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Quilting Sewing Machines Comparison
Discover the Best Sewing Machine for Quilting
A Quilting Sewing Machines Comparison
Today we’ll be looking at and comparing 4 quilting sewing machines in order to determine the best sewing machine for quilting. We opted to only consider machines that give you everything you need to quilt out of the box. In other words, at the very least these machines need to give you both a quilting table accessory AND at least one quilting foot out of the box. Our criteria is that you have to be able to do at least basic quilting without making any additional purchases.
We’ve decided to cover 4 distinct price ranges in order to give you the best options in each price range so that you can see which machine will suit your requirements without exceeding your budget.
We’ll have a nice table for you lower down which compares the features, but first, here are the best quilting sewing machines in the various price ranges.
Entry-Level ($100-$200): Brother CS6000i
This is the best-selling sewing machine on Amazon.com at the moment. Unlike most other sewing machines in this price range, the CS6000i not only offers you a quilting table accessory, but also a bonus package containing a walking foot, spring action quilting foot and a quilting guide, as well as some basic built-in quilting stitches.
If you want to read more about this machine, check out our review here. For now, in summary, you’ll struggle to find better value for the price. The machine maintains a 4.5 out of 5 star consumer rating across more than 1,000 consumer reviews on Amazon.com.
This is your best option for an entry-level quilting sewing machine.
Mid-Range ($200-$300): Singer 7469Q Confidence
Computerized Sewing and Quilting Machine
This is an affordable entry from Singer, although it hasn’t been their most well received model. It does come with a host of great features, including 98 built-in stitches. Sold specifically as a quilting/sewing machine, the 7469Q features a large extension table and 4 bonus quilting feet: even feed/walking foot, darning foot, open toe foot and 1/4 inch foot, along with a few basic quilting stitches built into the machine.
Unfortunately, this machine only manages a 3.9 out of 5 star rating among consumers. You should read user reviews of this product carefully before diving in. In our opinion, for about $70 extra, the next machine on our list is a better option.
High Mid-Range ($300+): Singer 9960
Quantum Stylist 600-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine
If the 7469Q was one of the less popular Singer machines, the 9960 Quantum Stylist is quickly becoming a consumer favorite. Amazon.com is currently selling this for a very low $329. This is an overall fantastic sewing machine loaded with features (600 built-in stitches, 13 one-step buttonholes, 5 fonts, electronic auto-pilot and more).
Here’s what it offers the quilter out of the box: in addition to the extra-large extension table, you also get an even-feed/walking foot, darning and embroidery foot and an open-toe foot. There are also some basic quilting stitches built in.
In other words, you’re well covered for quilting, while getting a stunning sewing machine to boot. Consumer reviews currently rates it 4.8 stars out of 5 on average.
Professional Quilting: Brother
PQ1500S High Speed Quilting and Sewing Machine
The Brother PQ1500S strikes a nice middle ground between the heavy duty professional segment and the casual home user segment. This is a blisteringly fast straight stitching machine, with a maximum speed of 1,500 stitches per minute. To maintain that speed without falling apart you’d expect this to be a finely constructed machine, and it is.
It features a comfortably large 12×18” extension table, a knee lifter to free up your hands while quilting among a host of other features.
Costing just over $500, this machine is for someone already experienced and comfortable with straight stitch sewing and quilting. The PQ1500S currently scores 4.8 out of 5 stars on average.
Quilting Sewing Machines Comparison Chart
This chart just briefly compares the quilting features of these machines.
|
Brother CS6000i |
Singer 7469Q |
Singer 9960 |
Brother PQ1500s |
|
| Price (approx.) |
$159 |
$263 |
$329 |
$536 |
| Built-in Stitches |
60 |
98 |
600 |
Straight Stitch Only |
| Quilting Feet |
2 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| Basic Quilting Stitches |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Straight Stitch Only |
| Free Motion Possible |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Customer Rating |
4.5/5 |
3.9/5 |
4.8/5 |
4.8/5 |
Overall, for a combination sewing/quilting machine, we recommend the Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist. Its brilliant collection of features, wonderful price from Amazon, quilting accessories included and great customer reviews easily swings it as the best quilting sewing machine for the intermediate to semi-professional user currently available.
