Best Embroidery Machine For Hats and Shirts

The best embroidery machine for hats and shirts depends on how much you plan to use it, what kind of projects you intend to create, and of course your budget.

Best Embroider Machine for Hats and Shirts

Looking for the best embroidery machine for hats and shirts that efficiently avoids the hassle of manual needle threading and operates smoothly? Well, your quest for the best embroidery machine for hats finds its destination here as we have reviewed top-rated machines having features that allow you to work on any project proficiently.

Besides, these products are prioritized based on the features that are crucial to consider for your selected hat stitching machine, including the built-in designs, stitches, fonts, USB connectivity, Hat hoop availability, embroidery field size, and warranty, etc.

All in All, whether you intend to embroider hats, shirts, towels, denim, or work on any similar project, these embroidery machines for caps are the excellent choice for the best results.

best embroidery machine for hats

Our Top Picks

Brother SE1900

  • 138 Built-in Designs
  • 240 sewing stitches
  • Large 5×7 inch Embroidery Area
  • Embroidery sewing combo
  • Multiple Editing Features

Brother PE800

  • 138 built-in designs
  • 11 Mongramming fonts
  • 5 by 7-inch Embroidery Area
  • Embroidery-only Machine
  • 3.2-inch colored LCD Screen

Best Embroidery Machine for Hats and Caps in 2022

Product Image Product Name Rating Price
brother se1900Brother SE1900
("Best Overall" and Editor's Choice)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
brother pe800Brother PE800
("Best Value")
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
brother se600Brother SE600
("Best for your Budget")
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
singer 9960Singer 9960
("Most Versatile")
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
brother pe535Brother PE535
("Most Convenient and Affordable")
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
brother pe550dBrother PE550D
("Cutest Designs")
⭐⭐⭐⭐
janome 400eJanome Memory Craft 400E
("Most Advanced")
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
janome mb4sJanome MB-4S
("Best Commercial Embroidery Machine for Hats and Shirts")
⭐⭐⭐⭐

1. Brother SE1900

“Best Overall”

Brother SE1900, a perfect hat embroidery sewing machine, comes with mind-blowing features & accessories that are going to leave you startled. It has everything for you, whether you want to personalize your shirts, embroidery hats, caps, or any other fabric.

Moreover, it does not demand any expertise, so if you are a beginner, hobbyist, or expert crafter, then the SE1900 lets you practice and master your skills with perfection.

Brother SE1900 Embroidery Machine

Pros
Multipurpose Embroidery Sewing Combo
138 built-in designs, 240 sewing stitches
3.2-inch colored screen to customize your project effectively
5×7 hoop to work on big projects.
Can Import additional designs
850 spm Sewing speed
650 spm Embroidery Speed
Jam resistant drop-in top bobbin
Cons
Doesn’t include automatic thread cutter
A little expensive

Features

With the Brother SE1900, you can add text, stitched graphics, or any custom design for your hats as it is equipped with 138 built-in designs, 240 built-in stitches & 11 embroidery fonts. Moreover, it also features My Custom Stitch, which enables you to create custom stitches depending on your project and save them for future use.

When working on large-scale projects and you require a large work area, the 5″ x 7″ embroidery field of this Brother model, facilitates you to embellish your fabrics with less rehooping.

Thanks to the built-in USB port, which lets you add custom designs on your hats, caps, & shirts by helping in importing new patterns from external websites.

Note: Brother customers have exclusive access to iBroidery.com ( A site having a collection of embroidery designs), where they can purchase or import unlimited patterns according to their choice.

The prominent feature of Brother SE1900 is the 3.2″ Sew Smart touchscreen. This touchscreen brings a variety of designs to your fingertips, letting you preview, edit, and choose what you like.

It Includes a thread color-changing feature, which helps to change thread color with the help of color pallets.

This multi-combination machine also includes time-saving features as its advanced needle threader pushes the thread through the needle with just the pressing of a lever.

Last but not least, the SE1900 combo comes with 25 years warranty & product lifetime free phone & online technical support are also included.

