When I first got my hands on the Brother PE900, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve used a couple of embroidery machines before, but this one promised a lot, bigger hoop, more built-in designs, and even wireless features. It sounded almost too good to be true. Setting it up was pretty straightforward, and I found myself stitching out my first design in no time.
There were a few hiccups along the way, but overall, using the PE900 felt like a step up from my old machine. If you’re thinking about getting into embroidery or just want to know if this machine is worth it, here’s what I found.
Key Takeaways
- The Brother PE900 has a 5″ x 7″ embroidery area, which is great for larger projects.
- With 193 built-in designs and 13 fonts, there are lots of options to start creating right away.
- Wireless LAN and USB connectivity make it easy to import custom designs from your computer or phone.
- The touchscreen interface is simple to use, even if you’re a beginner.
- Some parts, like the needle threader, are plastic and might not feel as sturdy as you’d expect.
Introduction to the Brother PE900
The Brother PE800 – New Release! When I first got my hands on the Brother PE900 Embroidery Machine, I was excited & curious, mixed. Right out of the box, it felt solid, and the user guide was straightforward enough that I didn’t feel inundated with information despite being someone who doesn’t mess with embroidery machines all that often. With the exceptional performance of the Brother PE900 embroidery machine, you can have reliable and accurate stitching in a package designed for beginners or home hobbyists.
What hooked me was the big 5″ x 7″ embroidery area. That is probably big enough for most at-home projects without feeling cramped, but the machine itself does not take up too much table real estate. You truly feel the well-considered touches, such as an automatic needle threader and step-by-step tutorials on its color LCD touchscreen, which make the early learning curve a little less daunting. Well, the user manual for the Brother embroidery machine breaks it down without making you feel like an idiot, explaining basics such as threading and hooping —and even how to load new patterns.
Here’s a quick look at what stands out about the PE900:
- 193 built-in embroidery designs, including scrollwork, quilt patterns, floral designs and so much more; Package Weight: 26.0 pounds
- Monogramming – 13 built-in types with up to 7 mm height adjustment and 3-1/2 character spacing features for monogramming.
- USB port and wireless LAN for quickly importing new patterns
- Automatic needle threader with tutorial on-screen
The compatibility with various Brother PE900 embroidery machine accessories has also allowed me to take on quite a few projects without trying to find random add-ons.
With the exceptional performance of the PE900, it clearly belongs among the Best Embroidery Sewing Machines for Home Businesses if you plan to monetize your designs.
Key Features of the Brother PE900
When I first looked into the Brother PE900, I was really interested in what made it stand out. This machine is built for embroidery, and it shows. Let’s break down some of the main Brother embroidery machine features and specific features of the Brother PE900.
Embroidery Area and Hoop Sizes
The PE900 includes a 5 x 7-inch embroidery hoop. This is a good size; some designs do not need re-hooping to complete. For most home-based projects, such as adding a fancy motif to a shirt or a small design to a towel, this size is perfect. It’s not huge, but it is a start.
Built-in Designs and Fonts
Looking through the PE900, I discovered that there are 193 built-in embroidery designs. Among them are 10-frame patterns, which are a nice way to present your work so that it looks complete. It also comes with 13 built-in fonts. It’s a unique combination of English, Japanese, and Cyrillic characters that may or may not be handy for everyone. The designs themselves are diverse, including florals and quilt patterns. It’s a strong assortment to start with, right out of the box.
Connectivity and Software Options
The wireless LAN connectivity sets it apart from older machines. If you’ve ever relied only on USB imports, you’ll appreciate the convenience discussed in How to Use an Embroidery Sewing Machine.
For beginners learning digital embroidery workflows, pairing this machine with guidance from How to Do Embroidery With a Sewing Machine can speed up your learning curve.
User Interface and Screen
The machine has a 3.7-inch color LCD touch display. It’s also bright and reasonably responsive, which makes it easy to select designs, change them up a bit, and see what you’re doing. The interface is generally straightforward. It also has useful on-screen tutorials that walk you through operations like how to thread and install the embroidery arm. I love the built-in needle threader because it is an absolute time saver.
Here’s a quick look at some of the editing capabilities:
- Rotate designs
- Mirror image designs
- Change the size of designs
- Preview edits on the screen before stitching
It also has a couple of smart features for stitching:
- Jump Stitch Trimming: This automatically cuts excess threads when the machine jumps between parts of a design.
- Color Sort: This feature rearranges the stitching order for multi-color designs to reduce the number of thread changes needed, making the process faster.
