tattoo equipment travel cases

3 Best Tattoo Travel Cases to Carry Tattoo Equipment!

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Are you tired of your tattoo products making a mess when you travel? From the life of tattoo artists, we have observed that they may have to travel to different locations and they become fussy about carrying a lot of stuff! Tattoo Travel Case provides you with the greatest solutions to your problem! Keep your things organized and secure when traveling. To make yourself confident about purchasing a tattoo travel case, we have showcased the 3 best travel cases with detailed features and advantages and disadvantages.

Budget-Friendly Tattoo Travel Cases

1. plplaaoo tattoo travel case.

The tattoo kit case is a versatile tool suitable for professional tattoo artists, beauty studios, and salons. You can get three sizes. The length and width of the small size are 5cm and 8 cm. Moreover, the length and width of the large box are 13 cm and 16 cm. Lastly, the length and width of the medium-sized box are 9 cm and 16 cm. It features an aluminum frame, medium-density fiberboard, metal-wrapped corners, rubber feet, a molded foam upper tray, and soft padded liners for protection. The box holds a tattoo machine , grip, foot pedal, and power supply , but may not fit all necessary equipment.

It’s well-packaged, fast, and secure, with a professional design for comfortable and safe transport. The case features 2 locks and keys, ensuring safety for your tattoo kit and preventing accidental falls, and is compact, lightweight, and compatible with our kit. From the viewer’s choice, it is the best tattoo travel case.

Extraordinary Features

Multi-functional.

The tattoo travel case is a customizable storage solution for various tattoo machines, with sufficient room for inks and needles, making it appropriate for both individuals and professionals.

Protection Of Equipment

The tattoo travel case features rubber feet and thick egg crate foam, providing protection and customization for your tattoo equipment, while also allowing easy removal of foam.

Lock Design

This compact, lightweight tattoo travel case features 2 keyed locks, a handy carry handle, and a lock design for secure storage of manual and stitching work.

Quality Material

The item is made of high-quality, wear-resistant, and durable all-aluminum material, and is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry.

The tattoo travel case is designed to accommodate tattoo machines, grips, power supplies, foot pedals, and needles, providing a convenient and organized solution for tattoo equipment and supplies.

Is It Easy To Carry?

Though it is made with aluminum material, it is lightweight. You can carry it easily from one place to another.

2. Icoget Portable Tattoo Travel Case

The tattoo travel case vis versa table is an impressive item with wheels that roll effortlessly, a full-size tabletop, hard-riveted metal corners, key and combination locks, and a built-in Bluetooth speaker. It can hold your entire setup and save you time on the go. However, it may be helpful to change the wheels for easier locking.

Strong & Portable

The case is constructed from metal stand and flame-retardant sheets, featuring metal-wrapped corners for enhanced protection, a stable worktop, and features 4 lockable 360°swivel casters for easy mobility. You can shorten the table legs. You can put away the tabletop. Moreover, it is easy to move.

Bluetooth Supported

The device features a built-in speaker, a charging port, and an HD ultra-white explosion-proof mirror for convenient tattooing.

Sufficient Space

The table vanity case offers ample storage and partitioning, perfect for keeping tattoo equipment.

Safety Lock

The table vanity prioritizes the safety of your case’s contents with locks on every storage compartment, and customs code locks for added security and convenience.

Multi-Functional Usage

This case is useful for nail technicians and beauticians because it may be used at home, at nail salons, and as a temporary beauty table for brides.

Is the top of the tabletop a non-porous surface?

The wrapped metal is the same as the exterior of the case.

What are the dimensions of the Bottom drawer?

The dimensions of the deepest drawer are uncertain, but it is likely the most spacious.

3. BYOOTIQUE Rolling Tattoo Travel Case

The Byootique Trolley Case is a modern and stylish tattoo product carrying case for tattoo artists. It features an expandable floor-standing table , detachable wheels, and an individual mirror for convenient makeup check-in. The case also has a large storage compartment with removable drawers and elastic straps for easy access. It also includes a portable Bluetooth speaker for music playback and a sturdy aluminum frame for support. The case also features lockable latches for tattoo product safety.

