Brother\’s new XL2600i is a 25 stitch free arm sewing machine with multiple stitch functions. Easy to use, the XL2600i features an automatic needle threader, built in thread cutter and drop-in bobbin system. This sewing machine also has a built in one-step automatic buttonholer with a stitch balance control for perfect buttonholes every time. The stitches include built-in stretch, blind hem and decorative stitches as well as basic stitches for garment construction, quilting and embellishment. The XL2600i also has adjustable width and length as well as a dial thread tension control to give you more sewing flexibility. Brother\’s XL2600i has a convertible sewing surface from flatbed to freearm so that you can easily sew on hems or cuffs as well as larger items. Accessories are included for quilting, zipper insertion, darning, buttonholes and button sewing and this machine features quick change presser feet so you can easily change the feet to meet your sewing needs. The XL2600i is lightweight with a built-in handle for portability. Instructions are bilingual in English and Spanish.more info
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September 4th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Amazing machine for the money.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my first sewing machine, and having managed to survive 60 years without one, I had more than a little concern that I would be able to figure out how to use it. Not to worry — this thing is simple to use, amazingly easy to thread and wind bobbins. and it’s very powerful. I sewed together thick sheets of plastic film, and it had no problem punching through it. Provides very precise control over stitch length. Since this is the only sewing machine I have used, I can’t compare it to others, but it may be the only one I will ever need.
September 6th, 2009 at 6:12 am
Basic Mechanical Sewing Machine with 25 stitch free-arm sewing
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is your basic mechanical sewing machine. The picture they already show is what you get. It’s light weight and easy to use. It comes with three all purpose needles plus all the extras they list. I purchased some heavy weight needles for jeans and had no problems sewing them. It has reverse stitching for locking in the stitch. (Though you do need to hold down the button it’s not a problem).
If you just want a mechanical sewing machine that does the job and is affordable this is it. I use it for hemming; fixing; and sewing curtains and other tasks as they crop up. It has a stitch length dial that is pretty basic. Also a width dial that mostly positions the needle to the right; center; or left.
Now This machine’s foot pedal is tender to the touch I work it in my socks so I can regulate the speed better. Good lighting also.
The only bad I would say about this machine is that the tension dial. It is picky beyond belief. It takes patience to find the right number or close to one for different sewing material. I just mark it off so I don’t have to look for it again. Go right to my marks and I’m set to go. ( Took one star off because of this).
Now of course if your a professional seamstress or someone who sews a lot and is looking for perfect stitching you better off with the new computerized sewing machines. This sews like machines of the past which is no problem for me. Yes that means occasionally you get tangled in the bobbin area but it never effects my sewing as I’m done by then and just cut out the mess and continue. Price is good; plus I applied for amazon’s credit card which made it approx. a $67 dollar purchase and you can’t beat that.
September 7th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
great sewing machine, highly recommended
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this sewing machine, iam a beginner and this is a great machine for someone just starting out to someone who is experienced
September 8th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
much happier
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This machine is great. I had previously bought the next model down which was awful! This machine is so simple to use – I would recommend it to anyone.
September 10th, 2009 at 2:35 am
Easy & versatile
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
About me: I am an absolute beginner and my mother/granny did not sew. I am taking a sewing class and touched a sewing machine for the very first time there. (a 50-year old ELNA).
The only reason I am not giving this product a 5 star is because I have only used it for about 3 weeks so far and hence cannot vouch for its reliability long term.
Amazon delivered the machine in 3 days – very prompt service. The machine is easily portable and at the same time is not so light that it will trip over when working on an intensive project. Its modern and compact, and yet roomy enough to accommodate your fabric. While not overcrowded with features, it does come in with a handy set of features which will make your sewing experience simple and easy.
The manual was fairly good and I was able to set up the machine in about 20 minutes. Winding the bobbin and threading are very easy. Threading the bobbin is extremely simple (this model has the one-step bobbin threading). The storage compartment comes with about 3 types of presser feet, spare needles, spare bobbins and a tool.
There are 25 stitches – about 12 are decorative and the remaining are just various types of stitches. There is a needle thread guide which makes threading the needle very simple. The presser foot can just be snapped on and need not be screwed in.