Best Sewing Machine under $200
Best Sewing Machine Under $200
Determining the best sewing machine under $200 is tough. The $100 to $200 segment is blessed with excellent sewing machines offering outstanding value for money. This is really the price segment where a serious beginner should start looking, as sewing machines under $100 may be too basic once you advance beyond the beginner stages.
Singer 7258 vs Singer 7256 vs Brother CS6000i
In the end, we narrowed the contenders in the sub-$200 bracket down to three: the Brother CS6000i, the Singer 7256 Fashion Mate and the Singer 7258 Stylist. All three are computerized free-arm sewing machines, and they are all fantastic machines for this price bracket.
While we will try to guide you through making the choice, ultimately it may come down to brand preference or budget as there is so little to choose between these machines.
Best Sewing Machine Under $200: Comparison Chart
Rather than discuss the machines one by one, a chart overview will quickly give you a much clearer picture. Below is a quick reference chart comparing the main features and pricing of the three machines.
We’ll continue our discussion below.
Price
All prices are current as of this writing, but fluctuate slightly all the time. At the moment, the Brother CS6000i is the most affordable of the three machines.
Quality
Both Brother and Singer are well established and trusted brands, although we’ll give the Singers with their sturdy metal frame construction the edge in the quality stakes. They just feel that little bit more solid than the Brother. Both brands offer a 25 year limited warranty on their machines.
Built-in Stitch Functions
The Singer 7258 features a whopping 100 built-in stitch functions, with the Brother coming last on this feature with 60. However, to us, this is not a decisive feature. Many people never use more than 10-20 of the built-in stitch functions on these machines, so how important this is to you will come down to your own sewing style or your own requirements.
Snap-on Presser Feet
Presser feet expand the versatility of a sewing machine considerably, and here the Singer 7258 leads the pack with a generous 10. The Brother features a respectable 7, while the Singer 7256 comes up a bit short with only 5. You can always purchase additional feet, but having more in the package adds to the overall value for money, and the 7258 is well on top here.
Quilting Table Accessory
The CS6000i offers something none of the Singer machines do: a fitted wide table add-on accessory to make working on larger projects easier. Whether this will be of use to you depends on whether you want to do larger jobs, like quilting. If so, this is a great value for money factor.
Heavy Duty Sewing
None of these machines are recommended for heavy duty sewing or for sewing with heavy fabrics. You probably wouldn’t expect that at this price point anyway. Sewing on fabrics like denim is quite possible with the right thread/needle combination though.
Consumer Ratings:
All 3 machines get excellent ratings from consumers on all the major shopping sites online, averaging 4.4 to 4.5 out of 5 stars. There really is nothing to choose between them in this regard.
Our Recommendation for the Best Sewing Machine Under $200
This is such a tough recommendation to make, and the sort of decision that you can put off and drive yourself crazy over indefinitely without getting any clarity.
All three machines have minor issues to contend with. The Brother with tension and thread sensitivity, the 7258 has been reported to bundle up thread, while the Singer 7256 has annoyed some users with over-sensitive reverse sewing control.
However, the praise that have been heaped on all three machines far outweigh any negatives. They are all easy to use and set up and comes from a reliable manufacturers. Here is our final advice on these machines.
Take Your Pick
All things considered, the Brother CS6000i is hard to beat, with a great balance of features and a fantastic price. It is also, according to major shopping sites like Amazon.com, the best selling sewing machine on the market right now by a huge margin. You don’t achieve that without building up a solid reputation through reliable performance.
Then there’s the Singer 7258, with its 100 built-in stitches and 10 presser feet. This means it offers fantastic value and versatility if these considerations are important to you, at a comparable price point to the Brother.
Finally, the Singer 7256 is the newer of the three models, and also seems the most solid in terms of just getting the job done without too many minor issues and problems. It is, however, $40 more expensive than the Brother.
For their price, all of these machines offer great value. Compare the features and decide which machine caters best to what’s most important to you. Stop agonizing! These are 3 excellent, user-friendly and reliable sewing machines for under $200.
Best Sewing Machine Under $100
Best Sewing Machine Under $100
Being on a tight budget doesn’t mean that you cannot buy a decent sewing machine. Right now, we’re going to show you the best sewing machine under $100 out of three strong contenders.
Best Sewing Machine Under $100: The Contenders
The XL2600i is a brilliant beginners sewing machine from
Brother. It offers a balanced set of features, including a needle
threader, thread cutter, drop-in bobbin loading, auto bobbin
winding and a 1-step buttonholer. All of these add to the
user-friendliness of an already uncomplicated machine. The
machine can convert from a flatbed to a free arm sewing surface.