You can notice that there are three colors available to purchase. Such as Black, Purple, and Pink. We must say they are very adorable colors.

The Byootique Trolley Case is a stylish and timeless accessory ideal for nail artists, street performances, temporary make-up rooms, or carrying tattoo equipment. The length, height, and width of the case are 33 cm, 16 cm, and 31 cm.

The product features an expandable floor-standing table, a one-piece trolley with 360-degree rotated wheels, and an individual mirror for convenient tattooing.

Enough Space

The compact tattoo kit organizer features a spacious upper and lower compartment with four removable drawers, dividers for organizing needles, inks, and tattoo machines, and elastic straps for easy access.

Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The speaker features an AUX cable for Bluetooth music playback, an AUX port for phone connectivity, and a compact design for easy carrying and fully charged music playback.

The product features a corrosion-resistant aluminum frame, fire-retardant material, metal-wrapped corners, and lockable latches for tattoo equipment safety.

Does It Come With The Speaker Attached?

No, It didn’t come with the attachment part by the speaker. It came with separate parts and you have to join those.

Is It Worth Buying?

According to the price, it is worth buying. Though it is a little heavy to carry, but you can carry a lot of equipment.

What To Keep In Mind

Flying with tattoo equipment.

The author suggests carrying small ink bottles according toTSA agents, advising against using equipment as tools. They also advise to carry labeling equipment, as they have not encountered issues with this method in recent times. The author encourages readers not to rely on baggage handlers for carry-on items because everything else is checked. They mention an example where half-empty peanut butter was thrown out owing to its labeling, despite the fact that it was half-full.

Tattoo Travel Case On Wheels

The author has presented two tattoo travel cases that have wheels. You can be assured that they have really convenient prices. They are truly easy to use and carry anywhere you want.

Tattoo Ink Travel Case

Plplaaoo, Icegot, and Byootique Products have developed a custom travel solution for tattoo inks, enhancing organization and safety during trips, based on user feedback and style optimizations. Our suggested tattoo ink Carrying Case is an ergonomically designed, waterproof case with custom memory foam for easy grip and travel, storing 55 1oz ink bottles, providing a secure storage solution.

Tattoo Machine Travel Case

The travel case is designed for tattoo artists to carry valuable tattoo machines. It features compartments for artwork and equipment, a zippered closure, a textured handle, and padded foam inserts. It’s compact, easy to carry, and designed for safe storage.

Final Insights

The tattoo travel case is an important element for tattoo artists. For example, they are attending tattoo conventions and they need to carry tattoo equipment. In this situation, a tattoo travel case can be a great help. It is a vital topic to discuss. But you may not get relevant articles. There are a lot of varieties in the market. Among them, we have tried to acknowledge the best products.

I am Amelia O’Kelly love writing. And I have adequate experience working in the tattoo industry, such as joining a few tattoo conventions volunteer in California & New York.

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Critical Tattoo Machine Travel Case

CRITICAL-TRAVEL-CASE-S

Size: Small

Critical Travel Case Protect the machines of your trade with the Critical Travel Case. This case will hold your machines safely and comfortably thanks to the thick convoluted foam interior. Closes with sturdy, lockable latches and made with heavily reinforced corners for maximum protection for the items inside. •        Available in two sizes – medium 16.5” x 13” x 4” and small 10” x 8” x 4” •        Crushproof and dustproof •        Made by Critical for tattoo machines •        1 Year Limited Warranty

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Helpful Items for Traveling Tattoo Artists

Whether you're getting ready to make a guest appearance at another shop or hit the road for a convention, you'll need a portable arsenal of tattoo supplies to practice your craft when you get where you're going. It's important to choose the right gear to carry your supplies, so you're organized and traveling as light as possible while still ensuring that your most important tools are at your fingertips. We cover what to pack, what to pack it in, and more.

