Best Embroidery Machines For Hats

Want to produce high-quality hats? If so, be very careful which machine you buy!

Cheap machines are always flat-beds, and they will not work for hat embroidery.

What you really need is a free-arm machine, specifically one that can utilize a cap driver attachment as shown below.

Every hat you’ve seen in a retail store was embroidered this way, but the equipment required to do this is VERY pricey.

That’s why, in this article, I’ll be showing you the most affordable hat embroidery machines for small businesses.

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Keep reading for my review of each machine and to see some embroidery sew-out samples!

Brother PRS100 Review

Looking to do real hat embroidery as affordably as possible? If so, the Brother PRS100 is the machine for you.

Yes, really. I wasn’t kidding when I said that these machines are pricey!

But, this price is well worth it for the functionality a machine like this will bring you and your business.

In addition to the cap driver, this machine also has a cylindrical free-arm – another feature flat-bed machines just don’t have.

With this you can embroider on sleeves and socks, and customize shoes. You can even embroider on bulky bags!

However, the PRS100 also has many more useful, time-saving, quality of life features that make custom embroidery easier.

You can embroider as fast as 1,000 stitches per minute, or slow things down when working with delicate threads, like metallic.

It automatically sets the tension and trims your thread, and it also has a neat DropLight LED positioning marker.

This is a cool little laser that helps you position the design exactly where you want it to be on the garment.

Plus, like any product Brother sells, the PRS100 produces high-quality, beautiful embroidery, and it’s super easy to use.

But… WHY is the PRS100 so much cheaper than similar machines?

It’s because it’s a single needle machine.

That means that after each color the machine will stop and you’ll need to re-thread it for the next color in the design.

This does create a little more work for you, but if you’ve got a budget to stick to, the PRS100 is a solid machine.

The only other negative is that the cap driver is not included, so be sure to budget an additional $500 for it.

But, it’s a great embroidery machine for hats if you’re on a tight budget.

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SWF 12 MAS Review

Looking for a REAL, affordable, free-arm, multi-needle hat embroidery machine? Consider the SWF 12.

The SWF 12 MAS is one of the most affordable multi-needles on the market, and the cap driver is included for free!

For almost every other machine you’ll be spending an additional $500 – $2,500, JUST for this accessory.

And, it’s a pretty cool one too – it’s a quick change cap driver – which means you don’t need any tools to take it off.

It just slides in place, allowing you to quickly load the next cap, helping you finish your embroidery jobs even faster.

While this is one of SWF’s entry-level models, you’ll still enjoy quality results. Below you can see a couple sew outs.

Plus, unlike the PRS100, this machine allows you to have 12 thread colors ready to go, saving tons of labor that would be spent manually swapping each and every color for a design.

The SWF12 also comes with great quality of life features, like WiFi design transfer, and the ability to network multiple SWF machines together as you grow.

It even comes with a “fix it” button, which automatically addressees error codes for you, helping you get back on track fast if something goes wrong.

I don’t really have anything negative to say about this machine, but some people do find the learning curve is a little steeper.

This is really because they are used to another machine system, like Brother, and it takes a little time to transition.

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Tajima Sai Review

Tajima is one of the most trusted names in embroidery, and you’ll find these machines in almost every embroidery shop.

The SAI is Tajima’s entry-level model – coming in at half the price of their cheapest industrial model, without sacrificing quality.

Below you’ll see some embroidery sew-out samples done on the excellent Tajima Sai.

While you only get 8 needles compared to the SWF machine’s 12, that’s honestly, more than enough for nearly any job.

And, with the machines generous embroidery field, free arm, and cap driver, it will handle any project you throw at it.

The Sai is also a fantastic machine for beginners as it’s easy to use, there’s plenty of documentation to get you started, and Tajima has great support!

Use the LED crosshairs to line up your embroidery placements, and save time on clean up with the automatic thread trimming feature.

You’ll also get Tajima’s Writer software, which allows you to easily add names to existing designs and instantly digitize them.

Unfortunately, the Tajima Sai also does not come with a cap driver. So, you’ll need to budget $2,000 for the cap set-up.

But, if you want a quality machine from one of the most trusted names in embroidery at an affordable price – this is it!

It’s an excellent embroidery machine for hats and shirts, hoodies, or anything else you need to make.

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