The stitches are consistent and nice and machine is easy and efficient to work with. I would definitely recommend this for a beginner.
September 10th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Great machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This machine is great! I researched for months and Amazon had the best pricing and free shipping…..it’s always great shopping at Amazon!
September 12th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I have bought 2 of these machines!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought the first Brother XL600I for my oldest daughter for Christmas a year and a half ago. She loves it! She has made many garments with the machine and it runs like a charm. She took it to college with her last year and used it in her dorm room. I bought the second machine in May for my daughter who just graduated from high school. She wanted one to take to college also. She has used her sister’s and knew it was a good one. My 2 youngest daughter already have their eye on having there own machine. I will buy them the same model if it is still available at that time!
September 13th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The first one I got through Amazon broke half way through my first project. I requested an exchange through Amazon and had my new sewing machine at my door the next day!! Before I even shipped the old one back to them. The machine works great, the button holes on this machine are soooooo easy, such a relief and pleasant change from my Singer with the 4 step button hole. This machine also worked very well with my appliques and all my normal sewing needs. For the price you can’t go wrong here.
September 14th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Nice Machine for the Price…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this for my wifes birthday… She has sewn many different things, Rag Quilts, Blankets, Pillow cases… I have a suit that is fraying around the Button Hole and the machine has the adapter to do button holes.
I think it is a great machine for the price…
PS. Extremely easy to thread and load the bobbin!
September 14th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
very easy for the beginner.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am a beginner too..
it is very easy for the beginner, I love it
September 15th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Do not recommend
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I purchased this product for basic sewing but have been very unhappy. It seems to have trouble even with a straight stitch. The bobbin mechanism is poor — it continually jams and I spend more time fighting with it than actually sewing. I will probably have to replace this machine if I want to continue sewing and I have only been using it for a couple of months.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Best deal around
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely rapid delivery(two days)
I suggest trying all the stitches ,without thread, on a folded sheet of notebook paper after reading the instruction manual SEVERAL TIMES.This is a beginner’s dream come true.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:00 am
The Ideal Sewing Machine!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am a high school student and have been using my grandmother’s 50 year old Singer for the past few years, mainly for sewing clothes. I finally decided to do some research on sewing machines, and this machine was the PERFECT choice! I based my 5-star rating on price, quality, and function. The price couldn’t have been better, it is sturdy and of very high quality, and has all the features I could ever need as a novice/intermediate sewer. I am self-taught, and was unsure of how to operate a sewing machine that had modern capabilities such as an automatic button-hole! The instructions were very useful, and I haven’t once come across a project that I can’t accomplish with this machine in the 3 months that I have had it. I highly recommend it!
September 18th, 2009 at 2:31 am
Brother sewing machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As written by other buyers, my daughter-in-law had never touched a sewing machine before, and was able to begin sewing simple things right away. Yet she can go as far as she wants with it. My old machine must weigh 50 lbs and does nothing automatically! I recommend this item.
September 18th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Fine product
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Couldn’t ask for better delivery time. Sorry cannot rate this product because my wife’s limited vision made it impossible for her to use the machine. Your Customer Service handled the return very satisfactorily.
The one star rating is meaningless, is only to allow me to forward this review.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I love it!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really love this sewing machine so far. I did a lot of research before purchasing this machine and it was rated the number one machine that is a step up from a basic model on several different websites. It is so easy to use and I love how many different stitches there are. I think the instructions are straight forward and easy to understand. I am thrilled with my purchase!!
September 19th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
nice at first
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
i have only used my sewing machine 10 times or so, then the belt started slipping and now has to be repaired costing as much as i paid for the darn thing. not such a deal at all..
September 20th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Perfect for beginner
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
this machine does everything i could hope for. tip… i saved the box and use that to store the machine. lightweight, but sturdy. best value around!
September 20th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Affordable, reliable sewing machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been so pleased with this sewing machine. Given that it wouldn’t take much for me to be impressed since I’ve been using a 25-year-old machine, this one still has all the features an amateur and advanced sewer would want. I am particularly impressed with the 1-step button-hole maker. It was difficult to find a good machine with a 1-step for under $100, so this was quite a find.
