disney designs. We present you the best versatile embroidery machine that is dependable and affordable at the same time.

It has six lettering fonts, an automatic needle threader, a built-in memory function for importing designs and an LCD display that allows you to edit designs before stitching. The best part? Definitely the editing features such as moving, resizing, rotating, two-line printing and letter arching before you embroider.

EverSewn Hero - 400-Stitch Embroidery Machine

(Best for Beginners)

Have you ever head of the EverSewn brand? It is an amazing brand with some awesome products on the market! It has made a name for itself thanks to some high-end sewing and embroidery machines such as the computerized sewing and embroidery machine Hero 400-stitch – best embroidery machine for hats.

As you can notice from the title, it comes with over 400 utility, decorative and alphabet pattern stitches. However, it also comes with 40 built-in designs, automatic needle threader, an upper needle and bobbin thread level monitoring, 8 presser feet and a workspace of 6.5 inches. But let’s not forget the downfalls.

SINGER Futura XL-550 Embroidery Machine

Another model by Singer that deserves the attention is the Futura XL-550! It is the perfect combo model for both sewing and embroidery thanks to the 125 built-in embroidery designs and the 215 unique built-in sewing stitches + 2 automatic one-step buttonholes! It also has 5 lettering fonts and outline lettering.

A sewing and embroidery machine that will win your heart at first use thanks to the LED options that fill the workspace with light and enable easy view without eye strain! The automatic needle threader is one of the best features of this embroidery machine that you will absolutely adore! It offers easy threading.

The computerized embroidery system will allow you to customize and personalize your projects with ease. It is one of the best sewing and embroidery machines available in 2021 that you should definitely consider. Personalizing your projects has never been easier thanks to the automatic features of XL-550.

Brother SE625 Embroidery Machine

(Best Value for Money)

If you want a combo machine that will allow you to sew garments and embroider hats at the same time, Brother SE625 is the perfect model for you. It comes with a large color LCD display where you can edit or view designs before stitching. You also get 280 embroidery designs –amazing. But that is not everything.

This workhorse has a pattern drag and drop feature that will allow you to move and place your designs with just a touch of your finger. You will get 103 built-in stitches that will boost your creativity and skills.

CAMFive EMB HT1501 Single Head Embroidery Machine

If you decided to buy from this brand, you should know that they provide costly but quality products in the market! However, this particular one is the cheapest one than the other similar models you placed. However, this does not mean that it is less good than the other models that we will review a bit later.

On the contrary, it offers great value for the price. This embroidery workhorse has a max speed of 1,200 SPM. Meaning, it is far faster than the rest of the other embroidery machines you have seen. It also has a large memory capacity (you can remember 16 million stitches). However, it is not great for beginners.

Janome MC 9500 Embroidery Machine

Another model by Janome that will blow your mind is the Janome Memory Craft MC 9500. It is a combo machine that will allow you to sew beautiful garments and add a personal touch to your hats, bags and much more. It comes with 90 built-in embroidery designs, 98 sewing stitches, 3 fonts, and monograms.

It also features built-in memory, a diagonal backlit LCD touch screen. With this machine, you can easily switch from embroidery to regular sewing and visa versa in a blink of an eye. What are you waiting for? If you want to embroider at home, this is the best combo cap sewing machine that will make you happy.

Janome MC 9900 Embroidery Machine

(Best For Professional-Style Embroidery)

Janome is one of the best sewing brands with high-quality products and Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9900 is one of them. It is our favorite model from this brand that you will notice in almost all our Janome embroidery machine reviews because of the editing functions and the linear motion embroidery system.

It has a sewing speed of 400 and 800 stitches per minute and comes with full intensity lighting system with 5 white LED lights in 3 different locations. They will illuminate your entire workspace and help you work on darker creations. It is one of the best sewing and embroidery machines on the market for you.

Janome MB-4S Four-Needle Embroidery Machine

(Multi Needle)

Next on our list of best hat embroidery machines for a home business is MB-4S with 4 needles that will help you embroider a hat fast and easy. It is the first industrial machine for home use with four needles, 50 built-in embroidery designs, 2 and 3 letters monogramming, 10 monogramming fonts and 4 hoops.

