Before reviewing my top recommendations for the best sewing machine for making wigs, we should first establish a few things because no sewing machine brand will outright state that their model is specifically designed for making wigs.
Since there are so many models to choose from, we must understand what type of machine we need for wig making.
Best Sewing Machine for Making Wigs Buying Guide
I recommend directing your attention towards sewing machines that are capable of handling all types of fabrics. Thus, you need a machine that is heavy-duty, the kind that can stitch light, medium, and heavy-weight fabrics.
That still doesn’t narrow down the options too much but it helps knowing that you should be looking for heavy-duty models first.
Sewing machine price
Furthermore, you should expect to spend at least $200 when you’re buying the best sewing machine for making wigs.
It’s not cheap but it’s an investment. Obviously, there are models that are a lot more expensive so maybe we’ll get into some of those, too, but a heavy-duty basic machine is more than good enough.
Best sewing machine for making wigs: my top recommendation
My top recommendation is the Singer Heavy Duty 4423. It has the perfect balance between price, quality, durability, and ease of use. If you’re a complete beginner, take your time with it and you’ll end up loving it.
Another thing you need to pay attention to when looking for sewing machines for wigs is: read the user reviews to see if people are actually using that respective model for making wigs. That’s the first thing I look for, even when I’m 100% sure that the machine is perfect.
Also:
Read the user manual no matter which machine you end up choosing. That’s where you’ll learn everything you need to know about your model, which is especially helpful if you’re a beginner.
YouTube tutorials are also a fantastic resource, you’ll find guides for anything you need to know about machine-made wigs. This tutorial is a fantastic introduction, you should definitely check it out.
Thread, needles, stitch types
Nylon is one of the best threads to use for stitches because it’s one of the most durable. I definitely recommend nylon thread.
All purpose polyester is another type of thread that you can use. There are also polyester threads for making wigs. Luwigs is a manufacturer of those.
Since I mentioned that you should buy a heavy-duty machine, that also implies that you should use needles for heavy-weight fabrics. That means that you can choose either 100/16 or 110/18 needles. Both sizes will work.
Regarding stitches types for making wigs you need the straight and the zigzag stitch. Those are the only two you need.
Best Sewing Machine for Making Wigs Reviews
Now that we have established a few basic things, let’s jump to our wonderful reviews for some amazing machines for wigs.
The Singer Heavy Duty 4423 is a model that can handle anything and it’s my top recommendation as the best sewing machine for making wigs. It’s affordable, well-built, easy to use even for beginners, and it stitches through everything with the right needles.
Next, we have the Brother XM2701. It’s my top recommendation is your budget is close to $100. However, it’s not heavy duty so you’re taking a chance on it. Test it as soon as you get it to see if it’s something you can sew with.
Also for people on a budget, we have the Singer MX231. Singer and Brother definitely manufacturer some amazing cheap sewing machines.
On the other hand, if your budget is more generous, the Janome HD3000 is a heavy duty beast that is quite amazing.
If you’re interested in both sewing and quilting, check out my reviews for the best large throat sewing machines for quilting.
1. Singer Heavy Duty 4423: Overall Best Sewing Machine for Making Wigs
Let’s start the search for the best sewing machine for making wigs by reviewing one of my favorite models.
One major aspect it checks out is that this is a heavy-duty model. It says so clearly in the name. Since I’ve also recommended it when talking about the best sewing machines for leather, you absolutely know that it won’t have any problems with sewing wefts, whether they’re human hair or synthetic.
Another thing it checks out is the fact that there are a lot of user reviews who mention how much they love the Singer 4423 for making wigs.
Moreover, this is an affordable machine that costs around $200. It might not be cheap but if you buy a cheaper model either from Singer or Brother you might be a bit disappointed.
If the Singer 4423 exceeds your budget and you’re looking for a much cheaper alternative, I recommend checking out Brother XM2701. I will review it just below as the cheaper alternative to this Singer but it’s not exactly my favorite because it’s’ not a heavy-duty model. It can work if you’re looking for something cheaper.
Features
The Singer Heavy Duty 4423 is pretty much a complete machine, one of the best heavy-duty models that you could buy in this price range.
Whether you’re making wigs, clothes, mending garments or maybe do some leatherwork, this machine can certainly do it if you equip it with the right thread and needles.
It’s great for light, medium, and heavy-weight fabrics.
Plus, it’s a durable machine with a heavy-duty metal frame and powerful motor. To put it simply, it’s a workhorse.
97 stitch applications
As I’ve already mentioned, for sewing wigs on a machine, you only need two main stitch types: straight and zigzag.
Besides those, Singer 4423 offers other stitch types, just in case you want to engage in other projects as well.
The main types of stitches are: straight, ric rac, zigzag, multi-step zigzag, blind hem, one-step buttonhole, picot hem, decorative, straight stretch, reinforced zigzag, honeycomb, double overlook, slant overedge, and bartack buttonhole.
There are wheels for selecting the stitch type, stitch length, stitch width, and thread tension.
As a first attempt, I recommend these settings: zigzag stitch, length 3, width 3, tension 4, and needle position 0.
