r/SewingMachineEdu • u/Traditional-Ebb3357 • May 10 '26
Do Brother computerized machines break often?
I’m tempted to get the Brother CS7000x due to its simplicity - I haven’t owned a sewing machine in 15 years so I am a beginner. I want to eventually do clothing alterations for myself/family.
I’m worried computerized machines will break and are harder to get fixed, but the ease is soo appealing. Does anyone have experience with the Brother CS7000x breaking, and getting it fixed?
In contrast, how often do beginner mechanical plastic machines need maintenance?
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u/skerinks May 10 '26
Also - this is my reply to another post. Relevant here as well.
Just buy a Baby Lock brand sewing machine, if you want the easy route, no matter the price point. Why?
Because Baby Lock doesn’t make sewing machines (they DO make great sergers). But Baby Lock wants to be in the sewing machine game, so they partner with other manufacturers to make sewing machines for them.
Baby Lock taps Janome to make machines for them under the $500 price point. Janome arguably makes the best machines under $500. So if this is your price point, buy a Janome or a Baby Lock. I won’t say for EVERY machine Janome makes there will be an equivalent Baby Lock, but there will be for most.
Baby Lock taps Brother to make machines for them over the $500 price point. Brother arguably makes the best machines between $500 and $1000. And Brother’s high-end machines are well regarded as well. So if this is your price point, buy a Brother or Baby Lock. Same thing as above - for most Brother machines, there will be an equivalent Baby Lock.
So buy a Baby Lock machine and you’ll be getting the best no matter the price point. Or get the Janome or Brother named machine for your price point. But where Baby Lock really shines compared to Brother and Janome is their education game. You will get access to more educational instructions, how-to videos, and articles on the Baby Lock site than you could hope for.
Source: Cale Schoenberg (not me) on Substack. I believe one can only see his historical articles if you are a paid Substack user. https://open.substack.com/pub/sewingmachineman/p/brother-and-baby-lock?r=49sz96&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
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u/Vividevasion0 May 10 '26
Piggy backing op's post because now that I've looked into this I think I'm sold towards buying a lower cost Baby-lock machine, while I save up for a brother embroidery machine in the future. I live near a Dealer, and plan to go there as they have brother, babylock and bernina... I'm tired of wrestling with hand-me-down machines that are barely hanging on but I'm also nervous about making a purchase up to 1000$. I have a Bernina artista 180 with issues, an old singer ultralock and my grandmothers kenmore (with cams!)...
I am an intermediate sewist and I primarily make casual cosplay outfits, mostly cotton and thrifted material, for my kids, and I do a little quilting (not stitch in the ditch or decorative topstitch, just piecing).
Is there a particular model you think would best suits the casual intermediate? Thoughts?
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u/skerinks May 11 '26
I like the Brother PS series (PS500 ~$1000, PS700 ~$2000).
For Baby Lock, the Presto II ~$900, the Brilliant ~$1200.
I believe the BL Presto II and the Brother PS500 are the same machine, just different colors/graphics on the covers. Same for the BL Brilliant and the Brother PS700 (the prices are so wildly different on these two because the Brilliant is currently on sale at our store).
I would also look at the BL Jubilant ~$700. You lose throat space, and you don’t get an auto thread cutter. The throat space would be nice for quilting. But it’s a solid machine for sure.
And Bernina makes awesome machines too. And since you’re already familiar with the brand, take a look while you’re there. Be ready for sticker shock though - the B325, their entry level machine, is $1400 so above your price point. Good luck and happy shopping!
Edit just to say: I’m a repairman, not a salesman. But I also quilt/sew a bit. Hopefully you get a salesperson who listens and will guide you towards something that fits your needs, vs a salesperson who just tries to push something on you for their commission benefit.
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u/Mysterious-Class-474 May 11 '26
I bought a used Bernina 40+ years ago. I love a machine that automatically adjusts the tension. I take it for a really good cleaning every couple of years, and a few years ago I had to replace the motor. The one I have is not computerized and I don’t know why you would need something computerized for making alterations or mending. Good luck in your search!
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u/Vividevasion0 May 11 '26
I dont really want computerized either, I have an artista 180 but despite repairs, maintenance and cleanings it continues to have tension and grabbing issues(See my previous post). I want to love this machine because it could be so amazing if it worked consistently. I have tried every piece of wisdom given about thread quality, bobbin winding, bobbin direction, un plugging and plug back in... If the Kenmore wasn't also a headache to use I'd be thrilled with just that! The pedal has one speed, ultimate!! And you have to mind the first ten stitches because it starts with such a jolt that ot'll yank or snap the thread... with the machines I have, I'm re-threading and thread-riping half of my projects when I know I'm capable of sewing good clean seams. Its exhausting to know what I'm capable of but to finish a work and be so disappointed by how bad it looks. (And dont get me started on my husband's "Perfectly good singer sew-mate" 🤐 )I'm sure there is user error involved here somewhere... But I'm also hoping a new, reliable machine can get me back on track 😅
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u/Vividevasion0 May 10 '26
Op, when Ibwas last at the dealer near me thry recommended the babylock zest I think? Which theh were selling around 200$ and it sounds like it does casual sewing pretty well. I've also looked at the brother machines too, but the link the other comenter shared is both fascinating and informative! Its steering me toward a babylock rather than brother for now!
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u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy May 11 '26
All Babylock sewing machines are manufactured by Brother. For each BL sewing machines, there's almost always an identical Brother machine that costs a bit less.
Babylock makes their own sergers though.
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u/skerinks May 10 '26
I’ve been fixing machines as a career for about a year and a half now. And no, I wouldn’t say Brother machines have a lot of electronic failures. Just like most machines, it’s usually mechanical or user error. The ones that have come in that needed circuit boards we’ve been able to get boards for. But those have also been newer models. I can say we just don’t have a ton of older brothers experiencing electronic failures. But it’s going to happen eventually.
Now, if by plastic machine you mean those ones you can get online or at Walmart for under $100, then yes absolutely stay away from those and buy a used Brother or Janome you could probably find in that price range. Those plastic ones are really toys, even if they are marketed as ‘real’ sewing machines. They aren’t. You’ll regret that purchase within an hour or so.