Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine, CS6000i, 60 Built-in Stitches, 2.0" LCD Display, Wide Table, 9 Included Sewing Feet, Beige/Blue

I have bought three of these sewing machines. My first one was purchased at Walmart nine years ago and two were purchased from Amazon for gifts. Additionally, after using mine, all of my friends who were in need of a sewing machine also rushed out and bought it. Why? Because even a brand new seamstress can thread it, and easily sew without confusion or stress. It is quiet and lighter than the old all medal ones if you don't have a sewing room and need to move it from storage to the table. I have not encountered the tension problem that can cause frustration when sewing garments with different fabrics. I had a sewing class at my house and assisted many girls and mothers with their various machines and some are so temperamental that it makes sewing almost a chore. This one stood out above the rest in ease of use, handling different tasks with quick change feet and easy stitch selection. It even has a three speed lever that allows you to limit the speed of the needle even with the pedal pushed all of the way down, which I find extremely useful when teaching my children how to sew. While this machine is low priced it is a quality machine so don't compare it to other lower end machines hoping to save a dollar or two. I have another lower end Brother that I bought for one of my daughters back when this machine was $300, and it does not perform nearly as well as this one. The Brother CS6000i is a higher level quality machine at a knocked down price because as new models come out, Brother naturally wants you to buy them. However, this one has it all and now sells at a reasonable price! Additionally, this machine has all the features that anyone would possibly need to sew clothes, quilts and household items. There are specialized feet and accessories available that can take this machine to a higher level if you need it. I recently spent the money on all the specialuzed feet because with new machines always coming out, I was worried after nine years they would eventually discontinue selling them. However, they are not necessary just extra such as a binding off foot if you don't have a serger (which I have). I used to own two different singers and was quite happy with them and when they broke naturally I was inclined to purchase another one. However, I love this machine and have found this Brother reliable, constant and worth every dollar. I have recently checked the web and have found this price is still unbeatable. I have owned mine for over 9 years and it still works just as well as the first day I opened the box.

I haven't done anything big with this machine yet, just wanted to offer a couple things that impressed me so far. This machine is replacing a 35ish year old Singer Touch and Sew (that I haven't used in years.) Some of the features that the Brother offers might be common place, but to me they're brand new. The cover that comes with this machine has an opening in the back that lines up perfectly with the indentation in the back of the sewing machine. So although it isn't a typical sewing machine cover, it acts as one. The cover slides on and you can carry the machine pretty easily. The controls that are on the front of the machine are absolutely new to me. --The first is the needle up/down button. Where ever the needle is sitting, this button takes it to the opposite. --This machine has a foot control, but it also has a SEW button on the machine. Push the button, it sews (without the foot control). --Slide the SPEED button and it goes from really really slow, up to very fast, and is adjustable while you're sewing. Yes, the foot pedal still works just fine, but the control that this offers is terrific. I was just working on stitching a new strap on a bag. It was bulky and impossible to pin (too thick). I slid the strap in place, lowered the presser foot, pushed the needle down button, slid the speed all the way to slow, and pushed the sew button. Very controlled, pretty cool. Then there's the really fast bobbin winder. Very easy. The lower threading/bobbin area of the machine is also very simple to set up. Again, it's different than my old Singer. It has a very clear diagram and once you've done it a couple times, it's easy. If there's a down side for me, and it isn't enough for me to lower the rating, is that I'm used to the presser foot lever being on the back, rather than the side, My hand will learn where it is. UPDATE: November 2012 This sewing machine is still easy! I've yet to have to use the foot pedal. I just love the SEW button. I feel it gives better control than the foot pedal. I've done a few small quilts, a few bags and a machine appliqué class. I've even tried free motion quilting. That's going to take some practice, but the machine worked great. Oh, and I bought some inexpensive hand towels at Walmart and did some decorative stitching on them for my daughter. FUN!! I've yet to be disappointed. The one thing I didn't mention before is that I use this at home as well as in an RV. Works great on a tv tray or the kitchen table while on the road. This machine doesn't weigh much. I can slip the cover on and stow it away in my clothes closet with no hassle. Very light, well put together and functional! I would buy this one all over again!

I shopped around for a new machine and almost went with a world famous name brand, until I really read the user comments. The famous machine very similar to this one, was getting comments having to do with the timing of the motor which is manufacturer error solely and not an easy thing to get fixed which with a brand new machine you shouldn't have to do in the first place. With this Brother machine the negative comments IMHO have to do with people not reading or following the directions. I have been using this machine daily since it arrived and so far I just love it! The needle threader works fine, I have no trouble with it at all. I have tried every single feature of this machine, all the stitches, the buttonholes. One of the only things I find kind of "cheap" is the markings on the button hole attachment, while some are marked the others on the sides are not and are a royal pain to try to read on white plastic, it wouldn't cost that much to dab some paint on those markings or to make the thing out of metal. I find that threading the machine is extremely easy to do and the bobbin is a snap to wind and put in place. My only other complaint is the work light, it really is not very strong at all but that can be got around. This is a true value, a great home machine, an extension table which I find invaluable, a cover to keep dust off, several sets of needles,bobbins,punch,screwdriver and just about every attachment made for this machine. The only attachment I bought separately was the 1/4 inch quilting foot, which I really didn't need but it's nice to have, and I only paid $9 for that. I will most likely shop around for a carrying case for this machine, it's worth protecting. I learned on a 1942 famous name brand S and then was given a 1979 second hand machine, another famous name brand with a K which has been nothing but a mess all these years. I was going to go with a new machine, famous name S because I was comfortable with the name and trusted it but I have since found out that the machines are not what they used to be. I decided to take a chance on this Brother and so far I am really glad I did. I feel I got real value with this. Let me just say here that if you are going to be working with lots of heavy fabrics then stop being cheap and spend the money to get a machine built to do that, don't complain that this machine breaks or messes up. If you want to do normal home sewing or quilting then this machine has what you need to accomplish those tasks. UPDATE Feb. 2015 Just finished my first quilt on this machine, had no trouble at all. Followed the directions on using the correct needle and good quality thread, gave it one cleaning just to be on the safe side,wasn't a bit of nothing in there but any machine needs cleaning. Took the advice of not using canned air to blow the lint into the machine and used a small paintbrush and a vacuum. Didn't care for the little brush that came with it. Maybe I am one of the lucky ones and didn't get a so called lemon I don't know but so far the machine has been able to handle everything I've thrown at it. I saw where one person had a bit of trouble with it moving some on the table, I had that happen too so I got some of that kitchen drawer liner, can't think of the name of it to save me, but it's the waffle type rubber stuff. Put some of that under my machine and it ain't moved since. :)

