All About Brother Sewing Machines

Brother is a popular brand of electronics from Japan with a global reach. Having a presence since the early beginning of the 20th century, Brother has established a name for itself as a reliable brand for a variety of machinery, including consumer and industrial Brother sewing machines. Other computer-related products that Brother produces are printers, desktop computers, extensive machine tools, typewriters, fax machines, and much more.

Brother Sewing Machine History

The company was initially founded as the Yasui Sewing Company by Kanekichi Yasui in 1908. Based in Japan, the company began as a family business with Yasui’s son, Masayoshi, who has a great passion and talent for sewing machine repair, and his brother Jitsuichi, creating the brand’s signature shuttle hook, which is the prime sewing component of the sewing machine. Together, they also created the first chain-stitch sewing machine to make straw hats.

In 1925, Kanekichi Yasui died, and soon after, the company was passed on to his son. At that time, the name changed to Yasui Brother’s Sewing Machine Company, which was the first appearance of the “Brother” trademark. In 1932, the Yasui company produced the first-ever domestic sewing machine made entirely in Japan. World War II put a pause on the production but the company resumed its sewing machine activities soon after the war’s end.

In 1941, the brand was a domestic sales company, Brother Sewing Machine Sales, Ltd. By 1954, the sewing machine market had developed to such a degree that the company expanded beyond Japan. Brother International Corporation was established, opening its first location in the United States.

In the 1950s, the company decided to include the production of other electronic products such as home appliances, electric fans, washing machines, and even motorcycles. Brother also opened a European base in Dublin, Ireland, in 1958, and a year later, another base in Montreal, Canada.

After expanding all over the world and creating several subsidiaries in North America, Asia, and Europe, Brother became a worldwide leader in electronics, especially sewing machines. In 2008, Brother celebrated its first 100 years of business.

Brother Timeline

Now, let's take a look at Brother’s sewing machine models through the years:

• In 1928, the Sho-san-Shiki sewing machines debuted as the first models under the Brother trademark.
• In 1932, released Model 15 Type 70, the first sewing machine for domestic use.
• By 1947, 200 units of HA1 home straight-stitching sewing machines had been exported to Shanghai.
• 1954 saw the commencement of the production of both the KH1-B1 home and professional knitting machines.
• In 1962, Brother started using in-house technologies for sewing machine processing;
• 1974 was the year Brother released the first model of NC sewing machines, the first control straight-stitch sewing machine in the industry.
• In 1979, the ZZ3-B820 “Opus 8” home zigzag sewing machines were launched as the first computerized sewing machines in the industry.
• 1983 saw the release of ZZ2-B850 “COMPAL α” home sewing machines with sound;
• In 1991, sewing machines with computer-controlled embroidery mechanisms were launched.

Location & Contact Information

The Brother sewing machine headquarters are in Nagoya, Japan. There are several other facilities owned by the company and its subsidiaries in Japan. Brother also has locations in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the Americas, Brother has several locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Peru.

In Europe, Brother has several locations in the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and Russia.

While there is no Brother sewing machine contact number available, customers looking for support for their purchased products can visit the brand’s product support center on the corporate website for assistance. The website can be located here.

Vintage Brother Sewing Machines

Generally, Brother sewing machines are considered very durable and withstand the passage of time. For that reason, an old Brother sewing machine model can still work great, even if it is from several decades ago.

A vintage Brother sewing machine in good condition should still work adequately today, even if it was used a lot in the past. Therefore, these vintage models don’t necessarily have to lose their value. They might cost less, but the price point does not determine whether they are still good pieces of machinery.

The really old and classic models from the early 20th century can have a higher price point, as long as they are in good condition. Their prices can be from $50 to a few thousand dollars. This is because vintage pieces are also highly sought after as they are used as decorative pieces. Several collectors look for classic pieces to add to their collection and are willing to pay certain amounts of money to acquire them.

Best Brother Sewing Machine

Each sewing model made by the Brother brand includes different features meant to meet the needs of Brother’s loyal clientele. Let’s look at the best Brother sewing machine for each category.