There are 3 needle positions to choose from but for wings you can use the 0 needle position.
We also get a 6.25 inches sewing space and 4.25 inches height. Wigs are small so that’s not going to be a problem. Sewing space and height becomes of interest if you’re into quilting.
It’s a powerful machine that can sew up to 1100 stitches per minute.
You can’t go too fast when sewing a wing, especially for beginners. It’s more of a medium speed that you control from the foot control pedal. It’s a bit like driving.
There’s also an automatic needle threader.
Accessories
There are a lot of them for this Heavy Duty 4423: general purpose foot, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, edge/quilting guide, pack of needles, bobbins, spool caps, auxiliary spool pin, spool pin felt, screwdriver, seam ripper/lint brush, soft dust cover.
The general purpose foot is the one you’re using for making wigs.
Maybe with all these accessories you’ll go into making all sorts of projects over time, sewing on a machine can become quite addictive once you get the hang of it.
2. Brother XM2701: Cheap Sewing Machine for Making Wigs
Although this XM2701 from Brother is not exactly my favorite, it can still be a good option for people who want a model that costs well under $200. At a price that’s closer to $100 than to $200, this Brother XM2701 can prove a tempting option.
Moreover, there are a few user reviews that mention that they are satisfied with the performance of this model when it comes to sewing wigs.
There’s also a negative review that mentions that it’s not durable enough to handle jobs like making wigs. Since it’s not a heavy-duty model, I expected that to be the case and that’s why this Brother XM2701 doesn’t make the top of my list.
Overall, it’s a decent machine for beginners on a budget but not the best choice if you want to turn making wigs into a side business.
Features
We get 27 unique built-in stitches, which is a lot. Among these many stitch types, we have: straight, zigzag, blind hem, decorative and quilting stitches.
Another stitch it offers is the 1 one-step buttonhole. Obviously, it’s of no interest if you’re only getting this Brother as the best sewing machine for making wigs but it can be helpful if you want to expand to sewing other projects.
It’s pretty powerful and fast, being capable of achieving up to 800 stitches per minute.
Accessories
We get a decent amount: zigzag foot, buttonhole foot, zipper foot, darning plate, button sewing foot, bobbin (4), needle set (3), screwdriver, extra spool pin, foot controller.
There are 2 speeds that are controlled from the foot controller: slower and faster.
It also includes an automatic needle threader.
As you can see, it offers everything one might need for a wide variety of projects. It’s a good machine for beginners on a lower budget.
3. Singer MX231: Best Value for Money
Another option for people on a budget around $150 is the Singer MX231.
What I like a lot about this particular affordable machine is that even if it’s not labeled as being heavy-duty, it’s still capable of stitching a wide variety of fabrics, whether they’re light, medium or even some heavy-weight fabrics.
That’s why I think that the Singer MX231 can make a decent option as the best sewing machine for making wigs. The Singer Heavy-Duty 4423 is still my top recommendation but this cheaper option is pretty great, too.
Features
Once again, we get 97 stitch applications, which include: straight, zigzag, stretch, blind hem, 4-step buttonhole, 1-step buttonhole, etc.
It’s a versatile machine with a lot of stitches.
The sewing space measures 5.7 inches. It’s not the biggest of machines but it’s more than enough for a wide variety of projects. Anyway, stitching wigs doesn’t require much space at all.
Accessories
We get a very nice variety of accessories with the Singer MX231: all purpose foot, zipper foot, 4-step buttonhole foot, 1-step buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, L-screwdriver, seam ripper/brush, pack of needles, class 15 bobbins (4), edge/quilting guide, darning plate, spool holder, soft cover.
There’s also an automatic needle threader.
It also weighs 11.79 pounds. It’s a lightweight, portable sewing machine.
4. Janome HD-3000BE
I don’t want to review the Janome HD-3000BE just because it has a complete black color design, while most machines are white or gray, but because it’s also one of the most powerful sewing machines.
The Janome HD3000 is a workhorse and that is where it excels. It’s especially appreciated by people working with leather. Wigs certainly don’t require that much power, we can’t compare stitching 4 layers of leather with stitching wigs but it will be of interest to people with multiple interests maybe.
A definite aspect that some buyers will have a problem with is the price tag. This is 2 times more expensive than the Singer Heavy-Duty 4423. It’s a pretty expensive model so it’s certainly not as popular as those other recommendations that I reviewed for this article.
Features
We get 18 stitches to choose from: straight, zigzag, overcasting, overedge, tricot, triple strength, outline stretch.
Another stitch option is a one-stop buttonhole.
Other interesting features about this Janome are: extra high presser foot lift, drop feed, automatic needle threader, free arm, buttonhole lever.
Accessories
We get the following: automatic buttonhole foot, rolled hem foot, blind hem foot, zigzag foot, bobbin (5), needle case, quilter, screwdriver (2), lint brush, seam ripper, spool holder (2), extra spool pin, felt.
All in all, Janome HD-3000BE is a fairly expensive sewing machine that is much more suitable for people who desire to undertake a whole range of projects, many that center around heavy-weight fabrics. That’s where it shines.