Verdict:
With multiple editing features, importing unlimited design patterns, combining designs with less rehooping, the Brother SE1900 sewing and embroidery machine has endless features. It has all the bells & whistles required to transform your idea into a brilliant masterpiece.

Also Read: Brother SE1900 Review

2. Brother PE800

“Best Value”

If you are searching for a machine that is only tailor-made for embroidery and is procured with top-notch features, then the Brother PE800 embroidery only machine is a perfect choice for you. Enrobed with magnificent features and specifications, Brother PE800 is our next favorite embroidery machine for hats.

This Brother model can be your ideal embroidery partner whether you want to personalize your shirts, embroidering hats, caps, napkins, or any daily use items.

Note: It received the Women’s Choice Award and also voted by Amazon as the most recommended embroidery machine.

Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine

Pros
Multiple editing features
Best for Hat Embroidery
Sizeable 5×7 inch embroidery field
Built-in Memory to save additional patterns
Color LCD screen to make embroidery fun
650 Stitches Per Minute
Built-in tutorials
25 year limited warranty
Cons
Embroidery-only
May be expensive

Features

Working on large-scale projects made easy with Brother PE800, as it features a 5×7 embroidery field that provides you enough room to create majestic creations.

With its 138 built-in designs, including florals, scrollwork, and quilt patterns plus ten frame designs, you can explore your creative potential for crafting beautiful designs.

Moreover, it includes 11 built-in fonts (7 English, 3 Japanese, and 1 Cyrillic font style) so that you can carve catchy captions and texts on the surface.

The Brother PE800 has excellent value over embroidery machines having a black & white LCD screen, as it comes with a 3.2-inch colored LCD, which is easy to use, easy to navigate & lets you edit & preview your designs before stitching. Furthermore, you can also watch helping tutorials on the screen to use the device properly.

Moreover, you can also perform different design editing functions right on the screen, including image rotate, mirror image, and resize your designs, etc.

Additional features include the integrated automatic needle threader, which makes threading easier for you.

Verdict:
The Brother PE800 is an all-in-one resource for both beginners and advanced artisans who want to enhance their skills with time. It is the perfect choice for home business whether you wish to embroider patches, hats, caps, embellishing your shirts, or convert any ordinary fabric to a masterpiece.

3. Brother SE600

“Best for your Budget”

Are you an embroidery enthusiast looking for the best budget embroidery machine for embroidering hats, caps, or shirts, etc.?

Good News:

We introduce you to Brother SE600, from a leading embroidery machine manufacturing brand, This Sewing Embroidery machine known for its affordability, & top of line features.

Do not underrate its performance by looking at the budget, because the low price tag doesn’t affect its features & functionalities. It is loaded with the premium features that you can access after investing in a high budget model.

Brother SE600

Pros
Easy to use and Best Choice for Beginners
Affordable
Great stitch quality
Quiet/Smooth
80 built-in designs
103 sewing stitches
3.2 inch Colored LCD Touchscreen
Cons
The embroidery area is only 4×4
Low Sewing Speed as compared to Industrial Machines

Features

The Brother SE600 is a two-in-one sewing embroidery machine that manifests creative ideas into reality. It is built with the latest technology & top-notch features that lets you smoothly work and craft mesmerizing design on the fabric.

Having 80 built-in designs & 11 embroidery fonts that you can choose from and instantly start working on the projects, saving time, and money. Moreover, Brother SE600 also facilitates sewing as it features 103 sewing stitches, which are enough for a beginner to personalize their designs.

The device features a 4X4 embroidery field that provides sufficient space for embellishing hats, caps, shirts, or other clothes, etc.

Just like other computerized machines, Brother SE600 also has a 3.2 inch LCD screen, which provides you complete control to make changes in your designs & watch a live preview on the screen before stitching. The other editing features include changing thread color, aligning text, or lettering in an arc, and moving the patterns on the screen with just a single touch.

In some cases, maybe the built-in designs are not enough for you.

So, what to do in that situation?

Don’t worry. There’s a solution.

The Brother SE600 comes with a built-in USB port, making computer connectivity easy, allowing you to import limitless designs of your own choice from relevant websites.