What are the best tools for traveling tattoo artists? Does every shop staple come in a convenient travel size? Are there better alternatives to traditional tattoo supplies that make more sense for traveling artists? The answer is absolutely yes! Here’s a rundown of the best tools to pack in your toolkit the next time you’re getting ready to hit the road, as well as the best cases for helping you transport the tools you need in an organized way.

Getting Started: Choosing the Right Case(s) for Your Tattoo Gear

Deciding what type of tattoo case or bag to buy starts with the answer to a simple question: Where are you going to tattoo during your travels? If you’re planning on doing a couple guest appearances at different shops, you have an advantage that many artists traveling the convention circuit don’t have: You’ll be in a shop for a short time, so you can pack fairly light. Plus, the shop will most likely be well stocked with all the essentials, so if you forget to pack some commonly-used product, your host can most likely help you out with the missing item(s). If you’re going to be at a shop for more than a few days, you can even have tattoo supplies shipped to you there with little to no hassle–or just have everything shipped there ahead, so all you need to take with you is your favorite machine(s), power supply, and other staples. In this case, a simple backpack designed for tattoo artists, like one of Sullen’s Blaq Paq backpacks or the Blaq Paq Traveler would probably be the perfect tattoo bag for you.

Sullen’s Blaq Paq Tattoo Travel Bag Line

The Blaq Paq comes in 4 options to meet tattoo artists’ varying needs. The benefits of each are outlined in the chart below for easy comparison, but here’s the bottom line:

The Blaq Paq Core has a very apropos name, because it contains the essentials that every good tattoo travel bag should have. It’s definitely the core , or elemental, option in the Sullen line. It comes with 3 padded large inner compartments interspersed with a few small zippered exterior and interior pockets, as well as 3 removable cases that you can use to organize all of your gear.

The Traveler is the Godfather of the Blaq Paq line–a larger pilot bag style tattoo bag with a retractable handle and wheels that make it easy to cart this rectangular case around behind you rather than strapping it to your back. If you’re headed to a convention or out for an extended series of guest appearances, this is the bag for you. You might even want to get this bag and a Blaq Paq backpack, depending on where you’re going, how long you’ll be gone, and how much gear you need to tow along with you.

Don’t forget that Sullen makes awesome regular backpacks , too, like the one shown to the left. These bags are perfect for stowing a change of clothes, a toothbrush, and toiletries when you’re just headed out for an overnight stay and need something small to hold your personal effects.

Here’s a breakdown of each of the Sullen Blaq Paq bags’ key features:

Heavy-Duty, Hard-Shell Tattoo Travel Case Options

Pack Your Gear!

Now that you have the perfect bag(s) and/or case(s) to transport your tattoo gear, it’s time to start packing them. Get started by going over our list of traditional essentials, and add or remove items as needed. Look for travel-sized options where they’re available and where it makes sense to go for a smaller size. For instance, if you use more black ink than any other color, go for the big bottle. Don’t bog yourself down with a giant case of full-size aftercare salve tubs that you may or may not be able to sell, though. Get a reasonable amount to make a display, and pick up sample packets or small jars to send home with your clients. Make sure you have enough of each item packed for every job you have booked, plus a little extra. You can always have us expedite a package of supplies if you start to run low on anything partway through your tour, so don’t go crazy and overburden yourself before you even hit the road. Unless you have an apprentice at your mercy or a dedicated roadie, you’ll be lugging your gear on your own, so keep it as manageable as possible.