It comes with a great variety of stitches, a (really cool) needle threader, and feels solid when I sew with it. I’ve used it for a couple of small projects so far, and it’s been great. I am glad I made the choice I did!
September 20th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Upper Thread Looping
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Great basic machine. I was looking for a replacement for a 60 year-old console, just to do the basics – alterations, repairs and simple projects – and this machine works well for me.
Looping… After a few trial runs, I had a problem with upper thread looping on the underside of the fabric. It took some time to find the problem: There is a small spring inside the metal thread guide on the top of the machine (threading step 1). I had more than once missed the spring when threading. Once I discovered my mistake and made certain that the thread engaged the spring, I had no more problems.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
very good machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m very happy with my new sewing machine,I have onother Brother machine where I work it’s a very plain model, but work wonders.When I needed a new machine for home I decided to get another Brother. I was very surprized how well it work for the price.I realy like and recomend to anyone looking for a sewing machine.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 am
Great sewing machine!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great sewing machine! Very easy to use and comes with all the necessary items to star sewing right away. My mom has been looking for one for a while now and she said this is the best one she tried.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Jury’s still out, but not everything I’d hoped for.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’m an intermediate beginner. I have some experience with industrial machines from a sewing class but haven’t made any completely successful garments yet. A more experienced sewer suggested I buy a cheap Brother machine. I bought this machine in June largely because of the positive reviews it received on Amazon. Here are the pros and cons I’ve encountered to date:
PROS
–Price
–Bobbin winding and threading are straightforward (especially the threading function)
–Makes a nice stitch so far
CONS
–The manual is difficult to understand in parts and the layout and index are poor. It also confusingly includes a Spanish-language version immediately after the English text instead of following the English version at the end, as is usually the case with dual- or multi-language manuals. (Some users over at the Wal-mart site had the same problem.)
–The markings on the soleplate don’t run the entire length because the feed dogs and bobbin case (on top of the machine) get in the way. The start of the gauge is fairly far behind the presser foot.
–There is no 1/2″ marking on the soleplate. This is a fairly common seam allowance. I’m going to try to tape it, but I can’t simply run a piece of tape across the plate, because, as discussed above, it would cross the feed dog well and the top of the bobbin case. I also don’t know which needle position I’m supposed to mark it from.
–The thread spindle can only handle small spools. To accommodate larger spools I’ve had to tape chopsticks to the spindle. I also bought a standalone thread hook to create height and tension, but haven’t used it yet.
–The needle threader gets in the way. It’s not that hard to thread a needle, and this is unnecessary.
–Has a somewhat toy-like feel. But for $114, that’s not surprising.
–Some of the optional feet are not snap on.
–It has a lot of stitches that I don’t really have much use for. All I really want are a reliable and well-formed straight and zigzag stitch.
–The numerous dials are confusing and I can’t but wonder if so many functions won’t make the machine more likely to break down.
–An invisible zipper foot is not included. That would have been much more useful than the accessory feet provided, which I believe are (they aren’t labeled, which they should be), a 1/4 quilting foot, a narrow hemmer foot, a quilting foot and a blind stitch foot.
–It doesn’t come with a carrying case.
Frankly, I’m beginning to wonder if I wouldn’t have been better off applying the $100 I spent on this machine towards an entry-level Bernina. More often than not you get what you pay for and sometimes cheap tools are more costly in the end.
Perhaps I will edit this review after a few more months of experience with this machine.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Great for Beginners!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
First, I got the order the DAY AFTER I ordered it! Great job, Amazon!
Second, I love the machine! I have never sewed before and with a little “fiddling”, I was able to figure it out and start sewing. The manual isn’t perfect for someone who has NEVER used a machine before, but I’m sure it is more that enough for anyone who has. The machine is easy to use and has a lot of stitch options. It has all of the attachments and spare parts that you need. I would DEFINITELY recommend it to other beginners!