The 6.4×4.1 needle-to-arm workplace enables working on bulky fabrics as it provides more space for folding quilts & large designs for better sewing.

To conclude, this Brother model has everything that is needed for a professional project. Included accessories are 7 quick-change sewing feet: button sewing, spring action zigzag, overcasting, blind stitch, zipper, buttonhole, and monogramming feet.

Verdict:
By providing top-quality features along with 80 built-in designs and 102 sewing stitches, this machine has preceded many of the high-priced models. To conclude, The Brother SE600 is the best choice for beginners who want to conquer their embroidery and sewing passion by investing in a low-budget machine.

4. Singer 9960

“Most Versatile”

Singer, a well-reputed embroidery sewing machine brand, has assembled the new all-in-one Singer 9960 embroidery sewing model.

With easy to use automatic functions, loads of sewing stitches & heavy-duty structure, the machine has been a favorite of many embroidery fans.

Undoubtedly, the Singer 9960 is a worth buying choice for both amateurs or professionals who are in search of an affordable combo for embroidery hats or caps.

Singer 9960

Pros
Extensive collection of 600 built-in stitches, 5 fonts, and 13 buttonhole styles
No Need to Adjust thread tension with Automatic thread tension
Built-in LED light over the work area
Extension table enables working or large sewing projects
Single Click Stitch Selection
Easy-to-Load Top Drop-In Bobbin System
Automatic Needle Threader
850 stitches per minute
Cons
No USB port

Features

The Singer 9960 offers everything that will enable you to expand your creative skills and progress further. It provides an extensive collection of sewing stitches that empowers you to custom design anything creatively.

Additionally, these stitches include basic, stretch & decorative stitches that are enough for crafting, home decor, quilting, and fashion sewing.

With auto-pilot features, such as the automatic needle threader, you can save your time by threading your machine within a few seconds, reducing the risk of eye strain.

Stitching is made easy with Singer 9960 because of the machine’s front screen, which permits you to select any stitch with just a single click. Moreover, it also displays the most used stitches on the front of the machine that can be accessed through a direct selection of stitches.

By using Singer 9960, you can sew a buttonhole easily in a short time. It’s possible due to the 13 built-in buttonhole styles that allow you to sew perfectly-sized buttons by just adding it to the buttonhole foot.

Have to work on large designs?

Good News:

The Singer model supports working on large projects. It comes with a large extension table that can be used for quilting, embroidery & sewing projects.

More features include the Easily loaded Drop-in Bobbin, Electronic Twin Needle that helps you to accomplish your projects in time.

Verdict:
Singer’s Quantum Stylist 9960, is one of the most lovable sewing machines for a reason. The affordability, beginner-friendly features, including an extensive collection of sewing stitches, are the source of attraction.

To sum up, it is one of the best choices for anyone who steps into embroidery business & wants to grow with time.

5. Brother PE535

“Most Convenient & Affordable”

The Brother PE535 machine, one of the most favorite Brother Models, has much importance due to its affordability and easy-to-use features. It makes it easy working on any home embroidery project, including towels, napkins, hats, or any home decor items.

Whether a starter or shifting to a new embroidery machine, you will find it more valuable in adding worth to crafts.

Brother PE535 Embroidery Machine

Pros
Compact & elegant design
Easy to use & Beginner-friendly
80 built-in designs including 9 embroidery fonts
Large LCD display
4X4 inch embroidery area
Built-in Video Tutorials
Cons
It can only perform embroidery
Embroidery field size not enough for large projects

Features

Enjoy the flavor of embroidery with Brother PE535 that makes crafting fun & unique with its most advanced features.

The vast collection of 80 built-in designs, including floral, holiday & kids designs, etc. provides a lot of options to embellish your creations with excellent creativity. Besides, the nine built-in fonts also take part in personalizing your creations.

Need more space to work?

If Yes, then the PE535 embroidery machine provides you an excess of space to work, with a 4″ X 4″ embroidery area enough for embroidering hats.

