Sewing is a deeply rewarding hobby that allows you to create clothing and household items that are perfectly tailored to yourself and your loved ones.
However, one annoyance that most sewing enthusiasts have is how loud their sewing machines can be – you can hear its echoes throughout your home, and sometimes, even your neighbors are bothered by the noise!
This problem prevents a lot of people from learning sewing or buying a sewing machine, especially those who have young children and people who live with roommates or have close neighbors.
These issues can easily be fixed as long as you can find a quiet sewing machine.
But what are the quietest quiet sewing machines? The quietest sewing machines are often computerized models which have modern, smoothly functioning motors and automatic features. You can also make a sewing machine more quiet by keeping it cleaned and maintained and using it on padded surfaces.
In this article, we will help you identify some common issues that make your sewing machine noisy and how you can find the quietest quiet sewing machine out there.
How to Find Quiet Sewing Machines
In every sewing machine, there are a few components that cause a lot of noise while you sew.
The first component is the motor, which is the key component that makes all the cogs run, the bobbins turn, and the needle move.
In a lot of the older sewing machines, the mechanical motor may be a bit older and may not be as smooth as some of the newer models. However, in most computerized sewing machines that are sold on the market today, you can find that this motor problem is eliminated.
The other source of noise can come from the movements of the needle, the bobbin, and the thread guides. If you have a new sewing machine with all new components that are functioning smoothly, your machine will be much less noisy.
However, as you wear out your machine, you may find that the machine can make more noises. We will revisit these issues and help you fix them at the bottom of this article.
Some people turn to handheld sewing machines thinking that this will eliminate some of the noise, but this isn’t always the case and they tend to be better for patching projects up anyway.
So, we’ve put together a few important considerations when you’re searching for a sewing machine to suit your auditory needs.
Computerized Models
If you are looking for the quietest sewing machine, your best option would be to look for a computerized sewing machine.
In addition to a modern and quiet motor, its superior function is that it has an automatic feature for threading, bobbin winding, tension adjusting, and even thread-cutting.
Since a lot of the issues with noise come from issues with threading, bobbins, and tension, using a computerized sewing machine – which does all of the difficult tasks for you – can really keep the noises down to a minimum.
This type of sewing machine is also quite versatile in helping you create new designs just by downloading them from the internet and transferring them to your machine.
When you purchase a computerized sewing machine, make sure to test it at all speed levels and settings. If reduced noise is key, you want to make sure that the sewing machine can actually be quiet even when the needle is going at full speed.
Choose a model with a reasonable return policy, so that if your machine just isn’t quiet enough, you can swap it for a more promising model. You can also read reviews to find quieter sewing machines.
If you are convinced that this is the right type of quiet sewing machine for you, read on to find our recommendations for the quietest sewing machines out there.
The Quietest Quiet Sewing Machines
If you’re looking for a sewing machine that is as quiet as it is capable of assisting in all of your sewing needs, we have some top computerized picks for you:
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Janome Computerized Sewing Machine | 100 stitches, 7 buttonholes, 4 feet |
| 2. | Brother XR9550 Sewing & Quilting Machine | 165 stitches, 8 buttonholes, 8 sewing/quilting feet |
| 3. | Juki Computerized Sewing & Quilting Machine | 255 stitches, automatic threader, 2 feet |
| 4. | Heureux Sewing Machine | 200 stitches, 8 buttonholes, automatic threader |
| 5. | Singer Quantum Stylist Sewing Machine | 600 stitches, 13 buttonholes, 13 feet |
Let’s take a closer look at each of these quiet, quality machines. Read on for more!
1. Janome Computerized Sewing Machine
Janome is known for making some of the most efficient and quiet sewing machines on the market, so it’s no wonder that the Janome JW8100 is the first candidate in our list of quiet sewing machines.
This computerized sewing machine comes with 100 built-in stitches and seven buttonhole styles; all are easily controlled via a backlit LCD screen in the front of the machine. Whether you are a sewer or a quilter, you will still benefit from the versatility of this machine.
