Brother SE-270D Computerized Sewing Machine Review

Bottom-Line: All in all, the Brother SE-270D is a great starting point for anyone wanting the ability to embroider without committing to a high-end machine.

I'm not married to Martha Stewart, but I could very well be.  My wife is a domestic diva in her own right-a self-taught quilter who also sews home decor items that are constantly admired when guests visit our home.  She has been valiantly sewing her creations on a low-budget, but dependable Janome sewing machine.  For her autumn birthday, I surprised her with the Brother SE-270D that I ordered online at Amazon.com.  I thought that the embroidery features would give her even more creative opportunities to broaden her skills.  The following review is based on her direct experiences with the Brother SE-270D.

First Impressions

Author's Note: this portion of the review was written by my wife, who use this machine on a regular basis:

I was in love with the machine before I even opened it.  The carton featured an image of this Combination Sewing/Embroidery machine and a list of computerized features: 

• 97 built in embroidery designs featuring Mickey Mouse & Friends
• 5 Built in embroidery Monogram Fonts in 3 sizes
• LCD touch screen for stitch selection
• 98 built in Stitch Functions, 10 styles of one-step auto-size buttonholes, built-in stretch stitches, garment construction stitches, decorative stitches, heirloom and quilting stitches.
• Memory card slot for additional designs

Inside the box, I found the sturdy 23-lb. machine, one instructional CD, two separate operation manuals (one in English and the other in Spanish), a 4X4 embroidery hoop and guide sheet, white bobbin thread, foot pedal, vinyl sewing machine cover, and a softcover bag of accessories (presser feet, bobbins, spool pins, scissors, etc.) 

Although the product comes with a quantity of extras, there are definitely some additional items you will need to purchase in order to take full advantage of the embroidery functions.   You will definitely need fabric stabilizer material to ensure that your embroidery stitches are consistent and to prevent your fabric from bunching up.  (Brother recommends water-soluble on thin or high-nap fabrics.  I use a medium weight iron-on tear-away for my cotton fabrics). 

My Viewpoint

Once I had thoroughly read the manual from cover to cover, I purchased some embroidery thread and pre-cut stabilizer (ThreadArt.com).  Armed with my supplies, I cut a large square of fabric, ironed on the stabilizer and began to test a simple design.

The process for threading the bobbin was straightforward and self explanatory.  I had no problems with the bobbin at all.  My first problem was threading the machine itself.  The Brother SE-270D has a thread "cassette" cartridge which I had never encountered before.  The instructional CD shows you how to thread the cartridge; however I soon discovered that my newly purchased embroidery thread was too large to fit in the cartridge.  Brother's solution is to use the extra spool pin (included) on top of the empty cartridge and then continue threading the cassette.  I found this to be a tricky and unnecessarily cumbersome way to thread a sewing machine.  (Not to mention, it looks completely ridiculous-like using duct tape and a screwdriver to replace a door handle).

The big problem with this threading "system" is that you have to insert the cassette with just the right amount of force, at just the right speed and angle, and hold it in just the right place so that you don't damage the unit.  Oh, and you can only insert the cartridge when the green light is on.  If you do it correctly, it will self thread your needle and all will be right with the world.  If you don't, nothing happens and you have to keep trying till you get it right.  It generally takes me 3 tries to get the cartridge in and the needle threaded.  Seriously! This is not a feature that I enjoy.

Following the directions, I set up the machine for the embroidery function (changing the presser foot, checking the needle and bobbin thread, attaching the embroidery unit (a little tricky getting the hoop under the needle), selecting the pattern, and checking the layout).  My pattern was a cute little frog that only required three color changes, so I thought that would be an easy way to try out the machine.  I hit the start button (no foot pedal required!) and the machine began to move.  Everything was fine for about 15 seconds, and suddenly the machine began to make a clunking sound. 

My husband helpfully suggested that before I hurl the machine out of the window, I go online and see if I could find an embroidery forum.  Perhaps someone else had the same embroidery machine and had posted a solution to my problems.  Sure enough, I came across SewForum.com which had an embroidery section: "Poor stitch quality, not sure which stabilizer to use, what about metallic threads? Ask or answer embroidery questions here..."  I spent an entire evening reading the question and answers relative to my specific machine.  I came away from the website with a whole new attitude and plan of attack: 1. Buy new embroidery-specific needles; 2. Adjust the upper tension on the machine, and; 3.Purchase an inexpensive cone holder to help the larger spool of thread feed correctly through the cartridge. 

Happily, my new approach worked wonders.  What I discovered from reading the forums are the little nuances that are never mentioned in instruction manuals.  My frog design embroidered beautifully, and I had no more threading problems, needle breaks, or interrupted stitches.  I was able to pause for threading changes, and the Brother SE-270D started right back where it had left off, all without missing a stitch. 

Concluding Viewpoint

All in all, the Brother SE-270D is a great starting point for anyone wanting the ability to embroider without committing to a high-end machine.  Because it is a combination sewing/embroidery machine with many built in functions and designs, you really don't need separate machines to create a wide variety of projects.   You can sew apparel, quilting, and home décor projects, and add embellishments and embroidery as final touches.