Furthermore, the built-in 3.2 inch LCD screen gives you full control in making your designs more appealing. Due to its multiple editing features, you can edit your plans easily with just the touch of your finger with a live preview of your designs before sewing.

Despite the included designs, the built-in memory features allow you to add additional ones to your projects after purchasing from external design websites. Or you can also create your designs on your PC and then transfer them via a connecting cable.

Last but not least, despite its amazing features, the Brother PE535 is also backed by 25 years of limited warranty with 24/7 product lifetime technical support.

Verdict:
Brother PE535, a most reliable, versatile, and inexpensive cap embroidery machine, facilitates any project, whether embroidering a hat, personalizing your shirts, or turning daily use fabrics into alluring masterpieces, etc.

In short, If you are looking for an affordable device without compromising features, then Brother PE535 is undoubtedly the perfect choice for you.

6. Brother PE550D

“Cutest Designs”

Embroidery can be enjoyable when the embroidery machines have features that make them fun & entertaining. The same is the case for Brother PE550D, which comes with a collection of Disney designs making your crafts more attractive.

Moreover, due to its versatile nature, the PE550D also enables you to work on additional designs. The machine is easy to use and doesn’t require any particular expertise.

So, whether you are a beginner or an expert craftsman looking for an embroidery model to embellish T-shirts, hats, baseball caps, or any fabric, etc. then this Brother machine can be your next best deal to get.

PE550D Embroidery Machine

Pros
125 built-in designs including 45 Disney designs
4-inch by 4-inch expansive embroidery field.
Unlimited designs import options
Several choices for editing
Automatic Needle Threader
Easily operated
Economical
Cons
Less internal Storage Space
Can’t use for sewing

Features

The Brother PE550, a perfect home hat embroidery machine for beginners, comes with everything you need to start your first embroidery project. With 125 built-in designs and 45 additional Disney designs, you can transform your dream into majestic creations.

It’s not the end!

This Brother model also includes 9 embroidery fonts that provide you more possibilities to decorate your clothes or home decor items according to your taste.

Embroidering is easy with Brother PE550 due to its 3.2-inch sewing smart screen that provides you full access to preview and manage your designs. With design editing features, you can align text at a certain angle or in a curve, resize the spacing between letters, add text to multiple lines, and many more.

It also included a 4×4 embroidery field that is sufficient for embellishing small projects along with a grid sheet & an alignment tool that enables you to align embroidery patterns and needle position for perfect results.

Last but certainly not least, the built-in Memory helps you to add additional designs that result in personalized arts. Plus, an automatic needle threader acts as a real time-saver by loading thread automatically with the touching of a lever.

Verdict:
The Brother PE550D is undoubtedly a must-buy item for enthusiastic embroiders. Its built-in designs, especially the Disney ones, fascinate true Disney lovers.

Multi design features, best stitching quality & ease of use makes it unique & the best choice for hat embroidery.

7. Janome Memory Craft 400E

“Most Advanced”

Janome, a famous embroidery and sewing machine manufacturer, has brought the Janome MC 400E, a powerful embroidery machine known for its excellent features, affordable price, and fantastic stitch quality.

Despite its multiple features, the machine is an easy-to-use and perfect choice for both beginners and a skillful crafter.

Whether you want to add beautiful embellishments on your garments, or personalizing your shirts, hats or caps, the MC400E has all of your needs.

Janome MC 400E

Pros
160 built-in designs & 6 Monogramming fonts
Large 7.9×7.9 inch embroidery field
Flexible stitch traveling
860 spm embroidery speed
On-screen Multiple editing features
Features 4 different size hoops
Cons
Not for Sewing Projects

Features

This Janome model comes with 160 built-in embroidery designs and 6 monogramming fonts that open a large number of possibilities for you to create custom designs of your own choice.

It solves your problem of handling big projects by providing a 7.9×7.9 inch built-in embroidery area that is capable of working on large pieces of fabric with supreme efficiency. In addition, the machine features an extra-wide table that increases your productivity by providing you more space to embroider.

The machine has a large LCD screen that lets you do different design editing functions, including zoom, single color sewing, combine, enlarge/ reduce, arc, corner layout, rotate, flip, grouping, drag, and drop, copy and paste, etc.