The machine is operated with a foot pedal, and also features a light to illuminate the stitching area. To get you off to an even better start, it also features 25 built-in stitches, with multiple stitch functions.
The XL2600i averages a healthy 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com’s consumer reviews, making it the highest rated sewing machine under $100.
This is a lightweight, basic sewing machine with 10 built-in
stitches. Like the XL2600i it is operated with a foot pedal and
also features a light on the sewing area. It features a quick
bobbin wind, snap-on presser feet, automatic buttonholer 
and a tension dial. The LS2125i can also convert its
sewing surface from flatbed to free-arm.
This sewing machine costs around $65. That’s only about $10 – $15 cheaper than the XL2600i, with considerably less features. It has a respectable average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com.
Singer is the most popular sewing machine brand in the
world. The 1507 is a solid little entry level sewing machine for
well under $100. However, it does fall short of both the Brother
machines in features, price and rating.
The Singer 1507 comes with 8 built-in stitches, four-step buttonholer, simple bobbin winder, horizontal threading, snap-on presser feet and adjustable pressure and stitch length.
The Singer costs upwards of $80, and maintains a 4 out of 5 star rating on Amazon.com. It’s a decent little sewing machine.
Our Choice: Best Sewing Machine Under $100
For us, it has to be the Brother XL2600i. Affordable, packed with useful features and with a generous 25 built-in stitches, this machine is aggressively priced and highly rated by consumers. It’s a great beginners sewing machine.
Winner: Brother XL2600I
Brother PE770
Review: Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine With USB Memory-Stick Compatibility
The Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine
offers a compelling range of features and the solid reliability
we’ve come to expect from Brother as a manufacturer. Decent (and
expandable) hoop size, USB compatibility, LCD touch screen
controls and a 25 year limited warranty makes this an embroidery
machine well worth considering for the intermediate to
professional user.
Let’s take a closer look.
Best Price: Amazon.com
Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine Features
The first great feature of the PE770 is the USB memory stick compatibility. This means that you can grab designs from your computer and upload them straight ot the machine via the memory stick.
Brother gets you off to a good start though with 136 built-in decorative patterns, 6 lettering fonts, 10 frame shapes and 12 border styles. These may be perfect for some people, while others may find limited use for them. It all depends on your own style of embroidering. However, it’s a good head start if nothing else.
Fortunately, the machine is also
compatible with the Brother memory-card library, which you can
utilize to get even more designs. The built-in memory function of
the Brother PE770 means that you can also conveniently save your
own designs for future use.
Patterns can be rotated in 1, 10 or 90 degree increments. The machine offers a 5″ x 7″ embroidery field with hoop included. However, it can support up to a 5″ x 12″ field with the additional purchase of an optional hoop
Intuitive LCD touch-screen controls makes getting to grips with the PE770 that much easier. The machine speed is adjustable up to a speedy 650 stitches per minute.
Useful aids such as a thread sensor, automatic thread cutter, Quick Set™ Bobbin and automatic bobbin winding are also present.
Included Accessories:
Seam ripper, bobbins, needle set, cleaning brush, screwdrivers, spool caps, spool net, scissors, accessory bag, manual and a reference guide. No carrying case is included, only a dust cover.
Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine Performance
Having used Janome machines before, the one thing that Brother always brings to the table is intuitive ease of use. This is also the case with the PE770. You have to study the manual a bit to get going, but this won’t take too long and will involve the minimum head scratching.
The included patterns get you off to a great start, especially by providing a quick and easy way to get used to the machine. Once you move beyond these, the USB card connectivity makes it easy to grab and load new designs and patterns onto the machine. Also the fonts may not be large enough for all tastes, which may necessitate the purchase of embroidery software. If you do serious embroidering, this is probably a given anyway. Fonts can also be purchased from various online sites.
The monochrome LCD display lets the machine down a little, as some patterns are hard to distinguish on it due to lack of detail in the display.
The needle threader works well enough, although it may take some getting used to. All machines have their finicky areas, and in the case of the PE770 these are the needle threading and the bobbin tension. You may have to go through some trial and error to get the latter just right, so I would suggest practicing on cheap materials to get to grips with the machine before doing serious work.
Stitching is neat and precise.
