Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Brother Embroidery Machine, PE770, 5” x 7” Embroidery Machine with Built-in Memory, USB Port, 6 Lettering Fonts, 136 Built-in Designs

Top positive review

Wonderful

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2015

I am totally brand-new to embroidery - never even watched someone use such a machine - and I am on my third T-shirt now and as happy as I have not been in a long time in my adult life. This is so much fun! The machine works great right out of the box.

I was so disappointed at the prices at the stores that I almost passed on embroidery all together. Some folks in the stores seem to think everyone can afford to spend thousands and if you don't, you are just being stubborn. When I found out about the low end Brother machines, I was excited again. The SE400 seems to be great and has great reviews, but I wanted the 5" by 7" embroidery area. Also, I already have a sewing machine, so I did not need the dual function of the SE400 that people like.

The PE770 has some nasty one star reviews, though, so I hesitated. One review (not one star) mentioned Vince Arcuri's you tube videos, and that gentleman gave me confidence in the machine again. I watched his intro to the PE770, and he has such a calm and positive manner and shows the machine in operation that I could see it may well work for me. Thank you so much, Vince Arcuri! I am so glad I got a PE770. It is really all I needed and works great so far.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVRl7KhRRJo&list=PLY8PAYIO5y19XAvmOsD9zBqCsUVtzkEYO&index=1

I did a few things to give us (the machine and me) the best chance:

1) I ordered the two stabilizers and the glue spray Vince Arcuri shows in his video right here on Amazon, (have since ordered cut-away stabilizer also, since the T-shirt designs will probably distort with the wash away over time) and I am using two layers of the wash away on the bottom and the clear stuff on top with the spay to hold the fabric in place,
Tear & Wash Away - Machine Embroidery Stabilizer Backing Medium Weight 2.0oz. Roll of 12 in X 50 Yds
Sulky 12-Inch by 9-Yard Solvy Water Soluble Stabilizer Roll
Sulky 4.23-Ounce Temporary Spray Adhesive

2) I researched and ordered the recommended bobbin threads for the machine in pre-wound bobbins since people said they work better than the home-wound bobbins - I think it matters to get the 90 weight bobbin thread and that was a little more expensive than the abundant ones that come in a case of 144, here is a link to the ones that work for me
20 Prewound 90 Weight Thread Embroidery Bobbins Size A Class 15 Style 15J For Brother Baby Lock SA156

3) I got very good thread - had a special pack of 35 Isacord threads that I picked up on sale when I was shopping for machines in the stores and found an even better deal on eBay (25 spools for 90.- where you can pick your own colors and sometimes people sell used spools that are still pretty full at a good price) - anyway, - Isacord is supposed to be one of the best and the machine runs great with those - it is making a mouse in a pin box, cute sewing design with 31 thread changes as I type this review and everything is working like clockwork – smiling from ear to ear every time I go back to the machine to change threads and see my cute design developing

4) I did read the manual on threading the machine and carefully cut all loose threads off, stopping the machine after the first few stitches for each color to cut the top thread ( as Vince Arcuri showed in his you tube video) - one did get sucked in when I did not stop the machine in time - I cut the mess off on the bottom and it was no problem, but I try very hard not to let that happen and catch the loose ends before the machine gets going on each color - you can press a button to start, stop, and re-start - it is very convenient for me (am not mass producing, so no worries about the time it takes at the moment - maybe I can ask the machine to cut the threads but I have not been motivated to find out yet - just excited to see it work!)

5) Not sure this helps, but it made me feel better to set the max speed to the lower setting before sewing

Since I am so new to embroidery, I cannot say if the machine would meet expectations of someone experienced, but for a beginner like me, I can highly recommend it!

With Amazon's return policy, I felt like I could try this machine even if there may be individual lemons out there - I am planning to use it as much as possible right away to test it. So far 5 Stars all the way.

