Best sewing and embroidery machines under $200

Top pick: Brother BM3850 — a true sewing-and-embroidery combo that stays inside the cap. It's the one to start with: 37 built-in stitches and 74 stitch functions cover everyday sewing, and the embroidery side is simple enough for a first machine. It's mechanical rather than computerized, so expect to change settings by hand.

Who the others suit:

• Complete Sewing & Embroidery Machine Set — the cheapest way to try embroidery at all; treat it as a starter kit, not a long-term machine.
• Brother SE700 / SE600 — the real step up if you can stretch the budget: computerized, with a 4" x 4" embroidery hoop and 135 built-in designs on the SE700.
• Brother SE1900 / SE2000 — for someone who already knows they'll embroider often and wants a bigger hoop and more stitches.

If embroidery is the main goal rather than sewing, a dedicated embroidery-only machine is worth a look too.