If you find yourself having trouble with thread nesting or similar issues, make sure you are using top quality embroidery thread and needles. The Brother PE770 does not handle the cheap stuff well, and definitely don’t try to use sewing needles on it. This is an embroidery machine.
Verdict: Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine with USB Memory-Stick Compatibility
Overall, Brother has produced a fine embroidery machine with the PE770. Consumers also seem to be happy overall with the machine. On Amazon.com the machine maintains a 4 out of 5 star average rating, with almost 80% of all ratings being 4 and 5 star.
We can highly recommend the Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine as an intermediate embroidery machine. If you need an embroidery machine that can sew as well, check out the Brother SE400.
Buy the Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine from
Amazon.com,
where we consistently found the best price for this
machine.
Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery and Sewing Machine
Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery and Sewing Machine Review
The Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery and
Sewing Machine gives you a powerful combination unit that will
suit anyone who loves to sew and embroider down to the ground.
Achieving an impressive 87% customer satisfaction ratio on
Amazon.com, this machine is a solid and reliable performer.
Let’s take a closer look at both the good and bad points of this sewing machine.
Buy the Brother SE400 from Amazon.com
At a Glance
The Brother SE400 is a slightly updated version of the SE350, the biggest difference being that the SE400 now offers you PC connectivity via a USB cable. This makes it easy for you to not only update its software, but also to download embroidery designs from your computer straight to the SE400.
The unit comes with 67 built-in stitches and 98 stitch functions, along with 70 built-in embroidery designs. You also get the legendary Brother reliability, ease of use and efficiency.
Brother SE400 Accessories
Feet included:
Buttonhole, overcasting, monogramming, zipper, blind stitch,
button fitting and embroidery foot.
Essential Accessories:
Spool caps, touch
pen, needle set, screwdrivers, accessory bag & seam ripper,
eyelet punch, cleaning brush, twin needle, embroidery arm.
Additional Accessories:
Power cord, Manual,
USB cable, Additional spool pin, Scissors, CD with
Instructions, Embroidery Bobbin Thread, Felt with
stabilizer
The accessories is pretty complete as you can see, giving you all the basic and essential tools you’ll need to operate the machine.
As with most of their sewing machines, Brother offers a 25 year limited warranty on the Brother SE400. It is always a very real comfort to know a company has this much confidence in their products.
Brother SE400 Performance Review
Brother has a reputation for producing decent operating manuals, and the manual for the SE400 is no exception. An additional instructional CD is included and will help you get to grips with an already user-friendly machine even faster.
The machine is very compact and easy to move around, but on the negative side it does limit the embroidery size to 4″ x 4″. This means this machine is only suitable for beginner embroidery, or if you don’t need to embroider anything beyond the supported size.
Bobbins, Cutting,
Threading
The Brother SE400 has a self threading mechanism which works exceptionally well.
Brother’s trademarked Quick-Set drop-in bobbin system is also present, as is the case on many Brother sewing machines. This allows you to simply drop the bobbin into the top load bobbin case, follow the thread guide, and then close the case again. This does make replacing bobbins quite easy and hassle-free.
An effective automatic thread cutter completes this very competent little setup
LCD
Control
Being a computerized sewing machine, the Brother SE400 is controlled via the very efficient LCD touch screen system. From here you will select the functions you need to use. The machine will provide information on the selected options and let you know exactly what you need to execute them.
A help function is also directly accessible through the LCD menu, providing various instructions related to the setup and running of the machine as you require them.
Powerful PC Support
The PC connectivity is a major feature, and allows you to use various software programs available from Brother to create your own unique and custom embroidery designs and send them straight to the machine. This really ups the versatility of the machine.
Brother SE400 Computerized Sewing Machine Verdict:
Overall, the Brother SE400 Computerized Sewing Machine is an excellent buy for intermediate sewing, with decent but size limited embroidering capabilities. If you are considering serious embroidering, this machine may fall short eventually due to the 4×4 inch hoop size limit. If you can get by with that, it’s a bargain though.
All the great features Brother has developed over the years is included in the machine, like automatic threading and drop-in bobbins. Add a great warranty, a decent price, PC connectivity and a high degree of user-friendliness and the SE400 is easy to recommend if you can live with its limitations.
Consumer Verdict:
Currently on Amazon.com, this unit maintains a 4.5 star out of 5 average rating, of which 88% are pure 4 and 5 star ratings. In other words, consumers find this sewing machine extremely efficient. That is a very high level of customer satisfaction.