Tattoo Supply Checklist

• 1 Good Reference Book – You never know when you and your client might have a debate over the best flourishes or fonts to incorporate into a tattoo, so it’s good to have a handy reference manual, flash art book , etc., that you can look at together.
• Appropriate Travel Furniture (e.g. a travel table, a travel arm rest, a good stool, etc.)
• Tattoo Machine(s) – It’s always good to have a back-up! Plus, if you prefer to use separate machines for lining and shading, make sure to pack both.
• Tattoo Machine Coils & Other Parts – If you know there’s a finicky component to one of your machines or you burn through certain parts more quickly than others, pack back-ups!
• Tattoo Needles &/or Needle Bars – Make sure you have a good variety of styles and configurations handy. You can buy Precision Tattoo Needles loose, in boxes of 50, by the case, on bars… bottom line is you have options, so mix and match and get just what you need of each size rather than bog yourself down with a case of every style you use.
• Nipples & Grommets
• Tattoo Power Supply & Accessories (e.g. foot switch, clip cords, etc.)
• Surgical Pens/Doodlers – If you prefer to apply your stencils free-hand or supplement thermal transfer images with hand-drawn accents, these are great tools to have on hand.

• Plenty of Thermal Copier Paper
• Stencil Primer – Electrum makes little 0.25 oz. primer pots , which are convenient when you’re traveling.
• Stencil Transfer – Stencil Stuff makes convenient little travel packets , if you don’t want to take a big bottle with you.
• Disposable Tattoo Tubes – Reusable grips aren’t ideal when you’re at a convention, unless you get grip covers or lug an autoclave with you, too. If you go that route, make sure you have plenty of steel tubes and tattoo tips , too.
• Cohesive Wrap to Cover Grips (if desired)
• Clip Cord Covers, Machine Bags, Bottle Bags, Tattoo Sleeves, & Other Protective Covers

• Ink Cups (if you’re using an ink cup holder instead of disposable ink cup trays)
• Empty Ink Bottles (for mixing colors; just get a couple small ones in case you need them)
• Tattoo Ink – Make sure you have plenty of black, gray wash and any colors you know you’ll need a lot of for particular jobs.
• Hand-Held Ink Mixer & Extra Mixer Sticks (Don’t forget batteries!)
• Plastic Rinse Cups (also available by the case )
• Pen Lights &/or Head Lamps (Again, don’t forget batteries!)
• Tattoo Anesthetic – Many enthusiasts will likely prefer to tough it out even when you’re working on tender spots, but it can’t hurt to have some tattoo numbing cream or spray on hand, just in case any of your clients need it.

• Disposables (e.g. cotton swabs, Providone iodine packets, drape cloths, etc.)
• Spray Bottles & Cleaners/Disinfectants (for clean-up in between tattoos)
• Tatu-Derm or Dri-loc Pads – You can turn these items into upsells, too, by offering clients a few extra for a nominal fee. After all, who wants to walk around a convention with the “fish bowl effect”–i.e. a Tatu-Derm bandage so full of blood that the tattoo underneath isn’t even visible. It’d be much better to change the bandage when the bleeding stops and properly show off that new tattoo!
• Tattoo Aftercare Products – Aftercare products are an inexpensive value-added item for your clients. At minimum, send them home with a few sample packets or a small jar of your preferred aftercare product, and keep some larger containers on hand for anyone who wants to buy more. It’s an easy way to increase your profits with an upsell everyone you tattoo will need and can be easily pursuaded to buy.

• A Pound of Flesh – This stuff isn’t just for practicing; decorated with your art and mounted on a stand, A Pound of Flesh hands make eye-catching display pieces for your convention table. Put a price tag on them, and you might make some extra money at the show by selling your art on a brand new medium!
• Energy Drinks – Keep going… and going… and going… like the Energizer bunny with the help of our energy shots!

Transporting Your Supplies

Don’t Forget Our Coupons, Sales & Deals!

Painful Pleasures was founded with the goal of supporting the individuals who make the body mod industry awesome by sharing their modification talents with the world. We want you to profit as much as possible from every tattoo you ink and every product you sell. That’s why we offer all of our products at wholesale prices, even in our Retail Store . If you shop in our Wholesale store , you can take advantage of further reduced prices offered exclusively to industry professionals who spend $100-$499.99 per order. If you shop in our Distributor store , you’ll benefit from our very lowest prices, available only to industry professionals spending $500 or more per order.