This machine is designed to make the sewing experience the most convenient and comfortable for you.
It has a built-in needle threader, speed control slider, auto-declutch bobbin winder, and so many more features that allow you to sew without making any mistakes, which will minimize the noise caused by threading and bobbin mistakes.
When you have more time to explore the machine, there are a ton of convenient features to make sewing much easier for you, like a free removable arm that allows you to store accessories and sew small tubes with your machine when needed, an extra-wide extension table that makes sewing large and heavy fabrics much easier.
The machine comes with a complete set of accessories that can benefit you in a wide range of projects.
In addition, the machine comes with a general-purpose foot, a zipper foot, a satin stitch foot, an automatic buttonhole foot, and an even feed foot. This wide range of multi-purpose sewing feet will give you plenty of assistance whenever you need to sew with difficult materials.
Since this is a newer computerized sewing machine, you can be confident in its ability to create stitches in a quiet and efficient manner. We doubt you’ll disturb any young children or neighbors even when this sewing machine is running at full speed.
2. Brother XR9550 Sewing and Quilting Machine
Brother is a leading name in sewing machine manufacturers, so they have plenty of experience in making a great quiet sewing machine.
The XR995 is one of the brand’s newer, computerized sewing machines. The machine comes with 165 built-in stitches that you can use for sewing and quilting; you are free to mix and match your stitches to create the best design.
The sewing machine can also make 8 styles of auto-size buttonholes. For those who don’t love confusing stitch charts, the LCD screen in front of the sewing machine allows you to adjust the stitches, the speed, and many other settings, with just a few buttons.
Most beginner sewing enthusiasts struggle with threading the machine and figuring out the bobbin, and a lot of the time, noise problems can stem from not threading correctly or a jammed bobbin. This machine can help you avoid all of those issues with an automatic needle threader and drop-in top bobbin.
This sewing machine also has a free arm capability, which allows you to sew sleeves and small tubes with ease.
Working with this sewing machine is not only easy; it is actually quite pleasant because of how smooth and quiet it can be. You will be able to create beautiful sewing and quilting projects without having to endure the headache that comes from the noise.
3. Juki Computerized Sewing & Quilting Machine
If you want a heavy-duty sewing machine that can get the job done while still staying quiet, this Juki computerized sewing machine is the right choice for you.
Similar to Brother, Juki is one of the most popular sewing machine brands that specializes in industrial sewing. This machine is designed for home use, so it is compact and lightweight but still highly efficient and powerful.
This sewing machine comes with 255 built-in stitches that are designed for a wide range of purposes – from basic stitches that allow you to sew simple items to decorative and embroidery pattern stitches that can allow you to create works of art with your design.
All of these stitches and settings are controllable using an intuitive LCD display that is quite easy to use. You can see your stitch on the screen, select and adjust it as you please.
Similar to other computerized sewing machines, this Juki model comes with a lot of automated features that make your life a lot easier when you sew. You won’t have to face problems with jamming or thread tangling while using these features.
If you are an experienced sewer, you will be able to take advantage of all of this machine’s convenient features and enjoy a painless and quiet sewing time.
4. Heureux Sewing Machine
Heureux is a lesser-known brand when it comes to sewing machines, but it doesn’t mean the machine is any less effective.
This computerized sewing machine comes with 200 built-in stitches, including 8 styles of buttonhole stitch. You can also create letters and numbers and customize your stitches as you please.
If you’re overwhelmed about all the stitches and functions that this machine can offer, don’t worry. The LCD screen will allow you to easily access and control all of them, and it’s very easy to learn and customize the stitches to your liking.
Although this machine is quite compact, it still has all of the automated features that you can expect from a computerized sewing machine. These features will help minimize any errors and mistakes when it comes to threading or bobbin winding, so you’ll never have any issues with your machine.
