Sewing machines

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

Comment:

Gave our daughter prw brother 210 for Christmas,, worked great yesterday. Now there's an e1 error that won't clear. I had read another review that sited the same problem. I had hoped it was an isolated problem. Going to keep researching to see if there is a fix. Very disappointed

How long have you owned it:

A month or less

Bottom Line

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

(14 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

Comment:

I had never sewed on anything other than an entry level machine until I received this machine and WOW! what a difference a good machine makes! I bought a Brother PC-210 PRW ltd edition after comparing it to a Brother PC-420 Innov PRW ltd edition, because it was 10 less stitches,a heavier machine and had good online reviews. It was a dream machine and super intuitive to use from the get-go, but a few days later when an E1 error message showed up, there was no way to reset it or get the machine working again. The instruction book showed how to clear the message and that worked, but the E1 would reappear and the machine would not restart. I went online to find that many Brother models have this issue... a fuse and computer circuitry issue from lifting the pressure foot too early when the back-stitch is on. When I contacted Brother directly they confirmed it would take one of their repair centers to work on the circuit board. I live 10 miles north of San Francisco and the nearest centers were 50 miles in two directions. (No repair center in San Francisco?) I called one only to have the technician tell me they typically only work on the $1000+ machines, but I could bring it in if I wanted. So I am sending this back to [@] and not getting another Brother, as this type of usage error is so common and I can see doing it again. A shame, though... it was fun to sew on. See the message boards ... many Brother models have this same issue. It is repairable too, but repair centers are few and far between.

How long have you owned it:

A month or less

Bottom Line

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

(20 of 20 customers found this review helpful)

Comment:

I'm a mom with three kids. I've made clothing for kids and stuffed animals, blankets, banners, halloween costumes, puppets.. I was looking for a fairly simple, good-quality machine. I saw a few different brands at retail locations, and I just did't know what features made the machines different. I ended up going to a local retailer where I had gone for years to have my old machine repaired. <br />What sold me on this model was the salesperson's demonstration. He showed me a sample of differently weighted fabrics that were sewn together end-to-end about as long as a yardstick. A portion of the material on top of several layers of denim, and finally part of that was layered over a leather belt. The salesperson sat at the machine and passed the sample under the needle, which stitched smoothly and evenly through all the layers without any problems!<br /><br />He then had ME sit at the machine and do the same.<br />I loved that I could gently support the fabric as it passed under the needle, and I didn't have stop to change a needle or thread tension. <br /><br />I LOVE this machine--it's portable and simple to thread. To wind the bobbin, the thread remains in the first two positions as used to thread the needle, so no removal of the main spool do this task. <br /><br />There are little blades in three strategic locations to quickly and easily trim excess thread--bobbin winder, bobbin case, and on the left side of the machine casing to trim thread from a pass under the needle. <br /><br />The troubleshooting is also simple. A code pops up on the little screen if something is amiss. The slim user's manual covers a lot of information. With this manual, I have been able to easily resolve any problem I have experienced so far. One example is needle breakage--in the manual there are good visual tips for checking to make sure your needle is not bent.<br /><br />Another time, I could not dial the number of the stitch I wanted to use. I even tried to override by unplugging and plugging in again, but the code came up until I referenced the manual. I had inadvertent-ly pressed the double needle option, and was not using that feature. Easy fix. <br /><br />Three speeds for the motor are a great feature for delicate work or long passes with fabric for curtains, for example.<br /><br />There are 40 different stitches available. It's way more than I thought I would ever use beyond straight and zig zag. There are some good options for sewing closely to a raw edge to finish it without having to use a serger.<br /><br />The storage compartment is a bit small, but I use a sewing box for my accessories. <br /><br />Overall, this machine is convenient, and it is so portable. It has made my life easier.<br /> <br />I would absolutely recommend this model to anyone who is thinking of purchasing a machine for family/household projects.

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.