To save even more, buy cases of items you use frequently and take advantage of bulk prices. Even products that aren’t offered in cases are often available with tiered pricing options, meaning the more you buy, the more you save.

Finally, don’t forget to check our Events section before purchasing to see our weekly coupons and any other specials we’re running. (Did you know that we’re offering 15% off Intenze tattoo ink through the end of 2014? Now that’s a sale event worth knowing about!)

To get our weekly coupons delivered right to your email inbox, subscribe to our mailing list by going to the store you prefer to shop in ( Retail , Wholesale or Distributor ), scrolling to the bottom of any page in the store, and entering your email address in the email sign-up box in the bottom-right corner of the page. Once you’re on our mailing list, you’ll get weekly emails containing our coupon of the week plus details about any new products and special offers we’re promoting.

We’ve got you covered supplies-wise, so pack smart, travel safely, keep calm, and tattoo on!

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8 best sewing machines for your home, tried and tested

Whether you want to mend or make clothes and soft furnishings, you can rely on these GHI Approved sewing machines

This article was updated in April to bring you the latest prices and offers.

It can be tricky for beginners to know which sewing machine to buy, so the Good Housekeeping Institute’s resident expert put a range of machines from leading brands to the test.

If you're new to sewing and don't want to spend too much, this John Lewis machine is our top pick for under £150. Read the full review below.

These are our best sewing machines for beginner to intermediate sewers but scroll on for our full reviews.

Best sewing machine

Brother innov-is a65.

Joint runner-up sewing machine

Janome sewist 725s.

Joint runner-up and best for mending

Pfaff smarter 160s.

Best investment sewing machine

Bernina b325.

Best sewing machine for dressmaking

Singer heavy duty 4423.

Best value computerised sewing machine

Singer 6605c heavy duty sewing machine.

Best budget sewing machine

Elna explore 220.

Best sewing machine for beginners

John lewis & partners jl110.

If you’re replacing an existing sewing machine, there are plenty of places for you to safely recycle your old one. Find your nearest electrical recycling point , or read our guide on how to donate or dispose of your appliances and tech for extra guidance.

What are the different types of sewing machine?

For making clothes and soft furnishings, there are two main types of sewing machines.

Mechanical sewing machines

The traditional style of sewing machine, mechanical models are manually controlled by a range of dials that allow you to select your stitch, alter its length and width, and adjust the tension.

Most mechanical machines will be suitable for any sewing project, but they don’t tend to have as many functions as their computerised counterparts. Though more affordable overall, the more stitches a model offers, the more expensive it will be.

Computerised sewing machines

These innovative sewing machines have built-in computers programmed with the stitches and their recommended sizes. They can even run without a foot pedal via a stop and start button.

If you’re just getting started and want to keep your sewing slow and steady, a feature called ‘speed control’ lets you limit how quickly the machine can run.

Computerised sewing machines cost more than mechanical models, but their higher prices are easily justified by functions such as automatic stitch reinforcement – as opposed to manually pressing a reverse stitch button at the beginning and end of a row of stitching – and a wider array of stitch patterns, including decorative options and sometimes letters of the alphabet.

How do I choose my first sewing machine?

Firstly, decide whether a mechanical or computerised model is the best sewing machine for you. Then, consider how important the following factors are.

Threading design

Sewing machines can vary when it comes to needle threading and bobbin loading.

For a more accessible machine, look for an automatic needle threader. These speed up the often fiddly process of feeding thread through the eye of the needle, instead hooking onto the thread and pulling it through themselves.

Turning to bobbins (the part on which the lower thread is wound), you’ll have to choose between a front-loading and top-loading design.

Top-loading bobbins sit on the free arm just beneath the needle. They can simply be dropped in, and their bobbin cases tend to be clear so you can see how much thread remains. Front-loading bobbins are fiddly to fit and concealed within the machine when in use.

