Brother SE350 Computerized Embroidery-and-Sewing Machine
by Brother International Corporation
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Our Price: $497.62 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $295.00 (click here) Category: Art and Craft Supply See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Brother SE350 Computerized Embroidery-and-Sewing Machine
Customer Review: First new sewing machine
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had two hand-me-down sewing machines that were very basic. When the last one died I decided to treat myself. I probably won't do much with the embroidery other than some odds and ends here and there. I typically just do mending and hemming.
Out of the box, I was pleased. Evidently the bobbins are "different" than other bobbins as far as size but I already had a package of the exact same size.
The only trouble I've had was using 22 cent WM thread - the tension SOMETIMES wasn't right. But then, using Coates and Clark at $4 a spool also sometimes the tension was temperamental.
The instructions are comprehensive, the tutorials broadbrush. In the month I've had this I've sewn two dresses and one quilt, and hemmed a couple pairs of pants. Here are my comments on each:
The dresses were a satin (here I had some trouble with tension on the thin, slippery lining no matter the thread or tension setting) and a georgette (here I just totally botched the dress on my own but it was tricky to sew this very thin, gauzy fabric).
The quilt was a handmade one I'd just finished but I wanted to embroider a poem around the outer border. Some of the letters are a little weird - hard to line it up right but I think it turned out well for the most part. At some points, the machine would stop at the end of each letter, but most of the time it completed the whole word I'd programmed in. The size of the text was very accommodating - you can choose S, M, or L for the text size. My letters were anywhere from 1/2 inch to 2 inches tall.
The hemming of the pants was flawless.
Once you get the "bobbin thread low" message, I can't figure out how to replace the bobbin (much less fill a new bobbin without losing your place in the embroidery), making a seamless transition from the end of the old thread and the beginning of the new one.
I very much like that I don't need to worry about the thread pulling out of the needle as the needle descends if the "tail" isn't long enough, like my older sewing machines. I've never had that happen.
Customer Review: Easy to use, Durable, Kids can learn to use
Summary: 5 Stars
I Searched high and low for a machine and did not want to part with my money for a piece of junk. I knew I couldn't afford a "high end" machine. Not to mention I break everything in my path(Don't ask how many Vaccuums I have gone through).
DO NOT HESITATE TO BUY THIS MACHINE. I had a cheap basic model machine from brother that I originally learned on and was afraid that this was going to be a repeat performance.
The machines threader is by far the BEST. I have since used other high end machines whose automatic threader were no where near as easy.
My five year old daughter has been able to learn to sew on this machine with ease. As well as I have.
The only flaw (for a quilter) to this machine is the size of its bed. You will have enough room for a baby quilt and a lap/couch throw. After that your pushing it. I remedied this by going onto ebay and purchasing an OLD 15 series Singer sewing machine to do my quilting on After I was sure I wanted to continue with quilting. You can purchase a walking foot through Amazon for the Brother SE-350, Through Kens sew and Vac ( really good people,very helpful).
The drop in bobbin is easier than either two Janome I have used. By far.And the automatic thread cutter has been well appreciated by my Vaccuum not having to work as hard.
The machine is very stable on a table. The foot pedal is very controllable (wont take off on you, Even with it on near high speed)
The instructions are okay ( as good as your gonna get anywhere else ).
The bobbin winder is very even while winding, Not messy.
The only other machine that takes a beating like this one can are my vintage Singer machines.
Only one word of advice (as with any machine): When changing needles dont forget to put a cloth down under it, to prevent it going into the machine. I still have half a needle kicking around inside of mine.
This machine is money well spent.
Customer Review: Wonderful Machine for a Beginner!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am just learning to sew (a complete novice), and wanted to buy a machine that would be easy to use and introduce me to embroidery. This machine is WONDERFUL! It is very easy to learn to use, and the instruction manual that came with it is very, very easy to follow. In addition, the manual includes a lot of helpful hints for sewing, which allowed me to sew a sleeper for my 18 month old son in two days without any other book or person to guide me (and this was done while he was running around me). The help guide on the LED screen is wonderful too. I still glance at it when putting thread on a bobbin. I also like that you can start/stop the machine using a button or the pedal. I am not yet good at controlling my speed using the pedal, and that button proved to be invaluable to me.
I followed the manual to setup the machine for embroidery, and within no time I was embroidering on scraps of fabric. The embroidery came out so beautiful. I left my embroidery work out for my husband to see. When he saw them he assumed my mother, who is quite experienced, had done them and sent them to me to see! My mother's birthday was a few days later, so I went out and bought a sleep shirt, embroidered a gorgeous butterfly on it and her name, and overnighted it to her as a gift...just after a couple of hours of playing with the embroidery function. My mom loved it and was soooo impressed. She even commented that her machine can't do that!
Overall, a fabulous buy. I've also realized that this machine will grow with me as I tackle more advanced projects. One more thing worth noting; the machine comes with several accessories, such as a cloth cover, various presser feet and needles, small scissors, bobbins, embroidery bobbin thread, and many other things I haven't figured out what they are yet! Buy it...you won't regret it!
Customer Review: Best sewing/embroidery machine at this price point
Summary: 5 Stars
I have three other sewing machines, but wanted to get a machine that embroiders. Something with all the basic sewing stitches so I don't need to switch back & forth. I did a lot of research and was leaning towards Singer because of an infomercial (Futura or the SES1000), but since I already have two Brother machines that are great workhorses, I went with the SE350.
RECOMMENDATION: When you get your machine, spend a couple hours reading the manual, watching the DVD, trying the different stitch options, do some test embroidery, etc. Even though I have Brother machines, this one threads a bit differently and I could see someone who tries to plug & go getting frustrated.
I love the bells & whistles that are new to me because I've been using a 29 year old machine until now. The auto thread cutter is great (press a button and it cuts the thread when you're done sewing). The start/stop button was a breeze to learn (no need to use a foot pedal, although one is included if you want to). The LCD touch screen is WONDERFUL. No more messing with stitch width/length dials to figure out the best stitch. This machine has them programmed in and you only need to make changes if you want to tweak something. Embroidery is surprisingly easy. Just be sure to use stabilizer and good thread.
I bought mine on Overstock - they have them refurbished for $309, with the same warranty, and shipping is only $2.95 (but you can sometimes get a free shipping coupon off the internet). With the money I saved, I'm buying the PED Basic software from Amazon that will let me download more embroidery designs.
All in all, this is a great machine and I'm looking forward to creating lots of beautiful new projects.
Customer Review: great machine for the price
Summary: 5 Stars
My old kenmore sewing machine broke (after owning it for 10 years) so I decided to replace it with a sewing machine with the emboridery feature. The sewing machine part is very quiet-- which is great for when I am using it late nights. The emboridery part was a little harder to figure out because I never own an emboridery machine before. I watched the videos that came with it, but I still had a little bit of a hard time. The help menu on the machine itself was helpful. The machine is smaller in size than other embroidery machines. Some people might think that because the machine is light weight it would not be very stable. While this is somewhat true, I do like that it is light weight. Because I live in a condo with very little free space, it is nice to have a machine that is light enough for me to carry around and store away after each use. This is a great machine for a beginner. Keep in mind that the machine uses a 4x4 hoop, so your embroidery size will be limited. I did not mind that very much because the other machines I looked at with larger hoop sizes cost several hundred dollars more. If it is within your budget, I would say buy a large machine with more hoop size options. If you are limited on how much you can spend (like me) then this is a good investment.