Choosing a new sewing machine is an exciting step, especially when you’re looking for advanced features, greater creative freedom and room to grow.
The HUSQVARNA VIKING® TOPAZ™ 55Q and DESIGNER TOPAZ™ 65 are two impressive machines designed for sewists who want to take their projects further. Both offer a generous sewing area, intuitive touchscreen controls, smart sewing features and advanced capabilities for quilting and everyday sewing.
But there is one major difference: the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 adds powerful embroidery capabilities to the sewing features of the TOPAZ 55Q.
So, which HUSQVARNA VIKING machine is right for you?
Let’s compare the TOPAZ 55Q and DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 to help you make the right choice.
TOPAZ 55Q vs DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 at a Glance
| Feature | TOPAZ™ 55Q | DESIGNER TOPAZ™ 65 |
|---|---|---|
| Machine type | Sewing & quilting | Sewing, quilting & embroidery |
| Built-in stitches | 470 | 470 |
| Sewing fonts | 5 | 5 |
| Sewing speed | Up to 1,000 stitches/min | Up to 1,000 stitches/min |
| Touchscreen | 7" colour capacitive touchscreen | 7" colour capacitive touchscreen |
| Sewing space | Approx. 250mm / 10" | Approx. 250mm / 10" |
| JoyOS ADVISOR™ | Yes | Yes |
| EXCLUSIVE SENSOR SYSTEM™ | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic needle threader | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic thread cutter | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic presser foot lift | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic thread tension | Yes | Yes |
| Top & bobbin thread sensors | Yes | Yes |
| CREATIVATE™ connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| Embroidery capability | No | Yes |
| Embroidery area | — | Up to 360 × 200mm |
| Built-in embroidery designs | — | 340 |
| Embroidery speed | — | Up to 850 stitches/min |
| Exact Position | — | Yes |
| Best suited to | Sewing & quilting | Sewing, quilting & embroidery |
The two machines share a strong sewing platform, while the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 adds embroidery functionality, including a 360 × 200mm embroidery area, built-in embroidery designs and Exact Position.
Meet the TOPAZ™ 55Q
A Premium Sewing Machine Designed for Quilters
The HUSQVARNA VIKING TOPAZ 55Q is designed for sewists who want advanced sewing technology with plenty of room for quilting and larger projects.
The “Q” represents its strong quilting focus. With approximately 250mm of space to the right of the needle, the machine gives you generous room to manage quilts, larger fabric pieces and other bulky projects.
The TOPAZ 55Q features a large 7” colour capacitive touchscreen, allowing you to control your machine using an intuitive, tablet-like interface.
It also includes HUSQVARNA VIKING technologies such as EXCLUSIVE SENSOR SYSTEM™ and JoyOS ADVISOR™, helping you achieve consistent results while learning and developing your sewing skills.
Key TOPAZ 55Q Features
- 470 built-in stitches
- 5 sewing fonts
- 7” colour capacitive touchscreen
- Approx. 250mm / 10” sewing space
- Up to 1,000 stitches per minute
- EXCLUSIVE SENSOR SYSTEM™
- JoyOS ADVISOR™
- Automatic needle threader
- Automatic thread cutter
- Automatic presser foot lift
- Automatic thread tension
- Top and bobbin thread sensors
- Strong piercing power
- Free-motion sewing with decorative stitches
- Stitch sequencing
- CREATIVATE™ connectivity
- Large working area
Who Is the TOPAZ 55Q Best For?
The TOPAZ 55Q is an excellent choice if your main focus is:
- Quilting
- Patchwork
- Garment sewing
- Home décor projects
- Decorative sewing
- Larger sewing projects
- Developing advanced sewing skills
If embroidery isn’t currently part of your plans, the TOPAZ 55Q gives you a sophisticated sewing and quilting platform without moving into a combination sewing and embroidery machine.
Meet the DESIGNER TOPAZ™ 65
Take Your Sewing Into Embroidery
The HUSQVARNA VIKING DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 builds on the sewing capabilities of the TOPAZ 55Q and adds embroidery.
This makes it a particularly attractive option for sewists who want one machine that can support sewing, quilting and embroidery projects.
The DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 includes a 7” colour capacitive touchscreen, 470 built-in stitches, 5 sewing fonts and approximately 250mm of sewing space.
Where it really separates itself from the TOPAZ 55Q is embroidery.
You get an embroidery area of up to 360 × 200mm, built-in embroidery designs, embroidery functionality, Exact Position and embroidery speeds of up to 850 stitches per minute.
Key DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 Features
- 470 built-in stitches
- 5 sewing fonts
- 7” colour capacitive touchscreen
- Approx. 250mm / 10” sewing space
- Up to 1,000 stitches per minute sewing speed
- Up to 850 stitches per minute embroidery speed
- EXCLUSIVE SENSOR SYSTEM™
- JoyOS ADVISOR™
- Automatic needle threader
- Automatic thread cutter
- Automatic presser foot lift
- Automatic thread tension
- Top and bobbin thread sensors
- CREATIVATE™ connectivity
- 340 built-in embroidery designs
- 360 × 200mm embroidery area
- Exact Position
- Embroidery design personalisation
- Automatic jump stitch cutting
Who Is the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 Best For?
The DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 is ideal if you want to combine:
- Sewing
- Quilting
- Machine embroidery
- Personalised projects
- Monogramming
- Decorative designs
- Garment embellishment
- Home décor
- Creative embroidery projects
It is also a strong choice if you are currently focused on sewing but expect to explore embroidery in the future.