Irrespective of the built-in designs, you can also save more patterns to your machine by transferring files from your computer to the device using a built-in USB port.

To ensure precision and accuracy, the MC400 comes with top mark features including

Verdict:
The Janome MC400E will be your ultimate helper in embroidering hats. With its magnanimous 7.9×7.9 embroidery field you can create world-class crafts without worrying about the size of the designs. In short, if you want fantastic results in a low budget, then this Janome model is the best choice to buy.

8. Janome MB-4S

“Best Commercial Embroidery Machine for Hats and Shirts”

The Janome MB-4S is a 4-needle embroidery machine that has merged the features of both industrial & home-based machines in one place. Much productive & efficient than a regular machine due to its professional features.

What makes it so unique?

With its four needles, you can accomplish multiple embroidery projects at a time. While working on one project, you can move to the next task and let the machine complete the first one automatically.

This Janome machine model plays an indirect role in growing your embroidery businesses. It is the best choice for the ones who are passionate about creating high-quality ornaments, decorations, images, etc. on their fabrics in no time.

Janome MB 4S Patch Making Machine

Pros
50 Built-in designs & 10 Monogramming fonts
Large 9.4×7.9 inch embroidery area to handle big projects
Can store up to 100 designs or 1,500,000 stitches with 3MB Memory
Built-in 4 needles to work speedier with fewer thread changes
Supports Computer Connectivity with USB port
Exclusive Bobbin Winding Motor
Cons
Price is High
Beginners might face difficulty at the start
Weighs High & Not Easily Portable

Features

The Janome MB-4S embroidery machine brings forth a Remote Computer Screen that is capable of providing design editing up to a maximum of 65,536 colors. Moreover, a single RCS can control many machines resulting in saving costs in buying additional controllers.

The large 9.4″ x 7.9″ inch embroidery area adds more space to the work area and is the perfect size for hat embroidery. Furthermore, it also permits you to attach a hat hoop for remarkable results.

The MB-4S Machine also offers 50 built-in designs, 10 monogramming fonts & 2 to 3 letter monogramming that is enough for you to create custom crafts at the beginning.

Apart from this, the computer connectivity feature is also available for you that lets you import new patterns for specific projects. The machine also contains 3 MB of built-in Memory that saves up to 100 designs or 1,500,000 stitches.

The exclusive bobbin winding motor is one of the unique features of Janome MB-4S that is mostly not found in many of the professional machines that allow you to wind a new bobbin even while you stitch a design. In addition, the automatic needle threader saves your time & effort by cutting the jump thread even between the letters.

Verdict:
Janome MB-4S, with its revolutionary features, including a large embroidery area, remote computer screen, and bobbin winding motor, shows it worth investing in. Whether starting a hats embroidery business or selling additional items, it can deal with any fabric that you’re going to work on.

It might not be the right option for beginners due to its high price & advanced features, but for experienced crafters, it should be the top priority machine.

Best Embroidery Machine For Hats Comparison

ProductTypeEmbroidery Area (inches)Built-in DesignsDimensions (inches)Weight (pounds)Embroidery Speed (Stitches Per Min.)
Brother SE1900
(Editor's Choice)
Embroidery & Sewing 5×7 138 23.2 x 13.4 x 11.522.05850
Brother PE800Embroidery-only 5×7 138 21.8 x 19 x 19.117.64650
Brother SE600Embroidery & Sewing 4×4 80 21.2 x 15.5 x 16.511.82710
Singer 9960Embroidery & Sewing --17.25 x 8.25 x 1220850
Brother PE535Embroidery-only 4×4 80 16.5 x 7.8 x 1214.99 400
Brother PE550D Embroidery-only 4×4 12516.5 x 7.8 x 1223.1 400
Janome Memory Craft 400EEmbroidery-only 7.9x7.916026 x 22 x 21.834.6 860
Janome MB-4SEmbroidery-only 9.4" x 7.95026 x 18 x 25.564800

How to Choose Best Hat Embroidery Machine (Buyer’s Guide )

As you know, we have to consider a lot of factors before buying anything.  They include quality, price, features, or brand trustworthiness, etc.