September 30th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Good machine at a great price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this machine to have children sew easy sewing projects in an after-school art class. I researched sewing machines in Consumers Union Magazine, which rated this as one of the best. After buying and trying it out in class with the children, I liked it so well and it was so easy for them (6-15 yrs old) to figure out that I bought two more Brother XL2600I. I’m very happy with this product. I recommended it to a parent and she’s purchased one for her daughter to sew at home.
October 1st, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Excellent product from brother
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Excellent product and its multiple stich functions are really awesome. The price is decent compared to the same features offerred by others.
October 1st, 2009 at 11:37 pm
great basic machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just got this machine a few weeks ago. I am a beginner. It is very easy to thread and stable when sewing. Even I could follow the directions. I have not tried the automatic buttonholer yet, but I have used a few of the stitches.
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
reat sewing machine for a beginner
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My 12 year old daughter was able to get this sewing machine set up and start a project on her own. This is her first sewing machine and it has been perfect for her. We would highly recommend it to any beginning sewer.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Great Sewing Machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just wanted to let people know that they aren’t producing this model in the purple color any more. You may be able to find those still in stock somewhere, but the one I ordered is a mix between Hunter Green and Turquoise and that’s how it’s now advertised on the Brother website. Other than that it’s a great little machine and extremely fun to use.
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Brother XL2600I 25-Stitch Free-Arm Sewing Machine with Multiple Stitch Functions
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have recently purchased this machine. I am a man with no previous experience in using sewing machine. The initial setup was easy and I am delighted with this machine. I will recommend this machine to any one and dealing with the process of purchase was smooth. a good buy.
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:08 am
Cheap but great and easy to use
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought the sewing machine for my 11 years old daughter, and she could use it less than 30 minutes after opening the box. Although she learned how to use a sewing machine in school (different machine), it seemed very easy to use for beginner. She is enjoying the machine by fixing her clothes, making dog’s clothes, etc. I spent less than $100 for the machine, but it is worth more than that.
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:48 am
Brother Service/Warranty is useless, but Amazon made it right.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I purchased this machine in early January of 2008. It arrived promptly by Amazon, as usual. I used it for a couple of weeks and a little piece of the automatic threader broke off. It took me over a week, counting the Presiden’t holiday to get through to the sewing warrantly department at Brother. My options were to go have it serviced (over 100 miles away) or get a box sent and picked up from UPS for service. The issue I have is that they do not replace the machine in the meantime. They also will not extend warranty time frame any longer.
I phoned Amazon and they immediately arranged to send a replacement. I have purchased from Amazon for years, this is the first item I’ve needed to return. They came through.
I have purchased from Brother: a monochrome screen word processor, a Brother laptop, 2 Brother laser printers, 1 Brother laser multifunction, 1 Brother fax machine and now this sewing machine. This is the only Brother item I have needed service on. They did not come through. Make sure a repair center is close before you buy this machine.
As for the functionality of the machine, it is great for simple sewing. Anything heavier I recommend an industrial quality machine. This one is light which contributes to the poor quality of the materials.
October 3rd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Best in its Category
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I previously had another Brother Sewing machine, LS2125I, which was sort of pain but got me through most little projects. After move cross-county however, my sewing machine was destroyed by movers. After reading a ton of reviews I went w/ a very popular Hello Kitty Sewing Machine. Well, looking past the flowers and kitties, this thing was a complete joke. Finally after being ready to chuck the thing out the window (too bad I live on a bottom floor) I decided it was time to find another. Again reading the reviews lead me back to this Brother; and I am very glad I did. I mostly hem my pants and uniforms, but if I have to spend hours in frustration doing so, it’s completely maddening. I just received this item and out of the box it was easy set-up (Hallelujah for the automatic Bobbin!) and I had pair of jeans hemmed in lightening speed. Perfection!
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Only 1 speed – 60 mph
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This machine is probably great for simple purposes. I bought it to make a kite, which I thought was pretty simple. But it has two major flaws that make it totally worthless to me:
1) No way to sew slowly. It has a gas pedal of sorts. If you push it down 1/4th of the way, the machine makes a loud humming noise, but does not engage. Push it down half way and it hums angrily, but still doesn’t engage. Push it down a fraction of a millimeter lower and WHAM it engages and yanks the fabric out of your hands faster than you can feed it, scrunching fabric up, and sewing all over the place. I had to do most of my sewing by cranking the manual wheel on the side so that it would go slowly enough to be useful.
