Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery Sewing Machine Review
The Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery Sewing Machine combines art, creativity, and technology to give beginners and experienced sewers a complete and total sewing package.
It does it all – mending, garment construction, embroidery, quilting, heirloom sewing, and craft sewing.
This is exactly the same as the Brother SE350 with one important upgrade – the addition of a USB port so that you can download designs and updates through your computer.
Read the rest of the Brother SE400 Embroidery Sewing Machine review below:
Table of Contents
(jump ahead!)
1. Built In Stitches
2. Embroidery Patterns
3. Letter Fonts
4. Presser Feet
5. Functionality
6. Video
7. USB Port
8. SE400 Software
9. Accessories
10. Embroidery Hoops
11. Customer Reviews
12. Pros, Cons & Manual
13. Price
It’s been hard to find this in stock online but here are 3 current options:
<==For Amazon’s listing of the SE400 (At this year’s lowest price!)
<==For Walmart’s listing of the SE400
<==For Amazon’s listing of the LB6800PRW
Brother SE400 Stitch Count
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Because this is a combination embroidery and sewing machine, let’s break the stitch descriptions into their two parts, starting with the built-in sewing stitches.
Built-in Sewing Stitches
The Brother SE400 comes with 67 built in stitches including 10 styles of 1-step buttonholes. More stitches don’t necessarily mean one machine is better than another but having more does allow you to do certain kinds of sewing more easily. The selection that comes with the Brother SE400 means you can try your hand at quilting, making clothes, hemming your jeans, working with different materials, making bags (a popular project these days!), and even paper craft sewing. The built in stitches include an assortment of Straight, Zigzag, Overcasting, BlindHem, Applique, Stretch, Patchwork, Quilting, Eyelet, Smocking, Decorative, Heirloom stitches and Side Cutter stitches.
Like having a built in serger!
Side Cutter stitches trim the fabric off at the seam during sewing like a serger. Such finished edges are critical to making clothing like you’d find in stores. The side cutter prevents fraying and rolling at the seam. Some sewers have multiple machines – a sewing machine, an embroidery machine AND a serger to do what the SE400 does all by itself. Now, the side-cutter stitches aren’t going to have 3 and 4 loop threading like a serger but they still provide a very sturdy, polished and professional finish to your garments.
NOTE: You can see the Side Cutter stitches above, #63-67. See the letter ‘S’ in the lower right corner of each of those stitches? That means that you need the Brother SA177 Side Cutter Presser Foot
(Click here for a complete list of stitch names: (SE400 Stitch List))
Stitch length adjustable to 5mm and stitch width adjustable to 7mm for select stitch patterns.
Stitch functions include: Mirror, twin, multi-directional, side cutter, satin stitch regulator. Think of a stitch function as another way to use a built in stitch. The mirror function lets you sew a decorative stitch in the opposite direction as the original setting. This is used for making symmetrical patterns, for drawn work, and for customizing your own stitch designs using the built in stitches.
To select a stitch, use the arrow keys to page through the stitch icons on the screen until you see the one you want, select the stitch with either your finger or the stylus and then you’ll see the various stitch setting options for that stitch.
Embroidery Sewing Patterns
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There are 70 built-in embroidery designs including flowers, roses, baskets of flowers, animals, plants and birds. You choose the pattern and the machine will guide you through completing the pattern with step-by-step instructions including thread color selection. The LCD screen shows how much time it will take to complete each step.
Easily add to your embroidery design collection.
These built in embroidery designs are available to you at any times but you can also add to your collection of embroidery patterns either by buying Brother embroidery cards for the card reader slot located on the side of the sewing machine or by downloading designs you find or buy online through the included USB connection.
Stitch outlines around your embroidery designs.
There are also 10 frame types (such as square, circle, diamond) used to frame patterns and 12 stitch styles to use with those frames for a total of 120 different styles of framing options. For example, you could do a circle frame using a straight stitch or a circle frame using one of the more decorative styles in the set of 12.
Brother SE400 Letter Fonts
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For monogramming or for use in embroidery stitching, there are five fonts that contains five different types of characters: upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers, symbols and European characters. Font styles include Gothic, Outline, Calligraphy, Serif, and Sans Serif.
Just how big are the fonts on the Brother SE 400? We’re talking really good-sized fonts. Fonts you could read across the room with the right fabric and thread combination.
There are three sizes available for each font: small, medium, and large.
The exact dimensions of each font size are slightly different based on which of the five fonts you select but the small size is approximately 3/8 by 3/8 inch square, the medium size 5/8 by 5/8 inch square, and the large size is 1 1/4 by 1 1/4 inch square. To the left are some pictures to help you get a feel for the size and scale of these fonts.
Brother SE400 Presser Feet
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The Brother SE400 comes with 8 snap-on presser feet. The Zigzag foot has a leveling button to help it maneuver over thick seams or fabric edges (as is often necessary when hemming denim for jeans). The presser foot height has 3 settings: down, regular up, and extra up for slipping thick fabrics under the presser foot.
- Buttonhole Foot
- Overcasting Foot
- Monogramming Foot
- Zipper Foot
- Zigzag (General Purpose)
- Blind Stitch
- Button Fitting Foot
- Embroidery Foot
(Some product listings – even the Brother website – say the Brother SE400 comes with 7 presser feet but they are not counting the embroidery foot in that list as only the other 7 are actual sewing presser feet rather than embroidery feet.)
Brother SE400 Embroidery Sewing Machine Functionality
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Brother didn’t just pack in a ton of cool stitches, presser feet and embroidery patterns to lure sewers towards the SE400 Embroidery and Sewing Machine, they also employed some of the most updated sewing technology to ensure solid performance, easy set-up, and fewer thread and jamming issues:
- Horizontal top thread delivery
- Quick-Set drop-in bobbin
- 7-point feed-dog system
- Drop feed-dog lever
- Automatic needle threader
- Automatic bobbin winding system
- Upper thread and bobbin sensors tell you when thread has broken or is running out
Control speed, start, stop, and the needle with the push of a button.
Then there are the features that simply make sewing easier no matter what level of experience you have:
- Push button thread cutter
- Needle Up/Down button
- Start/Stop sewing button
- Speed control slider – This particular speed slider serves two purposes. Either it can control the maximum sewing speed while using the Start/Stop button to sew without the foot pedal or, if the foot pedal is attached, the speed control slider can be used to adjust stitch width as you sew.
- Reverse/Reinforcement stitch button – If you program the machine to use the automatic thread cutter, the reinforcement button is automatically set as well so no “oops, I forgot a step” once the threads have been cut.
While the machine’s settings are preset for most functions, there are also control dials to change settings necessary for more complex work. This is the type of functionality that becomes more important the more you learn to sew:
- Adjustable top thread tension
- 15 needle positions
The Brother SE400 sewing machine is also capable of twin needle sewing which creates a parallel line of stitches using two needles which may contain the same color thread or two different colors of thread.
Max speed is 710 spm (stitches per minute), has a removable extension table to allow for free-arm sewing, a built in carry handle and a work light.
For free motion quilting, lower the feed-dogs and attach the quilting foot or the open toe presser foot.
Brother SE400 Computerized LCD Control Panel
This is really where all the action happens, on the LCD control panel. It is a touch screen measuring 38mm x 71mm (1.5 inches x 2.8 inches) that can be operated with either your finger or the provided touch pen (stylus).
All of your stitch selection and settings are controlled through the panel. Scroll through the stitch pattern icons to find the one you want, press it, and you’re shown the settings and options for that stitch.
Control panel guides you every step of the way.
For each stitch, the machine shows you the required presser foot, width and length settings, whether or not a twin needle may be used, and which of the press-button functions you have selected (needle up/down, reinforcement, etc.) You can also save certain stitch settings in the sewing machine’s memory so you can quickly get back to the same stitch pattern for a particular project.
An on-screen help button provides quick access to pictures and instructions for threading, bobbin winding, bobbin loading, presser foot changes and more.
Brother SE400 Video
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This is as close as you can get to seeing the Brother SE400 in video. The following is actually a video from HSN demonstrating the Brother HE 240 embroidery machine which is the same as the Brother SE 400 but with a model number exclusive to HSN. In fact, if you look up the information on the Brother website, the HE 240 is a retired machine but the user manual is EXACTLY the same as the one for the SE400 and the SE350.
The video will give you all the information you’d want to know about accessories, stitches, and embroidery functionality. You can see examples of the stitches in proportion as well as much more detail in the available embroidery patterns. Especially helpful is the overview of how the sewing machine works with the computer USB port.
The Brother SE400 is just an incredible combination machine with tons of features for less than $400. It’s probably one of the best bargains you can find on a combination sewing and embroidery machine.
Brother SE400 USB Port and Machine Updates
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The USB port and included software allow you to connect your sewing machine to your computer so you can download machine updates and new embroidery patterns.
This is where things can get a bit confusing and thanks to one of this site’s visitors, I’ve had a chance to clarify not only how the USB port works but also clarified the answer to a question many have about the USB port and that is whether or not additional software is needed to download new embroidery patterns.
The answer to that question is NO. While there are now three different software packages you can purchase separately that are compatible with the Brother SE400 Embroidery machine, you do not need any of them to get started. You only need the initial software that comes with the machine to get started. That software prepares your computer to be able to talk to your sewing machine.
Without the other software packages you can still embroider the built in designs that come with the machine, you can still import designs you find online using the USB port, and you can embroider from embroidery cards you insert into the card reader slot located on the side of the sewing machine. You can read more about these other software packages here: SE400 Software
The Brother SE 400 comes with a set amount of computer memory inside. You can use that memory to store new embroidery patterns that you download from the internet. The USB port allows you to transfer downloaded designs to the sewing machine’s memory so that you can use them later without being connected to the computer.
The SE 400 memory reads and accepts embroidery designs in .pes and .dst file types. These can be purchased from websites specializing in embroidery designs, found free on some craft sites, and Brother’s own site often has a selection of free, new embroidery patterns to download each month.
Brother SE400 Software
The Brother SE400 Embroidery machine comes with the basic software needed to allow your computer to talk to the sewing machine but that’s really all it does. There are now three separate software programs available that work with the SE400 to give you more flexibility in working with existing and new embroidery designs.
No additional software purchase is necessary unless you want to burn designs onto reader cards or create your own designs.
Remember that there’s only a limited amount of actual storage on the sewing machine’s hard drive. That means that if you take your sewing machine to classes or clubs and don’t take your computer along with you, you’ll only have access to the built in embroidery designs and any of the few designs you’ve stored on the sewing machine’s hard drive.
Here’s where the first level of software, PE-Design/PED Basic, comes in handy. The software has the ability to write embroidery design data onto blank reader cards that fit into the reader card slot on the SE 400. Instead of constantly hooking your sewing machine to your computer or laptop to juggle embroidery designs, you can organize patterns on blank reader cards you create using this software package and then just take those cards with you as needed.
There are two sizes of blank reader cards compatible with the Brother SE400: Brother SA308 Re-writeable Card For PeDesign Versions 1 – 4
Some .pes and .dst files come with code attached that describes the embroidery patterns which the SE 400 cannot read without those files being edited because the additional detail takes up too much memory. The software allows you to edit those files if you do not have another type of editing program available for those file types.
Keep that in mind when considering your purchase of this machine. The software generally runs $120-150 depending on where you buy it (currently on sale here at Amazon). You can always put off purchasing the software until such time as you can justify the expense.
“Want to create your own embroidery designs?”
The second level of software you can purchase for the Brother SE400 Embroidery machine is PE Design Lite which allows you to turn your own artwork and photos into embroidery patterns. This software package does everything that the Basic software does but it also digitizes images, photos, and clip art and turns them into embroidery designs. For anyone who wants to embroider pictures of their kids or family onto pillows or wall hangings or on clothing projects, this software does the trick. You’re still limited to the max hoop size of the Brother SE400 but you can do some pretty amazing things when you get to embroider your own pictures.
PE Design Lite also includes 35 additional fonts to use on your machine.
The most current software is PE-DESIGN® NEXT which is not yet available online. This has everything the previous two software packages have but includes an upgraded user interface and loads of tools helpful to those who own their own embroidery related business.
How about a free embroidery design software for use with the SE400 embroidery machine?
I just came across this free software download that will let you view thumbnails of your downloaded embroidery designs, convert design formats, and increase or decrease the size of your designs. It’s called TrueSizer e1.5 and you can get it by joining Embroidery Startup here: http://www.embroiderystartup.com/FreeStuff/WilcomTrueSizer/tabid/203/Default.aspx. The software is user friendly, compatible with Windows operating systems, and has a dashboard similar to that of Microsoft Office programs. If you’re not ready to invest in expensive software but need to be able to manage your downloaded designs Wilcom’s TrueSizer software is a great solution. And it’s FREE!
Embroidery Functionality
Embroidering with the machine requires that you remove the extension table and slide the embroidery unit onto the machine. Then place your fabric in the embroidery frame and ensure the right needle, thread, and presser foot are in place.
The control panel will walk you through thread color changes and keep you notified of the design progress. All you need to do is supply the right color thread and push the start button for each step. You don’t need to use the presser foot. The machine does all the work.
The design hoop size on the Brother SE 400 is 4×4.
While testing this machine I asked the saleswoman why I would ever want anything larger and she said (I kid you not), “Honey, as soon as you start to learn how to machine embroider you are going to wish you had the biggest size possible.” She explained that the hoop size determines the maximum size of one design block. If you wanted to do a single, connected design on a 12 x 12 inch pillow, for example, you couldn’t do it on a 4×4 hoop – you could only do blocks of designs. To get the maximum machine embroidery size we’re talking about machines that cost at least $1000. For similar performance as the SE 400 but with a slightly larger hoop size, you might take a look at the Brother PE770 with a 5×7 inch hoop size.
An embroidery card slot on the side of the machine accepts digital design cards, which can be purchased online and at a number of retail locations, so that you can sew embroidery patterns that didn’t come with your machine.
These remind me of the old FisherPrice View-Master toys where you could buy different sets of cards to stick in the View-Master so you could experience different characters or movie scenes. They don’t look the same (they’re not round little disks with pictures on them) but they have a variety of pictures embedded onto each card. Embroidery cards hold a quantity of new patterns. When you want to use one, insert it into the machine and your machine is provided all the necessary details to guide you through that pattern.
Make sure to use only embroidery cards that are compatible with the SE400 sewing machine frame size – a 4 x 4 design area.
The Brother SE400 requires SA156 or SFB (XA5539-151) bobbins.
Dimensions: L 18” x W 12” x D 8”
Weight: 20 pounds (est.)
Brother SE400 Sewing Machine Accessories
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Is it just me or are the accessories that come with the machine nearly as exciting as getting the sewing machine itself? Is it because they’re small and fun to hold and sort through? (Reminds me of going through my mother’s sewing kit when I was a kid.)
The Brother SE400 comes with all of the following accessories and sewing notions:
- Seam Ripper
- 4 Bobbins
- 3 Bobbin Clips (caps off a bobbin that is not in use so that the loaded thread won’t unwind)
- 6 Needles (2 size 75/11, 2 size 90/14, and 2 size 90/14 ball point)
- Twin Needle
- Cleaning Brush
- Eyelet Punch
- Screwdriver
- Touch Pen for the LCD touch control panel
- 3 Spool Caps (small, medium, and large)
- Extra Spool Pin
- Spool Net (really – this is like a little hair net for thread.
Just use it to cover thread that unwinds off the spool too easily like clear, nylon thread. The net keeps the thread on the spool while you sew.) - Scissors (Now, why would you need scissors if the machine has an automatic thread cutter plus a thread cutter on the side of the machine? Well, to cut the bobbin thread after winding, of course! It took me a minute to figure this out so I thought I’d share my little insight in case I’m not the only one that has that question.)
- Disc Shaped Screwdriver
- Embroidery Frame
- Medium Size Embroidery Sheet
- 1 spool of white embroidery thread
- Accessory Bag
- Soft Cover
“You’ll want to stock up on colored embroidery threads – kits are a great way to go.”
One thing you want to have on hand when buying an embroidery sewing machine is a great selection of embroidery thread. Nothing like getting your beautiful new embroidery machine home and having nothing but some white, black, and brown thread hanging around.
You can buy embroidery thread in kits with a selection of colors readily available to complete any of the patterns on the Brother SE400 Embroidery Sewing Machine.
Brother SE400 Embroidery Hoops
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The Brother SE400 Embroidery machine comes with on 4×4 inch embroidery hoop. The built in embroidery patterns are designed to work within that size. However, there are several other compatible hoops that can be purchased separately and which might come in handy depending on the kind of work you do.
Two are traditional machine embroidery hoop shapes but in different sizes. One is slightly larger, the Brother SA434 4-Inch-by-6 3/4-Inch Large Hoop
Another option is to buy one of these Embroidery Hoop Packages that includes the 3 hoop sizes that don’t come with the SE400 along with an assortment of thread and a pair of embroidery thread stork scissors to help you trim close to your fabric.
Finally, I just found a specialty hoop that works with the SE400 for embroidering baseball caps! It’s called a Cap Hoop and you can find it here: Embroidery Cap Hoop.
Customer Reviews
“I agree with the rave reviews for the se-350 now se-400…. for sewing, it’s a dream of an upgrade from my battered but still working brother xr-40 bought from costco @ 10-ish years ago. For embroidery it’s limited as the max hoop size is not very large,and an extra purchase, but fun to play with. I give it 4 stars… it’s a great intermediate sewing and beginner embroidery machine.” – truth
“I decided to purchase the Brother SE-400, as it had all the features I wanted and it was within my price range. Prior to my purchase, I read all the web reviews I could find on the SE-350, as there are barely any reviews yet for the SE-400 (new on the market). Noteworthy is the fact that the SE-350 and the SE-400 are the exact same machines except for the additional computer connectivity that the SE-400 possesses.” – Alexandra Athanassiou “Sandi”
You can read more here: Brother SE400 Computerized Embroidery Sewing Machine Reviews
Average Amazon Rating: 4.4
Pros, Cons & Manual
Pros: USB port for easy updates and design downloads. Drop feed-dog capability. Embroidery card slot. Variable needle positions. Large selection of intricate embroidery patterns. Speed control slider. Start/Stop button. Needle Up/Down button. Combination of embroidery and sewing functionaility. Wide selection of utility stitches and buttonhole styles for clothes construction and home projects. Soft cover case included.
Cons: Presser foot pressure is preset and not adjustable. (However, because of the leveling button the machine can handle thick fabrics without needing to make many adjustments.) Using stabilizing material can improve the machine’s performance on thinner fabrics and sheers. No hard cover case included.
Manual available online here: Brother SE400 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.