It has a maximum embroidery speed of 800 stitches per minute and a dedicated bobbin winding motor – something that you will probably not find in most high-tech machines. A single thread machine with an automatic needle threader that will save you time, energy and frustration. However, here’s the kicker:

It includes 3 MB of memory. Meaning, you can store over 100 embroidery designs, and up to 1,500,000 stitches. Now: let’s review the main pros and cons and decide if this is the embroidery machine for you.

Brother PE535 Embroidery Machine

Do you want a versatile embroidery machine that is reliable, feature-rich, suitable for beginners and professionals, and affordable at the same time? If yes, this model is made for you. The Brother PE 535 is the embroidery machine of your dreams! It is an exceptional workhorse with 80 designs other features.

It comes with a built-in memory which allows you to insert your own custom embroidery designs from a USB stick and create masterpieces with ease. It features a large color LCD touch screen for easy viewing and editing designs before stitching which is highly important! It comes with a 25-year limited warranty.

Janome Memory Craft 6500P Computerized Sewing Machine

Just like every sewing machine by Janome, the 6500P is impressive and definitely worth the investment.

First and foremost, if you buy this machine, you will get auto-lock and needle up/down quick command keys. It also features an automatic thread cutter with memory capability and SFS. If you wonder about the number of stitches, this baby has 135 stitches.

What Features?

No matter if you shop at Amazon or visit your local shopping mall, there are many options to choose from when it comes to embroidery machines for hats. However, before you make your purchase, you might want to keep these features in mind. They will help you choose the best embroidery machine.

Needles

No matter if you are into commercial or hat custom embroidery, 15 needles represents the standard in the sewing industry. Not many embroidery projects include stitching 15 different colors on one hat but if you want to open a home-based, small business, they will require frequent switches of thread cones.

Expansive Sewing Field

Your machine should have a wide field to accommodate the whole cap. Meaning, embroidery machines for hats should come with two hoops and the embroider field should be positioned at an angle of 270°.

Two of Each Size Hoop

For professional or industrial embroidery machine, companies normally include two of each size hoop for hats and flat garments. While you are working on a custom garment, you can also get a hat hooped.

If you are an expert who is looking for an industrial or pro embroidery machine, require 2 of each hoop.

Embroidery Speed

If you are a beginner, you should buy an embroidery machine with a maximum embroidery speed of 750 stitches per minute. If you are an intermediate user or professional, choose something faster. The speed depends on your skill level and experience in the industry. The slower the speed, the better for newbies.

Professionals can choose a machine with a higher SPM rate because they already know how to handle it. A higher speed means more custom garments. And more custom garments means more money in your pocket. However, for starters, we suggest a slower pace. If you want to test your skills, go for 1,200 SPM.

Running Time

Commercial embroidery machines are made to run the entire day, every day with a minimum break as the shift change. So, if you want to purchase a consumer machine, keep in mind that it will not be able to run as long as a commercial embroidery machine. Regular embroidery machines run for a few hours.

Computer Connectivity

Sharing is caring, as they say. So, your embroidery machine should provide computer connectivity and allow you to insert designs from other devices. A modern machine will provide the option of importing files via USB stick, download them from the internet or send from one computer to another via a cable.

However, what embroidery machine you purchase depends on your budget and personal preferences.

Display Option

No matter if you are buying an embroidery machine for personal or commercial use, you should keep an eye on the display option. It should be colored, touch screen model that will allow you to view and edit a design clearly. The best embroidery machine for hats allows you to the display in half for better viewing.

So, if you can pay a higher price and do not want to spend precious time switching your focus between the work at hand and your design notebook, choose a machine with a big, colored, touch screen display.

Automatic Thread Tension

An embroidery machine without automatic thread tension is NOT our favorite – this feature matters.

Otherwise, without an automatic thread tension, how would you save yourself from thread breaks and puckering? No matter the purpose of your purchase, insist on getting the model with automatic thread tension. Next 2 features you should pay attention to when buying an embroidery machine for hats are:

Built-in Designs

Pay attention to the number of built-in designs when buying an embroidery machine for hats. However, do not focus on this feature too much. Modern machines allow computer connectivity, so you can easily download and import designs you download on the internet. Pay attention to the memory capacity too.

Built-in Stitches

If you want to sew clothes and embroider hats at the same time, we suggest that you purchase a combo machine. If you do not know what a combo machine is, it is a sewing and embroidery machine. It usually comes with multiple built-in stitches. A combination machine should provide around 30 stitches at least.

How To Use Embroidery Machine For Hats?