1. Best Brother Sewing Machine For Beginners – Brother ST371HD Sewing Machine

This basic sewing machine is perfect for everyday sewing tasks and great for beginners. It is easy to use with a simple menu and features. The setup is quick and effortless.

It is important to also mention that it can sew on almost everything, from durable fabrics like leather, denim, or canvas to lightweight fabrics like silk. The presser foot also has an extra height adjustment to use on thick fabrics. It sews very evenly, with the stitches being quite tight.

An important tip to know is that with each fabric, you might have to use a different needle as some of them work better than others on certain fabrics. It is also really easy to adjust the type of stitches and the tension. The ST371HD also includes 37 stitches for stretch stitches, blind hems, zipper insertion, buttonholes, and more.

Some of the features and accessories included are:

• Six sewing feet: spring action zigzag, blind hem, nonstick, button sewing, zipper, buttonhole
• Drop feed for sewing flexibility
• Easy needle threading
• Free arm for sewing cuffs and sleeves
• Accessory storage
• Quick-set drop-in top bobbin system
• Additional specialty feet are available
• Included accessory feet: buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, spring action zigzag foot, zipper foot, non-stick foot, blindstitch foot
• Six feed dog points
• Automatic needle threading system
• LED lights
• Quick set bobbin

2. Best Heavy Duty Brother Sewing Machine – Brother Luminaire Innov-is XP2 Machine

This sewing, quilting, and embroidery machine is meant for heavy-duty materials, allowing you to choose diverse projects to work on.

It is a very technologically advanced sewing machine with a great range of functions that allow you to have total control over your projects. It sews on tougher fabric with great efficiency and accuracy, supporting you to get the best results possible from your projects.

This sewing machine also offers a large workspace (65 inches), the largest of any other Brother machine. It has a 13.1″ needle-to-arm span. The Luminaire 2 also features a function that allows you to automatically easily split patterns for quilt borders, saving you much time and effort.

Some of the features and accessories included are:

• 1″ needle to arm, and 5″ height from sewing bed to top of machine arm
• Separate adjustable-speed bobbin winder system
• Almost 13″ of full-spectrum lighting around the needle
• 5-level adjustable bobbin winding thread amount
• InnovEye Plus Technology
• Action needle plate with enhanced guidelines
• Foldable spool stand holds 2 spools and attaches to the top cover using magnets
• Faster scanning in high resolution with 4x larger viewing area
• Quiet operation during sewing and embroidery
• Needle plate storage on the sewing unit
• Dual-purpose stylus included
• Presser the foot lever in a convenient location
• Automatic thread tension and cutter

3. Best Computerized Brother Sewing Machine – Brother SE1900 Sewing and Embroidery Machine

The Brother SE1900 is a great computerized machine that gives you all the features you need for an easy and productive working experience.

Through the large, 3.2” Sew Smart color LCD touch screen, you can access the menu and take control of your design by changing the embroidery thread colors and previewing it before stitching. There are over 100 built-in embroidery designs already installed, but you can also import your own. This combination machine is perfect for both sewing and embroidery.

You can personalize your projects with over 240 built-in sewing stitches and 11 built-in fonts. There is a design custom sewing stitches function with the My Custom Stitch program. You can combine designs, change their colors, and much more.

Some of the features and accessories included are:

• Adjustable presser foot pressure
• LED lights
• Seven feed dog points
• Memory card reader
• Needle position key (Up/Down)
• Needle plate measurements
• Advanced needle threading system
• Quick set bobbin
• Presser foot leveling
• Specialty feet included
• Dial stitch selector type
• Start/Stop button
• Upper thread sensor and bobbin sensor
• 138 built-in designs
• 6 Built-In alphabet fonts
• Drag and drop editing
• 240 built-in stitch selections
• Five built-in lettering sewing fonts
• Speed control

4. Best Brother Sewing Machine For Quilting – Brother CS-7000x 70 Stitch Computerized Free-Arm Sewing Machine

The Brother CS-7000x is a perfect machine for quilting. The wide plastic table enables you to work on your larger quilt projects.