Range of stitches

The machines on our list offer between 14 and 97 stitches, so you’ll need to decide how many of them you’d like. Even the most basic models come with standard straight, zig-zag and stretch stitches, and 20 stitches should be plenty for most home sewing projects.

More advanced stitches, such as quilting ones, add more functionality but cost more.

Included accessories

Presser feet – the parts that sit above the fabric and hold it in place as you sew – are essential accessories. Every machine below comes with at least a standard zigzag foot.

Other options include a zipper foot – useful for making clothes or cushions – and an overedge (or overcasting) foot to help you finish the edges of your fabric to prevent fraying.

Finally, consider which type of buttonhole foot you’d like; a one-step buttonhole foot is the easiest to use, as you simply fit the button into one end of the foot, sew, and the machine automatically works to the correct sizing.

If you fancy trying quilting, look for a quilting guide. Most machines come with a seam ripper, additional bobbins and spool extensions for threading two reels of cotton, should you wish to use a double needle.

Note that most of these accessories (and many more) can also be purchased separately.

How to care for your sewing machine

The best sewing machines should last you many years with proper care.

Look for a machine with a cover – either hard or soft – to protect it when not in use and stop it getting dusty.

Regularly changing your sewing machine needle is also important; try to do this after every eight hours of sewing. Make sure you use the right type of needle for your fabric, too.

Check the manufacturer’s instructions, but some machines require regular cleaning to stop lint build-up in the feed dogs, and many will come with a brush for this purpose. If you have a front-loading bobbin, this may require occasional oiling, too.

Ideally, take your machine for an annual service, especially if you’re a regular sewer. Local sewing machine shops and some fabric shops should have specialists who offer this.

How we test sewing machines

The GHI finds the best machines by testing how they sew across four different fabrics: cotton, viscose, jersey and denim. They run long test strips of each material through the machine to check consistency, tension and how it handles it.

Next, they trial a selection of stitches on each fabric, including a straight, zigzag and buttonhole stitch, plus stretch stitches on jersey.

Finally, they award each sewing machine an overall score for its ease of use, design and functionality.

These are our expert's best sewing machines for beginners and intermediate sewers.

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Score: 97/100

This was a stand-out sewing machine on test. It’s easy to get stitching straightaway thanks to a clear quick-start guide and on-machine markings. There’s more to get used to than on a mechanical machine, but its detailed instructions include guidance on stitch selection, and error codes appear on its screen for simple troubleshooting.

Its computerised design simplifies sewing too, whether you’re choosing stitch lengths and widths, reinforcing lines of stitching or even sewing a buttonhole. Thanks to its one-step foot, you simply select your stitch, press start and watch it sew. This was the only time our tester had to play around with the tension, too. It also has a handy thread cutting feature for a neat chop when you’re done with your line of stitching.

Quiet and stable in use, it produced outstanding results across every fabric and stitch type – even when sewing delicate chiffon, which was our tester’s favourite task to tackle. They said the experience was as “smooth as butter”. And there are plenty of decorative and quilting stitches available, meaning it’s a great machine for almost any project.

Key specifications

Score: 91/100

This mechanical sewing machine proved a trusty buy that will serve both beginners and more experienced sewers alike. Its seam allowance guides (including one for corner-turning) and threading markings are clear and easy to follow, the bobbin is simple to wind and its one-step buttonhole foot is efficient.

The tension dial felt stiff initially, but it barely needed adjusting for neat sewing on any fabric. Only the zigzag stitch required a bit of trial and error with its size settings, as it caused some slight puckering on lighter materials like cotton and viscose. If you experience any gathering when finishing your fabric edge, consult the comprehensive instructions for the best alternative overcasting stitches to use.

Overall, this reasonably priced model boasts a good array of stitches – including the capability to smock – which aspiring dressmakers will enjoy.

Keen to cultivate a more sustainable wardrobe? This make do and mend machine comes with a detailed guide to darning and repairing tears. It also scored full marks for ease of use, so if you’re shopping for your first sewing machine, it’s a great beginner-friendly buy.