5. Janome New Home 49360
My last recommendation as the best sewing machine for making wigs is another model from Janome. It’s a fantastic model with many impressive features.
On the other hand, the price is not cheap and that’s why my top favorite is the Singer Heavy Duty 4423.
The Janome New Home 49360 was created with a quilter’s needs in mind but it can be used for many other projects, including for making clothes and sewing wigs.
Features
We get 60 stitches that are more than enough for whatever project we want to undertake.
These 60 stitches also include 6 one-step buttonholes.
In the user manual you’ll also come across a table for the fabrics it can sew through. We’ll discover that it can handle a variety of fabrics, which is totally awesome. The type of needles we need for each category are also included.
We get light fabrics like lawn, georgette, tricot, wool, polyester. And medium like cotton, polyester, fine jersey, wool. The heavy weight fabrics it can handle are denim, jersey, coating, quilting.
It’s not heavy-duty but it comes close so it will handle making wigs, too.
Some impressive features that the Janome New Home 49360 has are: automatic needle threader and automatic threader cutter.
The automatic threader cutter is not as common among sewing machines. It comes in the form of a button with the scissors icon on it and it cuts both threads at the same time.
Another very interesting feature is the speed control button in the form of a slider that is turned to the left if we want to decrease the speed and to the right if we want to increase the speed. Thus, we don’t have to rely on the foot controller, which can be fantastic for some sewers.
This model also comes with a superior plus feed system with a 7-piece feed dog. We can drop the feed dog for free motion sewing and quilting.
Accessories
Sewing feet: custom crafted zigzag foot, automatic buttonhole foot, zipper foot, overedge foot, satin stitch foot open toe, blind hem foot, ¼” seam foot.
Other accessories: bobbin (3), spool pin felt, needle set, additional spoon pin, seam ripper, screwdriver, lint brush, small spool holder, large spool holder, spool stand, foot control, hard cover for transportation.
It has a lot of accessories.
The Janome New Home 49360 only weighs 12 pounds. It can definitely be considered a portable sewing machine, ready for whatever travels you want to go on.
It’s also one of the best sewing machines with drop-in bobbin.
Can you use a sewing machine to sew a wig?
The direct answer is that of course you can otherwise we wouldn’t be here talking about the best sewing machine for making wigs.
However, if we want to understand a bit more about the process of making wigs, we need to delve deeper into the subject.
We’ll do that by talking about two main types of wigs:
- machine-made wigs – also known as weft wigs or capeless wigs
- hand-tied wigs
Thus, they are categorized by the instrument used in sewing them: either a machine or everything done by hand, manually.
It’s pretty obvious that those stitched by machines are going to be done much more quickly. The same goes when we’re using a sewing machine to make clothes.
On the other hand, hand-tied wigs are definitely something special. They can take days to make.
However, those who want an outstanding product and have the patience to make it, will want to experiment with making a hand-tied wig at some point. Even if it’s only to understand why hand-tied wigs are considered to be superior to machine-made wigs.
Do hand-tied wigs last longer?
It’s generally considered that the ones made and sewn by hand can last longer than machine-made wigs.
Hand-tied wigs are made 100% by hand. The hair fiber for the entire wig (front, back, sides, crown) is tied individually to the cap by hand. Knotting each fiber strand to the mesh cap is not easy labor. If you can view this long process as a labor of love, you might not find it so difficult.
This individual tying of the fibers by hand is what makes it stand out and last longer. It makes hand-tied wigs move and flow like natural hair.
Weft wigs (machine-made) might not last as long because they don’t flow as naturally, which might lead the person wearing it to over-style it. Over-styling can cause damage to the base and hairs. It’s all about how well you take care of it.
Still, weft wigs remain some of the most popular among wig wearers. They get their name from the wefts that are sewn together by machine.
Each weft is stitched by the sewing machine onto rows of material. And that’s how you make a machine-made wig.
The more closely together the wefts are sewn, the more voluminous the wig will appear. Still, each row will have to be stitched more spaciously apart, making them lightweight and comfortable for the wearer.
Plus, if you want to buy them ready-made, wefted are cheaper than hand-tied because they’re so much easier to make.
How to care for machine-made wigs
Let’s end this article on the best sewing machine for making wigs by reminding us a bit about how to take care of them once they’re done in order to keep them looking beautiful for a long time.
The main difference in how you take care of your wefted wig is made by whether synthetic hair or human hair has been used for making it.
Human hair needs more washing. It’s easier to take care of a human hair machine-made wig because we can do what we would normally do to our hair.
On the other hand, synthetic hair is more prone to tangling, which means that it needs more styling in order to appear natural. That’s where you need to pay attention because over-styling it can cause damage to the base and hairs.
There are also shampoos, conditioners, accessories, etc. that you can buy. For synthetic hair, shampoos and conditioners that encase heavy moisture are recommended.
Use warm water when washing it and use cold water at the end to close the cuticles. You can let it air-dry as it will prolong the life of the weft hair extensions.
All in all, I hope you find my reviews for the best sewing machine for making wigs helpful and that you’ll succeed in making the most beautiful weft wigs with human or synthetic wefts.