Ease of Use for Beginners
When I first saw the Brother PE900, I was a little hesitant to dip my toe into embroidery. I’m not much of a tech wizard and the prospect of learning a whole new machine felt somewhat intimidating. Actually, though, this machine kind of made it really easy, tbh.
Setup was easy, and I had my first design stitched out in less than an hour. The touch screen is very user-friendly; it’s not overly complicated and feels pretty natural to use, even if you’re someone who doesn’t use gadgets a lot. The instructions are in good English, and the machine essentially walks you through much of it.
Here’s what made it easy for me:
- Crystal Clear Screen: Color touchscreen is easy to read even in direct sunlight. I could see all the choices without squinting.
- Built-in Help: Overscreen pop-up tutorials and guides when you need them. It’s like having a little misting fairy right with you.
- Easy design transfer: Was really easy for me to get my designs onto the machine, especially with Wi-Fi-enabled. No cumbersome cables or software to rig up.
I had a little bit of a learning curve understanding the tension settings, which others have mentioned. It required a bit of trial and error to perfect for various fabrics. But for the most part, the machine is clear and it takes only a minute to get started without you feeling totally at sea.
For beginners to embroidery, the PE900 tries very hard to hold your hand. It strikes a balance of being interesting without being overwhelming out of the box. I felt like I might actually be able to embroider, instead of just staring at something I didn’t understand.
Performance and Stitch Quality
When I first began trying out the Brother PE900, one of my main questions was how it would perform with various fabrics and designs. I was curious if it was really all that after all the consultation I had heard about, extravagant even.
Regular maintenance is essential for consistent stitch performance, so don’t skip How to Clean and Maintain Your Sewing Machine.
Pros and Cons of the Brother PE900
Below are some of the pros and cons you probably want to know about that will help make up your mind on whether you should consider it or not.
Pros of the Brother PE900
- Excellent Stitch Quality: Produces clean, crisp stitches with impressive definition, especially on stable fabrics like cotton and denim.
- Automatic Thread Trimming: Saves time and keeps projects looking neat without manual cutting.
- Color Sort Feature: Improves workflow efficiency by minimizing thread changes during multi-color designs.
- Wireless Connectivity: Makes transferring embroidery designs quick and simple without USB hassle.
Cons of the Brother PE900
- Automatic Needle Threader: While convenient in theory, it can be unreliable and a bit finicky depending on the thread used.
- Stabilization Required: Stretchy or slippery fabrics require careful stabilization to avoid shifting during embroidery.
- Bobbin Tension Sensitivity: The bobbin tension may need occasional adjustments for consistent stitch quality.
- Bobbin Area Maintenance: Cleaning around the bobbin area could be easier and more accessible.
Comparison with Other Sewing Machines
Any time I am researching new embroidery machines, I always like to compare them to other machines and, in this case, specifically other Brother sewing machine embroidery features. It helps me to determine if I’m getting the best bang for my buck, or if there’s something better suited for my situation. The PE900 is a rather decent machine, but it’s nice to know what else is available.
For broader brand comparisons, read Singer vs Brother Sewing Machines to see how different ecosystems stack up.
Brother PE900 vs Janome Memory Craft 400E
Both the Brother PE900 and Janome’s Memory Craft 400E are also excellent standalone embroidery machines built for dedicated hobbyists. Embroidery area - At 7.9” x 5.5”, you get a little more space to work with — compared to the PE900’s 5″x7″ hoop. Both machines have a decent library of built-in designs and editing capabilities on a color touchscreen. As for stitch quality, both are quite nice and give professional results. For those who are used to traditional embroidery, both machines will have no issues with most home projects.
But modern connectivity belongs definitively to the PE900. It also has built-in wireless LAN and connects to the Artspira app for simplified design transfers. It also does away with USB drives, upon which the 400E continues to depend. Wireless transfer makes things so much faster and more fluid with rapid design changes. If tech-friendly features are at all a concern to you, the PE900 feels more future-proof.
Brother PE900 vs Brother SE600
Discussions: The PE900 vs Brother SE600 illustrates the difference between a dedicated and combo machine. The SE600 is a combination sewing and embroidery machine, which appeals to beginners. The only negative is that it has a small embroidery field, 4″ x 4″, that doesn’t allow for bigger designs. The PE900 gives you an even larger 5″ x 7″ inch embroidery space, so it is ideal for large projects. And for embroidery enthusiasts that size difference matters.
When it comes to built-in embroidery designs and fonts, the PE900 exceeds the SE600 by a mile. Its updated touchscreen and editing tools are more sophisticated and responsive. While the SE600 is designed for beginners in crafting, it’s very apparent that this is a starter machine. The PE900, on the other hand, seems tailor-made for embroidery enthusiasts. If embroidery is your priority, the PE900 would be a better long-term investment.