Price
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The price of the Brother SE400 embroidery and sewing machine hovers between $330 and $370 online. Amazon and Walmart are the lowest price options and because of how often the price moves on either site, it’s best to check both sites when you’re ready to buy. Both sites are also licensed, approved Brother retailers so warranty information applies to purchases through those sites.
For current pricing information, click the links below to compare prices:
Features Summary Review:
Brother SE400 Built-in Stitch List
If you made it this far, I’m sure you realize the Brother SE400 embroidery and sewing machine has so much to offer. Hopefully this thorough review has given you all you need to know to decide this is the right machine for you. If not, be sure to read the numerous comment below or leave a question of your own and I’ll answer as quickly and as thoroughly as possible!
Tagged with: $300-400 • Brother • Brother SE400 Embroidery Sewing Machine • computerized • electric • embroidery • embroidery cards • embroidery hoops • embroidery sewing machine • font size • fonts • free motion embroidery • free-arm • quilting • se400 • sewing machine review • sewing machines • sewing machines for beginners • usb port
Filed under: Reviews
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Hi, thank you for this review as well as the comparison of the PR6770 and PR6800 compared to the SE-300. I have been pulling my hair out trying to see if there were any other significant differances other than basically a travel case, a PR sticker and the USB cord port. This has answered my questions and then some. Thanks for a great review. I have ordered an SE-400 and am excited to use it
I bought and have used the SE400 for 6 months. I have found it is MUCH better to use the 60 wt colored bobbin embroidery thread. The 40wt does not produce nice sharp results in the 4I bought a 7×4 hoop that fits the SE-270D and PE-400D. These are older models and can be bought on-line for about $39.00.
I also suggest investing in a magnetic hoop, making it easier to move your fabric, rather than re-hooping.
I enjoy my machine. It took awhile to learn the best way to make it “play well with others”. . . and it occasionally hiccups, but all in all it’s fun to use and I like to results, especially since I changed to the 60 wt ThreaDelight.
oops SE-350 I mean
I’m so glad! I’ve been drooling over this machine (in either version…:) ) for awhile. I just bought a basic Janome but I really wish now I’d held out for a combination sewing and embroidery machine and this would be the one. I saw some simple white tablecloths where a friend added some embroidery to the edges and the corners and I would love to be able to do those. I think you’re going to have so much fun! Enjoy!
Erin
Can you use the larger hoops on the SE400?
Barb – No, the Brother SE 400 only takes the 4×4 hoop size. I know some of the newer Innov-is line of Brother sewing machines use a larger hoop and the PE 770 EMBROIDERY ONLY machine has a 5×7 design size, but not the SE 400. Darn, huh?
Erin
On the Brother web site, one accessory listed for the SE-400 is a 6 3/4″ x 4″ hoop.
http://www.brother-usa.com/Homesewing/accessories/accessorydetail.aspx?R3AccessoryID=SA434
Mike – Yes, I noticed that just recently when responding to someone else. Plus, there’s a 2 x 1-1/2 inch hoop, too. I think it’s time to go back and update all references to hoop sizes in my post! Thanks!!
Erin
Hi! Thanks for the very through review. I’m torn between the 450 and the 770. Seems like the only major difference is the hoop size? I really only embroider names and monograms on things like baby bibs, burp cloths and purses – and not very large (small or medium size letters look like what I’d use). Do you think there’s any reason I need to spend $400 more on the 770?
Thanks!
Lisa – Boy, I don’t think I’d spend the extra, if I were you. The hoop size and the font size on the SE 400 should work for small monogramming projects like you’ve described. You can always move the fabric within the hoop to make longer words or phrases as necessary. I’ve started to review the PE 770 and will add it to the site shortly but I haven’t seen anything that would make it more suitable for your purposes than this one. Save the money for things like fabric, fabric, fabric!
Erin
Exactly what I wanted to hear! Thanks for the quick reply! I can’t wait to get the SE 400!!
Oops, one more question…does the SE 400 come with pre-programed monogram styles?
If I understand the question correctly (and I might not!), all monogramming is done with the five fonts. Those are programmed right into the machine. To monogram a name, you’d select the letters you want and the size and the machine does the rest. It’s literally a few buttons to push and you’re on your way. You wouldn’t have to load new fonts or designs to do that. Does that help?
Enjoy! And still plenty of time to get great projects done for the winder holidays and presents – ooh! – and stockings!
I was thinking of more traditional monogramms…the kind with your first, middle and last initial only. Wondering if there were any of those styles pre-programmed. Thanks again for all the helpful info!
Oops – understand now. No, I don’t believe there are. All the monogramming is done with the fonts and letter selection. The fonts include characters, too, like period, comma, and dash to separate the initials if you like.
You are more than welcome. Glad we were on at the same time!
There is a big difference. The 770 is embroidery only. I think the 770 also has the usb port, for awhile, you had to get a 770ii to get usb.
If you don’t do large projects the 400 should work and the USB is a great feature. Monogramming with any of them is a bit of a challenge due to work area & font size. A long name could be very problematic.
I had a 770ii for awhile & sold it as it perpetually jammed. I suspect the fabric type also impacts how well they work. Heavy fabrics were fantastic. Lightweight (such as T shirt’s) caused jamming. Just my personal experience but I have been thinking of a 400 unit recently.
It was fun to do the embroidery things.
I have had my machine for a little while now. At first I loved it. I am having trouble with the normal every day sewing. It is not making loops. It is feeding the material and the needle is passing threw but the thread stays put and is not trying to tie. It worked wonderful when I first got it. I think I may be doing something wrong or is this a common problem?
Sounds like you might have a bobbin problem. Try another one. Also, the brother machines are pickey about the thread type ~ the heapie cheapies do not work well. Get quality thread & you won’t regret it.
Can you add additional fonts to the SE-400 through the USB port? Say you wanted to use a TTF font. Could that be converted to a .PES file and then used on the machine somehow?
If not the SE400, then how about the 770?
Thanks!
Wes – you can add fonts through the use of compatible Brother embroidery cards that are loaded with fonts. The Brother SA298 Alphabet Embroidery Card is one, for example. It has six fonts. I think there may be one for font card that can be used with this machine.
You could convert letter designs to .pes files with the right software and embroider a new font that way. It might take some work and you’d want to make sure sizes were consistent between the letters.
The 770 – which is an embroidery machine only – can use that same SA298 card and has two other cards (each with one font) that appear to be compatible.
Interesting question I hadn’t considered before. Thanks!
Erin
Erin — Thank you so much for the info!!! i was having
trouble understanding what the differences were between
the se400 and lb6800thd (Costco) This really cleared things
up for me. I am going to buy this soon and look forward to
sewing again after many years. I was to freaked by past bad
experiences with threading the needle, thread breaking, tension
problems, getting the bobbin in right etc. that i gave up now at last, maybe i will have a fighting chance to actually get to sew. Thanks again.
Stara – you’re going to be thrilled with your machine! Sewing with today’s machines is not at all like the stressful series of thread disasters it used to be. (If you have any questions about that you should see the post I wrote about going back to my mom’s and using her old 1973 machine again!) I am sure you are going to have no problem getting back into sewing. Plan a few fun projects so you can get used to your machine and just let your creativity roam free.
Erin
Thanks Erin. I have discovered the PC420 — $50 more +/-
and am pretty impressed with it. What do you think about
this machine. I read your comprehensive review — sure
seems like a nice machine – worth the extra money?
Stara – Yes, the PC420 is a great sewing machine. The difference is that the PC420 doesn’t have the embroidery capability of the SE 400 so choosing between the two really comes down to the types of sewing you want to do. If you’re mainly going to make clothes, home decor projects, maybe quilting, then the PC420 is a solid machine and you get one of the richest sets of stitches you can get in this price range. However, if you have any desire to do some machine embroidery then the SE 400 is the better of the two. Does that help?
Thanks! Erin
Thanks Again Erin – It really helps. Now i
just need to make a decision. I’ll let you
know what i decide on….isn’t that embroidery
capability appealing — but on the other hand
all those gorgeous stitches…..sigh….I appreciate your help.
Stara – Good luck! I know how difficult it can be to make a decision. Here’s a tip. Go to Joann’s or go to a sewing craft site and look at some finished projects. Or browse sewing patterns online. Make note of any that immediately catch your eye. Were there any with embroidery work or do you find yourself more drawn to clothing, blankets, jackets, and such? That might help you better choose between the two. As soon as I saw a white table cloth with pretty embroidered floral corners I wished I’d gone with the embroidery machine. I didn’t. So guess what’s on my Christmas list…
Erin
I have not purchased anything yet as I am in the beginning stages of researching an embroidery machine. I am looking for something for a beginner that will allow me to expand if this is something I truly like. Some friends have lots of extra fonts that they purchase for their machines. How do you do this and what websites do they come from? Is the SE400 capable of downloading extra fonts and applique designs??
Thanks for your help,
ashley
Ashley,
Yes, you can add new fonts and embroidery designs to the Brother SE 400. There are a couple of fonts available in reader card format like this one: Brother SA298 Alphabet Embroidery Card. There are also loads of sites online where you can download compatible .pes designs such as this one by Brother: ibroidery.com and another popular site is embroiderydesigns.com.
Once you see some of those designs in color on those sites, it’s much easier to imagine the kinds of projects you might tackle with a combination machine like this one.
Erin
I have been researching on the different types of embroidery machines that monogram handbags, bibs, and fabrics using large font sizes and curly fonts. I also am on a budget so the SE-400 looks like a good option but I am a bit confused. I have seen a few pics from websites where the customer has purchased a SE-400 computerized machine and has monogrammed items in very large font sizes, (showing that it can be done w- this machine.) However all the info I am seeing states that all the font sizes are under 2inches. So my question is: Does downloading allow you to do this or buy buying the software for larger fonts? I am new to all this and just trying to make sure I purchase exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks
Charla – There are two ways to do letters on the SE400. One way is to use the built-in fonts and the other is to use embroidery pattern fonts. You can only enlarge the built-in fonts by so much, as you can see in the pictures in the review. However, you can increase embroidery fonts to a larger size. Embroidery fonts do not come with the machine and have to be purchased separately, either in an embroidery card compatible with the machine or through some of the sites online that sell embroidery designs. If you need to embroider letters larger than the maximum 4×4 embroidery size, you might need special software to break the letter down into 4×4 squares for completion.
If that works for you, then I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the results you get with this machine and it really is such a great value!
Sincerely,
Erin
Hi Erin
I just wanted you to know i decided on the SE 400.
Costco had a great deal on it and included 12 rolls
of embroidery thread for about $400…so it’s on the
way and i can hardly wait. Thanks so much for your
help, i really appreciate it. Have a fun day.
Stara – Perfect! Just an FYI, last night I found that Brother is doing a $30 mail in rebate on the SE 400 good from November 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010. I’m still trying to confirm that it’s good for Amazon and Walmart purchases since both of those are listed on the Brother website as authorized online retailers. I’ll check on Costco, too. While your purchase date might precede the mail in rebate date you never know…maybe there’s something they’d do for you. Here’s the link to the rebate form: Brother SE 400 Rebate Form 2010.
Either way, it sounds like you got a great deal and it really is such a great machine!
Erin
Chuckle — thanks again Erin. I appreciate the heads up! Of course, i ordered it the 30th of Oct…lol. Anyway, i will see what you find out and when it comes, i will call Costco and see if they can do anything to help. Your site is just
awesome! Nice to have the help…. Hope your day is a delight.
Hi Erin,
I’m really enjoying this thread (no pun intended)…
I am wondering about this machine and how it is with different types of fabrics. How is it sewing with fine lightweight fabrics as well as thicker fabrics? Can you sew through several layers of fabric? does the foot have trouble with lightweight fabrics? how about the embroidery function? Are there any restrictions on types of fabric that you can embroider? How about embroidering on thick layered fabrics like quilted polar fleece?
In your opinion, is this a beginner’s machine? I personally would like something intermediate at least. I love to sew and make clothes but also like the capabilities of the embroidering function…
It is so hard to find the right machine! Too many great ones out there!
Thank you for the help!
Jill Anne
Jill Anne – Now, that was cute!
This machine is great with most fabrics. As with any machine, the less “common” the fabric, the more adjustments or accessories you may need in order to make everything work as it should. For example, if you’re going to work with really sheer fabrics, a teflon foot can keep from damaging the fabric or you might need to actually adjust the tension instead of leaving things as-is. For thicker fabrics, you might need a different size needle. I have no personal experience with this particular machine on every possible fabric so all I have to go on is how the design is meant to deal with different thicknesses and materials and how it worked on the types of fabrics I have used. I haven’t seen it hesitate, bunch up or skip stitches on the medium weight fabrics I’ve tested.
This is more than a beginners sewing machine. While it’s a great machine for a beginner to grow WITH it also offers lots of features for those who are more advanced. I think Brother is trying to use this machine to do several things: offer a less expensive way for advanced crafters to tackle more types of sewing, expose more beginners to sewing machines that do more than just a few basic stitches, and (my guess!) pave the way for those who sew to want some of Brother’s more expensive machines. Can’t blame them there and if we get a great machine in the process, well, more power to us.
I know how difficult it can be to make a choice amongst all the options out there. My best advice would be to think about the types of sewing you really like to do and also think about the types of sewing (even specific projects) you want to do but haven’t yet tackled, and then make sure you get a machine that can do all of those things.
Good luck!
Erin
Hi Erin!
Thank you for the reply! After reading through more articles on the site, vie decided to take your advice and get two separate machines…one for sewing and one much later for embroidery. I am an artist and ultimately would love to be able to make my own embroidery designs. What fun! In the meantime, back to the drawing board I go… I am most interested in garment construction so I think I am interested in a good Janome. I really like the one you have but am also reading about the Threadbanger TB30. It sounds like since it has an adjustable presser foot, I might be able to work with varying kinds of fabrics for clothing. I do love the one you have though. It is so cute ! (even though that is not supposed to be an influence on my decision). I wonder if there is another model of Janome I should consider for garment construction?
Jill Anne – Believe me, based on looks alone, the Magnolia 7330 and the TB30 are THE cutest sewing machines! I know they did that on purpose.
They’re impossible to resist. And I absolutely LOVE my Magnolia. The only thing I regret is not having more stitches.
Let’s look at the practical aspects of the two machines (sigh…so much less fun than looking at how cute they are…). Knowing that you’re interested mostly in garment construction makes it far easier to pick a machine. Most of the functionality is the same except the TB30 has adjustable presser foot pressure and the 7330 does not. However, you lose a couple of stretch stitches on the TB30 that might come in handy for making clothes.
Because of that, you might want to check out one of the Janome DC machines. The DC2010 and the DC3050 don’t have adjustable presser foot pressure but they have more stitches. I just added a review for the DC3160QDC, too, which is geared towards quilters but there’s also a 2160 model that I haven’t reviewed yet. It has 60 stitches and adjustable presser foot pressure. You can read the manufacturer’s brochure here: http://content.janome.com/documents/File/Brochures/21603160Brochure.pdf. The only thing I’m unsure of on those last two is how stable they are during sewing as I haven’t sewn on either one. Both weigh just over 12 pounds vs. 16-18 pounds but they’ve got great features and fabric control.
I probably didn’t help much there…LOL!
I guess what I’m saying is I wouldn’t sacrifice adjustable presser foot pressure just yet as I do think it might come in particularly handy for your specific needs and I think you can get it in a Janome along with more stitches.
Let me know what you think!
Erin
You are sew smart! Ha ha ha…thank you, yes I totally agree. I secretly want it all. I know, greedy. I want adjustable pressed foot AND more of those pretty stitches! I read your review of the DC 3160QDC and loved it! But as I read more online about people having problems with the bobbin, I got scared. It has all the features I’m looking for but I don’t think I am a figure-it-out type who can trouble shoot tech problems. I would get pretty mad and stop sewing. I wish that weren’t true because that would be an awesome machine! I’ll check out the others as you suggested! By the way, this website is awesome! I’ve enjoyed it so much. You do a wonderful job!
Today I checked out the Janome DC2160 and the DC3160QDC at my town’s dealer! I got to sit down and test them a bit. It was so wonderful to use them that i pretty quickly decided to get one of those models. I’m not sure which one yet. They are so smooth, it was like driving a Bentley (not that I have had the pleasure to drive one, but I imagine it’s smooth!). I also decided to purchase my machine from my local dealer for some major reasons. Mostly, in this economy where small businesses are struggling against these internet monoliths, its nice to support both the store and my town by shopping there. Also, I don’t really care for Amazon’s lack of ethics either. The dealer offers private lessons for customers to really learn hands on their new machine lessening the user error mistakes.Great! Now I just have to see which one. It’s hard to decide when you hear all the nifty things you can do and think about what you can live without….
Jill Anne – Glad you got a chance to check them out and I’m sure either one will be a great match. Glad you found a local dealer you can work with, too. You might not realize just what a plus it is for you to even have some local stores available at which you can buy sewing machines. We lost several in our area and when my mother and I went shopping in her area the closest one was still 30 miles away. Even then, they don’t always carry all brands or all models. Brother has a slightly different distribution strategy for some of their sewing machine models so some can only be found online. At that point, it comes down to getting the best online deal.
Wishing you success with all the projects in your future. I’m sure they’ll be marvelous!
Erin
I also am new to the world of embroidery. You mentioned that the fonts that come with the machine are, at largest 1.25 x 1.25…does that mean that is the maximum it will do with addional fonts purchased or can you do larger, for example and 2.5 x 2.5 sized font (purchased separately)? I was under the impression anything that would fit in the 4×4 area could be done. Please help clarify. Thanks so much.
Sheron
Sheron – Ooohh…that’s a good one. I might have to dig a bit. As I recall, you cannot increase the size of the built in fonts – on that I’m 99% sure. However, I don’t know whether or not you can increase the size of separately purchased fonts. I would think so because you can edit most .ped files under the right circumstances. It may take me a day to get a more definite answer on this one. I’ll come back with more shortly!
Erin
Erin,first let me say I love your site and this review is what helped me to determine to buy my SE400 ad I love it! I just learned to sew, finally, when I was pregnant with my daughter and I have since opened an Etsy shop and begun selling my handmade items. I had a new basic singer model that I received as a gift, that had me so discouraged, I almost gave up! This machine definitely changed all of that
I am still learning everyday, but I recently found that you CAN actually enlarge & decrease the built in fonts on the machine, and also some of the designs and fonts I have bought from Etsy with the machine with absolutely no extra software. As my business is expanding, I am now looking for the best affordable software that will merge single letters into words from fonts I have purchased from Etsy. Do you have any suggestions or has anyone used anything other that PE lite that is more affordable and can do this?