But when considering an embroidery machine for hats, then you need to know certain features that allow you to perform well in any embroidery business.

Due to the large varieties of embroidery machines, it might be tough for you to select the appropriate model.

So, What to do?

No Worry! After in-depth research, we are here to highlight a few aspects that should be followed while buying the best embroidery machine for hats.

Let’s get started

Machine Type

Buying an embroidery machine with proper planning by considering your needs & requirements can save a lot of your money. The same can be achieved if you know your need to buy an embroidery machine.

There are usually two types of hat embroidery machines available in the market based on their features. One is the dedicated model with complete embroidery features or specially built for embroidery purposes, such as the Brother PE800, Janome MC 400E, Brother PE550D, etc.

The other that comes with additional sewing features facilitates both embroidery and sewing, such as Brother SE600, Singer 9960, Brother SE1900.

So to choose what? Or What is the best embroidery machine for hats to choose from?

It depends on your requirements. If your primary focus is embroidery, then go for a dedicated embroidery-only machine. But if you want to work on sewing projects as well, then an embroidery sewing combo is the right choice for you.

Number of designs & fonts

The second most crucial factor that has a significant role in hat embroidery is the number of built-in designs & fonts that provide you plenty of options for embroidering hats. Having these will enable you to start working on any project without an active internet connection to import additional designs.

All the machines reviewed here comes with an extensive collection of styles, fonts, & stitches. So, it is a wise choice to choose the one that has all it available.

Embroidery Field Size

The other factor that plays a significant role in every embroidery project’s success is the size of the embroidery field. It depends on the type of project that you’re going to work.

If your primary motive is to do hat embroidery, then you don’t need any extra space for your projects.

However, for working on other items such as shirts, jeans or jackets, etc. you should buy an embroidery machine with a large work area.

In short, the larger the embroidery area, the more comfortable you feel while working on any project.

Computer Connectivity

The most liked feature that not only allows you to install machine updates but also a source to import additional designs from your PC. It especially helped you more when working on custom projects where you need a unique design for a specific event.

Adding more, if you want your hats/caps a different look with a variety of unique looking designs, then an embroidery machine with a computer connectivity feature is a must option.

Hat Hoop Availability

The addition of a hat hoop has equal importance as others. It will be the icing on the cake if you select a machine that has a built-in hat hoop. But most of the models don’t have a hat hoop despite the hoop attachment available. So, in that case, you have to buy it separately.

No doubt that there are methods that help you to flatten the hat with pins, but it’s time-consuming. So the best approach is to buy a separate hoop to save your time and efforts.

Number of Needles

Want to make your embroidery processes more efficient?

If Yes, then you should consider the hat machine having maximum built-in needles.

In general, the professional hat embroidery machines have more than 10 needles allowing you to work on advanced projects on a large scale.

Moreover, it also enables you to go for different projects at a time, while one task is in progress, you can jump to the second one.

Additionally, you can also perform hat embroidery using a single needle machine that works perfectly for home sewing. The only problem is it takes your time in changing thread colors while working on a multi-color design.

To conclude, if you are going to do a lot of embroideries, then you can choose Janome MB-4S, but for a small home-based business, you can go for Brother SE1900.

Reputable Brand

The top embroidery machine brands include Brother, Singer, Janome, & Eversewn, etc. which are considered as the people’s most favorite that provide high-quality products along with high customer services that make them unique from the rest ones.

It’s the best approach to choose a brand that has supreme authority in its field & also specializes in manufacturing the best embroidery machines that can sew hats, caps, shirts, or any other items, etc.

LCD Display

LCD Display is necessary for every embroidery machine, as it extends great feasibility. Whether you are buying a machine for home use or commercial purposes, you should not ignore the Machine’s LCD feature.

As you know that hat embroidery is slightly different from embroidering on pure fabrics because of the hat’s curved shape. So, while stitching a hat, you may have to change the orientation and size of the design regularly.

