Thread: Brother machine reviews please....

I have several Brother sewing machines. For a basic machine, several years ago I purchased a VX-1500. It is a mechanical sewing machine with 9 built-in stitches. To start out with, I think it would be a great choice. I also have a sewing/embroidery sewing machine and a serger(which I love!) As with anything, it is a personal choice. You will find some people hate Brother machines and others love them. What I will say, Brother has a truly outstanding manual. Much better manual than my Bernina has. For a beginner, I think a mechanical Brother would be a excellent choice. My friend asked me to help her make curtains and I asked her if she had a sewing machine or should I bring some of mine. I did bring my Brother serger but she had 2 Brother sewing machines, but she said they didn't work well. So, since she only lives a few miles from me, if I couldn't get her Brother sewing machine I would run home and bring one of mine to her home. So I got to her house and saw a Brother basic mechanical machine,covered with dust. It had obviously not been used in ages. I had brought some sewing machine oil, a special screw driver I had found at my local hardware store which makes getting the plate screws loose better than any screwdriver I have.I got the plate off, cleaned the lint and dust out of the botten area, took out the bobbin and the bobbin case and cleaned that as well. After cleaning, I oiled the machine, put the bobbin case back into the machine. They had the manual, I looked up how to thread and how to fill the bobbin, did both and fired her up. She worked flawlessly. Oh, and the reason the machine wouldn't work for her? She had the needle in incorrectly. I honestly don't know how that poor machine worked at all! Also she had a thick cord wound on the bobbin. I asked her what kind of thread this is. She said she didn't know. I got most of her curtains sewed. What we didn't get sewed she sewed herself! this poor lady hand sewed everthing she had to sew. She can now use her machine and she doesn't get frustrated and give up machine sewing and going back to sewing everything by hand.I recommend Brother sewing machines.

I bought a brother cs6000i 8 years ago and have had no problems with it. I only paid $149 here in Canada. It has the stitches I like and it is lightweight easy to take to classes. My daughter liked it so well I bought her one, and 2 of my friends have bought them for for classes because they sew so well and are lightweight.

Oh and that's a really cool quilt by the way!!

I have a brother SQ9050...couldn't love it more!!! So easy to use..tons of great features..you don't have to pull the bobbin thread up through the top before you start sewing..(great time saver), auto needle threader!!(great for older eyes)...built in fonts, and my favorite is the speed adjuster...if something happened to this machine today, I would go right out and buy another one.
I bought 2 singers right before this, and brought them both back...very cheaply made and had terrible tension issues on both models...love my brother!!

I love Brother machines and have more than one, from a $200 walmart to TOL dealer machine, all great. Advantage with a delaer is lessons, service. advantage with one from a big box store is the return policy if by chance you get a lemon or just don't like it. The same models are not sold by dealers that are in big box stores but they can be very similar. I once wrote to brother to ask if there was an internal difference on similar models sold in discount stores or sold by dealers, they replied that the insides were the same.
Another dealer advantage though is the opportunity to buy a lower cost machine that has been traded in for an upgraded model. On a used machine you would get more features for the same amount of money that a new machine would cost.
If it were me my first stop would be a dealer to check put the used machines, I've gotten great machines that way.

I have about brother SQ9050 that my son got me, I actually love it! Does great free motion too. I usually prefer the vintage machines so this really surprised me.

Quilt is beautiful! You can't go wrong with a Brother machine.

Great pictures. I started out with 1500 and traded for 2500. Works wonderful. Brother makes a great machine

Originally Posted by llong0233

For availability (Walmart carries them), price ($100-$150) and durability the Brother CS1000i is the machine for you.

I agree with everything llong says (although I think she meant CS6000i for the model number) - I had that same machine and it was a nice little machine for the price. BUT...it's small and VERY lightweight, to the point that it scoots away from you as you sew on it; definitely need to put some shelf liner or something similarly grippy underneath!

I gave mine to my niece & nephew after they came for a visit and fell in love with sewing. How could I not? They have no trouble using that machine on their own (they are 8 & 12 years old) and have made tons of little pillows and pouches; my nephew is working on making "armor" right now, LOL.

One thing to keep in mind about these cheapie machines though...they work great and are sufficient for most purposes, but if she's going to become an obsessed quilter she will probably outgrow the little machine pretty quickly. I know I did; I made 2 quilts on it and I knew I was hooked and needed something bigger, stronger and sturdier.