Stephanie – The key words in your question are “more affordable”. When it comes to embroidery software, there are some free software programs that each do a little bit but nothing free lets you do too much and any of the other software seems to cost a fortune. The letter fonts you buy online as embroidery patterns are treated by the machine as individual embroidery images. You would want ta software program that can combine images. I’m not aware of anything that will let you combine the patterns AND costs less than the PE lite software.
However, there are some folks on here with more experience in the embroidery area and they may have some suggestions. Anyone?
Hope we find something for you, Stephanie, and I’m so glad your business is working out online! Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Erin
I’m really interested in the SE-400 – and found your review very helpful. I’m an experienced quilter and have been sewing for 20+ years. My old Babyloc machine died and my circa 1970′s Kenmore still works…BUT….I’d love a NEW machine with a few more bell’s and whistles. This machine sounds great – and is in a price range I’m comfortable with.
Your review only briefly talks about quilting. While I mostly hand quilt – having never had a machine that truly machine quilted well – I’d like a little more info on how it performs and is the quilting foot extra? How is the range of motion?
Tammie – Ah! The 1970′s Kenmores must have been popular. That’s what I learned to sew on. It was my mom’s machine and she still has it and it tortured me this summer when we went to visit. I almost have her convinced to try a new one!
You’re right – I got so caught up on the embroidery functionality that I’ve barely touched on the quilting. I am not an experienced quilter but I’ve read up on the subject and my mother-in-law just finished a large quilting project for her mom. I’ve developed what I think are some of the most important things to look for in a quilting machine. First is the ability to sew through layers of fabric plus batting and the SE 400 can handle multiple layers. Fabric is well controlled with this machine and easy to guide under the needle. There are at least three tools that come in handy for machine quilting: a walking foot, a quilting guide, and an extra wide extension table. They aren’t necessarily required – they just make things easier. Now, you can buy the Brother SA188 Open Toe Walking Foot and I think AllBrands.com
is still carrying the Brother SA551 extension table (plus, they also sell a great customized, acrylic extension table) but I can’t find a quilting guide.
Finally, having some nice stitches that can enhance the look of machine quilts is great for customizing and embellishing. The Brother SE 400 comes with many stitches for quilting plus some decorative heirloom stitches.
If you were going to do NOTHING but quilting (and tons of it), you might want something else that includes more of the quilting features instead of requiring that they be purchased separately but if you want to do machine quilting as well as embroidery then this is a great choice!
Sincerely,
Erin
Thanks for the additional information. While I will do a considerable amount of piecing for quilts – the machine quilting and embroidery are things I’m interested in trying out – and I think this machine will be a good fit.
Also, I’m starting to do more home sewing, costumes for theater for the kids, and this really sounds like the best all around machine for me for now – and the next couple of years.
Thanks for the great information.
Anytime!
I am a beginner sewer and am looking to purchase my first machine. I have only used my friends to sew a few blankets and now I have the sewing bug and want to learn more! I am seriously considering the Brother SE 400. I am looking for a durable machine that will allow me to sew denim purses, blankets and other fun projects that can then be enhanced with the embroidery features. I got a little scared by some reviews that said they had a problem with the tension and needles breaking. How much is the teflon foot? Is that recommended if I plan to use finer fabrics. So much to decide! So grateful there are people out there like you who can help!
Jeannie – Your projects sound so fun! Great ideas and, yes, if you’re considering denim and embellished bags you want to make sure you get a machine that can do it all.
MOST (not all, but most) of the time that users mention tension issues or thread issues or issues getting through fabrics it is because the machine is not being equipped or adjusted to handle the particular project.
I have an entry level Janome. It doesn’t have tons of stitches but it will pound through thick fabric. I’d seen it do so during my own tests on my own fabric scraps. About three weeks after it arrived, my son brought me a pair of jeans he’d ripped. I thought I’d repair them and chalk up some “mommy” points! (He’s a teen so these are hard to come by anymore…
) I sewed up the rip, gave him the jeans, and was thrilled at how happy he was he could wear them still. He wore them to school the next day and came home to show me the thread had pulled right out and left him with a gaping, embarrassing hole through most of the day. I’d used the wrong thread and the standard needle and the wrong stitch. When I actually spent some time to put the right settings and accessories together, I had no problems at all and the jeans were truly repaired.
So, as long as you use the right foot, right thread for your fabric type, adjust thread tension for the fabric type and use the right needle, the machine should perform as designed and the Brother SE 400 can handle thick fabrics and the projects you describe.
The teflon, or non-stick, Brother SA114 presser foot costs about $20 and does certainly keep sheer fabrics from being caught, ripped, snagged, or melted by metal presser feet.
You’ll also want to make sure to order some size 16 needles for your machine to use with denim and other thick material along with cotton thread in size 30 or 50. Start out slow to test out new fabrics and tension settings for each new project and you should be just fine.
No matter which machine you’re going to get, you can plan on spending at least the 1st week getting used to how your machine works. Most websites have great return policies so just to make sure you can live with any sewing machine you buy, build up a supply of fabric scraps in different thicknesses and plan on spending your first week sewing through them, adjusting your machine to deal with different threads, fabrics, and needles and working through the manual adjusting it according to the instructions and you’ll learn loads about how well the two of you will be able to work together over the long haul.
Let me know if I can help with anything else!
Sincerely,
Erin
Thanks! Great information. I’m hoping I can get the Brother dealership down the street to give me a discount on the SE400. They have it for $499 but it is also listed on JoAnn’s for $399. Walmart has it for $369. We’ll see if he will give me a better price. The advantage buying from the dealer is that all repairs can be handled there and are under warranty and they teach free classes on how to use the machine if you buy from them. Wish me luck!
Jeannie – Both Walmart and Amazon are approved retailers of Brother sewing machines to purchases made through them are also covered by Brother’s warranty but, absolutely, your local dealer can give you some add-ons that you can’t get from one of the big online sellers. Classes can really help you learn your machine and get comfortable with all that it can do. It’s also a great way to find like minded crafters in your area. Print out either the Walmart and/or Amazon listing for the SE 400 and take it with you to your dealer. I’ve found many will negotiate or they might clue you in to a future sale date where you can get closer to the Walmart or Amazon price. $$ saved is always more money for you, your family, fabric, the holidays…all the millions of other things that demand a chunk of our wallet theses days!
Sincerely,
Erin
I just called my local authorized Brother retailer – I wanted to get a demo of the SE-400 before making the final purchase. They told me that the SE-400 is ONLY sold on the internet and tried to talk me into a 950D instead.
The 950D is 2x the price (over $900), doesn’t appear to have the same capabilities and most of the designs it comes with are Disney, which I’m not the least bit interested in.
When I asked for more information about the internet only comment – they told me the SE-400 was a ‘cheep’ machine for internet and big box stores and the internals were of sub-par quality.
I’m not one to be ‘fooled’ by marking tactics – but their comment about the internals of the machine really does have me concerned. There is nothing on Brother’s website that indicates the SE-400 is anything more or less that a ‘regular’ fully warrantied Brother product.
I was wondering if anyone else had this experience? Is their any truth to what they told me? I wonder what Brother would think of this marketing?
Tammie – My local retailer said the same thing although the discussion was in person and it was more like this:
Me – Do you carry the Brother SE400?
Salesperson – Uh…(glances off to the side) that model is only sold online and is made with cheaper (glances down at her feet) parts.
It may very well be true. I don’t know. Something allows this machine to be priced less than competitive models like the Innov-is 900D or the 950D. Brother must see a price savings somewhere that allows them to practically give this one away. I have a feeling that perhaps there is some truth to what the sales person has said BUT that it’s not as bad as they’ve made it sound. I wrote a whole piece on the strength of today’s plastic. Brother probably explained to their retail partners that this model is made with parts that are just as strong but less expensive to manufacturer which is why the price is lower and the retail stores’ sales people – grasping to figure out how not to lose a prospect – have come up with this less than tasteful explanation. I’m sure it’s not what Brother expects or wants them to say.
Here’s what I look at, though – there are lots of online reviews for the Brother SE400 and the SE350 that go back two years and no one has mentioned anything about the insides falling apart. In fact, the only negative that comes up is having to work with the thread tension at times or that a needle has broken which I think is a pretty typical situation with a sewing machine that has this many features.
If you want to do a demo, though, call your store back and see if they have the Brother LB6770 PRW in stock. It’s the exact same machine except it has the Project Runway label branding and no USB cord. In fact, it’s the model listed on the inside of one of the current in-store Brother Sewing and Embroidery folded pamphlets – side by side with the Innov-is 900D.
Erin
Erin,
The dealer wouldn’t budge on the price so I got it from Costco.
If anything happens and I have my receipt I can take it back. It even has a 12 pc. thread pack (full size not mini!) They have it for $389.99 Total cost with tax was $414.36 and with the rebate it will be $30 less. Where on line is the best deal on the thread and needles?
I can’t wait to get my machine!
Jeannie – Congratulations! I’m sew
excited for you! And with the holiday weekend coming up hopefully you’ll have your machine AND time to play!
Needles – my mom SWEARS by Schmetz universal needles for her sewing machine. I haven’t tried them in mine yet but I picked some up at her recommendation. Hancock Fabrics looks to have slightly better prices than Amazon and Joanna’s at just over $4 for a 5 pack of size 14 needles. They also have decent prices on embroidery thread kits. I’ve found most people start with a 40 spool kit to cover all the color ranges in the provided embroidery patterns.
Have fun and be sure to come back and let us know how you’re doing, too!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Erin
Hi! Did you ever find out if the $30 rebate can be used on the costco machine?? I have a “feeling” santa is bringing it to me as my first machine!
Stephanie – Yes! Thanks for reminding me. Costco is an approved seller for Brother sewing machines. You’re going to be a happy camper, no?
Stock some colored threads away somewhere so you can play when it arrives!
Erin
thanks erin! the costco brother machine comes w/ 12 spools of embroidery thread, so I think I’m all set!! I can’t wait to learn how to sew!
my daughter(110 wants a sewing machine for Christmas. I am torn between getting her a basic machine now and embroidery later if she wants it. the brother 400se appeals to me, because I think it could be fun to have an embroidery machine in the “house”. I do not know how to sew and I don’t want to get too much machine for her since she is very much a beginner. In you opinion is this a good basic machine for her to learn on?
Thanks
Sorry, she is 11 years old.
Kristi – Good question…I have all boys and my brother has all girls so I’m trying to mentally use a picture of my 12 year old niece to answer this question.
I’ll probably just give you some things to think about that I hope will help you decide based on your own daughter.
The SE400 IS a lot of machine and I’d say it’s more than basic. However, it’s really two machines in one. Let’s say your daughter has no interest immediately in the embroidery. Then the hoop and embroidery attachments are off to the side and she has a great sewing machine she can use without the distractions of the other functionality. Still more functionality than most basic machines but enough so that she can do whatever kind of sewing she’d want to try.
The next thing to consider is the computerized controls. They’re pretty easy to learn, especially for kids who are so much more comfortable with technology than their parents were at the same age. If your daughter has no issues with technology and can follow the manual’s instructions, she’ll be able to operate this machine without becoming frustrated.
If she enjoys sewing, it isn’t going to take her long to want to try out the embroidery capabilities. And she’s almost a teen. And she’s going to want to embroider everything at some point. I want to embroider everything at some point. (lol!) If this sounds like your daughter, it’s possible she’ll actually get more use from the embroidery stuff than the regular sewing somewhere along the way.
One more thing to consider – and this is different for every kid – is your child’s tendency to stick with a new skill or hobby. I have one son who tries everything but doesn’t stick with any one thing for longer than a season, a month, a semester. Another son knows what he likes, is well organized and when he decides he’s going to take up something new he’s in it for the long haul. When either son asks me for something I spend in line with the potential life of that product in our house.
I just re-read one line of your question that makes me think this may be too much machine after all. You said “I don’t want to get too much machine for her since she is very much a beginner”. I think this is a beautiful machine and it’s hard not to look at it and say “what a great gift!” but your daughter will say that no matter which one you get her and if you don’t know how to sew and she is really just beginning, then you can count on helping her through the instructions every step of the way. You’re going to end up learning along with her on this one. (Which isn’t all bad, either!
) If you’re okay with that and are hoping to get a machine that will grow with her for years, this is a nice choice. If you’re hoping to get her something she can learn on and practice with so she can develop what may or may not become a life-long hobby, another choice might be best.
Oh, I’m not sure I helped a lot here. I hate to give yes/no answers but maybe something I said will trigger your decision either way?
Sincerely,
Erin
Erin
Thank you for your fast response. She does have the personality of learning and sticking with things. My only concern is overwhelming her. I am her Junior Girl Scout leader and the troop recently took a sewing class at Joanns. She wants to take more, which I plan on signing her up for. She is able to take her machine to the classes and they will teach her on her machine-huge plus. I’m trying to think further down the line, that’s why I like the embroidery option. I saw the Brother 6800thrd at Costco, it looks very similar. Is that a better option or about the same? Thanks again
Kristi – This sounds like it good be a great fit for her then, especially with the classes. She’ll be teaching you in no time!
The Brother LB6800PRW is exactly the same stitching and functionality as the SE400. The only difference is that it comes with the Project Runway logo and the Project Runway travel case. You can read a comparison of the two here: http://www.sewing-machines-for-beginners.com/compare-brother-se350-se400-lb6770-lb6800/. If you can get it for the same price or close, the added travel case is always a plus but it doesn’t have the $30 rebate that this one has through year end.
A note, in case you hadn’t thought of it – make sure to have some colored threads on hand or as part of the gift so she can play with the embroidery part right away instead of having to wait for someplace to open after Christmas. You can buy kits of embroidery threads in different sizes and numbers so even $20 can buy a good supply to get her started! Also, a pack of plain, white, cloth napkins make great practice fabrics and the embroidery work always looks amazing on white fabric.
It doesn’t sound like you’re going to overwhelm her. She’s already had a taste for sewing, she’s looking forward to sewing classes and she’s going to be a teen before you know it (sorry – not to rush things – I know!) and this machine will be able to grow with her. The Brother manuals, too, are the most detailed of all so she’ll have lots of material to walk her through every step with good pictures to help. I bet she could have this up and sewing at least a straight stitch in minutes. Then it’s just a matter of figuring out the other buttons over time.
Pretty neat gift and it’s the kind that keeps on giving, too. Take a look at that comparison to the 6800 and let me know if you need anything else.
Erin
Erin,
Is there a hoop we can get for the SE 400 that will do koozies and other small items?
Blake – Koozie?
I’m out of the loop – are koozies those can covers?
Besides the included hoop there are 2 other hoops that work with this machine: 1) 6 3/4 x 4 inch hoop and 2) 2 x 1-1/2 inch hoop.
Will either of those work for koozies?
Thanks!
Erin
Hey, Thanks for the response. Yes they go around cans. Is there a 2 x 1/2?? That seems small but you know way more about this machine than me..lol. We have had some problems with jamming. Is this due to thread quality? We tighten the fabric in the hoop as best we can so we do not think this is the problem. Thanks for your time..
Blake – Oops, I must have gotten a little carried away. That was supposed to be a 2 x 1-1/2 inch hoop. I went back and corrected my previous comment just so it won’t hang out there confusing future visitors. Any hoops that say they’re compatible with the SE350 are also compatible with the SE400.
Any time there’s jamming, I’ve read you should look at a few things and, yes, thread is one of them. Is this happening only while you’re embroidering or also while sewing? If just while using the embroidery functions check to make sure you’re using a size 11 needle unless you’re embroidering on thick fabric and also make sure you’re using a thread made for embroidery machines. Polyester or cotton-covered polyester embroidery thread is supposed to work best. If you’re still having trouble try an extra-fine embroidery thread and see if that does the trick.
Let me know how that goes!
Erin
Thanks Erin, We will try this.
I have the SE400 computerized embroidery and sewing machine and embroidered my grand-daughter’s name “Paige” by reducing the size to 80%. Now I have been battling to get “Lacey” to fit that has the same number of letters (only the “i” may take up less space) and I keep getting the message that the pattern is too large for the embroidery frame. Is there anything else I can do to make a five letter name fit?
Aileen – I assume it won’t do the same for “Lacey” as it did for “Paige” because the width of the five letters in “Lacey” must be larger than the overall width of the first name. A couple of thoughts but use sample fabric to test these out:
1. Can you shrink “Lacey” by ANY amount so that it fits without it visually appearing smaller than how “Paige” printed out?
2. I did read something recently about breaking the word into two sets of patterns – four letters in one and one letter in the 2nd pattern and then shifting the fabric in the hoop between patterns so that they line up. This would require some practice on scrap fabrics to get the spacing just right and then maybe tailor’s chalk to figure out where you need to line up for the final letter but it might be an option for you.
Let me know if either of those work out!
Sincerely,
Erin
Thank you, Erin.
I did shrink the name but 80% was the smallest it would go and still no luck. BUT I tried using all small letters instead of the first letter in Caps. and it worked!
I was embroidering the twins names on a border at the bottom of the dresses and the border is smaller than my hoop. I did stabilize it with tear-away and tacked the material to the stabilizer but it still puckered a little. Should I use iron-on stabilizer? I prefer not to have a large piece of stabilizer ironed on to the back of the garment. I just got my machine and am trying to find good ideas to make good-looking garments.
I had the same problem with wmbroidering my twin nieces names, Layla & Tayla in the script font on the bottome of skirts I made for them. The T & L are almost identical in shape, but turned different ways and I still don’t know why it wouldn’t work. I had to rehoop & take the stiches out until I got it lined up right. However, I have now learned that for instance, if I used the medium letters the first time, I can start with the small, to make all of the letters fit and then enlarge the whole name as large as the machine will let me, and I usually can’t tell a difference in the size, especially on 2 different garments. Hope this helps!
well i bought the se-400 before reading this review, and i have to say i’m sooooooo pleased with this machine.. sew excited to have gotten it for my bday!!! When i 1st started using it i had trouble with tension and needles breaking but after playing with it for a few days i got the hang of it! NOW i love it, i sew every single day, even made a few gifts for my family for christmas!! Its not very noisy , which is good dont want to keep anyone awake late at night, when i’m sewing lol
Just remember anyone buying this machine new to embroidery like me, jus have some extra needles on hand, and sulky thread is the best!! very bright colors, no problem with breakage, just perfect!! BUt now to move my embroidering to a new level i’m looking for a software that will worth with the se-400 to take real pictures for your digital camera etc and convert them into a embroidery design.. can anyone help me???
ty soo much!!
Megan – Sounds like you’ve been having a blast and your tip to buy thread and needles is perfect!