Oh, and by the way, that is in spite of the fact that the poor thing has been shipped upside down! I am not sure what brainiac did this, but someone put the PE770 box inside another box upside down, and the outer box was delivered right-side-up, of course, so the machine probably traveled upside down for a few days. Still - it is fine and I am keeping it! =]

Beginners should also be aware that a machine like this cannot change your design and the screen for viewing the design is not very useful (does not bother me - I put one design at a time on my memory stick and I know what the machine sees on the stick) - software to manipulate designs is very expensive and somewhat complicated, depending on what computer skills you have and what you want to do (change colors or size all the way to digitize your own designs) – I felt that you really need some basic program, which may be found under 200.-, to view the design and the colors and stich order, so you can pick colors from the threads you have and know where in the design they show up – I did this with two free trial versions of software I downloaded for testing so far but they expire after 30 days - you also need some software to do multiple lines of text, like a quilt label and have the spacing perfect, I think - I did one line of text on the machine without software: my name - could reposition the needle to write the next line but would have to guess the spacing, from what I see so far

I am fairly computer savvy and want to digitize photos of animals - downloaded a free trial version of PE Design 10 and Embird and decided to buy the Embird, but there is other software also - I heard about SewEasy, for example, but have not looked at it. Be prepared to pay as much for some software packages as you paid for the machine, or more. Embird comes in modules, to allow us to start with what we can afford and build on it. Nice for beginners, I think. The basic module does a lot and is 164.- to download from online. That’s the one I decided on.

Just to be clear, the software I am talking about runs on a computer, which you need to have if you want to go this route, it does not run on the embroidery machine. Designs can be transferred from your computer on a memory stick to the PE770. That is a pretty cool feature, and I understand, not available on all embroidery machines. Even if you don't buy the software, the stick transfer can be used for designs bought on the internet with your computer. Free designs are also available on the internet. Pretty cool!

134 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Denise L. Lennon

Apparently I had too high expectations for this machine.

Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2012

Cons: Requires being watched for the entire embroidery process. The machine is not forgiving. Everything has to be absolutely 100% correct. No room for error. *Thread tangles and gets caught or jams up. No Instruction DVD, just book. (I found a demonstration of this machine on HSN. The thread got tangled/broke at least 3 times during her demonstration and she had to stop and rethread machine.)
*Machine has a set number of "stitches" then it has to go in for maintenance at authorized dealer. Not sure what this means... Is it going to be like an oxygen sensor like on a car, where it's just a pain to have to look at if you don't take it in, or.... will the machine just stop working?? Doesn't really say in book...
*Instruction book is hard to follow. I've learned most all things by "Error" codes showing up... Then have to hunt them down in instruction book. ***ALWAYS ALWAYS use backing/stabilizer. Suggest getting all hoops at time of purchase.
***Doesn't seem to do well with more than 5 or 6 color changes in a pattern. It seems to get thrown off the pattern after that. I've had several instances where I used 8-10 color change patterns and it "went of course" in the final 2 color changes which destroyed the project. There is no speed control for winding bobbin. It's "balls to the wall fast" or off. The thread slipped off spool and wound below bobbin. Had to take apart bobbin shaft to get the thread out.

Pros: Once you get it figured out and learn how to get around the problems... it does a good job on semi-simple designs. Easy to rethread... (which is good since the thread breaks so much and you have to rethread it all the dang time).

Bottom Line...I have wanted an embroidery machine for years and I am disappointed with this machine. Would I buy this machine had I known all the above things.... NO. (Well, Let me think about it.... Nope... STILL would be NO!) I would have put the money towards a different machine... Something more on the lines of a small business embroidery machine... For me the Brother PE770 is not enough machine for the money...

4 people found this helpful

1,405 total ratings, 1,126 with reviews

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From the United States

Groucho Twain

Wonderful

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2015

Verified Purchase

134 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jon Foster

Excellent Machine

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2014

Verified Purchase

Just quick first impression review.

The machine was waiting when we got home from work this evening. I wasn't completely happy with the packaging but the issues were minor. Opening it and setting it up was quick and easy. The instruction are clear and easy to read/understand. I honestly can't see why a few people gave this machine low reviews. We had it up and running within minutes. I did about 8 patterns on some really crummy material using the white thread that came with it. I did break the thread 2 times but afterwards I realized the breaks were my fault. I failed to use the correct sized thread retainer. I used the medium sized retainer when I should have been using the large retainer. The reason for the breaks, the thread was catching in the groove on the edge of the thread spool because the retainer diameter was smaller than the spool diameter. Dumb mistake...

So far, this thing is killer. It will be working a lot in the near future with custom patterns. I will probably update this review with more information and details as time goes on, as we learn the in and outs but my first impression of the unit was so high I felt compelled to post a quick review.