TOPAZ 55Q vs DESIGNER TOPAZ 65: What’s the Difference?
At first glance, the two machines have a lot in common.
Both offer:
470 stitches + 5 sewing fonts + 7” touchscreen + approximately 250mm sewing space + 1,000 stitches/minute + smart sewing features.
The biggest difference is what you can do beyond sewing.
TOPAZ 55Q
Sew + Quilt + Create
The TOPAZ 55Q is focused on sewing and quilting. It is a great choice for someone who wants an advanced sewing machine with generous workspace and sophisticated features.
DESIGNER TOPAZ 65
Sew + Quilt + Embroider + Personalise
The DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 adds embroidery capabilities to the same strong sewing foundation.
This gives you more creative possibilities without needing a separate embroidery machine.
Which Is Better for Quilting?
TOPAZ 55Q
If quilting is your primary passion and you don’t need embroidery, the TOPAZ 55Q is a compelling option.
Its large sewing area, quilting-focused design and advanced sewing features make it well suited to patchwork and larger quilting projects.
DESIGNER TOPAZ 65
The DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 is equally capable as a sewing and quilting machine while adding embroidery.
Choose the 65 if you want the option to combine quilting with embroidered blocks, personalised quilt labels or decorative embroidery.
Our recommendation
Choose TOPAZ 55Q if quilting is your main priority.
Choose DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 if you want quilting plus embroidery.
Which Is Better for Dressmaking?
Both machines provide the sewing capabilities needed for a wide range of garment projects.
The large working area, automatic thread features, sensor technology and extensive stitch selection make both suitable for everything from everyday garments to more creative dressmaking projects.
The choice comes down to whether you need embroidery.
Choose TOPAZ 55Q if:
You primarily want to sew clothing and don’t need machine embroidery.
Choose DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 if:
You want to add embroidered details, personalised motifs or decorative designs to your garments.
Which Is Better for Embroidery?
This one is straightforward.
DESIGNER TOPAZ 65
The TOPAZ 55Q is a sewing and quilting machine, while the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 adds embroidery functionality.
With its large embroidery area, built-in embroidery designs, Exact Position and embroidery-specific features, the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 is the clear choice if embroidery is important to you.
What About CREATIVATE™?
Both machines provide connectivity and access to CREATIVATE™, giving sewists access to project inspiration, tutorials, embroidery designs and other creative resources.
This means your creative possibilities can continue to expand beyond the machine itself.
The key difference is that the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 can use its embroidery capabilities alongside this connected creative ecosystem.
TOPAZ 55Q or DESIGNER TOPAZ 65: Which Should You Choose?
Your decision ultimately comes down to how you want to create.
Choose the TOPAZ 55Q if you:
- Mainly sew and quilt
- Want a premium sewing machine
- Prefer a quilting-focused machine
- Want a large sewing workspace
- Don’t currently need embroidery
- Want to focus on developing your sewing skills
Choose the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 if you:
- Want sewing and embroidery in one machine
- Enjoy quilting and embroidery
- Want to personalise your projects
- Want to create embroidered garments and home décor
- Want a larger embroidery area
- Expect your creative interests to grow into embroidery
TOPAZ 55Q vs DESIGNER TOPAZ 65: The Bottom Line
The HUSQVARNA VIKING TOPAZ 55Q and DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 share an impressive sewing foundation, including 470 stitches, a 7” touchscreen, generous workspace and advanced automatic features.
The deciding factor is simple:
TOPAZ 55Q
For advanced sewing and quilting.
DESIGNER TOPAZ 65
For advanced sewing, quilting and embroidery.
If your creative journey is centred around quilting and sewing, the TOPAZ 55Q offers plenty of capability.
If you want to take that creativity further into machine embroidery and personalisation, the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 gives you the additional tools to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the TOPAZ 55Q an embroidery machine?
No. The TOPAZ 55Q is designed as a sewing and quilting machine. If you want built-in embroidery capability, the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 is the model to consider.
Does the TOPAZ 65 also sew and quilt?
Yes. The DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 combines sewing and quilting capabilities with machine embroidery.
Which has more stitches, the TOPAZ 55Q or TOPAZ 65?
Both models feature 470 built-in stitches and 5 sewing fonts.
Do both machines have a touchscreen?
Yes. Both feature a 7” colour capacitive touchscreen.
Which machine is better for quilting?
Both are capable quilting machines. The TOPAZ 55Q is particularly suited to sewists whose main focus is quilting, while the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 is a better choice if you also want embroidery.
Can I use CREATIVATE™ with both machines?
Both machines provide connectivity and access to CREATIVATE™, allowing you to explore projects, tutorials and creative resources.
What is the embroidery area of the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65?
The DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 supports an embroidery area of up to 360 × 200mm.
Which HUSQVARNA VIKING TOPAZ should I buy?
If you mainly sew and quilt, consider the TOPAZ 55Q. If you want sewing, quilting and embroidery in one machine, the DESIGNER TOPAZ 65 is the more versatile choice.
Ready to Find Your HUSQVARNA VIKING Machine?
Whether you’re passionate about quilting, dressmaking, decorative sewing or embroidery, the TOPAZ family gives you advanced tools to bring your ideas to life.
Explore HUSQVARNA VIKING machines and discover the model that fits your creative journey.