Yes, there is software that works with the SE-400 and will convert your own images into embroidery designs. It’s called PE-Design Lite Embroidery Software and it’s made by Brother. It costs a bit but you can use it to do all kinds of things including converting your own images, clip art, and scanned images into embroidery designs for the SE-400. It also has additional built in fonts and you can use it to edit images to make size and color changes, among other types of modifications. A great addition to your birthday present!
Sincerely,
Erin
Yup sure am having a blast!!! lol
I use it just about every day since i got it nov 27th lol
OK i guess i’ll have to add that to my list maybe santa will bring it to me LOl ( keeping fingers crossed)
Hate my bday is so close to christmas
Oh, my husband is the same way as his bday is December 1st. I used to think that was so cool but now it’s just so hard to think of each of them as separate events since they’re in the same month. I think sometimes he wishes he could move it!
Crossing my fingers on your behalf!
Erin
Erin
I decided on the 400SE for my daughter for Christmas. I think she is going to love it. I was reading about the software. We aren’t there yet, but what is the difference between the PED BASIC and PE DESIGN-LITE? Do you need the BASIC to use the DESIGN-LITE?
Thanks
Kristi – Your daughter is in for a very sweet Christmas! In regards to the software, PED BASIC allows you to import embroidery patterns you find on the web, do some minor editing (size and some color choices) and export designs onto blank embroidery cards. Since the SE400 only has so much memory on its hard drive, the ability to save extra patterns on cards is convenient for those who take their machine to sewing clubs or sewing classes and need to have a selection of embroidery patterns with them without taking their laptop along.
PE DESIGN-LITE does all that PED BASIC does but it also has digitizing capabilities. That means it can take any of your pictures or computer clip art and convert it (digitize it) into an embroidery pattern. If your daughter wants to make a pattern out of pictures of she and her best friend, this is the software you’d need. PE DESIGN-LITE can also combine designs so if you want the flowers from one pattern with the picture of a baby from another, you could do so.
Basic is really just that – basic. It provides some convenience but not really a lot of flexibility. It’s DESIGN-LITE is the software that offers flexibility and design customization.
Hope that helps!
Happy Holidays,
Erin
lol, my fiance alaways says why did u have to be born that close to christmas!! LOL
i always say back, i didn’t chose when to be born lol
but thanks for crossing ur fingers for me! it would be such a wonderful gift!
Thanks for your extensive knowledge of this product! I am very interested in this machine, but a little gun-shy still. I have been doing a lot of work on oilcloth (purses, wallets, etc). Mainly, I use transparent, nylon thread for my projects. However, I’ve been seeing that this machine is picky about it’s thread. Is that for the regular sewing or just the embroidery stitching? I’m hoping to find a good all-in-one that can handle all my projects.
-Amy
Amy – the thread comments mostly have to do with embroidery. The manual suggests certain kinds of threads for embroidery but that’s really easy to miss. I’d come across a statistic just last week that said something like 80% of all machine issues have to do with thread or needles or incorrect set up. I would not think you’d have a problem working with oilcloth on the SE400 but if you want to be really sure, find a Brother retailer in your area, bring a few scraps of your own oilcloth and test it out on the Brother LB6770 PRW. That’s the same sewing machine but with the Project Runway label (and usually a bigger price tag). The SE400 is mostly an online only model and even if you find it in a store, it’ll be Costco or Walmart and not set up for testing so testing the similar model will give you a good feel for the SE400. If you can’t get out to do that, let me know. I actually have some oilcloth from a sewing machine cover project I’m working on and I know my local retailer has the 6770 set up for demos.
Sincerely,
Erin
Love the website! Very informative and great topics. I just bought the se-400 (haven’t received it yet) but can’t wait to jump in and get embroidering! I think I am like the only guy that has replied on the running blog but I know they are out there. I enjoy digitizing and creating my own designs and logos but didn’t have a way to quickly see what my designs looked like in the real world before sending them out. That is when I saw the se-400 and the attractive price point of $320 when all said and done. I can’t believe how costly these machines are. They are like very compact cars with needles as an engines (sorry guy talk) and cost just as much!
Anyway, I am sure I will have many questions when it arrives and look forward hearing from all of you!
Steve – Welcome! Now I know I saw another guy around here somewhere…but us women probably won’t let you get a word in edgewise!
Actually, I have an idea for a post on guys and sewing. Maybe it’s time I get that done. Hmmm…where did I put that…
Speaking of cars…my last job? Cars – a LOT of cars.
It’ll come up in that “guys and sewing machines” post. Along with kites, upholstery and, of course, embroidery! Very glad you found us. I think I’m going to need to add a forum here at some point!
Sincerely,
Erin
Erin, I don’t know how you do it…having the patience answering all of our newbie questions…BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I think a forum would be a much better place for all of these great topics and answers. Also it would free you up from personally answering all of them
Anyway, back to my review on my SE400. I have had it now for 3 weeks and I am loving it! Great little machine! Nice having the sewing function along with the embroidery.
My advice so far is straight out of the box I needed to adjust the bobbin tension screw. Now it says nothing about it in the manual but embroidering on cotton jersey’s with heavy pull away stabilizer, I noticed my bobbin thread was coming through my top designs. I keep my top tension at the recommended 4 setting and moved the screw a whole turn CW until it was just right. I recommend everyone to use this Brother web site and download the pattern and see where your bobbin thread is.
http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/BSC/public/us/us/en/faq/faqh/000000/000000/000044/faqh000044_001.htmlreg=us&c=us&lang=en&prod=hf_pe700eus
I am now trying to figure out how I can get small letters .20 of an inch to appear tighter when embroidering. Maybe smaller needle and thread? The quest continues…
Steve – When you work from home and the kids are in school all day…well…these comments have become my connection to the “real world”! But I absolutely see a forum in the future.
You should see me fly off to Google for research and grab the phone when a tricky question comes up!
Couple of thoughts for you on bringing the letters closer together. These are untested – off the top of my head:
1. Have you tried doing each letter individually and re-hooping the material yourself? I realize this might be a complete PAIN but it’s a temporary solution. You’d have to do some trial and error to perfect placement each time.
2. If you have editing software and a downloaded font, could you combine the letters for each project into a singular design? I think this might give you some control over letter placement. Maybe?
It’s on my list still to check out some embroidery software alternatives. In fact, someplace in my list of 30 open tabs (my laptop is screaming at me) is a mention about a free resizing software. I don’t think it will help with you bringing the letters closer together but it might help with other projects.
Let me know if you reach the end of your quest. Other adventurers would surely benefit!
Thanks for sharing your tips with us. Huge help!
Erin
This link should work…
http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/BSC/public/us/us/en/faq/faqh/000000/000000/000044/faqh000044_001.html?reg=us&Pri&c=us&lang=en&mail=true ntable=true
I think I messed up your first one. It worked but my site does “stuff” to links so I think I chopped it…Test again, if you get a chance. It worked for me but I’d certainly like it to work for others, too!
Thanks!
Erin
Erin, I have an SE400 and my daughter recently wanted me to learn to quilt. so I did. I am looking for the free motion foot to stipple with and on the Brother site, it is only listed for the 350. If I read correctly, the 400 is the same exact machine as the 350 so the feet will feet both machines? Thank you so very much for your help.
Leza – Yes, the stippling foot that works with the SE350 should be compatible with the SE400. Sometimes retailers (and manufacturers) remember to list all of the models and sometimes they don’t. I hope your daughter is going to help you with that quilting!
Sincerely,
Erin
Ok… I have had the se-400 for about 3 months now. Ive used it off and on but now I am on vacation and have been working on quite a few projects (commissions). This is the first time I really use it daily and Im about ready to throw it out the window.
I LOVED this machine at first, but now it jams up all the time. Ive done everything I can think of. I am sewing with fleece, this is the only fabric I use. I use proper needles for fleece and have used fleece the first 3 months with little trouble. Now all of a sudden I am sewing along and it goes “CLUNK CLUNK” like the needle is about ready to bust off and fly at me. I have no idea what is causing the problem… it feels like its in the bobbin casing, but I really don’t know. I have stuff to do and I can’t deal with this. Honestly, my CHEAP $100 brother sewing machine has worked better than this one.
Any idea on how to stop my machine from jamming?
Ally – Not a good time for a problem at all, is it?
My first thoughts are that maybe you’re having some build up of “fleece fluff” around the bobbin case. There’s a set of instructions in the manual about “cleaning the race”. I assume you’ve tried that?
Sincerely,
Erin
Thanks Erin,
I have done that. Today the only way that I could get it to work was by changing the thread, it isnt AS BAD but still gets really clunky once in a while. Im thinking I might need to use really expensive thread on thsi machine (I thought this was only the case for when I embroider… but this machine is really picky overall I am finding).
Ally – what kind of thread are you using? One test is to look really close at the thread. If you see ANY fraying or fuzz around the thread then the thread could be gunking up your machine. I have read, too, that you’d only need special threads for embroidering but maybe not the case. Try an assortment of different thread qualities, clean the machine in between each thread, and see if you notice any improvement. Good luck! Sounds like you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you and your machine shouldn’t stand in the way.
Erin
tryin unscrewing the metal plate and cleaning it out under there, mine was doing the same and thats what i had done, now its great! also i found that Sulky thread worked the best for me, its expensive but worth it! Joanns carrys it.. HOpe this helps!
Megan – Thanks for the tip!
just a little thing i had to do when i first got my machine, i had the jamming problem when i 1st got fine, come to find out there was some fabric jammed in there, i had to take the plate off, cleaned it out, then it worked perfect!!! just a little tip that may help!
looking for a seger… can anyone recommend one for me??? cant afford a whole lot…
Megan – Can you give a brief description of what you want to do with the serger (what kind of materials and how often you’d be using it?). I don’t have a serger but I did spend some time playing with my mother’s this past summer and I really liked it. For the life of me I can’t remember what brand she has. Let me talk to her, check with a few friends and do some research and see if I can’t come up with some suggestions for you. More in a bit!
In the meantime, maybe someone else will jump in with some recommendations, too!
Sincerely,
Erin
i work often with medium weight fabrics, fleece, flannel etc I do sew ALOT so i’d be using it on a daily basis, about 5 times per week, probably on most of my items i would be making! i tried searching for a used vacume/sewing repair store some times they have good ones for sale! but i had ZERO luck in my area
thanks for your help, this will be the last machine i need for my collection
Megan – If I were going to buy a serger and I wanted to keep costs low I’d take a look at this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CBK1L?ie=UTF8&tag=sewingmach0b-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0000CBK1L
It’s a Brother Lay-in Thread Serger, Model No. 1034D
with 3 and 4 thread lay-in and lots of accessories and features for the money. It’s under $200, one of the lowest priced new sergers I could find and has hundreds of positive reviews. Sounds as if it could hold up to the types of fabric you’re working and the amount of time you sew.
I checked all my favorite online haunts and that seemed to be the best deal. Even Overstock’s refurbished listings (which I check often for deals) didn’t have anything better. Other than eBay or maybe Craig’s List, this seemed the best option. I’ll keep looking and update this if I find anything else.
Sincerely,
Erin
Erin
Is there anywhere to get a smaller hoop other than the internet? We want the 2 x 1 1/2.
Thanks Blake
Blake – Have you tried local retailers? You can use this page to find a Brother dealer near you: http://www.brother-usa.com/HomeSewing/DealerLocator.aspx. Maybe call a few and see if they have one. If they don’t, ask if they’d order one for you. You might also see if you can find a small mom and pop sewing shop in your area. You never know what they carry or what they can get!
Good luck!
Erin
ty soo much for all your help!! thats the same one i have been looking at!! walmart carrys it online, so if anything goes wrong walmart takes anything back!! lol This is going to be my christmas present lol
Megan – I think you made a great choice!
Merry Christmas! (Hope Santa brings you some new fleece patterns to work with, too!)
Sincerely,
Erin
thanks erin! i hope santa brings me some too
Hope u have a wonderful christmas!
Dear Sir. Am interested in buy a Brother SE400 Embroidery Machine.Would you please quote CIF Santiago de Chile one Machine.Payments Terms and delivery time. Regards. hugo Paredes.
Hugo – I don’t actually sell these sewing machines. The SE400 is available in the US at several online sites like Amazon and Walmart. I’m not sure if either ship to Chile or not but you might check there.
Good luck!
Erin
I bought a font online and have used it successfully for embroidering one initial at a time, but can you explain how to connect letters to spell out names using online font files.
Thank you!
Ophelia – To the machine, each letter is an individual embroidery pattern. You can store 12 patterns on the hard drive of your sewing machine. If you’re embroidering a name that is less than 12 characters long, use your USB cord to transfer each of the letters you need for the name from your hard drive to the sewing machine’s memory. Once they’re loaded, you should be able to see them in the LCD screen. Use the selection keys to put the letters in the order you want to spell out the name. If it’s too long for the frame, you may have to play with the Adjust button to get them to fit.
If the name is more than 12 characters or too long to do in one frame, there are instructions in the manual (page 146) that will walk you through “connecting” patterns seamlessly.
Let me know if you run into any trouble. I was hoping I could find a video for you to refer to as well but no luck so far.
Sincerely,
Erin
I’m still not clear on how to do this. I have been successful at loading each letter (pattern), but cannot figure out how to select more than one pattern at a time. The fonts that come with the machine allow for multiple letter selection, but I haven’t had luck with the downloaded fonts. Can you only select one downloaded pattern at a time?
Thanks for ALL your help!
Ophelia – I don’t have an SE400 sitting in front of me at the moment so I’m leading in the dark a bit but if you have some practice fabric, we’ll get you there yet.
The combining feature does only work with the included letter fonts, sorry. If you have the PE Design Lite software, you can combine patterns and you would use that feature in the software to combine the letters you need into one, new pattern.
Without the software, you will have to use a grid and marker system to line the letters up manually. This article will walk you through how to create templates for each letter and mark the points on your fabric where you need to start each letter: http://www.ehow.com/how_5991414_combine-text-letters-embroidery.html. I’m still looking for a video that will show you because I think it’s easier to understand how to do it with a visual but maybe the article will get you started. Use practice fabric to get the process nailed down before working on your finished project.
Would love to hear if this works out for you. I have a sneaking suspicion you’re working on a Christmas project with a looming deadline and I want to make sure you can get it done in time! (Maybe that’s not the case but the thought can’t be avoided considering the time of year.)
Sincerely,
Erin
I am considering getting the SE400 and after reading these postings I feel better about it… Santa is taking me shopping… besides the thread.. what else should I pick up so I can go home and start embroidering. I know “VERY” little about machine embroidery. I know I have to have a stabilizer but not sure what kind. I also need to find out what kind of threads work good with the SE400… Thank you all for all your help..
Sandy – Santa has good taste!
The SE400 is such a great value and once you begin embroidering I bet you don’t ever want to stop. Here’s what you should get so you can get started right away:
1. Stabilizer – stabilizers come in several forms and materials. There are rolls, sheets, iron-on and water soluble and tear away. Tear away sheets are easy to work with and Threadart is a popular brand. Follow this link to see what it looks like: Regular Cutaway Embroidery Stabilizer – 8×8 200 Precut Sheets
2. Selection of colored thread – polyester or cotton-covered polyester embroidery thread is supposed to work best. It’s worth buying high quality thread because it’s sturdier, breaks less, and does not “fuzz” or fray easily. Sulky, Gutermann, and Coats & Clark are well-known, quality threads. However, for just starting out, lots of people buy this Threadart kit: Polyester Embroidery Thread Set – 40 Spools (500 meter spools/40 wt.) – Set. It’s 40 spools of sample colors and you can choose to get the kit in either Vibrant, Brilliant, or Jewel colors.
3. Bottom thread – the top thread provides all the color so get a couple of good sized rolls of white embroidery thread to use in your bobbin. It’ll save you from using up your pretty colors where they won’t be seen. Try this: Embroidery Bobbin Thread – 5000m Spool – 60wt White – By Threadart
4. Fabric to embroider! I love to practice on crisp, white table napkins. You can usually find a set of these for next to nothing online or at Walmart or Linens & Things. Embroider the corners to check out the patterns and then you can still use the napkins for tea parties or to dress up your dining room, the buffet, a bread basket….
5. Extra needles – you should always have some hanging around. You don’t want to start a new project only to find you’re current needle is dull and you don’t have a replacement on hand.
That should do the trick!
Happy Holidays!
Erin
THANK YOU so much….All this information helps. Do you recommend getting a 5 X 7 hoop… I know it can only stitch a 4 by 4 pattern but I have been told to get the bigger hoop that it would be best to maximize the 4 by 4 stitching area.
Also so many people told me that I should look into software so I can do bigger patterns like something called Hoopworks… Any recommendations on that?
Wish the Brother website would have tutorials on that machine but they don’t.. Hope I can figure it out.
Thank you again!
Sandy – I hadn’t heard of HoopWorks so I can’t say for sure that it will work but I watched the video this morning and I can’t see why it wouldn’t. HoopWorks is compatible with .pes files which are also compatible with the Brother SE400. The software also handles custom hoop sizes so it should be able to split embroidery designs into smaller .pes files which can be used with the SE400 and the 4×4 hoop. If you buy the software, you can work within the 4×4 hoop size for any design. If you do want a bigger hoop, I’d go with the Brother SA434 4-Inch-by-6 3/4-Inch Large Hoop which the Brother website notes is compatible with this machine.
Since I have no direct experience with HoopWorks, you might want to buy from a retailer with an easy return policy in case the software doesn’t work. If it does, let us know, though! Sounds like an excellent option for anyone who wants to do larger embroidery designs on the SE400. (I may have to test this out myself in the near future!)
While the Brother website is lacking in tutorials for this particular sewing and embroidery machine, there are a ton of small training videos for the Duetta® 4500D here: http://www.brother-usa.com/Homesewing/DesignStudio/Techniques/Videos.aspx. While they are not the same embroidery machine, the videos on using the hoop, attaching presser feet, choosing your patterns and other embroidery related tasks are performed similarly on each machine so they may be helpful in getting you comfortable with using your machine. The manual is also very detailed and thorough. You’ll learn a lot just browsing through it for an hour or so.
Don’t worry – you aren’t going to have any problems! You’ve done your homework, you know what you want, and I bet you already have an idea for your first project ready to go!
Erin
Oh Erin,,, I plan to make myself and my family amateur radio Tshirts with our call letters on it… However,, I noticed that the SE400 only has alpha characters. My ham radio call has 2alpha characters then a number followed by 3 alpha characters…. any suggestion how I would do that since it doesn’t come with numeric characters.?
Sandy – The SE400 fonts do include numbers 0-9 as well as a few punctuation marks. I just did a revision of this review to add more detail so maybe I mis-stated something that led you to think they weren’t included? I better do some proof-reading!!