Edit: 5-9-2014, I looked around at all the digitizing software and found so many options I couldn't make a choice. The prices range from free to several thousand dollars. So, after a day of reading reviews I thought I would try the SewArt and SewWhat Pro programs because they both have a 30 day free trial and the purchase price if I like them was well under $100 each. I tried the SewArt program and found it extremely easy to use. I digitized a fairly low res POW-MIA logo. It was two colors (black and white) and I sized it to about 5.5 inches tall. Put the file on a USB memory stick, set up the PE770 and started stitching. The layout of the pattern was pretty cool, it stitched (for the lack of a better term) a vertical weave of thread under the area to be covered by the logo. Then it proceeded to stitch the logo. I was instantly amazed at the abilities of this machine. I can't remember the thread count of the pattern but it was well over 22,000 stitches. Now to be fair, the thread did break on me 3 times and at random times/places, but this time the breaks were not because the thread caught in the groove on the spool (I used the larger diameter thread retainer). I think the cause this time was me not using a backing material on the fabric. The fabric was stretched as tight as I could make it in the hoop (I was cheating). I also had one small area where the thread frayed on the material. Later inspection showed that the material was starting to tear and the large size of the logo was causing the material to bunch up under the stitching. The bunching material also made the logo warp on one edge. When the thread broke it would break then continue sewing for a few stitches before stopping. After threading it again I would start sewing but there was a small gap where the thread had broke. I know there is a way to back up the stitching to cover these areas but I couldn't remember how to do it. I'll look it up for future use. All in all, the digitizing software did a fantastic job along with the machine doing a great job considering I had it set up the wrong way to cut corners to do a "quick test". I wish I could upload a sample picture here but I don't think I can.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mary Z. Cox

Holy Moly--the new Dreammaker is $4000--so I bought this instead :)

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2013

Verified Purchase

Used to love to embroider on my old Bernina 180--but the new computers just left it in the dust--and the local shop wanted over $2,000 to update the old software on an old machine.
So I searched for a new one that had a usb slot. Heck--I already had a solid array of PES designs--hundreds of good embroidery thread in every color of the rainbow--and all kinds of embroidery staples. Of course--the new Bother Dream Maker in the VE series caught my eye--but holy moly--$4000 bucks--and my daughter is getting married--and I just bought her the wedding dress of her dreams & my husband made me pay for our cruise this year because he is broke from all the wedding expenses, and I had to buy a new car too because my old ten year old one was wearing out--so the Dreammaker just didn't seem in the cards this year--but the reviews looked good on the PE770--and Very affordable too :)

Amazon drop shipped it to me within the week--my husband helped drag it inside and put it on the dining room table--he said it wasn't heavy at all :)
I unpacked it and took a look through the manuals--but set it up and plugged it in the next morning when I was alert :)
It rained all day today--so spent most of the day trying it out, learning some troubleshooting, making sample embroideries from the designs in the machine. Here's what I learned so far:

PROs
1. Super user friendly. especially for basic set up. The on screen help button has drawings of each step to wind your bobbin, thread your machine, put on the hoop, start the machine.
You do not actually have to be able to read or write to set up this machine--but you probably need to be able to read numbers and count :)

2. It has an automatic scissors button--THIS IS MY FAVORITE FEATURE on all modern machines--and it works fine on this machine!

3. the threading and bobbin set ups are well marked on the machine by numbers

4. the automatic threader is a lot sturdier than most

5. Really, really pretty embroidery stitches

6. 650 speed is much faster than my old Bernina--the designs really stitch fast

7. Got lots of fonts--and I put my daughter's name into memory today. Stitched it out--and it's going to look great on an art apron for her.

8. If your top thread comes loose--it stops and tells you to rethread

Troubleshooting

1. the manuals are okay--but have to wear my glasses to read the print. They cover the basics and do have lots of figure drawings--but they do leave me with quite a few questions--especially about what kind of editing can be done in the machine itself. The manual that came with my Janome Horizon is awesome and easy to read and understand. Is there some kind of better manual for this Brother ?
2. During embroidery--my bobbin thread slipped out of the slot twice--and i had to take off the hoop to reset it--not sure why--but the directions for getting back to the last color and stitches was good and I was able to do that easily and finish the design.
3. The hoop does not click in easily. I'm hoping that as I get to know this machine better--it will operate easily for me. At one point, I was afraid I may have bent the metal part--but the last couple of times it is sliding in a bit easier. The design of this is not particularly steady. The hoop always clicked in immediately and easily on my old Bernina--and it just seems odd that this Brother one is so finicky.
4. the first couple of times i tried the automatic threader--it did not work for me--but I finally got a feel for it--after you get it all threaded and lower the presser foot--push that side button down firm and all at once--do not press it slow--just slam that mother down--and it threads :)