Buy the Brother SE400 Computerized Sewing Machine from Amazon.com
Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery and
Sewing Machine Video Overview
Buy the Brother SE400 Computerized Sewing Machine from Amazon.com
Brother LS2125I
Brother LS2125I Sewing Machine
The Brother LS2125i sewing machine is a great option for beginners, offering solid performance and basic features. Definitely not for the serious professional, but an excellent machine for basic sewing and mending.
Buy this product at Amazon.com
The machine offers you 10 built-in stitches, including multiple stitch functions like hem, satin, straight and elastic. It has an automatic 4-step buttonholer. A lever is present, which allows reverse operation. As with other models the LS2125i features snap-on presser feet for easy installation and removal, as well as a quick bobbin wind and a tension dial.
A light bulb will help you see what you’re doing while stitching, and accessory storage is included in the free arm of the machine.
Brother LS2125I Sewing Machine Review
A sewing machine has a very simple purpose – to make it easier to create, change or mend clothes. It is at these simple tasks that the LS2125i excels. First, you should know what to expect. This is not a heavy duty machine, and is essentially for the hobbyist. It is great for small tasks and lighter fabrics, although it handles denim quite well.
Straight out of the box, setup is fairly easy and the manual does a good job of explaining things, although if you’re a complete newbie you may wish to have someone with experience of threading and setting up sewing machines present.
One thing you need to pay special attention to is the tension as the thread is prone to getting tangled. If you’re fairly experienced with sewing machines this shouldn’t be a problem. The foot pedal can be a little hard to control and will take some practice to get to grips with. It is especially prone to starting out too fast.
Brother LS2125I Verdict:
This is a decent enough entry level sewing machine for the hobbyist. It is easy to set up and use and does the basic tasks of sewing and mending very well. Be aware that if you plan to get serious about sewing you may wish to start with a slightly more advanced model.
Consumer Verdict:
Out of 148 customer reviews on Amazon.com right now, the Brother LS2125i Sewing Machine has collected 113 four and five star reviews, meaning that 76% of consumers are very happy with it. That’s a decent enough return for this little workhorse. Be aware of its limitations before you buy, but for the hobbyist it is a good investment.
For the best price online, buy the
Brother LS2125I Sewing Machine at Amazon.com
Brother PC-420
Brother PC-420 PRW Sewing Machine (Project Runway Limited Edition)
The Brother PC-420 PRW Sewing Machine is a
powerful and versatile computerized sewing machine. It features
an impressive 294 built-in stitches, both utility and decorative.
As is customary for Brother’s computerized series of sewing
machines, you can access the stitches with the touch of a button.
In addition to this you can also design your own unique stitches, making the possibilities with the Brother PC-420 PRW sewing machine almost limitless. If you are a designer sewer, you will absolutely love this feature as it enables you to turn this machine into your own personal sewing database.
For the best price online, buy the
Brother PC-420 PRW at Amazon.com
Buttonholing is simple and automatic, and you have 10 styles to choose from in this regard. Also included are three lettering styles supporting 55 characters (alphanumeric) each.
We also love the needle threading system, which saves you the annoyance of getting the thread through that tiny little eye.
The PC-420 comes with a stack of accessories. There are 13 accessory feet, including buttonhole, overcasting, monogramming, zipper, zigzag, blind stitch and more. Other useful accessories include a twin needle, needle set, eyelet punch, seam ripper, cleaning brush, knee lifter and more. A foot controller is included as well, along with a hard cover carrying case.
As usual Brother offers you a 25 year limited warranty on this machine. The PC-420 PRW sewing machine looks extremely impressive right out of the box, so let’s see how it performs.
Brother PC-420 PRW Sewing Machine Review
The positives
For starters, after unpacking we briefly studied the first part of the manual just to make sure we knew how to set the machine up. Setting up turned out to be a dream, and we had the machine threaded in no time. The advanced threader really helped here. The bobbin can be easily accessed without having to fiddle with screws.
A handy start/stop button, as well as decent speed control adds to the enjoyment of working with the Brother PC-420 PRW. And boy, is it quiet.
Another handy feature that works wonderfully in practice is the automatic thread cutter. It did on occasion fail to cut a thread cleanly, but it happens seldom enough to not be a big deal.