PS – Love to hear about the neat projects people have in mind. The ideas are endless and all so unique. Ham radio call letters! Who would have thought!
Have fun!
Erin
Thank you Erin for all your help. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on an embroidery machine and find out I am not going to use it that much. I mainly plan on putting my amateur radio (ham) call letters on T-shirts, making little designs on T-shirts… etc..etc.. and I will go on from there. I have read good reviews on this machine. I have many hobbies… and bounce back and forth between all of them. However, machine embroidery has also appealed to me… but a $15000 machine is out of the question.
More problem for me
Thanks to your suggestions before about changing the thread. I went with some gutterman thread and it has been working excellent since… until now. Once again I repeated all steps, cleaned out the bobbin case, took off the metal plate and use a can of air to check everything out, rethreaded, even changed teh thread in the bobbin to a full bobbin and now its going clink clink CLUNK when I sew, and when I sew multiple pieces of fleece together forget it!! It goes CLUNK and then my machine says it has to stop to prevent damage, or some error like that… and Im terrified to break the needle like I did initially so I just put it away, once again being prevented from finishing my projects. I want to love this machine, but its very hard to when all these setbacks are happening and I have clue how to fix this problem 
Allyson – Oh, so close!!! I’m glad the thread change worked and if we get you back to working again see the note someone left in the past day or so about Sulky thread working really well, too.
Okay – let’s try a few things. Run your machine (slowly) without the needle and see if it makes the clunking sound. If it does so without the needle, then at least we know the problem is not with the needle. However, if you have no problems without the needle being attached, it stands to reason the needle is part of the problem and you’ll want to see if using a different type or size of needle helps.
If that doesn’t work, clean the race again, use a new needle, re-thread the machine and see if the problem continues. If so – is it the same whether you choose sewing or embroidery options?
If the problem persists you may need to see a licensed Brother service center. Your machine may have developed an issue with timing or some other mechanism and you’ll want that to be professionally fixed.
Hang in there and let me know how it goes. There’s hope yet! (I’m a persistent optimist!)
Erin
Thank you so much for your help! You are so kind to offer so many suggestions and help with troubleshooting, I really appreciate it
I THINK it’s fixed! I did what you said, I ran it without the needle and it sounded perfectly fine, so I switched to a package of ball-point needles that I had bought and never opened… and its been working well since
Time will tell, I just spent about 5 minutes finishing up my project and it went smoothly. I am crossing my fingers that now combined with good quality thread and this type of needle I may have some luck! When this machine works properly its great, I can’t emphasize that enough, and if my problems can be fixed with a little bit of troubleshooting the better, I dont want people to read this and be concerned about the quality of the machine, because it really is a great buy 
OH and a note about Sulky, that is the thread that I use for embroidery, its very expensive compared to the other brands but it works GREAT! Maybe in the future I can invest in more thread that I can use for everyday sewing as well, this machine is definitely picky about what thread you use!
Allyson!! Yay!!! I’m so happy for you. Crossing my fingers on your behalf that things hold solid from now on!
Thanks so much, too, for sharing your feedback on this machine. Prospective buyers just want to know all the ins and outs and nothing helps more than the impression from someone who has and uses the machine itself. Troubleshooting is just a fact of life. It reminds me of all the little things my mom knows about her sewing machine that no one else knows. The mark of experience. You’re earning your stripes!
Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and here’s wishing you great success with the rest of your projects!
(Of course, if you get stuck again, you come right on back!!)
Erin
allyson- sulky is the best!! i had zero problems since i switched to sulky! and the best part Joanns is having it 50% off starting the 30th!! I’ll deff be at joanns =-) Good luck!! I love this machine as well!
THE NEEDLE MIGHT BE COMING LOOSE AND HITTING THE RACE I HAD THAT PROBLEM WITH
MY 400SE
Has anyone tried the Threadart brand of embroidery thread? It is reasonable but if this machine is picking I hate investing in the wrong kind of thread. Thank you!
I got my SE400 but have to get thread, etc to work with. The manual doesn’t tell you what to do if you are embroidering a t-shirt etc etc… It just shows how to do a small little design on a square piece of fabric. My question is if you are doing a denim shirt… I am assuming you just have to make sure to keep it free of the embroidery UNIT.. but can you put the shirt gently over the embroidery UNIT… or do you have to hold it up…?
Sandy – This video will show you how to drape the shirt material around the hoop while embroidering a design on one portion of the shirt. NOTE: The machine in the video is not the SE400! I think she has a little more room to work with but the concept is the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ60yUhjthQ
I have not used the Threadart thread so I can’t comment on that particular question. There are a couple of reviews on Amazon but not enough to draw any strong conclusion. I do know that it is often purchased with this sewing machine but that does not suggest anything regarding it’s quality. Hopefully someone who has used it will answer that comment.
Sincerely,
Erin
Hey all, I have no idea where to start so I’m trying to brush up on the manual before I ever turn my machine on. But I have a question right off, I just got my se-400 and i am wondering if i can upload any applique designs that i purchase online or do I have to purchase a special software first? Also, I do know it has to be for 4X4 but does it matter the detail of the design? I didnt know if it was best to stick to the simpler designs. I’m excited to get started on new projects!! Heard great things about brother machines. Im hoping to use it mainly for applique and monogram projects.
Sorry, just saw that no additional software is neccessary!! Great news!! But I still need to know how detail of an applique my machine can sew before I purchase any?
Stefanie – There is no restriction on the detail of the design. As long as it’s in a compatible format then you’re good to go! If you get stuck, watch the video in this post as it might answer some of your questions. The Brother website doesn’t have video tutorials regarding the SE400 embroidery functionality but it does have some on another embroidery models and the functionality is similar enough that it may help you understand what you need to do. Things like attaching material to the hoop, positioning the hoop, and walking through the design are a few examples.
Have fun!
Erin
can’t seem to get the tension right on my se-400… i keep getting little stray threads when its embroidering i have sulky thread, so its goo quality!! any suggestions?
Megan – oh, somehow I missed this comment, sorry! Are the little threads from your Sulky thread, from inside your sewing machine (fibers from other projects) or from the material on which you are embroidering?
Thanks!
Erin
its the actual embroidery thread leaving loops on the top of the design… now that i think about it i wasn’t using sulky, i had the coats and clark, i’ll try cleaning out the machine, i just went and bought more colors of the sulky, so i’ll let you know how this works!
this machine is very picky with thread!!
This sounds like a great machine! I am a beginner sewer looking for a machine to sew mainly through jean material. I want to make jean bags and embroider on them. Is this a good machine for this kind of work?
Christine – Yes, the Brother SE400 can do jean bags AND the embroidery. Just make sure to use the right thread and needle combination for denim – the instruction manual includes a chart that will walk you through the standard thread/needle/fabric options. It really is an amazing machine!
Erin
Thank you for the amazing review. I ordered one today (well I guess technically yesterday!) & can’t wait for my SE 400 to come!!!! Any suggestions for a hard or rolling case? Trying to keep the cost down as I went a bit over my planned budget on the SE 400, but I thnk it’ll be worth it!!
Natalia – Congratulations! Get your thread and fabric ready.
Hmmm…so far I’ve got two suggestions for a rolling case. Haven’t found a hard case that fits yet. For rolling cases, the Hemline Camel Studio Collection Machine Trolley Bag
is probably the best bargain. It still costs a bit but has wheels and holds your accessories.
Another option, although considerably more money, is the Large Hot Pink Mascot Tutto Sewing Machine on Wheels
. Tutto sewing machine totes always have high marks, come in different sizes for sergers and such, and are stackable so you can put your smaller totes on top of the larger one take everything with you. These are probably best for people who sew on the go for a living (alterations and garment construction).
The challenge is that most of the generic sewing machine cases look too small, soft-side bags without wheels mean you’re going to have to lift the machine and put it in the case each time you want to put it away, and the wheeled cases add another $30 right off the bat.
You will want to make sure your sewing machine is covered when not in use but making an every day cover can be a fun project. Maybe then you just get a soft-side case for those times you need to actually transport your machine and then buy one of the more expensive wheeled cases down the road? Just thinking “out loud” to help you keep your costs down!
Sincerely,
Erin
Well I got my SE400 up and running… first opportunity I had since Christmas morning.. Whew… I used the RA thread in 40 weight in the Rayon. I have a question… One of the fonts works good for 4 alpha letters but when I put 6 it says “too large”… but when I do the 4 it looks like their is plenty of room for 6 to fit… I put the 4 letters on large but the 6 letters had to go to small! However all the other fonts the 6 letters work for Medium except for one font… Weird… because there is plenty of visible room left.
Also I am trying to figure out what is the biggest size .PES file that I can download that will fit on this machine.. I can’t find this information anywhere..
Last question for today… I know it says to use 75/11 needle for embroidery on the DVD but it says you can use the 90/14 depending on fabric… Can I use the 90/14 for Tshirt material that is 50 percent cotton, 50 percent polyester?
Thank you for your help.. and Have a Happy New Year..
Sandy – LOL! I think you lost me! Ok – so the 6 letters fits in the frame using the medium except for one of the fonts? Which font? While it looks like there may be extra room, their may just be one small piece of one of the letters (depending on the font) which falls outside the embroidery area so the machine says the whole thing won’t fit. You know, a little slant at the bottom of a letter, the little decoration on the tops and bottoms of certain fonts – one little line is all it takes to push the design outside the frame area. Have you tried the manual connection process described in one of the earlier comments? Might help if you really want the larger font. Just practice on scrap material first!
I don’t know the maximum file size for the machine and I’m going to assume you mean to load to the memory of the SE400 itself. When you’re USB is attached can you see it on your computer or laptop and does it show you the available memory?
Is the 74/11 needle not working on the T-shirt material? If not, you can try the 90/14 as long as it is NOT the ball point needle.
Happy New Year to you, too!
Erin
Boy it is hard putting thoughts into words.
What I did was typed in K9ko (on the 3rd font on the screen) LARGE DESIGN and did that on scrap.Came out fine… Took up only 1 couple inches across..
Then using the same font did Ka9gmb (2 more letters than K9ko) and for the Large it said…Pattern too large… Then for the Medium ..it said pattern too large. So I had to do that font in small. I don’t know why it wouldn’t let me do the large since there was plenty of room. I tried another font in large and it did good for that font. i WILL try tomorrow.. I was able to do the Script in large …and it is the same size as the font that would do it..
The reason I asked about the needles is because I have several 90/14 titanium from a friend… If I can use that as a universal needle I would save a little..
Regarding the size… I am referring to the “pattern” size.. If it says “pattern” size of 3.75 by 3.0 will I be able to use that on my machine?…I am assuming as long as the pattern size says 4.0 x 4.0 or less I should be able to use that right?
Sorry for the confusion… too much embroidery today…
Sandy – I’m just a little fuzzy today anyway. All that post/pre holiday stuff!
As long as those needles aren’t ball point then you should be fine and, yes, the machine handles embroidery patterns up to 4×4 but you can also do larger patterns IF you have the software that will break them down into smaller 4×4 chunks.
Sounds like you’re making lots of progress! A nice way to spend the holiday.
Erin
Thanks Erin,
So far I did one of the preloaded designs…however until my online order comes in the color selection didn’t match the pattern…lol but I had to see how it worked..
What software are you familiar with that will allow you to do Bigger designs?
The machine allows you to store 12 patterns… I trying find out when I try one of these patterns that I downloaded (free ones) if they give you the color choices on the screen like it does for the preloaded.
Only problem I encountered was when i ran out of bobbin thread…. I couldn’t get the machine to pick up where it ended and it left a gap…BUT… I will have to troubleshoot… there is lots to learn..
It is 6:35 in the morning and I had to wake up to play with this today
Sandy – I was thinking of the HoopWorks software that you’d come across. That is supposed to let you break larger designs into smaller chunks so that you can do them on the SE400 even with the hoop size limitation.
Some of the downloaded designs will give you color information like the pre-loaded designs. Just depends on the detail included in the file.
LOL! Getting up early for something fun is ten times better than getting up for work, right?
Wishing you lots of uninterrupted time and embroidery success!
Erin
I purchased the SE400 and I love it. Now I want to purchase some additional presser feet. Some of them say for all 5mm feed dog machines and some say for all 7mm feed dog machines. How do I know what size feed dogs are on the SE400? Is it a sideways measure or a front to back measure? Oh just tell me what it is.
Anita – Oooh! Good question! Presser feet compatibility is determined by width and the SE400 has a 7mm width.
I’m glad you like the machine. My mom and I were just discussing getting one for one of my niece’s. I think I might have my mom convinced to get this one for herself, too… we’ll see!
Sincerely,
Erin
Hi, am I right to say if I want to design my own embroidery, I just purchase Brother PE-Design Lite. Using my computer to convert the design and use PE-Design Lite to convert it? Do I need to buy additional blank card to transfer? Also, by any chance do you know the voltage range and power Amp output? I was thinking to import this machine from US to my country in Singapore. Not sure if I need to buy any power converter. Thank you!
Yes, in order to create your own embroidery designs you will need to the PE Design Lite software, not the Basic. You would only need additional reader cards if you won’t have room on the SE400′s memory to store any created design on which you want to work.
I do not know the voltage and amp output details with any certainty. My slightly-educated-guess is that it’s a 110V based on the fact that I know the Brother CS6000i is 110V. The plug in is a flat, polarized US plug in so the prongs are flat and one of the blades is wider than the other, if that helps?
I should study up on step-up/step-down converters as this question has come up once or twice on a couple of the Brother machines.
Good luck!
Erin
Hi Erin,
I really appreciated your prompt answers and it really clears some of my doubts. I am very tempted to get Brother Innov-is 900 or 950. Which do you recommend as compared to SE400?
Thank you!!!
Cheers!
Takeabreak (love that, btw!) – I haven’t done an in-depth review of either of those but in comparing the details just now the 900 and 950 appear to be the same as each other so I suppose if you’re looking to pick one over the other I’d go with whichever was cheaper.
Erin
Thank you Erin!
You’re more than welcome!
YOU CAN STORE YOUR DESIGNS ON YOUR COMPUTER AND DRAG AND COPY THEM TO YOUR MACHINES REMOVABLE DISK THEN WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR MACHINE YOU WON’T
LOSE THEM.
Hi! I got the LB6800 this weekend for my birthday. I have not sewn since I was a child and this is SO easy to use! Of course I have run into some bumps in the road, but am figuring it all out. So here is my question….
I have bought some fonts off etsy for monogramming and have downloaded them but am unable to view thumbnails of them so figuring out which letter is where is tricky. I downloaded a trial of “buzzXplore” software and it is allowing me to view the letters which helps so much, but has made me aware that i need some sort of software. Also, b/c I don’t have any software when I want to monogram a name I have to do one letter at a time which is do able but obviously would be easier to transfer the monogram to a card and do it all at once…. so my question is what is my best investment. I have seen that there are a lot of software options out there beyond the brother, but am I better to stick with brother? If i just want to be able to create words and transfer over am I better with lite or basic?
Lastly, I monogrammed the name “gracie” last night in a 3 inch font on a blanket and I had to break it up into 2 letters at a time and hoop it three times. I don’t mind purchasing the bigger hoop, but will the machine recognize that I have extra room or still tell me that it’s too small of a space and make me break it up any way?? Does that make sense?
Thanks for this thread! I have poured over the info and it is all so helpful!
Stephanie – The larger hoop is only going to give you a little bit of extra room and might save you some re-hooping but not a lot. While it doesn’t cost too much (relatively speaking) it’s something I’d look it if I were embroidering every day but not if I was only going to need it once a week or so. Make sense?
First, without more digging, the Brother software is a good deal because it is often less expensive than alternative software and because they offer several different versions you can pick the one that suits you best without having to “overbuy”.
However, and this is where my non-sewing life kicks in, there have been lots of times I needed a software tool or program to do something for me and resorted to looking for freeware. I have NOT tested any embroidery freeware but I did find some online that I think I’ll block some time to test. In just your etsy font example, if there was a software that let you edit or combine those letters or rename the letters into individual files so you could find the letters more easily, that might be all you’d need.
Until and unless something like that is located, I’d recommend PE Lite for most people and here’s why. Basic is really basic. It provides some efficiency in being able to load designs onto embroidery cards but that’s about it. As you and several other readers have discovered pretty quickly, it doesn’t take long before even trying to monogram a name requires some editing of embroidery designs. Basic isn’t going to handle that so PE Design Lite, while a bit more expensive, is far more useful. Buying Basic only to find you later have to buy Design Lite would be a waste of money.
The one other software program on my list to take a look at is something called HoopWorks which another reader mentioned a few days ago. You can view the video here: http://www.designersgallerysoftware.com/products/Lettering-Embellishment/HoopWorks/. They also offer a free trial here: http://www.designersgallerysoftware.com/free-trials/.
Some things to play with, anyway. Download safely – no risking your computer to improve your embroidery experience!!
Let me know if you have further questions!
Erin
Thanks for the info Erin!
I don’t really care about digitizing (or atleast I don’t think I do). I live in the south and monogram a ton of my children’s clothing at $5 a pop. I would love to be able to do that monogramming myself, so basically I just want to be able to view the fonts that i purchase from places like etsy and set them up as a monogram, save as one image and sew directly with out having to do each individual letter and am trying to find the best program to do that. I read on a forum about this one : http://www.embird.com/sw/embird/features.htm
Do you know anything about it? Also if I find a non brother program do I have to have the card reader to transfer over saved designs or can transfer complete monograms via USB once I have saved them under another name?
Stephanie – The digitizing would only be handy if you wanted to put actual pictures of your kids on their clothes in embroidery. Might not be what you (or they) are after.
I think I bookmarked the page on embird based on your earlier comment and I was just thinking about you (how freaky is that?! You know it’s bad when the blogger has you in mind!!) but only because Steve here mentioned software and viewing and I thought you had used some software already for viewing. What was it you used for the etsy thumbnails?
You do not need the card reader to sew non-Brother designs with the SE400. You only need the card reader if you want to import designs from a card or burn them onto a card for later use. Otherwise, the USB cord will work to get the design over to your SE400.
I’ll work on some software information here shortly!
Thanks!
Erin
Erin,
Right now I am using a 21 day trial of buzzexplore. It is allowing me to view my .pes files as images which is super helpful, but it doesn’t allow me to put letters together as a monogram and send them over as one file which is fine, but just adds a little more work on my part while attempting to monogram.
My basic goals as far as embroidery goes is to be able to monogram 3 letters, names and do applique. I guess I am trying to figure out the best program to allow me to do this. I would like something that will break bigger designs into 4×4 chunks toos. I dont’ think I really care about the digitizing factor as I dont see me wanting to turn pictures into embroidery.
