Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine, CE7070PRW, Project Runway, 70 Built-in Stitches, LCD Display, Wide Table, 7 Included Sewing Feet

Top positive review

compared to my Babylock Melody

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2015

I needed to have my Babylock Melody machine serviced and the service center is so back logged that it would be 2-3 weeks before it will be ready. I sew every day making clothes for myself and a little shop in town. I had withdrawal at the thought of being without a sewing machine. So...took a chance and ordered this little Brother machine to keep me going. It says self threading, but it took two trips to the owners manual to really get the threading of needle on the first try. bL Melody has a self threading mechanism that is a little easier, but once I got used to the Brother threading it is flawless. There is a tension control at top of Brother machine/ BL is self adjusting, but after I did an initial adjustment on the Brother I have made 5 garments without readjusting. Hooray..the BL bobbins work in the Brother machine. The removable sewing table is a little smaller than the BL Melody..no problem for me since I'm not a quilter. If you quilt go with a bigger table machine. The BL has an automatic thread cutter which I initially missed but not a big deal. The decorative stitches work great on both machines, buttonholes fine on both, was impressed at how well this little Brother machine performed when repairing a pair of denim jeans. There is a little black knob on the pressure foot to push to help through thickness variance. Had to tinker and go back to the manual to wind the bobbin. I made a slight adjustment to the fill level shutoff. I had a Bernina for 30 years and finally upgraded two years ago to the BL Melody for about $1000. Was I ever behind on sewing technology! If I had known how sweet this little Brother machine was for much less $$$ I would have bought it instead of the BL Melody. I have a very pricey self threading serger I wouldn't relinquish and an embroidery machine I also use when making clothes. When my BL is back home, I will still keep this Brother out to use, probably keep it threaded with cream colored which I use often. For the money you will be pleased with this little machine. To maximize your machine read the owners manual. Most of us like to jump in and sew, but you will like your machine more if you familiarize yourself with the owners manual. I sometimes meet someone who wants to learn to sew and thinks they should buy an old used machine. Don't. The newer machines are so userfriendly, not worrying about adjusting bobbin and upper tension, messing with old cranky bobbin cases below the sewing table, etc. I think a lot of new sewers would be happier to go with a little machine like this, sign up for a few beginner lessons on Craftsy.com to enjoy sewing. Glad I did read my manual before setting up or I might have broken the thread spindle. Have been sewing for over 50 years.

22 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

MRPhotographer

Can barely see the LCD screen

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2018

Oh, Brother, I have never been so happy and sad over one product in my life!
The good news: The machine sews like a dream. It is quiet, the fabric, heavy or light moves nicely through the feed and the threading is not too bad. I love the mechanical threader and look forward to the auto button maker.
The bad news: I have been sewing for about 50 years and can still see well. But, really, dull black letters over a grey LCD screen that is not lit up? My husband kept saying," there must be a light switch for the screen". Don't think so! It's like seeing Disney World from across a moat, but you have no way to get to it! You see all of these features that you want to try, but you have to spend minutes trying to make sure all of the numbers are correct on the LCD screen! Brother, you go to all of this trouble to create a really nice machine, then people can't see how to use it? I think they should take all of these machines off the market and fix the screen! Other issues: I missed the other features that are on the You Tube instructions, like the variable speed and the needle position. Also, when you turn it off, it always reverts back to a 2.5 stitch length. After 50 years, when making a sewing mistake, I don't think I want to take out a foot of 2.5 inch stitches. Buy a Brother that has a lighted LCD screen at least!

46 people found this helpful

568 total ratings, 430 with reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

Deland Florida customer

compared to my Babylock Melody

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2015

Verified Purchase

22 people found this helpful

Helpful

SheShops2much

Strong machine with beautiful stitch capabilities

Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2014

Verified Purchase

I have a brother SE400 that decided it needed some time off. Unfortunately for me, it took vacation in the middle of a quilt and honestly, I was having a great time. So I grabbed this and forked over over night shipping fees. Good price for a basic machine... right? I'm so not an expert on sewing or machines but I can say, the stitch capability for this machine is wonderful. Beautiful leaves, hearts, lace patterns, feathers, don't let me bore you... there are 70 functional as well as beautiful stitches, oh yes, Greek key is one. I did that stitch in red on a white kitchen towel and it was fantastic. While it does have the auto threader, there is no thread cutter, if there were this machine would be perfect. There are no speed controls or needle up and down or push button sewing like the se400. I loved that. Every thing is done by foot pedal. My husband even jumped on it and we sewed cat toys while having a few beers. We had a good time. Anyone can sew something on this machine. Since I'm very rural, the nearest sewing machine mechanic is about 100 miles away one way. I upgraded the se400 to the PE7300 embroidery only by brother. I've so many Nancy Zieman and Eileen Roche designs collected on my computer (I just bought a $200 PC bundle here on Amazon that is totally dedicated to the se400 and coupons) I have to have an embroidery machine now...;))) I'll let you know how that goes. But for now, I'll finish my quilts and start on some dresses and britches to send to kids somewhere over the holidays. I'm looking forward making some new home accessories for the Holidays. Funny how calming and centering the steady hum of a sewing machine has.
Teach your kids, boys and girls alike to sew. It's a practical creative outlet and this is a good machine to have.