This computerized sewing machine has 70 built-in decorative stitches, perfect for creating crazy quilt designs. It also includes utility stitches, heirloom stitches, and seven styles of one-step auto-sizing buttonholes. There is also a quilting guide, which helps create even and exact quilting lines.

The threading in this machine is a very easy process. Moreover, you can adjust the stitch speed as you like, giving you control over the process of your quilting project. Another great aspect of this machine is that it is multi-purpose, allowing you to work with a large variety of fabrics for different projects.

Some of the features and accessories included are:

• LCD panel with computerized stitch selection
• Super-wide (7mm) zigzag and decorative stitches
• Seven styles of one-step, auto-size buttonholes
• Automatic needle threading
• Variable needle position
• Built-in thread cutter
• Fast, automatic bobbin winding
• One-touch start/stop/reverse operations
• Walking foot accurate stitching of multiple layers or slippery fabrics
• Operates with or without foot control
• Free arm/flatbed convertible sewing surface
• Drop feed for free-motion quilting
• Safety power and light switch
• Built-in accessory storage
• Lightweight with a built-in handle for portability

5. Best Basic Brother Sewing Machine – Brother BM3850 Sewing Machine

The Brother BM3850 is a simple sewing machine with most of the basic features you need to work on a multitude of sewing projects.

A great trait of this machine is its compacted size, which makes it very easy to store and travel with. While being compact, the Brother BM3850 is worth getting due to the 37 utility and heirloom stitches it includes. Its features are very easy to use, making it perfect for beginners.

This machine is also jam-resistant, and it includes a quick-set drop-in top bobbin and one step-buttonhole. The free arm allows you to better work on projects that require you to stand at certain angles, giving you comfort and support while working.

Some of the features and accessories included are:

• 63 stitch functions
• 37 built-in stitches
• Quick-Set drop-in bobbin
• Automatic 1 Step buttonhole with stitch balance control
• Automatic bobbin winding and needle threader
• Twin needle for two-color stitching
• Freearm / flatbed convertible sewing surface
• Thread tension control dial
• Needle position adjustment
• Stitch width & stitch length control
• Snap-on feet
• Automatic thread cutter
• Accessory storage
• Included accessory feet
• Needle position key (Up/Down)
• LED lights
• Start/Stop button
• Six presser feet
• Lightweight and compact with a built-in handle

6. Best Portable Brother Sewing Machine – Brother PQ-1500SL Sewing Machine

This Brother PQ1500SL is a great portable sewing machine, perfect for beginners who need to be able to take their sewing machines with them while attending sewing classes. It is also easily stored, and set up can be done in mere seconds.

This sewing machine is also great for heavy-duty tasks, able to tackle more difficult fabrics and larger projects. The convenient automatic thread cutter and the needle threader save you a lot of time.

Moreover, the Brother PQ1500SL sews up to 1,500 stitches per minute. The needle down function is extremely helpful, and the knee lifter works great, allowing you to sew effectively and have an overall pleasant experience.

Some of the features and accessories included are:

• Heavy-duty construction for increased durability and longevity
• Exclusive pin feed mechanism to prevent slippage
• Oversized sewing area handles quilts and other large projects with ease
• Full range feed pressure adjustment and four feed dog height settings for different fabric weights
• Easy to use foot lift operation
• Exclusive F.A.S.T. automatic needle threader saves time and your eyesight
• Exclusive fabric separator feature joins lightweight linings eliminates puckering
• A removable knee lift raises the presser foot so you have both hands free to handle fabric
• Needle position mechanism lets you control the needle stop position (up or down) after the machine stops

Brother Sewing Machine Accessories

Brother also offers a wide variety of sewing accessories that enable you to get perfect results out of your sewing projects. The thread, the oil, the presser feet, the power cords, the feet controls, and the bobbins are all things you need to carefully select to be efficient and productive during your sewing and deliver quality projects. Let’s take a look at the best accessories for a Brother sewing machine.