Oh I have also downloaded the trial of pe -designs, but haven’t played with it enough yet to figure it out, especially since I have no manual to try and figure it out! I have gotten it to make the monogram image the way I want but haven’t figured out how to transfer it via USB…. I am pretty sure they are only lettign me at some features since its a trial version.
Erin,,
Have you heard of “Embilliance Thumbnailer”… it is a new software program (you can find at some places through googling it) but it looks pretty neat.. There is a you tube on it also. What it does is allow you to see THumnails and view the PES and other embroidery files on your computer.. Do you know how sometimes you can have designs on your computer but you don’t know exactly what it is…this reads (for lack of a better term) and displays all the files like they are pictures… so you can see what the files look like before you put them on your machine… I thought it was kinda neat. Runs around $39.95.. Just thought I would pass this information on..
Also,my neighbor was moving and gave me a bunch of sewing stuff since she didn’t want to hall it…She gave me brothers PE Design 6.0…. software only… Can I view my files with this…don’t I need the hardware to go along with that? I guess I am asking what can I do with this or is it useless… I think it must be old …because she said her machine was old and she sold that..
Thank you
Sandy
Sandy meet Stephanie. And Steven. (Steven – it’s a mini-forum!)
Sandy – I’ll add Embilliance Thumbnailer to the list to check out. That one had not come up in my research yet. I also asked Stephanie to share the software I think she used for thumbnails a few days ago. (At least I think it was Stephanie…it’s statistically and realistically possible I’ve lost track of who said what…!)
I’m seeing the software thing come together. There’s a need for viewing designs (thumbnails), resizing, editing, digitizing, cropping larger designs into chunks that can then be combined manually, and something to bring the letters closer together when necessary.
I think your version of PE Design 6.0 should still come in handy depending on the compatibility with your computer or laptop. You can get updates for it, get support, and check system requirements here: http://www.brother-usa.com/downloads/default.aspx?PGID=3&R3ModelID=PEDESIGN6.0
I can’t tell for sure if it will work without the reader but it’s absolutely worth exploring as that software will let you digitize pictures into your own embroidery patterns as well as edit existing designs. Here’s the link to the online manual: http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/BSC/public/files/dlf/doch000007/pedv6ug01en.pdf. I’d check the system requirements and then (assuming compatibility) load that software up and start checking it out!
Would be cool if that software turned out to do a number of things you’ve been looking to do the past few days, huh?
Sincerely,
Erin
Replying to this thread but the response is really meant for all those who asked about various software. I came across a free embroidery software download that lets you view thumbnails of your design. It’s called TrueSizer e1.5 and you can download it after you register here: http://www.embroiderystartup.com/FreeStuff/WilcomTrueSizer/tabid/203/Default.aspx. I’ve only played around with a few functions but I can see thumbnails of designs inside the software, I can convert designs from one format to another, and scale designs to make them smaller or larger. The dashboard is similar to that of any Microsoft Office program so it’s easy to maneuver and there’s a pretty good Help manual attached. And you can’t pass up free, right?
Sincerely,
Erin
I finally got my machine working properly after spending money on all sulky thread!! this darn machine is sooo picky with thread!!! I was using gutterman, and the machine didn’t like that one, so it wasn’t working properly when i tried to embroider things and it was causing it to have lose threads at the top of the designs! Soooo glad its working great! Purchasing all sulky thread was well worth it! Can’t wait to do more on this machine, haven’t gotten to do all the bells and whistles yet! =-)
Megan – so glad you got it working! Now the fun part, right?
Sounds like I should be out scouting for the cheapest place to buy Sulky thread. When I find it, I’ll pass it along. Maybe if we all gang up and place a giant order, we’d get a discount. LOL!
Erin
LOL yes the fun part is here!!!! I went and racked up at joanns for the new years sale, king spools were 50% off so they were about $5 for each!!! I’ll deff let u know if I catch another sale again on it at joanns, it does go on sale often but they normally run out of stock very quickly!! But if u find a place I”ll deff order some more, and hopefully we will get a discount!!! LOL
Ooh – that’s quite a deal on the thread! Thanks for the tip. Thread and software are on my list to research. The list that keeps moving from day to day to day…LOL!
Income tax time is about here, And I’m going to invest the Pe design lite!!! Can’t wait!!
Gees – I can’t believe it’s coming up on that time of year again! Sounds like a good way to spend the return, though!
Thanks Erin for the links … I will check them out. My neighbor also gave me Gutterman thread and I will use it for my old sewing machine because my embroidery machine does NOT like that either…lol… It does like the RA so far…waiting for my thread to be delivered… black and white thread is boring!
Viewing the thumbnails will be very very helpful…
Hello Erin,
After reviewing your website and watching videos I decided on the SE 400, which arrived this morning. I’m a beginner and I have been having a blast with this machine. I wanted to thank you for the reviews and the abundance of information you’ve provided for the site…AWESOME!!!
Yvette
Yvette – So glad this information was helpful to you! No one will hold it against you if all of your tablecloths, place mats, and even your socks are embroidered with cute little roses by tomorrow morning.
Enjoy!
Erin
*sigh* Its me again
So want to know whats new with me and my se-400? Last week the automatic needle threader stopped working. I have no idea why, Ive tried everything to fix it but I said whatever, the machine is running fine now, I can deal with this. Today… you know what went? THe automatic thread cutter! Its just a little ridiculous. Im pretty much ready to contact Brother. I inspected inside the machine and I was appalled at what I saw… there are tiny notches and a crack in the black plastic part just before the sharp part that cuts the thread… it looks like the needle was pounding on that and now it prevents the thread from getting to the cutter. Obviously the needle went off and should NOT be penetrating that part of the machine… it just shouldn’t happen. My machine has been still sounding a little clunky now and then but has been sewing fine… I wonder if a problem from the start was that it was somewhat off, who knows!
I know so many people here are so happy with their machine and Im confident that it IS a great buy. I take care of mine, Im now using expensive thread, proper needles, I clean out the machine after every project, and in general I baby my stuff to keep it looking and acting new. It just isn’t working out, and I think its because I have a lemon.
But anyways… I still have my original receipt, and apparently I bought it 11/03 from Walmart and I called them and Im doing an even exchange tomorrow! Hopefully this time I wont have all these problems!
Oh, Allyson, I’m so sorry for you! I know you’ve had one thing after another come up. I’m glad Walmart is doing an exchange for you. They’re good to work with and hopefully the new one will work perfectly! Keep me posted. I’d love to know that you’re off and sewing happily once again.
Sincerely,
Erin
I did an exchange simply enough… and this machine I believe is acting a lot better, I dont want to jinx anything… but I think I will be a lot happier now. I havent tried the embroidery on my new machine yet, but thats part of the plan for today. I am pretty convinced my first machine was a lemon though!
Allyson – Oh, good! It’s supposed to be fun, not frustrating!
Let me know if you run into any snags.
Sincerely,
Erin
Hi Erin,
Was searching in the manual but couldn’t find what I was looking for.. What do you do if you run out of bobbin thread and you are in the middle of a project? Well luckily it was not anything important …but then again I have no clue how to correct the situation.
Thank you,,Sandy
Sandy – I’ve read (but not tried!) that you should back up a few stitches in your design, remove the hoop, replace your bobbin thread, reattach the hoop and the needle should pick up close enough to where it left off that it will not leave any empty spaces. Might be worth trying intentionally just as practice to see how that works!
Thanks,
Erin
Look on page 148
My SE400 is still going! The machine is great it’s just me and my digitizing software is what is killing me. Those who are into marring a computer with an embroidery machine and having total control over every stitch in your designs should consider getting digitizing software. However, the price is high for software and there is a big learning curve so be warned. The software I am using is Wilcom’s ES-65 and now I am at the point where I would like my trims and jumps cut by the machine when stitching but I keep banging my head against the wall.
Still trying to concur these tiny stitches!
Steve – “marring a computer”
As I had just downloaded the free Wilcom version and a trial version of the Brother software I fully understand that statement. I’ve already burdened this laptop with more photos and digital imaging software then it can handle – the embroidery software threatened to take me down!
Trims and jumps – you’re miles ahead of me but I’ve got to make a trip out to the local Brother store in the next day or two so I’ll ask around.
And I think I’m missing a few comments from a day or two ago about where to download free software trials. Had a little host issue that dropped a day of data.
if it’s not embroidery software it’s website stuff. Woe is me. LOL!
I need some help! I have the Brother SE400 & I have download & Embroidery off of the Brother website, everything went smooth. But I have been trying to download off of some of the other ones that offer free ones and when I do I can’t seem to open the zip files. Do I need another program in order to download, open, & send to my machine? It’s not as easy as using the brother website for some reason. Any help will do….
Michelle, I assume you can see the zip file in your download folder and it ends with .zip? What’s the message you get when you double click on the zip file?
You may need another program depending on the file extension of the embroidery pattern itself. This free software might help you: http://www.embroiderystartup.com/FreeStuff/WilcomTrueSizer/tabid/203/Default.aspx.
Let me know what the error message is, though, and I’ll give you some additional thoughts.
Thanks!
Erin
To open this file, windows needs to know what program created it. I guess this is where I get stuck & don’t know what to do from here????
Michelle – When you hover over the zip file, right click. You should see an option to Extract All. This should open up that zip file so you can see the files inside. Then try opening one of those individual embroidery patterns and let me know if that doesn’t work.
You’re almost there!
Erin
Thanks so much finally figured out!…I didn’t have my machine hooked up to my computer when I was trying to open the files. But that was a learning experience…lol!
Okay now since my bobbin has ran out, I have filled it and placed it back into the bobbin slot now my tension seems to be a bit off. How can I fix my new problem I’m having…
Read my post above and go to the link on Brothers web site that I have posted.
Just want to say Thanks So Much, That was very help full so I’m re-posting the link http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/BSC/public/us/us/en/faq/faqh/000000/000000/000044/faqh000044_001.html?reg=us&Pri&c=us&lang=en&mail=true
http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/BSC/public/us/us/en/faq/faqh/000000/000000/000002/faqh000002_000.html?reg=us&c=us&lang=en&prod=hf_se400eus&Cat=52
Michelle… I was just going to reply…same thing happened to me… I clicked on the file and it says Windows wanted to know what program created it…then I remembered that the machine is reading these files… Yes it is a learning experience. I ordered the Embrilliance Thumbnail for $39.99 so I can view these files like I do my pictures and see the butterflies and the flowers and all the other patterns in true life instead of butterfly1.pes,,, etc etc… I won’t be getting it for at least 10 days they are out of stock but I need to view the pictures…
Hi embroidery friends! I have been playing with all different trial softwares and wanted to share this one with y’all as it is the best price and does what I need it to do….. http://www.sandscomputing.com/id11.html
It also will turn any true type font into an embroidery font which is awesome!
Stephanie… Does that software let you view all your pes files at once on the screen like you do when you view your pictures or do you have to take one file at a time and then it lets you view it??? Thank you.
I know Embrilliance Thumbnail…you can see ALL your patterns on the screen… but you can’t modify…just for viewing and finding things quickly and for organizing.. I don’t like see butterfly 1,, butterfly 2,,, etc but with this Embrilliance Thumbnail it is pretty cool you can quickly glance through all your stuff to find a pattern you want without reading titles…
looking for prices on this software, can’t seem to come accross anything. PE-DESIGN® NEXT
Do you have any info for this??? thanks
Megan – PE Design Next is the top level Brother embroidery software and sold only by licensed Brother retail brick and mortar outlets. I haven’t even been able to find a trial version although Brother is good about offering those on all of their other embroidery software. Must be something intense!
Erin
i know i’m sooo curious to see what this one is all about!!! have been debating on this and the pe-design lite
Hi Erin, I purchased the se 400 a few months ago and everything was going great but all of a sudden when I am monogramming the machine says to check the upper thread and rethread?? Somehow the upper thread keeps coming out?? What could be causing this and do you have any ideas of how I can fix this? Thanks a ton!
Leah – Hmm…mmm..mmm (those are my thinking sounds…
)
I assume you’ve already tried rethreading but do it just once more, slowly, and make sure the thread goes into each tension slot as it is intended. It’s so easy to miss just one little hook inside the tension slots. I’m sure you did it right but if it comes down to having to take it in at least you’ll be able to say that you went through each step meticulously.
If that doesn’t do it, my only thought would be to try a different brand and/or weight of embroidery thread. Test a few to see if the problem happens no matter what kind of thread you use or not. If you find it happens with some thread but not others then you can at least narrow it down to the kinds of thread your machine likes best.
If neither of those work, let me know and I’ll see what else I can find, okay?
Sincerely,
Erin
Erin…this issue is driving me crazy. There should be a way to have the se400 trim jumps and in-between letters. I see the trims and jumps in ES-65 but for some reason they are not being translated to the machine. I don’t know if it is the digitizer or the Brother, both or just me. I have saved the file in .dst and .pes, changed jump lengths, and messed with machine format values. Maybe it needs to have a particular format that the data needs to be in but whatever it is I can’t solve this one.
If you come across who knows Brother or anyone else knows if our little work horse machine is able to do this or a work around when creating designs and/or text? Much obliged.
Steve.
Agreed! In using ES-65 to do this, are you using the letter fonts from the SE400 or a downloaded font? Seems one possible solution would be to combine the needed letters into a single pattern so you can control spacing. Have you tried that? Not sure what functionality you have in the ES-65.
I’ll keep digging, too. Almost made it to the sewing store yesterday but there was this motley crew of young men with me and a slight problem between my sweater and a tooth flosser at the archery store…a long and embarrassing story. Okay – not long, just embarrassing;)
Erin
Good Morning, great info. I think I need a walking foot or even feed foot for my se400. I am new to machine quilting and am not happy with the quilting as it goes over the pieced seams. I have sewn on my Elna Super for 35 plus years and treated myself to a new machine…I think the Elna has spoiled me and I expect too much!! Do you know which part number I need? I do not know whether this would be a low shank, high, or just which type and can find no specific part number to order for this model. I am also having the same problem that many seem to with the thread and tension. I have to force myself to keep trying, learn and have patience when I really want to just go get on the old machine and get it done! I had far better results with the poly cotton thread and a cotton blend on a shirt than the cotton I am using with this flannel for a baby quilt. Thank you.
Char – A walking foot can certainly help. For the SE400, you need a Brother SA166 Walking Foot
. Just a note that the SE350, SE400, LB6800PRW, and the LB6770PRW are all basically the same machine (give or take USB port) but many accessory listings only reference the SE350. Such a pain! They will work for any of the four model numbers, though.
The presser feet are low shank and it will take a bit of experimenting with thread and your fabric to find the right combination. Not sure you’ll ever hit Elna status, though!
Just ask away as you go. There’s quite a friendly group of SE400 users here with lots of helpful information.
Sincerely,
Erin
Some of the Brother models have the option of attaching a knee lift. Does the SE 400 have that capability? Thanks!
Susan – No, sorry, it doesn’t. I tried searching for a generic knee lift kit thinking maybe someone has come up with one that could adapt to other sewing machines but didn’t find anything like that.
Sincerely,
Erin
Ok…I have regained some confidence in embroidering small (.20in)(5.08mm)letters. I know it’s rare but I have a logo that I am designing on a child’s pique shirt so everything is scaled down due to the size of the shirt.
Erin – would be nice to post images of different fonts (forum board
but here is what I have found so far owning the SE400.
1) Everyone should download the bobbin test pattern to make sure your bobbin tension is set correct. (link listed above) and keep the recommended 4 setting on the upper thread tension. Mine right out of the box was off by a whole turn of the bobbin screw.
2) If having the need to scale down the font size like I mentioned above, I have found that rather messing with the BILLION settings that one can make in a very crazy but ultimate control digitizer like the Wilcom ES-65 that I am using, use a 65/9 needle and 60 weight thread for embroidering.
I was hesitant to use such a fine thread/needle combo in fear that I could snap the needle. Well I haven’t yet. I have snapped the fine thread though from time to time but more times then not I have succeeded in making something look like LETTERS in very small sizes.
With the bobbin tension set you can now deviate from a know setting and if to little bobbin or to much bobbin thread is coming through your design then you can now set it just right.
I am giving Brother a call tomorrow to find out what the heck is gong on with losing all my format data (jumps, trims and even x,y placement) no matter what file format I save in.
Hope it helps ya’ll
Steve.
Steve – your information is a HUGE help! You’re digging into the nitty gritty of putting your design plan into a finished product and sharing the strategies you use to get it done. This will save others a lot of time and hassle. Will be interesting to hear what Brother has to say. I’m putting the link to the Brother Bobbin Test Pattern information here again: http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/BSC/public/us/us/en/faq/faqh/000000/000000/000044/faqh000044_001.html?reg=us&Pri&c=us&lang=en&mail=true.
Keep it coming!
Erin
Well I spoke to Brother and was told that their “home” machines do not have the ability to import the codes from other programs. Only their way higher-end models allow this. I am not sure if this goes for other manufactures but BOOOOOOOOOOO on BROTHER! If you have a computer format language that you encode your designs in THEN that language should not be filtered on models and should be consistent over all machines that use it. We spend a lot of money on these machines just to make a lot of stitched holes in our crafts. Double BOOO on Brother.
I will have to continue my work around which have been to change colors of each letter…that works but you have to be there to manually start the machine again.
Brother if you happen to stumble across this post, listen to what your customers want and should be able to do with your products. This information should be published and not have need for us to call your representatives to tell us this information. Would be nice in the future for an upgrade in firmware.
Also increase the darn hoop areas for these machines. Just stinks that you have drop a ton more money just to have this capability.
And we wonder why 95% of our embroidered textiles are imported. Corporate greed killing our creativity!
Steve.
Steve – Eek! Glad I’m not Brother! LOL!
It does seem, though, as if you have a unique situation and I’m wondering if there isn’t some better overall solution for you in particular. It sounds like the machine that would make your life easier is out there – it just costs a small fortune whereas the SE400 doesn’t quite do what you need it to do but is much more reasonably priced. You’re using this for a business, right? I ask because I wonder if I couldn’t help you find some alternate solution that would let you produce more goods more quickly without breaking the bank…
Erin
Well I assumed…(never assume Steve, what’s wrong with you) Never picking up a needle before in my life, I am a computer network engineer by education and enjoy digitizing on the side. I just needed an entry level machine to stitch out my designs from the digital world to the analog world so I can see how they look before sending them out.
Just can’t believe that even in the sewing world stuff like this goes on. I guess no hobby is untouched. Oh well…I still love this machine! It stitches and I should leave it at that.
Steve.
LOL! As soon as you included the word “encoding” in your comment I was pretty sure there was some technical experience back there somewhere. Figure if I pried that out of you I could tell you to design the software that will do what you want and sell it and make your millions (ha ha)!! I’ll help you promote it!