23 people found this helpful

Helpful

theresa

Life saver

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2020

Verified Purchase

The shipping was super fast and the product was exactly as advertised. I need to sew some mask for my me and the rest of my nursing staff. The price was 60.00 cheaper than Joann fabrics and faster delivery. It’s very easy to use and if your a beginner. The instructions are on the spot and easy to follow. I have been using it for over 30 days and no issue. I love how easy it is to change stitch styles. It has a nice wide foot pedal but it doesn’t have a case. But it has an attachment to give you a extra wide sewing space. The treader is ok if you really want to take the time to use it. It came with bobbins, and speciality stitching feet, pretty cool extras. It was really worth the money and sews like a 1200 dollar machine. I have been sewing since I was 8 and now I am a grandMom. After 60 mask and other items its still purring like a kitten.

Helpful

Carolyn M

Love this machine — price is right.

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2019

Verified Purchase

I actually bought this machine when my Project Runway machine was in the shop, and I didn’t want to stop sewing even for two weeks. It cost about $300 less than Project Runway, but I love this machine. Sturdy enough for sewing clothing, tension is always perfect, easy to use and thread. It lacks some of the features of my Project Runway. The bobbin filler lacks the little notch that cuts the thread, so have to wind it really tight to get it to catch for filling the bobbin. It lacks the button that raises the needle after sewing and have to use the wheel to raise the needle. But an excellent second machine. I also have a Brother serger and love it. With all things, I take them in periodically for tune ups, which always helps, even for Brother. I also had a Brother printer for about 10 years before it gave out, and that was while I was in graduate school, so it got heavy duty use. Love Brother products; can’t go wrong.

Helpful

MRPhotographer

Can barely see the LCD screen

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2018

Verified Purchase

46 people found this helpful

Helpful

Herald

Awesome!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

Twelve years ago, my husband gave me a Singer machine for my birthday. I was thrilled to finally have my own machine. I sold that machine three years ago after I was given my mother-in-law's Singer Confidence machine after she passed away. That machine was practically new and computerized where mine was not. I was a little afraid to use it, in fear I would break something. Once I got the hang of it, I really liked it. It has been building up for a while now that when I would use the feather stitch, the machine would skip every third stitch. It was so frustrating that I was hoping it would cure itself so when I would use it again, poof! it would be healed. Not so much. I tried everything the manual had instructed, and it just wasn't working. So, I went shopping for a new machine. My very own-hand-picked-by-me machine. I looked on Amazon, Joann, & Walmart. Amazon had the best price by far and I would have it in 2 days. Actually, I had it in one. Yea! I was going back and forth between Brother CS6000i and Brother Project Runway CE7070PRW. The price difference between the two was about $5.00. No biggie. The CS6000i came with a hard case, a wide table, and it has the ability to embroider. I have no idea how to embroider, but I make small quilts and that option would be a plus. But honestly, what didn't sell me was the shape of the machine. I like things neat and square. I am picky, but I am spending the money, I know what I don't want. An ugly machine. The CE7070PRW also comes with a wide table, but no hard case. I wasn't too concerned about the case. I can always make a cover, which I did last night. Also, with comparing machines and comparing Singer to Brother (this is my first Brother machine), Brother machines have the thread holder at the top at an angle. It sits away from the machine when sewing. My Singers both have had the thread holder at the top laying flat against the machine. If your spool is slightly larger than the allowed space, your tension is too tight, and the frustration begins. So, my machine arrived in one day. As I was unpacking, I found myself taking note to how it was packed, in case, I needed to return it. But as I was setting it up, I knew I wouldn't be. Without even powering the machine on, I was in love. The little things sold me. The thread holder as I already mentioned, the power plug inserts on the back of the machine, not along the side next to the foot pedal plug. That little bit of cord makes a difference. The Brother machine has a carrying handle built into the machine, not a flip up handle that always make me weary of using. The tool kit comes in a clean white bag with a snap. I can see if you don't use the wide table, the tool kit can be a hassle. It stores inside the machine, but you need to slide the compartment out every time you would need a tool. My wide table was figured into my cover, as it will always be attached. My sewing table is an old desk and my tools are stored in a drawer. Singer machines were all I knew, and grew up believing they were the top of the line. Being my first Brother machine, I would recommend to anyone looking for a new machine. This machine is quieter and has a easy to understand instruction manual. When selecting a stitch, you get the stitch width/length and also the pressure foot needed for that stitch. With the Singer Confidence, I was always struggling to understand the width and length needed. My only complaint with this awesome machine is the foot pedal. A little more pressure is needed than my previous machines.