If you do not know how to embroider a hat, do not worry. Simply follow these steps and you will do fine.

Step 1: Prepare Your Design

Since you have a small stitching space, you should pick a small design. Or reduce the design you want to use to fit the available space. To mark the spot you can stitch on your hat, flatten the top front as much as you can and measure the area you can press flat against the surface. Flat hats are easier to work with.

Structured hats, on the other hand, cause some difficulties. To avoid any issues, pick an unstructured, and soft cap. They provide the best results. If you do not have much space to stitch on, you can increase your embroidery area by printing a template of the design you wanted to use and audition it on the hat.

Most embroidery software programs will print a template of your design with a center mark, so you can easily point out the center of the sketch on your hat. Next, you should prepare your hat for embroidery.

Step 2: Prepare The Hat for Embroidery

Hoop the stabilizer. It is always easier to work with a larger hoop than needed for the sketch in order to provide extra space to operate during embroidery. It is also easier to work with the bill facing you. This is giving you greater control over the work process. After you hoop the stabilizer, score the paper backing.

Tear away the backing and mark the center of the hoop. Attach your cap by pressing the spot you will be stitching on onto the stabilizer. Align the mark on your cap with the mark on the stabilizer. Once you are done, remove the stabilizer. Next, you should embroidery your hat. Let’s see how to do it the right way.

Step 3: Embroider The Hat

Most caps will need a larger needle than standard ones for embroidery because of the thick fabric, lining and the fact that you will often stitch over seams. A size 90/14 is perfect needle choice for embroidering hats. Pick the sketch and place the hoop on the machine carefully not to shift the hat from the stabilizer.

Note: You should turn off every thread cutter while embroidering a hat. They usually move the hoop and lead to dislocation of the hat. Do not use the basting option on your machine when working with caps. If you believe that you have got everything right, lower the embroidery speed if that is possible and begin.

What Should You Avoid Doing While Embroidering Hats?

There is a list of things you should NOT do while embroidering hats. Check it out before you break some of the deadly sins of embroidering a hat and end up disappointed in this nice craft at the very beginning.

Forcing Your Embroidery Machine

Just like creating art, embroidery required focus, paying attention to details and patience. So, if you run your embroidery machine too fast (over 750 stitches per minute) you will not get great results. For hats, you should not use more over 750 stitches per minute, so slow down your machines for curved surfaces.

Hooping And Lack of Tension Adjustment

A cap should sit center and straight, securely in the hooping frame. Maybe some designs appear better off center. However, doing this the right way takes a lot of experience and patience. So for starters, stick with strong and centered designs if you want to get quality results and make your own personalized cap.

Lack of tension adjustment will produce quality stitches and a bad end result. Adjust the tension if you feel like you need to. Correct thread tension will help you get the stitching right and get the best result.

Not Checking Your Bobbin Before Starting A Project and Not Changing Needles

Do you always check your seatbelt before you drive off? If yes, why not do the same with your bobbin? Changing your needles on time is also important. Replacing damaged needles will prevent frustration.

Incorrect Placement of Your Project

You should leave a half an inch from the bill of the hat at least when embroidering a pre-made cap. Get the hat bill in your needle, and you might need to buy a new embroidery machine or repair the old one.

Incorrectly Digitized Embroidery Files

Last but not least important thing you should pay attention to when embroidering a hat is not digitizing your files the right way. Make sure you digitize embroidery files for the project you plan to embroider. A digitized sketch for a flat fabric such as t-shirt will not work on the curved surface of a pre-designed hat.

Cap Embroidery Machine Price

Everyone who wants to buy an embroidery machine should plan their budget. How much money are you willing to spend on an embroidery machine for hats? Different embroidery machines come at a different price. You can find a decent machine for less than $300. However, industrial machines cost over $3,000.

It all depends on your embroidery needs, budget and personal preferences. If you want a basic machine for personal use or small home-based business, buy something cheaper. Otherwise, invest in a high-end machine if you want to make good money. For the best recommendations, check our comparison chart.

FAQ

Final Verdict

We presented you with a list of top 16 best embroidery machines for hats. And unlike other reviews you can find online, we have mentioned their downfalls as well. We wanted to make sure that you find what you have been looking for, so we created a detailed comparison chart to help you in the buying process.

You cannot go wrong no matter what embroidery machine you choose from our review since we review expert recommended products only. Feel free to share this article and follow our site for future updates.