Haven't tried:
Have not tried to download designs to a USB to the machine yet. I downloaded some PES designs and got them to my Mac Air--but haven't found a flash drive that will work on my Mac Air yet.
I'm able to look at the designs on my iPad with Stitch buddy. But Stitch buddy does not load to my Mac Air--so I'm able to transfer files to my computer--but haven't been able to get them on the Brother yet.
My husband is having my old PC lap top stripped, repaired and reloaded--but it is not up and running well enough yet to try the flash drive with it.

If anyone has suggestions about a flash drive that will work with a new Mac Air--let me know :)

Overall--Love this machine and once I can use PES files from the internet again--I will be a happy camper and embroidering fool ! This is the first time I've done much embroidery in over 10 years and I really missed it--like knitting is okay--but machine embroidery is really fun. :)

UPDATE**************Just downloaded my first PES design by usb flash and it stitched out fine--!

Girl With the Banjo Tattoo

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tammie Hanebuth

This machine is wonderful

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2018

Verified Purchase

I have been sewing and quilting for 40 years. This is my first adventure into machine embroidery. After checking out a lot of reviews, I decided to purchase the Brother pe-770 embroidery machine. It is a relatively low price for the features you get and the versatility of this machine.
Being a little intimidated by all the bells and whistles, I read the manual thoroughly to be sure I understood how to operate the machine. The instructions are very helpful and I do recommend reading them. The quick start guide is the "cliff notes" version and is also helpful.
I downloaded a free pattern from Embroidery Library which gives you a few free downloads to try to make sure you can download in the proper format for your machine. I chose the .pes file and downloaded it onto my thumb drive and popped it into the USB port on the machine. Voila!! There it was, ready to use. I opened the file, loaded up the thread color that was indicated and away I went. I will say that it is important to take a few stitches with the machine, stop it, trim the thread end and then let it do its work. There were 9 color changes and the machine stops after each color and also trims the thread for you.
It is important to be sure you are using embroidery thread, I got the 63 color pack from brothread which was perfect. Also, it is important to have correctly wound bobbins, and I ordered them from thread nanny. Just make sure they are rated for your machine. They are very handy, pre-wound and ready to go. I use the white ones for light colored fabric and the black ones for darker colored fabric, although I'm not sure it matters that much. It is also important that you thread your machine correctly. I did have some "looping" of the thread on the top side, and thought it might be a tension problem. It wasn't. I didn't have the thread seated correctly into the first throw of the threading process. Once I seated the thread properly (which just took putting my finger on the thread as the machine took its first few stitches) and away it went, problem solved.
Also, be sure you are using a stabilizer that is recommended for the weight of the fabric you are using. a heavy weight stabilizer and a fine fabric will cause a little puckering, which can also be caused by the fabric not being hooped correctly -- you don't want the fabric to be loose in the hoop. There are several guides on the internet as to what type and weight of stabilizer to use with various fabrics.
I did also purchase an additional set of hoops which gave me a couple of sizes smaller than the one that came with the machine. This helps with smaller projects.

Over all, I give this machine 5 stars, for being inexpensive (relatively), easy to use and a little work horse. I think I have now found my new addiction!!
Tammie

One person found this helpful

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Deb Bee

Love my new embroidery machine!

Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2011

Verified Purchase

I researched different machines. I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money for my first machine. I saw the machine in person at a sewing center that had many models. I decided on the Brother PE770. By purchasing it here on Amazon, I saved over $600.00!! That's right! It was $1,170 before the tax at the sewing center. I paid $60 to the sewing center for a class on how to use my new machine.(they would have been free if I had bought my machine there)I learned info on different stablizers, needles and a little on my machine. Actually, when my machine arrived I jumped right in and started using it with no problems! I had used my new embroidery machine for 6 days before I had taken that class and I had already done great on my own. I had already embroidered a dozen or more items. The Brother PE770 is easy and great. The only trouble I had was with some of the cheaper threads ($1 a piece) I had purchased on-line. They would sometimes break and get caught around the spindle. My husband suggested I turn the "disk" (that holds the spool) backwards. It worked! The less space you have between the spool and the disk the better. I still keep the lid (where the spool is) open so I can keep and eye on the thread. I did not have to change the tension as of yet. Since the expensive spools ($5.00 a piece) worked just fine, I didn't want to mess with the tension. Also I saw somewhere that you could use those little mesh "thread nets" to help with thread problems. It lightly keeps the thread in place. I purchased designs on line and had no problems uploading them onto a "flash drive" and using them. I will tell you that for some reason the machine does not give the correct thread colors on the screen. It does for the designs that come already in the machine but not the ones you purchase. However, when you purchase designs from a good source, that company will let you download or print your color change sheet. There you will see which color comes next and which area the machine embroiders next. All in all, I love my machine! Practice your designs on pieces of fabrics before you put them on something important. Sometimes the designs do not come out correct which has nothing to do with your machine. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine! BTW, I am so happy I purchased the machine with the 5 X 7 hoop! I purchased the four hoops here on Amazon and they work great! Keep in mind your embroidery area is still only 5 X 7 but you don't have to re-hoop to do another design. And the smaller ones are great because you don't waste stabilizer if you are only embroidering a small design. Hope my review is helpful. I know I appreciated the reviews here on Amazon.

540 people found this helpful

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Penny J.

Good Product For The Price - Perfect For A Beginner

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

Be aware that this machine is ONLY an embroidery machine.

My other Brother embroidery machine was a drama queen during the holidays and I needed a machine to complete all my projects pronto. This machine fit the bill, as it was quite economical and would do up to 5x7 inch patterns.

As an entry-level machine, it does what it's supposed to do. The manual threading system is simple and the manual needle threader works great with just a single push of a lever.

The package comes with a single, 5x7 hoop, but you can purchase additional sizes at a reasonable price. The hoops are not quite as high quality as those that come with more expensive machines, but they work easily. They snap in place, and the pressure required took a bit of getting used to, but once you figure it out, it's very simple.

I removed the top cover, as many of my threads are large cones that don't fit on the thread spindle. I use a holder behind the machine for the cones and the cover needs to be removed to accommodate this.

The screen is small and is hard to read, but it's an entry level machine. If you're familiar with embroidery machines, it only takes a few minutes to learn the steps to using the on-screen display. If you're a newbie, you'll need to take your time to understand the steps and how to use the machine, but it's not too complicated. Just be patient and read carefully and you shouldn't have any problems.

The machine uses the same PES format as the other Brother machines, so I didn't need to re-format my designs. It also uses the same bobbins as my other Brother.

The machine has a number of designs and fonts built in. I haven't used them, as I create all my own designs. However, learning to do designs on the machine will just require a little practice and studying the manual. I make my embroidery designs on my computer with an embroidery design program, copy them onto a memory stick and transfer them to the machine. There's a number of embroidery programs available, or you can purchase ready-made designs and transfer those with your memory stick.

This machine is a very good back-up machine and would be perfect for a beginner. A machine in this price range will give you only so many features, and while more expensive machines have larger, more readable screens and can do far more, they also have a much greater learning curve. If you're looking for your first embroidery machine, this little guy will get you started just fine.

I recommend it as a machine that is easy to use. At a cost of less than $600.00, you're getting a lot for your money. It will take care of most of your embroidery needs without a huge investment.

13 people found this helpful

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Ritayana

Great machine for the price.