The machine comes with all of the accessories you would need to sew with various materials and designs, including an all-purpose foot, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, satin stitch foot, blind stitch foot, and so on. You can sew or quilt a wide range of designs with a lot of different types of fabrics.
The quietness of the machine is one of its marketable “features.” You will still be able to enjoy a good podcast episode or watch your favorite TV show while creating your design – the noise of the sewing machine will be kept to a minimum
5. SINGER Quantum Stylist Sewing Machine
SINGER is well-known for making compact and efficient sewing machines, and this Quantum Stylist 9960 is highly regarded as one of the most effective and quiet sewing machines there are.
The sewing machine comes with 600 built-in stitches, so you can imagine the possibilities when it comes to creating new designs! If you want to create letters and numbers embroidery, you can even customize the font. This is one special feature that can really help you make the design yours.
There are also 13 built-in buttonhole stitches, more than most computerized sewing machines out there. The massive library of stitches can be accessed and customized through the high-tech LCD screen, which is quite intuitive to use.
Once you are used to working with the settings of the machine, you can easily customize your designs to make them unique and interesting.
This sewing machine is highly efficient and is definitely designed for professionals who are looking for something speedy but still quiet. It can go up to 850 stitches per minute, perfect for advanced sewers who need something fast and effective.
Of course, you can’t have a comprehensive library of stitches without a comprehensive set of sewing machine feet that makes it so much more convenient to sew a variety of stitches with a wide range of fabrics.
If you are invested in your craft, investing in this sewing machine is totally worth it to bring your products to the next level.
How to Make Your Sewing Machine Quiet
If you are keen on working with your regular sewing machine to make it work, here are some of the common issues that can result in a noisy sewing machine.
If your sewing machine is older and has been in use for a long time, check for the following issues:
Dirty Motor
A motor that has been running for a while can be dirty or too dry. Since the motor is the part that controls all of the other components of the sewing machine, you want to make sure that it can run smoothly.
1. If your machine is producing too much noise, take out the motor and clean it thoroughly with a cloth.
2. When you are finished cleaning, make sure to oil your motor to make sure the parts can glide smoothly. Providing enough oil will prevent the parts from clanking together while you sew, which will reduce the noise.
Lint-Filled Bobbin Case
Your machine works with fabric and thread, which produces a lot of lint, especially if you use it on a regular basis.
If your bobbin case is filled with lint, it may not work properly, causing rattling noises when you try to sew. Similarly, when lint is stuck where it shouldn’t be, your machine’s efficiency may be affected.
One easy fix to the noise problem is cleaning your machine, especially the bobbin case. Removing dirt and lint will remove any obstructions in the thread path and the machine’s functional parts, and you should be able to reduce some of the noises caused by your machine.
Needle and Needle Plate Issues
If the noises are mainly coming from the needle plate area, check if your needle plate is loose. Sometimes a screw becomes loose over time. This can affect the needle plate’s placement, causing some rattling noises when your needle is in motion.
If that doesn’t work, check if you have a bent needle. A bent needle can hit some metal parts when it tries to sew, which shouldn’t happen. If this is the issue, you can switch to a different needle, and your machine should be functioning more quietly.
Unbalanced Placement
A sewing machine in the works can produce a lot of vibrations. If you place your machine somewhere that’s uneven or on a hard surface that can’t absorb that vibration nicely, you may get a lot of noises from the machine’s movements.
If this is the issue, try placing your sewing machine on a soft mat that can absorb the machine’s vibrations. This should be a quick fix that can significantly reduce the noise that your sewing machine makes.
Maintenance Required
If your machine is older and has been in use for a while, check if it requires maintenance – there may be some issues that you can’t quickly fix at home.
Cleaning and providing regular maintenance for your machine will keep it running smoothly, and as a result, quietly. A well-maintained sewing machine should be much quieter than an old, neglected one.
Up Next: Thread Getting Caught In Bobbin Area – What To Do