My background is business management so I was really headed towards “hmmm…there’s got to be a way to fix Steve’s problem without it costing a fortune…” Business problems are like jigsaw puzzles to me – love ‘em!
Funny how our backgrounds play into our perspective on things, huh?
Erin
Ok I need some help here… I’m Looking for a embroidery design card that has shapes like a triangel square etc for kids! I have a really neat project I’m just dieing to work on, but I can’t do it without all different kinds of shapes!! thanks =-)
I don’t know of one off the top of my head but I’m off and searching.
I’ll let you know what I find!
Megan – Here’s a set you can buy online showing several geometric shapes in .pes and .dst formats ranging from 1″ to 5″ and the cost is $5: http://www.etsy.com/listing/58326069/digi-dolls-shapes-circle-square-triangle. Will that work for you?
Sincerely,
Erin
THanks soo much, i have been searching, and couldn’t seem to find anything!!!! I just sent the person a message asking for a square and rectangle etc, all the shapes a child would normally learn in school! thanks soo much! =-) i’ll have to post a link to the pic when its all finished, I think it’s going to come out pretty neat!! =-)
Someone mentioned that their machine did not sew well on knits/stretchy fabrics. It’s not your machine. It’s your stabilizer. The SE400 is a wonderful machine and like all embroidery machines, you have to match the stabilizer to the fabric. I use the sticky back on all knits to keep it from moving. You put the sticky back on your bottom hoop sticky side up and then GENTLY lay your knit fabric over it and press in place. DON’T stretch it! No top hoop is required. Just gently pull the stabilizer off the back when you’re finished holding onto the stitching so you don’t pull it out. You can use iron on too. Just press it onto the wrong side of your knit and use as one piece of fabric in your hoop. You will need your top hoop to hold it in place.
Susan – A ha! Brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing. We’re slowly – unintentionally – building the definitive guide on embroidering with the Brother SE400/350/LB6800PRW/LB6770PRW (they’re all the same +/- minus USB port for two of those models and I put that only to help attract those who are searching on the internet under only one model # vs the others – the mind of a website master…
). Every trick helps!
Much appreciated and welcome to the club!
Erin
Gee I wish I would have read this a few days ago… Before I really messed up a brand new onesie. The lady @ Joanns told me to get some stitch n tear…Umm that sure wasn’t the right kind of stabilizer to use for a onesie even though it’s pretty heavy. I will try the sticky back next time…
Hello,
I’m looking for an extension table that will fit my Brother SE400 If anyone out there could hep…PLEASE pass it along! So far I Love this machine and the more I use it, the more I Love it!!!!
Chell0 – While I think there must be a Brother brand extension table that fits the SE400, I can’t find one by model number. I tried looking for ones that fit the SE350, LB6880PRW or the LB6700PRW as they’re the same but no luck. I do know that if you go to Allbrands.com and search for “acrylic extension table” that they carry a custom-design, clear acrylic table that can be made for any sewing machine. It has a built in ruler, is nice and sturdy and very reasonably priced – it even costs less than some of the Brother extension tables. If I find the Brother model # for a compatible table, I’ll update the post to include that information but for now I’m only aware of the acrylic option
Sincerely,
Erin
Thanks I will check that out!
I have another Question, When your embroidering with fonts is there a blank space? (If you want to embroidery more then one word) The last time I had to use a . then rip it out… NOT SO FUN doing it that way!
Yes, there is a space key for the letter fonts – although I admire the creativity you used to come up with a solution on your last machine!
Just wondering how this set up will work with a Mac that runs in its native OSX operating system?
Theresa – An excellent question. I haven’t mentioned anything about operating system compatibility and that’s a very important point. The SE400 (and it’s twin, the Brother LB6800PRW) are compatible with Microsoft Windows Me/2000/XP/Vista – also compatible with Windows 98SE once the appropriate driver is downloaded from the Brother website. The USB port does work with a Mac port but you’ll just see your sewing machine as unknown external hard drive. It’s enough to transfer designs to the memory of the SE400′s hard drive. If you want to do more with the designs you’ll want to make sure you have embroidery software that is Mac compatible.
Thanks!
Erin
Ok so I have never sewed a day in my life but I want to learn and I am looking for a machine to make the ruffled pants and appliqued shirts and monogrammed shirts for my 2 year old daughter I have been doing my research and I know I want a brother machine for sure just not sure which one is best for me. I know I want one with a USB slot, I also want to be able to monogram bags and anything else. Will this machine be a good beginner machine and I’m worried about the hoop size I have read that the 4×4 will keep me limited from doing things.
Amy – Welcome! See, this is why I wish there were at least one girl in my brood. My boys just won’t wear those cute, ruffled pants.
First, the SE400 makes a great beginner machine. You won’t have any trouble learning how to use the control panel. It’s easy to thread and set up. It has a number of beginner-friendly features like a drop-in bobbin. At the same time, there’s enough variety that you won’t outgrow a machine like this.
There are only a couple of current Brother combination sewing and embroidery machines that come with the USB port. The SE400 is usually the lowest option in that bunch. The LB6800PRW is exactly the same as the SE400 but has the Project Runway label and comes with a roller bag so it’s usually priced more than the SE400. Then there are a couple of Innov-is models that you can get at your local Brother retailer. They have more stitches and some additional features so they also generally cost more but the way they work is the same.
In regards to the 4×4 embroidery hoop size, it does make things a little more complicated when you want to do a bigger design, however, you can in fact embroider patterns that are larger than 4×4. Doing so requires manual intervention and some embroidery software but you can break larger pattern into 4×4 blocks and plot them out on your material. I won’t kid you, though, it takes some practice. An alternative is to get one of the Innov-is models with a larger hoop size but the cost can go significantly for those machines.
Hope that gives you some guidance but don’t hesitate to ask more questions as needed!
Sincerely,
Erin
Well since I’m new to this and not sure if I am going to stick with it I am trying to keep my budget less than $500. I have to buy a computer also so I’m trying to stay in a certain amount if money. Lol you helped a lot I think I will get this machine I can’t wait I spend tons and tons on monogrammed clothes and outfits and , and I would like to say I made that when people compliment her outfits lol. Do you know of any sites or anything where I can find how to make pillow case dresses outfits? Thank you so much for the fast response!!!
Amy – For under $500, the SE400 is a great choice. You’ll be sewing and addicted to embroidery in no time!
Plus, as your little girl grows, you’ll be able to teach her to sew.
I found this free tutorial on the pillow case dress: http://sew-whats-new.com/profiles/blogs/pillowcase-dress-tutorial. Is this what you were after?
Glad I could help and I’m excited for you. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Erin
I don’t think you can go wrong with this machine… unless it’s a lemon! It’s so easy to use at a push of a button, very easy to figure out, and I believe it has all the features your looking for. I have never Embroidery before so I am still learning by trail and error. The different fabrics vs. stabilizers, & had some trouble learning how to open zip files. I have had my machine for about 3 week or so and have done so many different projects that I wasn’t able to do with just a regular sewing machine. It’s really a “FUN MACHINE” to use.
I just want to say that I really enjoy this site and that it’s very helpful too! It would be nice if people could post pictures of some of there projects to pass along some new ideals.
Michelle – Pictures of projects would be fun, wouldn’t it? If anyone wants to send me some just let me know. I could easily start a page for those!
Glad you like the site and thanks for adding your thoughts on the SE400 for Amy.
Sincerely,
Erin
I think pictures would be great!!! I made this awesome alphabet blanket, pretty creative huh? =-) lol
I LOVEEEEE my machine!
Erin: I just recently purchased a Brother SE400 Embroidery/sewing machine. Purchased from Amazon.com – waited a bit for it and it finally arrived yesterday. I have been sewing for nearly 50 years and love it. Mostly quilting but wanted to dabble in embroidery. Having a hard time how to download more embroidery designs from my computer. Do I have to plug in the usb cord and download directly from computer website to my machine. I’m so dumb at this computerized stuff! But I so much want to learn. Thanks for your help.
Nancy – So glad you’re enjoying your new machine! Yes, to get a design from your computer to the SE400, you need to attach the USB cord. Think of it this way – your computer has memory in which it stores files. The SE400 also has memory in which it stores files, just a much smaller amount of memory. The only way to get designs onto that bit of SE400 memory is through that USB cable.
The SE400 can’t download designs directly from the internet so you have to download them to your computer and THEN they can be transferred to your sewing machine through that cable. When the cable is attached you should be able to click on My Computer on your computer and see a new drive available representing the sewing machine. You can then select files on your computer to click and drag over to the sewing machine drive.
For some reason, the actual USB manual doesn’t always come in the box but you can find the online version here: http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/BSC/public/files/dlf/doch000186/he24lb68se40usb01enes.pdf.
Let me know if you run into any issues and if I can’t help you, another reader might have the answer. There are some avid SE400 users that drop by now and then.
Sincerely,
Erin
Thanks, Erin – I’ll try and hopefully some others sewers might have answers for me also.
Nancy
Nancy,
I just learned how to do this my self as well, I sat at my machine and computer for almost 2 hours trying to figure it out lol…
Once your desings are downloaded, Locate them in the file, have the machine and computer conected with the usb, and select the design u would want to work with, Right Click on it, and go to where it says SEND and click on REMOVABLE DISK and once the design is transfered there, It will send it right to you sewing machine,and u will see on pop up on your screen! HOpe this helps! =-)
for anyone that loves to use sulky thread Joanns is having a sale 50% off on SULKY feb 4th -6th!!! I know I”ll be buyin some =-)
Cool!…I’ll be there! Thanks for the heads up!
no problem steve! I always know where the sales are before I leave my house LOL!! I love to shop, esp buying stuff for my machines. I bought a few fun colors my self! =-)
OK i’m not really seeing the difference between the pe design 7 and the pe design lite!
the only difference i see is the card reader.. or maybe i’m just missing something??? lol…
the pe design next is a little out of my price range $500!
thanks!!
ooo maybe i do! pe design 7 only has certain functions? so my best bet would be to go with the pe-design lite??? just tell me what i need to buy lol, I dont’ mind spending the extra $$ for the better one! =-)
ooo one more thing!!! i can’t find where the pe design is compatiable with windows 7..?
Megan – next on my list was to do some research on your software questions but did you see what Stephanie shared today? She’s had some success with another software that might be less expensive than PE Design. You can read the list of features here: http://www.sandscomputing.com/id11.html. Does it look like it would do what you need?
Sincerely,
Erin
Hi Se400 Friends!
I have been playing with my machine for about a month now and am doing tons of monogramming and appliquing on it! I highly recommend checking out a downloadable software called sew what pro before spending big bucks on PE Lite. Unless you plan on digitizing this software should do pretty much everything you need!
Between the software and purchasing the larger hoop I am able to do much larger projects. Sew What Pro let’s you divide your large hoop into 3 4×4 sections and stitch it out with out rehooping. It has been a life saver! Just wanted to share my success!
Stephanie
THanks for the tip! but i wanted to take real pics and convert them into embroidery designs and start to create my own! will sew what pro let me do that??
THank you very much for sharing!!!!
I downloaded other trials and IT wouldn’t ever let me add words and stuff like that, so I got annoyed with them, but i just downloaded this and love it so far! ty
Stephanie – Sounds like you’ve been having a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing. This sounds perfect!
Erin
erin,
thanks for the link, I just downloaded it a few mins ago, so far sooooo good! but the only thing i LOVED about pe design is u can take real pics and turn them into embroidery designs! I have to wait a few weeks before purchasing a software any way so I”ll try the trial version of the one stephanie shared =-)
but i did find that pe design is compatiable with windows 7, so we are good there!! so noo need to do research thanks though =-)
I hate having sooooooo many options to chose from, well its a love hate relationship lol.. It’s very hard to make up my mind hehe… anyways i’m having tons of fun with this machine! sooo glad i got it!
Cool! But I do think the Sew What Pro doesn’t do digitizing which is what you’re going to need. It’s been on my list to research digitizing software but I’ve been sidetracked by another project (and a million other little things that suddenly seemed to pile up!) but I’ll get there.
Thanks for keeping us motivated and up to date on thread sales!
May I ask where you got the larger hoop from and what size is it?
Michelle, I didn’t get a larger hoop yet, But am looking for one… =-)
Stephany… What size is your large hoop that you are using for this Sew What Pro? This program does sound interesting and is there a free downloadable trial version? Thank you…
Sandy – Just interjecting to give you the link to Sew What Pro where you can get a 30 day free trial: http://www.sandscomputing.com/id11.html. I was just working in the background when I saw this come through so thought I’d at least get that part out to you.
Thanks Erin for the website… I am not sure the biggest hoop you can put with the SE400 so maybe Stephanie will comment back on that one… curious since she said she didn’t have to rehoop…
Sandy – The largest hoop you can attach to the SE400 is this one (as far as I’ve uncovered): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TOSJ0E?ie=UTF8&tag=sewingmach0b-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001TOSJ0E. It just gives you a little more room to work with so you can move the project over without having to rehoop the fabric as often.
To all – If someone has attached a larger hoop with success, please let us know! Thanks! – Erin
Just seeing this. That is the hoop I purchased. It’s the only other one that fits our machine.
I have been WANTING this machine since before Christmas but the hubby didn’t pick up on my hints. Since then both Walmart and Amazon have sold out and the price hjas increased by $100 on Amazon!!! Does anyone know where I can get my hands on a Brother SE400 right away???
Ashley – I can relate to hubby missing the clues. It’s taken hubby and I a few years to sort out how to handle Christmas presents.
What timing…I just published a post about this. Brother ran a year-end rebate on the SE400 and boy, did inventories disappear. I’m starting to suspect that was the goal, as it’s been very hard to find ever since. Walmart hasn’t carried it in stock since Christmas and Amazon has 1 or 2 available every week or so but they’re usually gone within 24 hours.
I scoured the web for online listings last week and the only thing I could find were a few places who had significantly raised the price (some listings were for as much as $700! – takes me right back to my college economics class – it’s all Supply and Demand) AND were taking up to a couple of weeks to ship which makes me wonder if that’s to give them time to buy it from someone else…
The best price option is to consider the Brother LB6800PRW. It’s exactly the same but comes with a rolling tote bag. While the price is higher than the SE400 was running around the end of last year (sometimes as low as $330!!), that rolling tote bag accounts for some of the additional price. I hate to pay more, too, but I’ve been watching the LB6800PRW and its supply has also been declining on Amazon so I wonder how long that option will also be available.
I check this model every day so I’ll let you know if I see it come back in stock anywhere soon but that hasn’t been the case all month. Sorry!
Sincerely,
Erin
Have you tried looking in some of the Walmart stores? I still see them on display. I believe they were about $389. or so
Michelle – good point!
Ashley – Walmart ONLINE is out of stock but I think even their site mentions it might be in some of the stores. Certainly worth calling them or dropping by your local Walmart!
If you are a costco member costco.com has them for $389. That is where I purchased mine from. It comes with 12 really large spools of embroidery thread, but no rolling case. I am actually already considering saving up for the other brother machine costco has i am loving this one so much!
Pre-Purchase Questions about the SE 400:
In terms of storing additional embroidery images, isn’t it possible to save downloaded designs onto a USB flash drive, and then upload them into the sewing machine when needed? From what I’m reading here, and in other locations, it seems like you can only download a limited number of designs into your sewing machine at once. You could store them all on your computer if you wanted, of course. Or you can buy the embroidery cards. But couldn’t you just as easily store downloaded material on an USB card and save the memory of your computer and sewing machine? That would also seemingly erase the need for the PED Basic/PE-Design.
Secondly, I’m feeling uncertain about the basic hoop-size question, so I want to clarify for myself: ~if~ I purchase this machine, and I also purchase a 5×7 hoop, I will be able to create larger designs than I would with just the 4×4 hoop, correct? It may seem like a silly question disregarding all logic, but I wasn’t positive whether it was the hoop purchase or the machine software that would limit the design size capabilities.
Thanks in advance for your input!
Jennifer – For some reason, I have it in my head that you cannot use a thumb drive with the USB port as you described but for the life of me I can’t find why I think that. The USB user manual for this machine does not mention a thumb drive at all but I do know that the USB cord is simply a method for transferring data from a computer to the sewing machine’s memory. It might have had something to do with the fact that the sewing machine can’t PULL data it can only ACCEPT data? Which is why the USB cord is used instead of a thumb drive because you can “push” designs to the sewing machine using the computer’s controls.
You actually don’t need the PED Basic or Design programs to get started. There are free software programs that can let you organize your designs on your computer and you can then transfer those using the supplied cord. It’s only if you want to do more with those designs such as edit them or load them onto reader cards that you might find the software handy.
No matter what hoop size you get, you cannot embroider larger than a 4×4 area at a time. You can still do larger designs, you’ll just have to break them up into 4×4 sections (special software is required to do this). The benefit of a larger hoop with the SE400 is really just a matter of convenience. If you are doing a large design, you might not have to reposition your fabric as often and can instead just reposition the hoop.
Let me know if you need more info.
Thanks!
Erin
Hello Erin,
i just wanted to thank you for this website and the info you provide.
i’ve bought today this lovely SE-400 from eBay, unfortunately i don’t live in the US, and it will cost me much more to be delivered to me
and we don’t have local sellers (for this model in specific)
(FYI, i paid $414 for it including shipping to US address, will pay around $200 to forward ship it to my country.) it’s still cheaper than Brother 4000 for example, which cost around $4,000 here.
can’t wait to receive it!
i’m planning to embroiderize almost anything lol
but mainly i’m working on cushion covers.
thank you again for the info.
just one question please,
is it possible to increase the embroidery area by buying a bigger frame maybe?
oh i found the answer to my question in the previous post by Jennifer :S sorry i didn’t notice before
Elle – Glad you found what you needed. Every now and then I take some of the info buried in the comments section and move it up to the review and it might be time to do that again.
Wow! We in the US are certainly fortunate. That’s a lot of shipping expense! Glad it’s a better deal for you, though and I’m sure you’ll be putting out beautiful cushion covers in no time.
Sincerely,
Erin
I just bought the Brother SE400 and I just love it. But I was reading on your website that you don’t have to buy additional software to download fonts and designs. Is the software already built into the machine or should the software come with the machine? The only software mine had with it was the How to video. Thanks I love your website
Vickie – Without any additional software, you can still download embroidery designs in compatible formats to your own computer and then use the supplied USB cord to transfer those designs from your computer to the SE400. The sewing machine itself knows how to handle the .pes and .dst files once they’re transferred over. However, you can’t see thumbnails of them on your computer, edit the designs in any way, or create reader cards of your favorite designs without special software.