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2010

Verified Purchase

I didn't want to spend too much on an embroidery machine before knowing if it would be something that would get a lot of use. Although I don't have a dedicated sewing room I opted against getting a combo embroidery/sewing machine because I already had a regular machine. I spent almost a year researching machines and the major selling point besides price was that it takes a thumb drive. It was really easy to get started without having to study the manual too extensively. I hate anything with a steep learning curve because I have very little time to sew. I don't want to spend my precious time reading the manual. I had been looking at Babylocks, but regardless of what the Babylock sales person said, the Brother machines appear identical and much less expensive. I don't have time to take classes (an advantage of buying from a dealer) so I went for the cheaper Brother. Also, Babylock doesn't sell this model as a stand alone embroidery machine. The PE770 is the same as the BL Ellure Plus without the sewing machine. The set up is really easy and I immediately began stitching out some of the preloaded designs. The stitch quality is great. The preloaded designs are dominated by the "cutsie" stuff that isn't really my cup of tea. Who wants a garment with a teddy bear playing accordion on a tree stump? I downloaded some cool designs from a website and put them on the thumb drive. It was very easy to transfer them to the machine and sew them even though we don't own a PC. My husband found a program for Macs so I was able to see the image and the color chart on the Mac. We can run PC programs on one of our Macs and I will probably get Embird soon. Given the fact that it is a lower-end model there are some downsides. The image is in black & white on the machine's display. Also, the image just looks like a blob. There is very little editing on the machine itself. I am interested to know if the embroidery software will make that less of a problem. I haven't ventured into trying to place designs in an exact spot yet. The embroidery hoop comes with a grid to help with that but I haven't figured out how to do it. Once the thread broke and it was really easy to figure out how to get back to where it was and restitch it. If I end up using it a lot I might eventually consider a fancier machine but I think I made a good choice for a beginner. The automatic threader is great! The seller (Ken's via Amazon) sent some information about different types of stabilizer that was very helpful. I just wish I had more time to play with this fun machine.

759 people found this helpful

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kittyandbean

PE770 Opens Up a Whole New World

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2015

Verified Purchase

This machine is awesome. I am so very happy with my selection in Brother and in choosing this particular machine that brings me fully into the digital age of sewing and crafting.

Setting the merits of the machine aside for a moment, little did I realize just how many beautiful patterns are out there for download at surprisingly little cost. I see that machine embroidery is a lifelong hobby of which I will never tire because I am presented with endless possibilities that will enhance my crafting, making it more fun and satisfying.

Back to the machine. The Brother machine was easy to set up and is easy to use. While I have done plenty of sewing over the years, I had never used an embroidery machine and had only viewed You Tube videos of how the machines operate. I admit that I am still learning how to use some features, but I was able to produce a pattern within my first hour after initial set-up. Since then I have worked out the kinks to produce some beautiful patterns for mini-pillows and kitchen towels. Yes, I've had a few broken needles because I allowed the thread to become tangled, and I have had some thread breaks. One does need to monitor the machine throughout the stitching process. However, these issues allowed me to learn how to change the needle and how to correct errors and still come out with a nice finished product. I have learned how to correct errors using the machine's computer to back up and re-stitch, and how to advance to a specific portion of a pattern when I've had to turn the machine off in the middle of a project. Changing the bobbin in the middle of a pattern is easy. It seems as though Brother has thought of pretty much everything in designing a machine that is user-friendly and one that produces surprisingly professional results for home crafters. I am very much amazed at the advances that have been made in home sewing.

I note that it's important to choose good thread. I tried Embroidex but returned it after suffering through machine jams, and I could see that the thread was twisting as it came off the spool before it ever reached the needle. Coats and Clark works well but is prohibitively expensive. I have settled on ThreaDelight which is both very affordable and seems to be a quality product. I hope to get the full spectrum of 260 colors soon.

While Brother provides quite a few starter patterns and some lettering that resides in the machine, the best way to produce beautiful projects is to purchase online patterns and fonts. I am using Embroidery Library patterns and will remain loyal to this online site because of the pricing and the fact that customers are treated to free patterns on occasion. Also, every pattern is quality -- every one has stitched out perfectly and accurately. The site also offers thread color conversion which makes it easy for using most any type of popular embroidery thread. The company employs digital artists who spit out wonderful patterns on a daily basis. I now have an "Embroidery Library" of patterns in my computer that will keep me in projects for the foreseeable future!

I tried using two freeware digital editors to produce my own patterns or edit purchased designs but found that they were very limited in what they could do, and they both seemed to have bugs. I will eventually purchase Embird or one of the other editors for sale so that I have all available and up-to-date software features for functions such as pattern splitting, True Type font manipulation, etc.

For anyone considering their first embroidery machine, I recommend that you be as organized as possible from the start. You will be downloading lots of stuff! Each pattern and pattern size that you choose to purchase online has its own digital file. Each pattern has its own associated "color change" sheet. I already have a couple hundred files in my computer for embroidery. While there's nothing confusing about downloading, it does require being organized. Since the Brother machine only stores a few patterns, and the patterns are not that easily discernible on its LCD screen, I maintain all of my embroidery files in a folder on my hard drive and bypass using the Brother machine for pattern storage. I load only one embroidery file at a time onto my thumb drive, for whatever project I'm going to produce, upload it into the machine, and delete it from both the machine and thumb drive when I'm done. This works for me.