In this situation, an LCD screen can be much helpful, which allows you to preview & edit your designs quickly, making embroidery processes simpler. For some machines, the LCD also has various editing features that let you edit designs with the help of your finger.

Automatic Thread Tension

Along with other factors, this is also as important as others. It is suggested to choose a hat embroidery machine that features the automatic thread tension that will save you from puckering & thread breaks.

User Friendly

Despite beginner friendliness, the selected machine should be easy to set up & comfortably manageable. If an embroidery machine takes a lot of your time while preparing for a project, then it will decrease your productivity. Hence, it’s our suggestion to choose a device that can change your thread easily.

Speed

Speed of embroidery is measured by the number of stitches performed per minute or SPM. It is best to slow down your embroidery machine when embroidering hats for best results. The machine’s running speed should be at least 600 stitches per minute with a hat frame and about 750 for a flat. It is just a suggestion because each hat embroidery design is different.

When a design contains intricate details and small letters, it reduces the machine’s speed. A good machine speed for hat frames and flats should be about 550 and 650 stitches per minute, respectively, to improve registration and stitching.

Durability

It’s always best to select a machine that has a heavy-duty metal frame and can handle items with greater strength, such as denim. If your machine is more durable, you will express your embroidery skills more freely on heavy fabrics.

It takes quality embroidery to make a garment last. A digital design on embroidery doesn’t wear off, fade, or peel like a traditional graphic whether you wash it frequently and expose it to high temperatures. Your embroidered item could last a lifetime, so you don’t have to worry about running it through the washing machine. 

Dimension and Portability

There are many sewing machines, and some of them need to be attached to a sewing table. But if you want to design only hats and caps, you don’t need to purchase a big machine with a table. Because using a sewing machine with a table and storing the machine will take up a lot of space. On the other hand, compact machines are slim enough to fit in a smaller space and easily store. 

It doesn’t matter whether you are buying for a home purpose or factory, but the dimensions of the machine always matter.

Price and Warranty

Different machines have different prices that depend on their features. If a machine has many features, then it must be costly, but many embroidery machines are at normal prices with amazing features. 

If you want to make designs for hats, you need a compact size machine with multiple functions such as high speed, portability, Strong dimensions, and many others. 

Another important thing is that many people buy costly machines with no warranty. A good embroidery and sewing machine has a 25 years warranty. And after some time these machines do not work properly, so always choose a machine with a strong warranty.

How to Use an Embroidery Machine For Hats?

how to embroider a hat

Ever wondered how to embroider a hat?. If Yes, then this step by step instructions will guide you to embellish your hats efficiently.

Step 1. Make Your Design Ready

As the hats have a small room to stitch, hence the design choice is more critical. So you have to select a pattern that fits in the available space with proper adjustments for a better look.

So how do you determine the area to stitch? To measure the stitching area, flatten the top front of the hat to the feasible extent then calculate the area you pressed flat against the surface.

Flattening allows you to straighten the cap’s top for successful embroidery, but working on a structured cap might be difficult for you to stitch compared to the unstructured ones.

If you don’t have enough space to embroider freely, then you can also print out your design’s template and paste it on the cap.

Many of the embroidery software programs help you in this situation by enabling you to print the design’s template with a center mark on it.

Step 2. Prepare The Hat for Embroidery

In this step, at first, you have to hoop the stabilizer. It is easier for you to work with a large hoop than required for the design to provide you some additional space to work correctly. Additionally, It is easy for you to work with the bill when it is facing you. It gives you full access to control of the embroidery process. After this, score the paper backing.

Tear away the paper backing and label the hoop center. Then, the next task is to attach your cap to the hoop by pressing the stitching area onto the stabilizer with adequately aligning the cap center mark with the stabilizer mark. Afterward, remove the stabilizer from the hoop.

Step 3. Embroider the Hat

For embroidery, most of the caps due to their thick fabric or lining will require large needles instead of the standard ones. Or it may happen because usually, you will stitch through seams. A 90/14 needle size is the most appropriate size for embroidering caps.

Take the design and place the hoop carefully on the machine and make sure the hat will not move while embroidering.