49 people found this helpful

Helpful

Quiltlady

Great basic machine

Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2014

Verified Purchase

I bought this when my thirty five year old Kenmore died. I have used it mostly for piecing quilts and it works great for that. There is even a stitch setting for quarter inch seams. I don't know if it will hold up as long as my old machine but time will tell on that. I would recommend this machine to anyone who wants a basic dependable sewing machine. I really appreciate the table that comes with it; makes sewing quilt blocks much easier. This would be a good beginner's machine too, I think. Haven't had the tension problems others have mentioned (knock on wood). It is light and easy to carry to classes and retreats, which is another reason I purchased this model. It is lightweight to carry but a sturdy machine. It does seem to be a little louder than other machines, but not bad. I experimented and used one of the decorative stitches to attach a binding to a quilt. Very nicely done and easy to set up. The only problem I anticipate is losing the round piece that holds the thread spool onto the spindle. It seems very loose to me although I haven't had it pop off yet.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Brendan

Machine DOA

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2013

Verified Purchase

I am an intermediate sewist, looking to replace my dead beginner machine with a machine with more features and better durability. I was very excited by the Brother's features (threading this machine is amazingly easy and I really appreciated all the included presser feet) and wanted to like this machine, but the one I received was DOA: fresh out of the box, the upper tension was far too tight, so tight that simply trying to pull the upper thread by hand would cause the needle to bend (so this could not have possibly been a problem with the bobbin) and the stitches were a mess (the bobbin thread showed up on the top fabric while using a straight stitch, and the top thread did not zigzag when using a zigzag stitch). Turning the tension dial did not make any difference, even on the 0 setting. After checking to make sure the machine was properly threaded (it was), we shined a flashlight so we could see the tension assembly while we turned the tension dial, and found that turning the dial did not make the assembly move at all, so we're guessing that the tension control was not connected at all to the assembly. The machine has been sent back to Amazon, and I'm searching for a different (probably Jenome) machine to take its place (I'm not impressed by Brother's quality control, and am afraid that even if I got a replacement of the same model it would fail in some other way far too soon). Hopefully my machine's issues were the exception and not the rule, but I wanted to let everyone know my experience.

24 people found this helpful

Helpful

Ruth A Kirchner

great buttonholes!-- edited 3 years later...

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2017

Verified Purchase

I purchased this machine for the sole purpose of making buttonholes. I have no intention of using it for any other sewing. I have a sewing contracting business and own a fleet of industrial sewing machines, including an industrial buttonholer, which is set up to make buttonholes on heavy wool coats. I have recently obtained a contract for men's and dogs (yes, DOGS!) shirts and have found myself making no less than 100 buttonholes a day... industrial machine chews up the cotton fabric... had a small home machine that required 4 steps to make a buttonhole, thus hard to regulate identical sizing. This machine makes an automatic 1-step buttonhole and it is awesome. no complaints from my end... almost gave it 4 stars because the needle automatically stops in a down position, but I figured out how to make it stop in an upright position, which is a timesaver when you are making a 100+ buttonholes a day. Only complaint I have is that it is slow... but that's because I am used to speed of industrial equipment. This machine will serve its purpose until I can buy an industrial buttonhole maker for lightweight fabrics... plus, the extended table is perfect to lay the garment on

edit: 2/21/20 I've had this machine for 3 years now and never an issue with it. As stated in my original review, I use it primarily for making buttonholes. I will be traveling to visit my daughter next week and am in the process of re ordering this machine to be at my destination place so I can do some work while there. This will also provide my granddaughters with a machine that is reliable and easy to use, if they ever choose to follow in their grandmother's footsteps :-)

18 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Nice machine

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2014

Verified Purchase

I'm not the seamstress in this house. I bought this as a gift for my daughter who is learning to sew and planning on going into fashion studies in the fall. She's been having issues with the bobbins tangling since she got it. She's also saying something about the foot or tensioner. Beats me...again, I don't sew and know nothing about the machine. She got if for Christmas and is still debating whether or not to just return it. Previous reviews made it seem like a great machine and her sewing teachers at school both highly recommended it. She made a pair of curtains on it already and kept having issues with the bobbin tangling. I'll have to amend this review once she decides one way or the other.

***Update 1/17/14***
Ended up returning the original machine. Had it replaced with the same one. Amazon handled the return FABULOUSLY! Filed the return, dropped the old machine off at the UPS store and Amazon had the new machine at our door the following day. My daughter started using the new machine right away and already says that it's working better than the first. I guess we just got a bad machine the first time. Things happen...not all that upset about it. Especially since the return was so easy. I'll update further after some more sewing is done.

Helpful

Questions? Get fast answers from reviewers

Need customer service?

‹ See all details for Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine, CE7070PRW, Project Runway, 70...

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine, CE7070PRW, Project Runway, 70...

›

Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine, CE7070PRW, Project Runway, 70 Built-in Stitches, LCD Display, Wide Table, 7 Included Sewing Feet

Top positive review

Top critical review

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

Questions? Get fast answers from reviewers

Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine, CE7070PRW, Project Runway, 70... › Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine, CE7070PRW, Project Runway, 70 Built-in Stitches, LCD Display, Wide Table, 7 Included Sewing Feet

Top positive review

Top critical review

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

Questions? Get fast answers from reviewers

Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine, CE7070PRW, Project Runway, 70...

›

Customer reviews