Stitching quality is very good. Not only do you have a vast number of stitches to choose from, but the machine executes them with uniform precision. The ability to create and save your own stitches, which we already touched on, is fantastic.
There’s so much we’ve yet to try out on the PC-420, but up to now it’s handled everything we’ve thrown at it with ease. It is not an industrial class machine, but at just over $400 you wouldn’t expect it to be.
Problems encountered
We’d recommend using only Brother manufactured bobbins on this machine. It is a very sensitive machine, and you could experience thread jams otherwise. We’re also not quite convinced by the alpha numeric stitches. They’re decent, but nothing spectacular.
Brother PC-420 Verdict:
Overall, the Brother PC-420 Project Runway Sewing Machine delivers amazing results for its price range. You can certainly pay much more for a sewing machine and not get the quality and versatility you do with the PC-420. Also, despite its many features, it is not a difficult or intimidating sewing machine to get to grips with. Very highly recommended.
Consumer Verdict:
Out of 61 user reviews currently on Amazon.com, the Brother PC-420 PRW has collected 60 4 and 5 star reviews, meaning that 98% of consumers are thrilled with it. There is no truly negative review to be found for this product. The consumers have spoken. For just over $400 at Amazon.com, the Brother PC-420 PRW is one heck of a sewing machine.
For the best price online, buy the
Brother PC-420 PRW at Amazon.com
Singer 1507
Singer 1507 Sewing Machine Review
The Singer 1507 is a decent
little sewing machine, but features stiff competition from the
Brother XL2600i, which is just around $10 more
expensive. The 1507 is an 8-stitch machine, while the Brother
offers 25, so immediately that should make you take a good hard
look at the Brother XL2600I as well if this is your price range.
To get the best price online, buy
the Singer 1507 from Amazon.com
Features
For now, however, let’s focus on the Singer 1507 sewing machine.
The machine is best suited for basic mending and sewing. It
features a 4-step buttonholer, simple
bobbin winder, horizontal threading and 3 needle positions. The
snap-on presser feet is convenient, as are the carry handle and
built-in storage compartment for various accessories.
Accessories included with the machine includes a bottle of oil (small), 2 spool caps, stitching guide, screwdriver, seam ripper and lint brush, 4 bobbins and a feed dog cover. Included feet include standard presser, button sewing, buttonhole and zipper.
Singer 1507 Sewing Machine Performance Review
The positives
An easy to understand manual will get you set up fast with this machine. The foot pedal does a better job of controlling the speed than some of the Brother models, which can speed up a little too fast. Operation is very quiet. We love the built-in storage compartment as well. Reverse sewing is possible and can be activated with a handy little lever. Overall, this is a capable sewing machine that is very easy to learn and use.
The machine falls in the $75 – $80 price range and is a good buy for that price.
Problems encountered
The tension on the bobbin in particular tends to loosen a bit too easily for our liking, although it is easily rectified with the included screwdriver. Sewing at high speed can cause unthreading from the bobbin cover, so if you’re a speed merchant, you’d want to tone it down a little and just keep a nice steady pace with the Singer 1507. So, as you can tell, the bobbin setup could be a problem area for some people on this machine.
Singer 1507 verdict
The Singer 1507 is a very capable little machine, but you may want to also take a serious look at the Brother XL2600i before making a purchase decision. For just a few dollars more the Brother offers you a lot of added versatility. However, if basic sewing and mending is all you need to do, the Singer 1507 is an affordable and easy to use option.
Consumer Verdict
Out of 45 user reviews on Amazon.com it received 37 4 and 5 star
reviews, giving it a healthy 82% extreme customer satisfaction
rating. This is, however, a fairly small sample (we like to draw
conclusions from 100+ reviews), but there doesn’t seem to be too
many major issues with this machine.
To get the best price online, buy
the Singer 1507 from Amazon.com
Brother XL2600I
Brother XL2600I Sewing Machine Review
Brother has built itself a reputation for ease of use and
aggressive pricing, and the Brother XL2600I won’t do anything
to harm the company’s reputation in this regard.
For the best price online, buy the Brother
XL2600I at Amazon.com
Brother XL2600I Features
Coming in considerably cheaper than the more advanced Brother CS6000I, the XL2600I is a free-arm sewing machine with 25 built-in stitches. These cater well for novices as well as your everyday sewing projects.