Since you can at least do the basic operation of transferring designs, this lets you experiment a but with designs you find online and hold off on buying software until you’ve had a chance to decide what features you need from a software program.
Glad you like the SE400 (and my site, thanks!)!
Sincerely,
Erin
Great I will try that tonight. That way I can try different designs and get better at if before I spend a lot on software. I have been sewing and making quilts for years but I am new to embroidery (except for hand embroidery & cross stitch). I have already embroidered a few things and think this may be my new hobby. Thanks so much for all your helpful information.
Happy Friday everyone…Just poking my head back in from time to time to see what good stuff is going on in the se400 blog. I see a lot of you are thinking about getting some digitizing software. The ones that I currently use are from Berninna, Embird, Viking and Wilcom. As I mentioned in my previous post be warned that there is a big learning curve when using digitizing software. I am in the IT field and deal with software for computer systems and I am blown away on how crazy hard it is.
For example, I wanted to add a satin border outline around my text. Sounds simple? NOOOOOO! I was hoping for a “magic button” to do it but it does not exist. I had to copy the image, convert it to vector graphic format, apply offset as input C format and adjust the stitch length! AHHHHHHHHHH! That took me the course of a week to complete!
Or…I could have just bought a already done two color text but that defeats the purpose of having digitizing software!
I won’t even begin with overlays….
I don’t want to scare people away but just be prepared to be very frustrated. If there are others out there that have software that they think is easier…I am all ears.
The things I would like to have on my SE400 would be a bigger design area, stitch speed selector and a multi head system with 6, 8, 12…hahahaha oh I am losing it…TGIF!
Steve.
Steve – Happy Friday to you, too! Glad to see we haven’t lost you to a tangle of thread and embroidery hoops!
You must have the patience of a saint. I got lost at “offset as input C format….”. You sure you don’t want to write some new software? Or a book? I’d set up a “Steve’s Corner” section of this site, even!
You know, I laughed when you mentioned Brother ever coming along and reading the feedback from this site but Janome dropped by a couple of weeks ago so your vision might not be as far-fetched as I thought! :0 Keep the good ideas coming. And may all of your designs by as smooth, flawless and vibrant as Rose’s Heart of the Ocean diamond.
Happy weekend!
Erin
Erin…Do tell more…Janome…Vision likey.
Janome linked to my review of the DC5100 from their site! When I figured it out (traffic coming straight from Janome sort of stands out in one’s site statistics…) I was a bit…ecstatic. Let’s just say a call to my mother and a happy dance were all part of my mini-celebration.
I’d love to see Brother come along and read up on all the interest people have in the SE400. Especially if they’d let me in on whether or not they’re going to keep making it or stick with just the LB6800PRW! Of course, I should just call and ask…
So, I am trying to find time to sit down and read all these wonderful posts from you ladies. I think I will just ask my question here and read up later. Hubby said I could by the SE400 with our tax return!!! My question is can I download applique designs like this:http://www.etsy.com/listing/61871719/machine-embroidery-applique-design and embroidery designs like this: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62572439/damask-monogram-machine-embroidery and use them on the SE400 when I get it? Will I have to buy special software?
Thanks a bunch,
Ashley
Ashley,
“So, I am trying to find time to sit down and read all these wonderful posts from you ladies.”
I am the neighborly post up from yours…me Steve “represent’in” the guys that embroider are out here also ouch…hehe
P.S. From your post…”Pillow featured is 12×16″ and uses the 5.5″x5.5″ size”. Is the only one that you would not be able to do unless you split the design. I haven’t gone down that road yet…anyone have success splitting designs on the SE400?
Let me follow up by saying that 4″x4″ is the max allowed without splitting. You could resize it to 4×4. But not 5.5×5.5
Awesome Steve!!! Thanks!
Ashley – Nice hubby!
Yes, you can download and embroider designs like the ones you found on Etsy. The machine reads designs in .pes and .dst file types and both of the designs you referenced come in both of those file formats.
Once you’ve confirmed a design’s file compatibility, you want to look at size. The maximum embroidery size of the SE400 is 4 x 4 inches. This doesn’t mean you can only embroider designs in that size. It means that the maximum embroidery space the needle will cover at one time is 4 x 4 inches.
If you are doing designs that are no larger than that maximum size, it’s as simple as pushing a few buttons and working with your thread colors to complete the design.
If you want to put a bunch of 4×4 designs together or repeat a 4×4 design to cover more space, you can do this by manually repositioning your fabric and making sure that the start point lines up with the rest of the blocks.
If you want to do a single design that is larger than 4×4 you will need special software to edit the design and break it up into sections that are no larger than 4×4 AND keep track of where you need to position the fabric for each of those sections. It takes a little practice to get this right.
The Prince Charming design you found was available in the 4×4 size and is done with 3 different files so while the finished design is larger than 4×4 the design is already broken up into 4×4 chunks.
The Damask Monogram design is a little more complicated – maybe. All of the individual designs look to be smaller than 4×4 except for the medallion which is 5.5×5.5. However, there are two different medallion files and one is smaller than that – I’m just not sure it replaces the larger medallion file or if the two work together. If you needed to complete the 5.5×5.5 you’d need software to break that file up into pieces no larger than 4×4.
Make sense? I hope?
There are a couple of folks who visit here and have more embroidery experience than I and whom I hope jump in, too!
Sincerely,
Erin
You are making total sense. I am SO glad I asked!!! So I did a little cyber shopping on Amazon. Is this the software i would have to purchase to edit the sizes of these designs: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RAVUII?ie=UTF8&tag=sewingmach0b-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001RAVUII ? I am thinking it will all make even more sense once I get my hands on a SE400!!
Yes, that is one of the options for software that has some editing capabilities. I think “the group” here (the loyal followers who come back to check on this thread periodically) have come across some less expensive options and they’re noted throughout the comments section. At some point , I’ll corral all of those options up into the software section of the review. There are several which have 30-60 day free trials you can download online, too, so you can test them out before deciding which one will work for you. Goes well with getting your hands on the SE400 and practicing, practicing, practicing! You’ll have a lot of fun!
ashley-
I’m purchasing the software u were looking at on amazon the pe design lite in a week or so, If u are interested in it, i’ll let u know how it once i give it at try!! have u down loaded Sew what pro??
thats a really good one, and its a free 30 day trial!
good luck =-)
Hi Erin,
Great informative site you have here! I dropped in the other day, and got some invaluable technical information on making my decision.
Some of my options for purchase:
1. Walmart site to store—$369, with a 90 day return policy.
2. Costco online———$389, with a 2 YEAR return policy, no questions asked. Includes 12 spools of embroidery thread.
3. Sewing machines whatever—-they didn’t even have any, but when they get them in, the Project Runway model would be $499. Of course, it does include the wheeled transport case. Their return policy is 30 days. Since they are not far away, they would give me free lessons to familiarize me with the machine.
My “advisors” thought I should order from Costco, especially with the long return policy. That is what I did.
A question: Do you know where I could get a walking foot for this machine? There is one that I have found, but it is for a 5mm model, and this is a 7mm model. If you find one, I would be interested, since my first project will be on velvet. (I won’t try to embroider on the velvet, just straight sewing.)
Misty
Misty – Glad you could get your hands on one.
The Brother SA188 Walking Foot should be the one you want. You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UYSI8G?ie=UTF8&tag=sewingmach0b-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001UYSI8G or at a local Brother sewing machine dealer.
Have fun!
Erin
I have a question….
when I do embroidery on my machine, will the machine automaticly lock the stitches in place to prevent them from coming up??? I haven’t had any issues with this, I just thought of it, and probably should have way before I ever started embroidering …
ooops =-)
Megan – Hi, again! You’re covered. The machine automatically reinforces your stitching when it stops at the end of a color. Phew!
PHEWWWWWW is right!!!! LOL
Thanks again, Just have to make sure!!
Erin
I just bought the Brother SE-400 Sewing/Embroidery machine and so far so good. I am self teaching myself this machine. I just bought the Brother PE-design lite software and when it arrived this afternoon, it doesn’t say a word about being able to use it with Windows 7 which is my operating system on my laptop. It only states Windows 2000/ XP/ Vista does this mean it won’t work on with my computer???? I am just sick about this.
Thanks for your help.
Nancy
Nancy – I believe your software is compatible with Windows 7 without requiring any update. If you refer to the Brother Windows 7 compatibility document here: http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/hf/pdf_pub/win7/win7info_hsm_us.pdf, you’ll see that the software for PE Design Lite says “Available” in blue text which, according to the definitions at the top of that document, means the full functionality is compatible with Windows 7. If you would have required an update, the “Available” would have been in red.
You should be in good shape!
Sincerely,
Erin
Thanks, Erin – I love your website and you helped me to breathe a little easier.
Have a great evening.
Nancy
Anyone else out there using the PEDesign Lite and what are your comments?
thanks, Nancy
I’m not yet, but will be ordering soon with in the next week… have u tried it??
ok a friend of mine is in a jam… Since the bobbin is a drop in bobbin there is no way to adjust the tension in the bobbin is there?? she doesn’t have the se-400 but she has a older brother embroidery machine she had bought off some one, and she thinks shes having trouble with the bobbin tesion.. this would be great if anyone knows about this TY
Google is your friend…has your friend looked at my posting above regarding Brother bobbin tension?
http://www.sewing-machines-for-beginners.com/brother-se400-computerized-embroidery-sewing-machine-review/#comment-4748
I”ll take a look right now steve and pass the link on to her! thanks!
no not yet because I’m still confused about whether or not it will work on my windows 7 operating system on this laptop???? What do you have for a operating system on your computer?
Nancy
Question – I’ve just done a really cute tiger head on my grandson’s t-shirt and I want to put the words GO TIGERS underneat it. How do I get the space between GO and TIGERS????
thanks for your help
I am using a Brother SE400 Sewing/Embroidery Machine
Nancy
Nancy- the underscore symbol in your list of characters acts as a space key. And the tiger sounds adorable!! What a cute idea!
got it – just figured it out!
Nancy
Erin – my question from earlier about being able to use the PE Design lite software on my computer with the Windows 7 operating system is still puzzling me. My son in law says it will not work with my computer. I called Amazon.com where I purchased the software and she told me to call Brother direct and they would send me a “patch”. I called them and they are temporaily down because of a snowstorm and I should call back tomorrow. Is this patch something I should try or will it work with this software?
Thanks, Nancy
Nancy – Did your son in law mention why he thinks it won’t work? He may certainly know something I don’t know but the Brother website does not call for a patch for PE Design Lite. If a patch was required it would be made available as a download from their solution center here but I’m not seeing it. I did find another compatibility matrix that is easier to understand though: http://www.brother-usa.com/lp/windows7compatibility.aspx. It actually sounds like they are saying Windows 7 came with a driver that works with this software and that they’re not offering a custom Brother-created driver since it’s not necessary. That’s how I’d interpret this phrase anyway: “Brother does not currently plan to develop and offer Brother Original Windows 7 drivers for this model.”
Have you tried installing the software or are you concerned about opening it until you can confirm compatibility?
Erin
Erin – I haven’t opened and tried to install because of compatability. When I called the gal who sold the software she just told me to call Brother to get this patch. Do you think I should just try to install it. I’m so new at this and so confused and flustrated?
Thanks again for all your help.
Eek – I hate to give software/computer advice in case it goes wrong BUT if it were me, I’d try the software.
Either there’s a patch or it’s going to work without one and you’d be fine either way. Installing it will at least tell you whether or not you really need a patch?
Roll the dice and install it.
I’m trying to see about it operating on windows 7 as well, called someone at allbrands.com they said it will not work on windows 7 uughhhh, unless I buy it straight from brother’s website, but that doesn’t make any sense!! now i feel i’m back to square one with finding software!!! I was sooo looking forward to this software for months now! Hopefully you can get it working =-)
OK I called brother, once you purhcase the emroidery software you have to go to the brother site and go to software down loads.. select pe design lite, down load the driver and hook up your card reading and good to go!! =-) So it will work for window 7 =-)
There is no driver available on the Brother’s software downloads site for PE Design Lite. If you follow their software download options for PE Design Lite it only takes you to the PDF document which explains that the full functionality of the software is compatible with Windows 7 without requiring a software update or download.
I did find a digitizing software program a 30 day trial its called sewART if anyone wants to give it a try
Erin, I read everything on your website last week and today I am a excited owner of the SE400….but…I cannot fiqure out how to get my laptop to read the downloaded files…I have Windows 7….I download from the Brother website a free design…but when I try to open it….I get a message that says it cannot read the file. I called Brother support and she sent me the same instructions I have…I know how to hook up the USB cable to the laptop….I just can’t get my laptop to read the file. I read something about converting the file name…yiks!!!!! I don’t know how to do that! Can you help?
I fiqured it out!!! I am a happy camper now….thanks for a great website!
Margie – Glad you were able to figure it out and congrats on your new machine!
Sincerely,
Erin
this software is very fustrating !! I want to purchase it, but I’m sooo nervous too, that I won’t be able to get it to work on my computer!! The lady assured me from the help line that it would work for windows 7 and there was a download to make it work!
I hate to speak for them (but that won’t stop me…
) but I think she may have been confused by the fact that most of their software does require a software update/patch in order to work with Windows 7 EXCEPT for PE Design Lite and 1 or 2 others. She probably gave you a generic answer that’s right most of the time except for this particular software. That’s just an educated guess on my part, though. 
LOL!! OOO ok so then I shouldn’t have a problem with it getting it to work! I have the program in my shopping cart as we speak just waiting to hit pay, But i wanted to make sure before I spent a lot of money on it! Then I would be really upset If it didn’t work LOL
Well, “shouldn’t” and “won’t” are two different things.
I’ve tried searching everywhere to find someone who actually has this set up to confirm no update was needed but no luck yet. I’m hoping Nancy comes back and lets us know if she finds out anything. (Nancy, Nancy, Nancy – you there? 
)
I know i have been waiting patiently for nancy to come back with some info LOL Hopefully its some really good info =-)
i gave in and just purchased it *fingers crossed*
OK yeah its me again ( i know i’m a pain lol )
So with some research I found a digitizing software program that is $73 compared to pe design lite that is $285.. The one I have found is SewART here is the link http://www.akdesignsboutique.com/servlet/the-262/SewART-Digitizer-Embroidery-Software/Detail
I think I am going to go with this instead of the PE-design lite, I just hope I’m making the right decision here .. TO me from what I have read on it It pretty much does the same thing as the pe design lite, but doesn’t come with the card and the card reader. Has anyone tried SewART?? If so what did you think of it, I just can’t seem to make a decision
This looks like another inexpensive digitizing option. It supports .pes file formats so should produce compatible designs. There’s also a 30 day free trial. Those are the best because you can try things out before you buy. Another one to add to the test list!
Thanks!
yes I tried it, I liked it ok, but u can’t add fonts, so u would have to use 2 different programs just to do so.. so i just went ahead and made my finale decision to purchase pe-design lite! =-)
can’t wait to try it!
Hi Erin,
I’m a sewing beginner who is researching sewing machines to buy and I love the concept of having a sewing machine and embroidery machine in one. The Brother SE400 has caught my eye and is so far on the top of my list. I’m very close to buying the one on the Costco website but I just noticed that they are also selling a Singer CE 250 that is also a sewing and embroidery machine for a little more money. I didn’t see that you’ve reviewed the Singer CE 250 on your website, just the Singer CE 150. And you mentioned with the Singer CE 150 there has been some problems with it working with a Mac and I have a Macbook so that’s a concern for me if the Singer CE 250 has the same problem. So, what is your opinion about the Singer CE 250 versus the Brother SE400?
Thanks and love you website!
Kim
Kim – Glad you like the site!
I have a list I use to decide which sewing machine to review next and after I did the CE150 I pushed the CE250 further down the list. The reason is that the whole Futura series seems to have the same sorts of problems. While I love the layout, the machines themselves just don’t seem to perform as well as one would hope. The online reviews fall below the SE400 for almost any model. In fact, I discussed the Futura line with a Singer rep at one point and future versions of this machine will be put out by Husqvarna Viking and will be updated, hopefully in an effort to improve performance. Until then, I’d rank the SE400 over either the CE150 or the CE250.
When it comes to software, though, the SE400 USB manual says it is only compatible with Windows operating systems. You can connect it to a Mac and you can transfer designs from a Mac to your sewing machine but if you want to do more you’ll need an embroidery management software that is Mac compatible.
Let me know if you have other questions. There are also a few regular SE400 users here who are really helpful and knowledgeable about how the SE400 performs, if that helps.
Sincerely,
Erin
I have been using the SE400 for embroidery and wanting to use it for the “Applique” feature… but for now I am totally confused on how to do that.. and the instructions don’t seem clear to me.. Maybe I should take a nap…LOL.. and come back to it.. Any links to brother’s where I can see a similar machine doing just the APPLIQUE function…? Thank you…
Sandy – There are several stitches you can use to do applique with the sewing side of your machine. There is a designated applique stitch but you could also use your zigzag stitch (that might be the part of the manual that’s confusing – it tells you to select a stitch and then shows two different stitches). You might practice with either one to get a look you like. This video will show you how to actually sew around the various curves when doing applique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlPECmbwSOc.
Of course, I find a nap never hurts…..
Erin
Hello again Erin and every1
i found this interesting FREE embroidery design software while browsing,
didn’t try it myself yet, but i saw some recommendation on a blog
the software is here
www (dot) pixelhobby-usa (dot) com/software.aspx
let me know if you try it and like it
Elle – Thanks for the share! I took a look at the software but it doesn’t mention which file formats are supported or produced for output so I can’t tell if it’s compatible although it might be useful even if the output format is not compatible but could be converted to another format. It looks like a potential alternative for digitizing one’s own pictures and images into designs. I changed the link format, though, until more research can be done. Some of the other users from the blog post on which you found the link mentioned a question about how to note thread color as the software looks to be made for some other purpose and doesn’t convert colors to anything but a colored pixel. Interesting, though! Gives me hope that there are a number of free options out there. I’ll add it to the list of software to test.
Sincerely,
Erin
Erin and all the other girls – I’m back on today – I finally got through to the gals at the Brother company and she pretty much told me I have to go to their website and download what I think she is saying is a patch. I didn’t understand all of what she told me and I asked her to e-mail me the directions and so far nothing. She said to uninstall my anti virus before installing the new software and then something else about the reader writer card. Make any sense to you Erin. I too am so flustrated – I paid $284 for the software on amazon.com and it came to me from a sewing shop down in Alabama and when I called her and asked the question about being compatible to Windows 7, she gave me the answer to call the Brother company direct. They have had massive snowstorm this past week so it was most difficult trying to get through to talk with someone.
Nancy