Brother CE 5500PRW Sewing Machine Review
The Brother CE 5500PRW sewing machine is one of the least expensive Project Runway machines you can buy. This is a compact, lightweight machine with lots of features suitable for making clothes, light quilting and free-motion embroidery.
It’s been awarded a Consumers Digest ‘Best Buy’ Award and, for now, Walmart.com is the only authorized dealer.
It’s smaller and lighter than comparable machines making it highly portable.
Read the rest of the Brother CE 5500PRW sewing machine review below:
Table of Contents (jump ahead!)
Stitch Count Presser Feet Functionality
Accessories Customer Reviews Pros, Cons & Manual
Sometimes I procrastinate (as I did on this review – I started it two weeks ago) and it works out better in the end. I was going to say that the one negative with this sewing machine was that it was priced higher than the Brother CS6000i but Walmart has since dropped the price (got to love that!) so now it’s about $20 less than the other machine.
I’m still going to compare the two sewing machines, however, further down on the page.
Brother CE 5500PRW Stitch Count and Patterns
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A total of 50 built-in stitches are programmed into this sewing machine including 5 styles of auto-sizing, 1-step buttonholes. The stitch selection covers decorative sewing, stretch stitches, quilting, and heirloom sewing. Stitch width is adjustable to 7mm and length adjustable to 5mm.
This sewing machine has one slick, trick that is kind of neat when it comes to changing your stitch width and length settings. All machines have built-in stitches programmed with a default length and width. However, when you change those settings, it’s really easy to forget what the default settings were so if you find you want to go back to them in the middle of a project, you have to turn the machine off and back on to reset the defaults (or look up the settings in the manual which I would tend not to do).
The CE 5500PRW, however, highlights the default width and length settings by displaying a circle around them on the screen so if you want to return to the default settings just push the up or down button to adjust stitch width and length until the setting shows the circle. Ta da! (Really, that I should notice little things like that…)
Brother CE 5500PRW Stitch Patterns
Brother CE 5500PRW Presser Feet
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There are a total of 7 snap-on presser feet included with the purchase of this sewing machine. The Zigzag foot has a leveler button for maneuvering over thick seams.
- Zigzag (general purpose)
- Buttonhole
- Overcasting
- Monogramming
- Zipper
- Blind Stitch
- Button Fitting
Brother CE 5500PRW Functionality
There is no doubt in my mind that Brother sewing machines have given Singer – the standard for years – a run for their money. Their entry level sewing machines almost always include nice features, are well designed, and are rated well by others who have purchased them. The Brother CE 5500PRW falls right in line.
- Bright LCD screen
- Easy-to-use, computerized controls
- Automatic needle threader
- Handles thick fabrics like denim, tweed and canvas (just use the right needle)
- 6 point feed dog system for solid fabric control
- Advanced needle threading system for speed and simplicity
- Fast, automatic bobbin winding system
- Quick-Set™ bobbin
- Bright LED work area
- Adjustable upper thread tension
- Variable needle position (left and center)
- Twin needle capable
- Drop feed dog lever for mending and free-motion quilting
- Horizontal thread delivery
- Built in handle
- Reverse button
- See through bobbin cover
- Max speed of 850 stitches per minute
(Only uses Brother part code SA156 SFB plastic bobbins.)
A walking foot, quilting foot, ¼” foot, and quilting guide can be purchased separately for this machine.
Compare the Brother CE 5500PRW and the Brother CS6000i
The Brother CS6000i is one of the most popular machines under $200. It has fantastic ratings (over 800 reviews and ratings online) and is well liked because of the incredible number of features that it offers.
The CE 5500PRW, with Walmart’s latest price drop, is now about $20 cheaper than the CS6000i but here’s what the CS6000i offers that the CE 5500PRW does not have:
- All of the same built in stitches PLUS 20 more
- Stitch length adjustable to 7mm instead of just 5mm
- Speed control slider
- Start/Stop button
- Extra wide table attachment included
- Walking Foot presser foot included
- Hard cover case included
Those last 3 items alone are worth more than the $20 price difference making the CS6000i a great deal.
I know – having a Brother Project Runway machine sounds cool and all but getting your money’s worth is nothing to sneeze at either! 
Dimensions: L 16.1” x H 11.4” x D 6.7
Weight: 10.58 pounds
Accessories
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Accessories store inside the flat bed compartment:
- Seam Ripper
- 4 Bobbins
- 3 pc Needle Set
- Twin Needle
- Ball Point Needle
- Cleaning Brush
- Disc Screwdriver
- 3 Spool Caps (large, medium, and small)
- Extra Spool Pin
- Foot Controller
- Soft cover
Customer Reviews
“This is a fantastic sewing machine! BUY IT!! I love all the stitches it can do. It is easy to use. I love the self-threading needle. It is totally worth the price…(read more here: Reviews)” – 456123A
“When picking out this machine I not only looked at price, but what I was getting for that price. A similar one was asking for another $40 yet it didnt have the features this has. It has 7 different feet that allow for almost EVERYTHING…(read more here: Reviews)” – parentsof1boy1girl
Average Walmart Rating: 4.6
Pros, Cons & Manual
Pros: Drop feed dog. Stitch selection. Number of included presser feet. Drop-in bobbin. Twin needle capable. Easy to use and set up. Low price.
Cons: Pressure foot pressure is not adjustable. The Brother CS6000i offers more features for nearly the same money.
Manual available online here: Brother CE 5500PRW Manual
Manufacturer’s Warranty: As of this date, Brother offers a 1 year warranty on parts and labor, a two year warranty on electronic pattern control and selection components (parts only), and a 25 year warranty on shafts and rods on the machine head.
For current pricing information, follow this link:
Features Summary Review:
Tagged with: $100-200 • Brother • Brother CE 5500PRW • computerized • electric • free motion embroidery • free-arm • light-weight • portable • project runway sewing machine • quilting • sewing machines • sewing machines for beginners
Filed under: Reviews
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Dear Sir/Madame,
I’m really new with sewing machine, Brohter, CE-5500PRW. I only use singer the cheapest one. How can I start for this sewing machine? any demo or any web site that I can follow up step by step how to use that.
Thanks and best regards,
Nina
Nina – That’s such a neat machine with some really great features! I don’t know of anything online where you can get instructions specific to your machine but the manual does a great job of walking you through threading, set up and basic stitches. Do you have the manual?
Sincerely,
Erin
will this machine sew thru heavy materials such as leather, jean or thick quilting ?
sheryll
Sheryll – Yes, the CE5500PRW will handle thick material as you described. Just make sure to use the right needle and thread and take it slow the first time you work with a different kind of thick fabric to get a feel for how it moves with the feed dogs.
One caveat – if you were going to sew for hours and hours every day on only this kind of material, you might want a more heavy duty straight stitch machine to keep up with that kind of work.
Sincerely,
Erin
I have this machine I LOVE IT.I am a quilter works great I have not had not one problem with it zips right every thing if you use the right needle