Brother might have done us a favor by revealing that maximum stitch count for any one pattern is 50,000 stitches. I discovered this on the Embroidery Library site (the site has a list of embroidery machines and the maximum stitch count of each). This limitation is no problem, however, considering that most every 5 x 7 pattern at Embroidery Library is under 50,000 stitches. Also, there is no information available, as far as my research found, of the stitch life of the machine, if there is one, and when servicing should occur. These facts would have been helpful in analyzing which machine to purchase. The spool holder might have been a little better designed because it does seem to lend itself to thread tangles, but the machine is sturdy, heavy, and looks nice on your sewing table. I'm still fascinated watching it stitch out the patterns. And while I don't relish thread breaks when they do occasionally occur, I figure it's part of the process of machine embroidery and partaking in this hobby.

Overall, the Brother machine does what it purports to do at an affordable price. For the home crafter, it opens up a whole new world of crafting possibilities and allows one to turn creative impulses into completed projects that are professional, colorful and beautiful. I don't write Amazon reviews often, but the Brother PE770, in my opinion, deserves a 5-Star rating.

14 people found this helpful

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M_in_TN

EXCELLENT machine for the money. Best value available...period.

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2013

Verified Purchase

I've used various machines over the years from home to commercial and while this lower end machine won't satisfy the high volume crowd, it will definitely suite the home user.

When it comes to embroidery machines 2 things count the most.
1. Speed - stitches per minute - the faster the more expensive
2. Max hoop size - the larger the available hoop capability the more expensive
Secondary to that are handy features but are not must haves:
1. Automatic jump stitch cut
2. Needle auto threading

Beyond these things, it's mostly fluff.

Here is why this machine is so good:

1. Stitches per minute is 650 (averages about 450). For the typical 5,000 to 7,000 stitch design this is about 15 minutes.
To get the next step up in ANY machine brand is 800 SPM, a minimum price tag of $1,200 with same other features.
2. Max hoop size of 7 X 5 but can do 12 x 5 with multiple position hoop feature.
This is a decent size hoop that will catch 80% of what most people do.
To get the next largest capacity in any brand is 10 x 6 which has a minimum price tag of $1,500 with same other features.
3. It has most of the capabilities of the more expensive machines that are actually important
Stitch count position
Design rotation
Can take a USB stick or connect directly to the computer
Upper thread tension adjustment through the touch screen interface
Design outline preview (traces the outline of the design on the hoop to how it will sit)
Best needle auto threader I have ever seen

I'm going to stop with that because as a semi-professional operator these are the primary things that determine functionality. Built in designs and stitches are pretty much useless to me so I can't evaluate that.

As for quality of stitch, it's as good as any home machine I've seen. It did take a little time to set the bobbin tension as it was too loose from the factory. Once I got it set, it's delivered flawlessly. No birds nests and no broken upper thread.

I'll also say that this machine is one of the quietest I've used, maybe because it's only humming along at 650 SPM but it's very quiet.

Bottom line, if you are looking for a second home machine or are just getting started you absolutely can not go wrong with this machine.

The only negative thing I have to say about it is how the hoops connect. Higher end machines slide the hoop into the locking mechanism. This one (and the next model up) require you to pull back a tension clip and push the hoop down onto 2 protruding brackets. Nothing wrong with this in and of itself but it makes for awkward hoop attachment and removal.

***EDIT***
Initially I stated that "...because the hoop was such a tight fit, you really have to press down and because the table arm only has a single connection to the bar, the force causes it to bend temporarily until you get it pressed on."

This is not correct. It turns out it was a defective hoop because all the others slip on and off the bracket with absolutely no effort at all (even though it's still awkward). I wanted to correct this because if you have to use any force at all (other than to pull the retainer clip back) you have a defective hoop and should have it replaced.

I deducted 1 star for this initially but because it was a defective hoop, I am revising the review to 4.5 stars. Half star off still because of the way the hoops attach.

The bottom line is that this is an EXCELLENT machine for the money. It stitches very well and if it doesn't then a minor lower or upper thread adjustment is all that's needed. Highly recommend this product.

70 people found this helpful

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JMaster

Works as advertised

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024

Verified Purchase

Wife loves this thing. She makes all kinds of designs with it. She says it's easy to use.

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