Ellageo

I just need a single needle machine , of course with a few goodies!! I have a cheap Walmart Brother...need I say more. I love to sew in the evenings & off days & just need something basic( with a few goodies). I just looks at the Brother website & found quite a few machines, less than $200. with quite a few 'goodies'.
Can my Quilting Board friends give me some experienced advice?? THANKS!!

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

I love my Brother machines. I have a little one from Walmart XL 2600. It has some fun fancy stitches and does everything I could ask. It has made everything from quilts to prom dresses and has never needed to visit a service man. It's only drawback is it's small harp. To solve that, I bought a Brother 1500S. As far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with them.

Bneighbor

Brother machines are my first choice. Just because it was from Walmart does not automatically make it a bad machine. Make a list of what you need your new machine to do. Compare those needs with the machines on the brother site. A dealer may have a gently used machine that will fit the needs. Have fun shopping and taking machines on test drives. Oh, and make sure you take the kind of fabrics you sew to the dealer. You want to test drive on fabrics that you use, not the stiff cotton buckram they use. Almost any machine can sew that stuff.

cizzors

Depends. Look at the UPC. If it says 'Made Exclusively for Walmart', well, there's your clue. The product will be missing some parts. Maybe they aren't necessary parts but maybe they are. I worked there for 7 years and this is one thing I learned. Whenever I buy tools or electronics for DH, if it says that then I go to Home Depot.

jquilt214

Just remember that the machines from Walmart have plastic parts and gears on the inside and most shops will not work on them if something goes wrong. The same is true with the machines from Hancocks. Most sewing machine dealers/shops will have good used machines. Brother has reconditioned machines on their website with good prices and warranties.

Chasing Hawk

I have a Brother SQ 9000 I bought at Wal Mart several years ago. Only difference between a Brother machine from Wal Mart and another store is the price.
As an example.........When I was looking for an embroidery machine....Brother PE770 online from a store in New York vs. the LQS 25 miles from my house was a price difference of $600.00 for the same exact machine.

Brother does not make two of the same machine.......one made cheaply and one made "with better parts" to sell at different stores.

My SQ900 came with more feet than I can ever use. I didn't have to buy any extras. It does everything I ask of it. Those $2000.00 and up sewing machines can go haywire just as easy as the $200.00 one from Wal Mart.

sandilee

I too have the SQ 9000 and I love it. Its from WalMart and I have had no problem. Its set up with quilting equipment and 80 stitches, most you will never use. My only complaint about this and any other machine is the throat space....I wish all manufacturers would make that space wider.

Rose Marie

My little Brother three hundred dollar embroidery machine is a great starter. It only does a 4 in pattern but that's enough for me.
My first cheap sewing machine is a Brother and it is still going strong. Also bought a small one for travel.
Good products and simple to use, like drop in bobbins.

DOTTYMO

I love my brother but I have just purchased a husqvarna t100 series cheap with whistles and bells. It came from thecreTe and raft tv channel I. UK

Dolphyngyrl

Thanks for saying this. I don't know why people still believe they make cheaper models just for walmart, joanns or these other stores. Also I was not missing any parts from my walmart brother SQ-9050 and have had nothing but good things from this machine plastic gears and all, and would recommend to anyone looking for a low cost machine. I'd be hard pressed to spend more for the same machine at my dealer it just doesn't make sense to on a low end machine. I have bought all my low ends online or at walmart, and will continue to do so. Also I have had no trouble getting my low ends serviced for their regular cleaning. If your dealer doesn't service them then my advice get a new dealer. A good dealer will offer his or her services whether you purchased from them or not. If my dealer said no I would not be spending my thousands of dollars with him because it would be poor customer service and bad for repeat business