2) no way to adjust lower thread tension. I had no idea I even cared about something as obscure as this, the lower tension is set at a value that should pretty much take care of things and you adjust the upper tension. But as the project wore on the lower tension got loser and loser until the sewing machine became useless. Lower tension that is too lose means lots of thread hanging loosely on the under side when you finish stitches – no matter how I set the upper tension.
So I don’t recommend this sewing machine if you plan to sew anything with it. I’m sure it’s great for general utility uses like fixing loose buttons and sewing extra pockets into your favorite pants or whatever.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:54 am
Sewing machine is fabulous!
Brother XL2600I 25-Stitch Free-Arm Sewing Machine with Multiple Stitch Functions
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This machine was a gift for my adult daughter. She was absolutely overcome to receive such a great gift. She wants to make curtains for her new home. I was taking MY old faithful Bernina to her house every time I visited her (about 3 hours away), and we never had enough time to complete projects while we were together, so she is really pleased to have one of her own. I also gave her sewing lessons, specific to the machine, so she can really learn how to use it well! We are both SO excited, because it’s so easy to use! She’s also joining a quilting club!
October 4th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Fantastic!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this machine yesterday and I love it! Already I’ve been able to mend multiple things! It’s worked on stretch fabrics, delicate knits, and even jeans. I patched worn jeans pockets without a problem.
I found the machine very easy to use, the instruction booklet was fairly clear as were the directions on the machine. I love this machine and can imagine I will use it often!
October 4th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Brother sewing machine
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have had this machine for a few weeks now and I enjoy it. I find it easy to use though I have only used a few of its features. I am new to sewing and just do simple things but threading and filling the bobbin were easy and the instructions helpful.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
HOW TO STOP LOWER THREAD LOOPING
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I too was having a ton of problems with the lower thread looping under the fabric. It was very frustrating. Finally I figured out how to fix it. Refer to the owner’s manual section on inserting the bobbin for photos. What you want to do is drop in the bobbin, and pull the thread through the little slit like it says. But, you have to make sure that the thread goes into the slot in the “tension-adjusting spring” (this is hard to see; pull up the plastic tongue that forms the slit a little with your fingernail to see where it is), although it should go in by itself, then YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE BOBBIN SO IT DOESN’T MOVE AND PULL THE THREAD GENTLY TO SEAT IT INTO THE SPRING. That is the key. After I made sure the thread was all the way in, like magic my lower thread was working perfectly.
Aside from that I am happy with the machine. I especially like the needle threader and think that the top thread is very easy to thread. Now that I figured out the lower thread issue, I want to experiment with all the stitches! I wish the presser foot lever was on the back instead of the inside, but oh well. Be careful taking off the tape because I ripped some off and it pulled up a little plastic on the green part of the machine.
The owner’s manual IS hard to read. The Spanish is right after the English, and sometimes they repeat the same instructions twice, and it’s not laid out well. It is manageable, though.
They make you think you have to buy special bobbins, but on the box it says you can replace them with class 15, although I have not tried that yet. The accessories seem quite acceptable, except I wish they had given you some ball point needles for knits and stretch rather than just more sharp points.
Overall, it sews fine once you get everything threaded right, and I’ve made several tops already. Definitely good for a beginner or someone who doesn’t want to do anything too fancy.
October 6th, 2009 at 9:54 am
brother sewing machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It is light weight and compact. It does the jobs I want it for and is very easy to use.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
One major limitation
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a great machine for the price. I am teaching my teenage daughter to sew and she is turned off by my clunky old Singer. So I keep that around for the tough jobs and use this new Brother for the light weight stuff.
The only major limitation of this machine is that it can’t really handle heavy weight fabrics or multiple layers very well. There is no presser foot adjustment, so the foot can only be raised so much, and can’t be adjusted for variable feed, depending on fabric thickness. There is only one setting. That means you need to use plenty of pins, and keep the old Singer around for the heavy duty stuff. Otherwise, a fun little machine.