1. Best Thread For Brother Sewing Machine – Brother Embroidery Thread Kit

This new specifically Brother-made embroidery thread kit comes with 24 spools (1,100 yards) of 100% polyester, colorfast, mini-king threads of select colors.

The colors included in the kit are the following: White, Sky Blue, Linen, Cream Yellow, Vermillion, Khaki, Black, Light Blue, Lavender, Wisteria Violet, Pewter, Dark Gray, Silver, Pumpkin, Dark Fuchsia, Dark Brown, Blue, Brass, Carmine, Teal Green, Royal Purple, Light Brown, Reddish Brown, and Clay Brown.

2. Best Oil For Brother Sewing Machine – Lily White Oil in Plastic Tube with Extendable Spout

Today, a lot of sewing machines come already oiled. However, you still need to check your sewing machine’s manual to determine if that is the case with yours. Neglecting to oil your machine can lead to serious damage.

You need to make sure that you get a good-quality sewing oil for your machine. Lily White is a narrow-cut, highly refined, non-detergent mineral oil ideal for sewing machines. It is specifically great to use in tasks where the oil may come into contact with textiles.

This plastic bottle (1oz) comes with an expandable spout. The conveniently shaped spout is made specifically for this type of use. This will help you avoid over-lubrication or spillage in your working area.

3. Best Presser Feet For Brother Sewing Machine – Quilting and Patchwork Foot with Guide

With this quilting or patchwork foot, you can create perfect 1/4″ or 1/8″ topstitching. This foot also features raised markings along the sides of the foot for easy and flawless pivoting.

This foot is compatible with a large variety of Brother sewing machine models including: BC-1000, BM2700, BM2700AS, BM2800, Innov-is 85E (NS85E), Innov-is V3, Innov-is V5, Innov-is V7, LB6770, LB6800, LB6800PRW, LB6810, NV900D, NV95E, NV950D, NV950E, NX-200, SM1704, and XL3100.

4. Best Power Cords – Lead Power Cord

This cord is a great option to get your foot control system up and running. This power cord matches the following Brother sewing machine models: PE100 and PS1000.

However, this power cord also fits sewing machine models from other brands such as Husqvarna Viking, Baby Lock, Bernina, Elna, Eversewn, Janome, Pfaff, Singer, and White.

5. Best Feet Controls – Brother Dual-Function Foot Controller

This single-pedal, dual-function foot controller allows you to operate your machine while still holding on to your project with two hands. You can set this foot pedal controller to control reverse stitch sewing, single stitch sewing, and moving the needle up and down.

It is compatible with the following Brother sewing machine models: Innov-ís NQ1300PRW, Innov-is NQ3500D, Innov-ís NQ550PRW, Innov-ís NQ575PRW, Innov-is NQ700PRW, Innov-is NQ900PRW, and Innov-ís NS2750D.

6. Best Bobbins – 20 Pack of Class 15 and Class 2518 Metal Bobbins

This 20-pack of metal class 15 bobbins (model: 2518) is a great accessory for every sewing task. The bobbins fit over 2500 different sewing machines, including several Brother machines. However, before purchasing this pack, check your equipment’s manual to confirm that this bobbin style is compatible with your sewing machine.

Moreover, these bobbins also fit other sewing machine brands such as Baby Lock, Singer, Kenmore, Janome, Pfaff, White, Necchi, and much more.

Conclusion

A sewing machine brand with a long history and worldwide reach, Brother is one of the most trusted brands in the market. It offers high-quality sewing machines and accessories that will please even the most demanding customers.

Brother provides several different models that serve different needs, such as sewing machines for beginners, heavy-duty machines, computerized and basic, as well as embroidery and quilting machines.

By purchasing a Brother sewing machine, you can start working knowing that you own a reliable piece of machinery that will produce great results in your sewing projects.