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Buying guide

Best sewing machines with automatic thread cutter

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

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Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Janome 5270QDC: scissors button and knee lifter

    Twelve buttonholes give a style for shirts, coats, knits and heirloom work.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Best value

    Pfaff Passport 3.0: cutter plus IDT dual feed

    The IDT system feeds from the top and bottom, which helps stop knits stretching and silky layers creeping.

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  • Most features

    Janome Skyline S6: 196 stitches, 9 mm width

    An automatic thread cutter, a locking stitch button and start/stop are all listed.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

An automatic thread cutter trims the upper and bobbin threads under the needle plate when you press a button, so you can lift the work away cleanly instead of pulling out thread tails and snipping them by hand. On a long seam it saves seconds; on a quilt with hundreds of short seams, or a garment with many darts, it saves a lot of time and thread. Some machines also cut automatically at the end of a locking stitch. The cutter is usually part of a wider step up in features, so this guide compares six machines on cutter type, stitch count, sewing space to the right of the needle, needle threader and weight, using only what each listing states. Check the manual for how your chosen model handles thicker thread, as some cutters work best with standard weights.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

No. 1 · Janome

Janome 5270QDC: scissors button and knee lifter

A full sized Janome with 270 stitches, 12 buttonholes, an auto thread cutter and a knee lifter, plus a wide extension table and hard cover. It suits regular dressmaking and home sewing.

In its favour

  • Twelve buttonholes give a style for shirts, coats, knits and heirloom work.
  • A knee lifter raises the foot hands free, which helps when easing sleeves and curves.
  • Foot pressure adjustment, a wide extension table and a hard cover are all listed.

Good to know

  • At 10.7 kg it is heavy to carry to a class.
  • The listing does not mention a dual feed or walking foot in the box.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Janome 5270QDC Sewing Machine

No. 2 · Pfaff

Pfaff Passport 3.0: cutter plus IDT dual feed

A portable computerised Pfaff with the brand's IDT system, which feeds fabric from above and below, plus 100 stitches and automatic thread cutting. It suits dressmakers who sew slippery fabrics and knits.

In its favour

  • The IDT system feeds from the top and bottom, which helps stop knits stretching and silky layers creeping.
  • Automatic thread cutting, a start/stop button and adjustable speed control are listed.
  • The maker describes it as portable and compact, so it suits a class or a shared table.

Good to know

  • The listing does not say how many buttonhole styles are included.
  • Two different weights appear in the listing, so check the figure if carrying matters.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: PFAFF 3.0 Passport Sewing Machine

No. 3 · Janome

Janome Skyline S6: 196 stitches, 9 mm width

A sewing and quilting Janome with 196 stitches, 91 needle positions, a 9 mm stitch width, auto tension, an automatic thread cutter and six LED lights. It suits keen sewists and quilters.

In its favour

  • An automatic thread cutter, a locking stitch button and start/stop are all listed.
  • A 9 mm stitch width and 91 needle positions give fine control and bold decorative stitches.
  • Auto tension is listed for consistent stitches across fabrics.

Good to know

  • The listing describes it as mid size but does not give the sewing space.
  • At 11.3 kg it is not one to carry to classes.
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Listing title: Janome Skyline S6 Sewing and Quilting Machine with 9mm Stitch Width, M...

No. 4 · JUKI

Juki HZL-HT740: trims both threads, metal frame

A computerised Juki with an auto thread trimming function and a cutter button that trim upper and lower threads together. A metal interior frame and stainless steel bed plate help fabric glide.

In its favour

  • Both an auto trimming function and a thread cutter button are listed, cutting upper and lower threads at once.
  • The 6.4 inch sewing space to the right of the needle helps with larger projects such as quilts.
  • A colour coded start/stop button shows ready, not ready and bobbin winding states.

Good to know

  • The listing does not state the number of stitches.
  • Buttonhole styles are not described in the listing.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Juki HZL-HT740 Computerized Sewing Machine

No. 5 · JUKI

Juki HZL-G220: automatic cutter and box feed

A metal bodied Juki with an automatic thread cutter, eight automatic buttonholes, an alphabet, a box feed system and adjustable foot pressure. It suits garment sewists who value smooth feeding.

In its favour

  • The listing describes a rectangular (box) feed and pressure adjustment, which help keep layers aligned.
  • Eight automatic buttonholes and an automatic thread cutter are listed.
  • A metal housing and a wide space under the arm are stated.

Good to know

  • The listing is roughly translated, so confirm the exact stitch count and accessories.
  • No extension table is mentioned in the listing.
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Listing title: Juki hzl-g220 Electronic Sewing Machine with Wire Cutter Automatic Met...

No. 6 · Brother

Brother Innov-is F420: cutter and rectangular feed

An Innov-is with an LCD display, automatic bobbin winding, an automatic thread cutter and a rectangular feed system the listing says helps with jerseys and other materials. A solid all round garment machine.

In its favour

  • The rectangular feed is listed as helping jersey and other materials feed evenly.
  • An automatic thread cutter and a user friendly LCD display are listed.
  • At 10 kg it sits firmly on the table over thick seam allowances.

Good to know

  • The listing gives very few details, with no stitch count or buttonhole styles.
  • Included presser feet and accessories are not listed.
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Listing title: Brother Innov-is F420 Sewing Machine

Read before you buy

More buying guides: Computerised machines

Stitch and Hem chooses every product independently, based on what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission on purchases made through the affiliate links above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.