Operation is by foot pedal and the unit features a light bulb to help you see what you’re doing. It has an automatic needle threader, built-in thread cutter, a drop-in bobbin, automatic bobbin winding system and an automatic 1-step buttonholer.
Included in the box you’ll find 5 accessory feet (buttonhole, zipper, button sewing, narrow hemmer and zigzag presser), as well as a screw driver, needle, twin needle, extra spool spin and a darning plate.
The Brother XL2600I features the standard Brother 25 year limited warranty. It weighs just 11 pounds.
Brother XL2600I Performance Review
The positives
Right out of the box, this is a very easy machine to set up and get going with. We were sewing away happily in less than an hour. Quilting is not a problem for this machine and we also did some mending without any problems. We did some buttonholing as well and found it to be a breeze. The included accessories provides you with pretty much everything you need to get started right away.
Problems encountered
Be careful to follow the instructions in the manual to the letter when threading the machine though or you may run into some issues with the lower threading. Also, it seems that the foot height on this model cannot be adjusted, although that hasn’t caused any difficulties for us so far. Also, this machine is not ideal for really heavy materials.
Brother XL2600I Verdict
For under $90 (at the time of this writing), you’d be hard pressed to find a better sewing machine than the Brother XL2600I. If this is your budget range, and you consider yourself a beginner to casual sewing enthusiast, this machine will suit you down to the ground. Be aware of its limitations, and also consider the Brother CS6000I.
Consumer Verdict
Out of 134 customer reviews currently on Amazon.com this unit scores 116 4 and 5 star reviews, also scoring an 86% extreme satisfaction rating.
For the best price online, buy the Brother
XL2600I at Amazon.com
Brother CS6000i
Brother CS6000i Computerized Sewing Machine Review
The Brother CS6000i Computerized Sewing Machine
is a little sewing powerhouse. This model gives you a choice of
60 built-in stitches. From decorative to quilting to various
utility stitch functions, the aim of the Brother CS6000i sewing
machine is to make your life as easy as possible.
Buy the Brother CS6000I from Amazon.com
Sewing is controlled through either a foot pedal or a simple one-touch button on the machine itself, the latter of which can also be used to do reverse stitching. The machine connects materials at a speedy 850 stitches per minute.
You will find a complete range of accessories included with the machine: from the basics like a manual, power cord and a solid storage case, to the tools of the trade like bobbins, a needle set, seam ripper, handy screw driver, brush for cleaning, an additional spool spin, twin needle and various snap-on presser feet.
Brother offers you a 25 year limited warranty on this unit. It appears to be an extremely versatile sewing machine, but let’s look beyond the features to see how it performs.
Brother CS6000i
Performance Review
The positives
The manual is very good and we’d highly recommend that you carefully read it (it features plenty of diagrams and pictures if you struggle with the jargon) and follow the instructions before using or threading the machine. With that said, the machine is very easy to get to grips with. The computerized stitch selection (done via a LCD screen) is a joy. The included quilting table makes this machine a great buy if you enjoy or have to do a lot of quilting.
Threading is surprisingly easy. The feet just snap in, no screws to mess with, and are easily released with the press of a button.
Another positive is that the machine is fairly light (it features a sturdy plastic chassis), so if you need to carry it around a lot you won’t find that too much of a hardship.
Finally, the price is the major draw here. For around $180 you wouldn’t expect anything nearly this easy to use, sturdy or effective, but the Brother CS6000I delivers value in spades. After doing some quilting and stitching some heavy curtains, we cannot help but be impressed at the ease with which the Brother CS6000I handles the tasks you throw at it.
Problems encountered
If you’re using cheap thread, the machine is prone to bunching up the thread. Use high quality thread and be sure to use identical thread in the bobbin as well as on top of the machine. Also, if you plan to sew a lot of heavy material, like multiple layers of denim, this may not be the ideal machine for you.
Brother CS6000i Verdict:
Overall, the Brother CS6000i Computerized Sewing Machine punches well above its price range in both features and actual operation. Cheap, light, versatile and sturdy, this is a great machine for novices in particular who wants to learn the ropes without a big expense, while avoiding having to upgrade to something better in a few months.
Consumer Verdict:
Out of 513 user reviews currently on Amazon.com, this unit has collected 446 4 and 5 star reviews, meaning that 86% of consumers are extremely happy with it. That’s one heck of a strike rate.
Buy the Brother CS6000I Computerized Sewing Machine from Amazon.com
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