Clear instructions and machine markings help you get going quickly, and 23 stitch settings (including a reliable one-step buttonhole) offer plenty of scope for expanding your sewing horizons.

It consistently stitched neatly, and adjusting the settings and tension proved easy. It felt robust, too, only slightly wobbling when operating at the highest speed on denim. Just be careful on delicate fabric; the presser foot marked ours slightly when tackling stretch stitches.

Bright pink detailing means this machine looks great on display, but it also comes with a sturdy hard case to keep it safe between projects.

Score: 90/100

If you're after a machine that can stitch words (a grandchild’s name, for example), look to this clever computerised model that allows you to program letters. It also offers plenty of decorative and quilting stitches, plus a darning program, stop start button and speed control.

On test, its performance reflected its premium price tag, with close to perfect stitching. There was some wobbling at high speeds and the buttonhole process is manual (albeit impeccably neat), but its foot pedal’s pleasing design allows you to roll the cord away and its large extension tray could be useful if you turn your hand to quilting.

Though compact, its accessories are stored in a separate case, so it requires more room than some. It also doesn't come with a cover.

Score: 88/100

Singer is an iconic brand, and this sewing machine lived up to its reputation. It sewed brilliantly across the board, competently handling all our test fabrics. The instructions lacked detail, but its trustworthy design would make a savvy choice if you’re not a total beginner.

It boasts many features for developing your dressmaking skills, but its buttonhole functionality stood out; as well as the standard one-step buttonhole foot, it features a dial for adjusting the density of stitching on either side of the hole for maximum consistency.

The threading markings are helpful – including a needle changing reminder – and our tester found the pedal responsive and the machine sturdy. It also comes with a quilting guide.

Score: 85/100

This computerised machine is a tad more affordable than the others on our list, and as its name suggests, it’s a sturdy buy, too. Set-up is fairly simple – a quick-start guide takes you through each step, there are built-in cutting features to help with neat threading and our tester wound the bobbin in less than two minutes. It’s also easy to select your stitches and adjust the length and width.

The arm bed is a great size for moving your fabric through the machine smoothly and it stitched neatly, but our tester had to play around with the tension to achieve a tidy finish when trialling decorative stitches and working with slippier fabrics. Sewing a small test before each project will help you perfect the settings though, and denim sewed like a dream.

Note, you can't limit the sewing speeds via the machine, just manually with the pedal. And the machine is heavy, which is something to take into account if you don’t keep it out on a sewing table.

This isn’t quite the cheapest model on our list, but it’s our top pick for value at just over £200. Reliable and intuitive, it features an automatic needle threader and a four-step buttonhole (though not as fast as a one-step design, this ensures your stitching stops where you started for consistent results).

Our tester found the bobbin easy to wind, but it’s front-loading, so you won’t know when you’re nearly out of thread. It took a while for oil from the bobbin to stop appearing on our fabric, so be sure to run a long test strip through the machine after unboxing.

It did wobble on occasion, but it stitched neatly across all materials and felt like great value for money.

John Lewis & Partners JL110

Score 82/100

Costing the least, if you’re after a sewing machine for the occasional project, be that cushions or a skirt, then John Lewis has just the thing. This entry model's 14 stitches cover all the essentials and our tester found it largely reliable and stable.

It’s designed for light to midweight fabrics, but it handled our midweight denim just fine during testing. If you’re planning to make curtains, for example, then test a swatch of your chosen material first to ensure that it isn’t too heavy.

The feed dogs can't be dropped, but the included darning plate means you can still use it to mend or sew on buttons. You'll need to buy a zipper foot separately (it’s compatible with Janome accessories) if you want to tackle zip fastenings, and its buttonhole foot is entirely manual, but it comes with a soft cover for safe storage. It’s not got the bells and whistles of the pricier models above, but this is still an excellent little sewer.

Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows , and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.

Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist , working for Stylist , Sky Sports and more.

Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.

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