After you have aligned the design, you can start embroidery and do check that the hat fabric stays flat with every stitch.

Once your design is complete, you can remove it from the hoop and also the stabilizer from the back of the hat.

Note: It is suggested to turn off all automatic thread cutters while embroidering as it may cause the hoop to move, and this motion can affect the bill of your cap and your whole project. Moreover, also not a basting function of the machine while embroidering.

hat embroidery machine infographics

FAQs

Can the Brother SE600 embroidery hats?

Yes, you can embroider hats with Brother SE600.

It is a perfect choice for anyone searching for a budget-friendly hat embroidery machine with basic features. Moreover, you can also use the SE600 machine for sewing purposes for most-effective sewing.

What do I need to embroider hats?

Here are the few things that you need to start hat embroidery:

  • Hat Embroidery Machine
  • Hat Hoop
  • Thicker Thread ( Most of the professionalists use Rayon Thread for Hat Embroidery)
  • Needles ( Use needles that are compatible with hat embroidery fabrics. A 75/11 needle size is more often used.)
  • Tear-away Stabilizer
  • Measuring Tool
  • Pins
  • Painter Tape
  • Marking Tool

How long does it take to embroider a hat?

It depends on multiple factors, including the machine embroidery speed, hoop size, color changes, thread break, and the design stitch count, etc. In addition, the designs with large fills can run faster as compared to the small fills designs.

How much is a hat embroidery machine?

There are numerous varieties of machines available, having different features & prices. In actuality, the features & functionalities depend on the product price. Usually, the hat embroidery machines built for personal or home use ( such as Brother PE800, Brother SE1900) costs less than 1000$, while commercial based embroidery machines ( Janome MB-4S, Janome 400E) cost you 1000$ to 5000$.

Do You Need To Use Special Needles For Hat Machine Embroidery?

Yes, you have to use special needles for hat embroidery.

Usually, these needles are used with polyester or rayon embroidery threads on different types of fabrics. A 75/11 needle size is more often used for embroidering hats in which 75 is the European size, while the 11 is the American size. As the lids are made up of thick fabric, therefore we have to use large needles for hat embroidery.

Do You Need To Use A Special Thread For Hat Machine Embroidery?

Yes, you need a particular thread for hat embroidery. As the caps are manufactured with heavier fabrics, thus you require a thicker yarn when working on heavy canvas. The same case is when you work with medium cotton as well. To conclude, most of the experts use rayon thread for the perfect hat or cap embroidery.

How to remove embroidery from a hat?

Make sure you touch the stitches gently to prevent damaging the hat. When you’re done, turn the hat right-side-out and pull out any loose threads that you see. Once you’ve started pulling the stitches out, use tweezers to remove them.

What is the best cap embroidery machine?

According to your budget and the purpose of the machine, you may need a different type of machine. If your budget is tighter, one very good option could be an embroidery machine from Brother SE1900. But, if you want to obtain high-quality stitches and a machine for home use, choose any Janome embroidery machine.

How to connect a hat hoop to a brother embroidery machine? 

You can connect a hat hoop to a brother embroidery machine through a hat hoop inserter. This makes the hoop connect to the machine with great precision and remarkable accuracy. Therefore, you can always rely on a hat hoop inserter for the job. 

Conclusion

We hope that you have enjoyed this in-depth best embroidery machine for hats review, and now you have a better idea about the functionalities and features of the top machines reviewed.

Additionally, we believe all the information mentioned here, including the product reviews and buying guides, presents you with a clear-cut view of the machine that will fulfill your needs and requirements.

Our top pick here is Brother SE1900, a perfect hat embroidery sewing machine for home or small businesses. It provides a top-class embroidery experience by providing commercial-type results at an affordable price.

On the second, we have Brother PE800. This dedicated hat embroidery machine can be used for commercial purposes and a perfect selection for beginners looking for a comfortable use budget-friendly device.

To sum up, all the models reviewed here provide the best hat embroidery experience and are known for their own top best features. It’s now up to you to choose the one that meets your budget, needs, or requirements.

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