October 6th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
nice machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this for my 11-year-old daughter.
A knowledgeable friend recommended it because the price was reasonable, it has a drop-in bobbin, and has a needle-threader.
When it arrived, we went straight to our friend with it, and she showed us how to thread and operate it, and explained all the little doo-dads it came with.
We set it up in the playroom, and my daughter uses it almost daily, making stuffed animals and doing other creative things. She’s taught all her friends to use it, and they’re all asking for sewing machines for Christmas. We’re loving it.
October 7th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Simple and easy to learn and use.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’m am enjoying this machine. I hadn’t touched a sewing machine in over 25 years. This has been so easy – it’s like I never stopped sewing! One thing I have noticed is that it doesn’t like heavier fabrics.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Great little machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m quite impressed with the reliability and steady function of this machine – for the price, it performs as well as models costing two to three times as much. I’ve completed a number of projects with it, including difficult piping on a heavyweight slipcover, and everything I’ve made holds up well to wear and tear. It has a nice even stitch, I’ve had no problems with bobbin tension.
It’s wise to read the manual fully, particularly if you’re not extremely comfortable with machines already. All the stitch functions exist and work fine – you just have to know where to find them (reading the manual is HELPFUL). It’s a simple machine for a beginner, with the quality, basic functions useful to an experienced seamstress.
I love it! I’m turning out projects that look like pottery barn products, with an $80 machine.
October 10th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
easy to use
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I got this recently. It is very easy to use even though I am an absolute beginner. I’ve already made 2 handbags with it.
Sewing is really simple, and the model has many different types of stitches, for decoration etc.
The only thing I haven’t been able to work out yet is the embroidery. I am trying to do monogramming. The instructions say that you are supposed to lower the presser bar with the foot removed, but even without the foot, the foot base itself presses onto the fabric making it impossible to move freely. I am wondering if I am supposed to unscrew the foot base, instead of just removing the foot, but something like that is not mentioned in the manual.
October 11th, 2009 at 12:20 am
Do NOT buy this sewing machine!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Based on the reviews, I thought this Brother would be a very good starter machine, and it is just that. It *starts* off fine. But I am now dealing with the same problem on my second replacement machine. For a while, the machine runs great, is easy to use, and then the lower bobbin thread starts to mangle here and there. Eventually, the bobbin thread is such a mess that it is unusable. I’m not doing anything complicated, not trying to sew through leather, and this problem crops up to a debillitating degree within a few months (bought my first in June 08, had replacement in August 08). I know people who have bought similarly inexpensive machines by other brands and have had no problem with this issue. And Consumer Reports is finally scheduled to publish sewing machine reviews in February 09, so my advice is wait to follow their recommendations.
October 12th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Great for beginners
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My mother taught me how to sew the summer before I went to college and over the summer I really enjoyed learning and decoded I wanted to continue. I found the Brother for cheap and decided to go with it. It is a very hardy machine and has moved with me from home in New Mexico to college in Wisconsin for the past two years and I took it with me on a trip to Oregon. Each trip it was bumped and banged and buried under a pile of other things but came out working just as good as ever… a real plus in the life of a college student. I have learned how to do much more in the two and a half years that I’ve been sewing since I bought the machine and I am happy to report that I have not year found a project I could not do with this machine. It is easy to thread both the needle and the bobbin and rarely breaks a thread or catches. It has been a great machine to learn and grow on
October 12th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Sewing is fun again!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This machine is just great for me. I previously sewed as a child in 4-H for many years and 15 years later have decided to come back to it. So I have some experience but forget a lot and this machine is very forgiving. Much easier to thread and wind the bobbin than in the old days. It is light and has a great variety of stitches for mending and decorating. I have used it on many fabrics without problem. Highly recommended and loads of fun!
October 13th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Poor customer service with company
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
My machine worked great for about a week before a string got tangled and ruined the whole machine. Brother customer service was basically useless and said I would have to pay shipping costs to their mainland service center (I live in Hawaii) to get it fixed. The local service center refused to service my machine, despite the fact that it is still under warranty. It’s been a huge PITA and I will never buy Brother products again.