Brother PE900 vs Singer Quantum Stylist EM200
The Brother PE900 and the Singer Quantum Stylist EM200 are both geared towards home embroiderers. The embroidery field size for this sewing machine is 4” x 4″, which is a little smaller than PE900’s hoop (5” x7”). Both machines also come with built-in designs and on-screen editing features. Stitch quality is good on all the models, for most basic projects. But PE900 gives you a bit more breathing space in terms of bigger and more detailed embroidery pieces.
Where the PE900 gets a real lead is in connectivity and user experience. It is wireless and compatible with the Artspira app, which will allow for freehand designs to be downloaded quickly. The EM200 relies on USB material transfers, and those are less convenient. The touchscreen interface of the PE900 is also more contemporary and user-friendly. For those customers to whom this is important, it will be the PE900 that has an advantage with one-touch design transfers and more intelligent features.
Who is the Brother PE900 For?
That being said, and from everything I have seen in other embroidery machine reviews 2026, the Brother PE900 is probably the best home embroidery machine if you are someone who takes this stuff seriously but doesn’t need a $10 billion dollar industrial unit. It’s a great entry-level as well as intermediate machine for beginner and it offers room to expand.
The PE900 embroidery machine pros and cons indicate that it’s a powerful machine in terms of features and ease of use, especially with its wireless option. If you’re already on board the Brother train or just want the ease and convenience of modern connectivity, this is one of your best Brother embroidery machines options. It’s a great combination of advanced functionality and user-friendly operations, and one of the best Brother embroidery machines for beginners looking to graduate to a dedicated unit.
If you are upgrading from a basic embroidery model, you may also want to read Upgrading Your Sewing Machine before deciding.
And if you’re still exploring embroidery as a niche, browsing Types of Embroidery Sewing Machines can help you confirm whether a dedicated unit like the PE900 is right for you.
Here’s a quick look at how some of these models compare:
| Feature |
Brother PE900 |
Janome MC400E |
Brother SE600 |
Singer EM200 |
| Max Embroidery Area |
5″ x 7″ |
7.9″ x 5.5″ |
4″ x 4″ |
4″ x 4″ |
| Built-in Designs |
193 |
160 |
103 |
80 |
| Built-in Fonts |
13 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
| Wireless Connectivity |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
| App Integration |
Yes (Artspira) |
No |
No |
No |
My Final Thoughts on the Brother PE900
So after hanging out with the Brother PE900, I have to say, I’m really impressed. It does appear to be a good machine, especially for someone like me still learning embroidery or who wants just an embroidery machine without all the extra fuss of a sewing combo. It was simple enough for me to use, and the integrated designs are a great addition. And getting to connect wirelessly and use the Artspira app is kind of neat, although it took a bit of back-and-forth to successfully update the firmware at first.
It’s not perfect, I have seen some people had issues with the automatic threader or tension, and I do wish the bobbin area was easier to clean. But all in all, I think PE900 is much for the proven price and does give a good bang for any embroiderer who just wants to add flair with personalization. It’s a machine that I could see myself growing with for some time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Brother PE900 good for beginners?
The Brother PE900 was a cinch to get started with, I thought. There are useful walk-throughs, right on screen, to show you how to do stuff like threading the machine. And the automatic needle threader is a godsend, it’s so much less of a bother to get your thread through the eye of that needle.
Can I use my own embroidery designs with the PE900?
Yes, you absolutely can! I love that I’m not restricted to only the patterns that are with the machine. You can also import your own designs using a USB drive. And with its wireless capability, I can send the designs straight from my computer to the machine using the Design Database Transfer software and that’s really handy.
What is the embroidery area size on the PE900?
The biggest embroidery space I have to play with is 5”*7”. I find this size to be very nice for most of the projects I’d like to tackle, it lets you do some nice-sized designs without being too overbearing.
How many designs and fonts does the PE900 come with?
I have 193 built-in embroidery designs, with some neat frame patterns included. It also includes 13 fonts, so I have a few options for adding text to my projects without shelling out any more money.
Does the PE900 have features to help make embroidery faster?
It sure does! The ‘Color Sort’ has been incredibly useful to me. It shuffles the order of stitching out colors in multi-color patterns – fewer rethreads and time saved. It also features a jump stitch trimming feature that cuts extra threads for you.
What’s the Artspira app, and how can I use it with the PE900?
The Artspira app is a great little toy that allows me to get artistic on my phone or tablet. I’m able to create my own patterns or download them online and send them directly to my PE900 using wi-fi. It’s a nifty way to design custom embroidery patterns on the fly.
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