This is my second experience with sewing machines. My first was a toy Singer sewing machine that I just returned because it was was dead on arrival (well, shortly after actually). That was a Christmas gift for my daughter - a great idea, and though we had not thought of giving her one ourselves (my wife does not sew either) she was very excited about it when she opened it. Unfortunately when I called the Singer toy sewing machine support line they recommended returning it because they suspected a faulty part that they did not have in stock. That turned out to be a lucky break for us. So we ventured to Sears to check out what else was available, where we saw the Singer 7442 and a few cheaper models. It seemed like it would be nice to able to do more than just simple stitches, and the prices were not all that different ($140 - 200). A quick look at Amazon at the 7442 lead us to this Brother. Because the reviews were slightly better for the Brother CS6000i (and because I had just returned a Singer, and was not all that excited about getting another of that brand) I bought the Brother. After using it for a few days I am very happy with this purchase. I gave it five stars, because for the price it really is a very nice machine (which you can read about in other reviews here). Easy to use, with lots of options that actually work and do make it easier to use. It does seem to have high quality parts where it matters. It is fun for her to have the wide variety of stitches, and the one step button hole feature might be useful if she gets more into sewing. But nothing is perfect, and so here are the downsides that I did not see much written in other reviews are: It comes with a cheap (bottomless) cover that can't be called a case. It can't even really be called a dust cover since it has a hole near the top so you can reach the handle of the machine to carry it. It doesn't hold the additional pieces of the machine either. Brother should have just just saved that poor tree instead of including this 'case'. I'll be storing the machine and the additional parts in the original box and foam packaging. Although that is a quite a bit bigger than really necessary, it will provide much better protection than the 'case'. It's too bad they didn't spend just a little more on the box packaging and give up on the 'case' idea. They could have made the box a very functional and protective storage mechanism if they just made it easier to pack. The machine is constructed with a fair amount of plastic (though it seems to be metal in the places where it matters). The 25 year guarantee gives me some hope, but in general when I think of something made of plastic with electronics in it, longevity does not come to mind. When I was looking at the antique Singers (401a, etc), all made of metal, still working after 30-40 years, I felt a pang of anguish for our society that has shifted from making and buying high quality long-lasting products in the US to off-shore produced planned obsolescence. What a waste of resources, pity about pollution through the whole process, not to mention the jobs. I will be surprised if the LCD and electronics in this system are still working in even 10 years (I'm going to try holding on to the receipt for the life of the 25 year warranty because I bet it will come in handy at some point). Maybe I'll tape it to that cheap cover.... The manual is quite good (without really knowing anything about sewing I was able to get the machine set up and sewing in about an hour), but would be much better if it were specific to this model. There are many places in the model where it says, "Or you can do this if your model has this feature." Well, there are times when I'm reading it when I'm not sure if my model has that feature, and it takes some time to figure it out. It really seems like Brother should be able to print different versions of the documentation for their different machines at not much extra cost. I would pay a few more dollars in the overall price to have a customized user manual. On a positive note, every time I've hit one of those sections so far, this model does have the feature.

This is my third Brother machine, and overall I am happy with the product, but it is not perfect. There are a lot of reviews that state there are problems with the tension on this machine, and yes, I am finding that to be an issue. It seems that it doesn't matter how I adjust the tension, it just won't get it right. I have tried googling the problem and doing all of the required things- changing thread, changing the needle, changing the bobbin, etc, and nothing seems to work. There is as feature on the machine that when you stop stitching, it does one more stitch to finish in the down position (you can change it to finish up as well), when the machine does that, I am left with a large loop in my line of stitches. Since I like many of the other features, and this is a new machine, it looks like I will have to have it serviced (still under warranty, so I hope they can fix it). Otherwise, the machine is quiet, I find the light to be just the right brightness, threading and winding the bobbin are easy, and I really love the adjustable speed control. Essentially, you get what you pay for. If you sew on a weekly basis or do a lot of heavy duty sewing, this may not be the right machine for you. If you sew occasionally as a hobby or just to mend items, then this machine will work just fine (Assuming you can get the tension problems solved). Also, compared to my 20 year old brother that is all metal and weighs a ton, this does feel "cheap" as it is mostly plastic and very lightweight. I think that is more a sign of the times considering that most modern items are made with more plastic parts than metal. **Update: March 31, 2015** So after continued research, I have discovered the key to tension on this machine! Number one thing is that you MUST thread the machine with the needle AND presser foot in the UP position. I used to thread my old machine with the foot down so that I could see the needle better, but for this machine, it is essential that it be in the up position! Also, in the manual it says that "5" is the average tension for basic fabrics (cotton, cotton blends, poly, etc.)- for this machine though, that is NOT the average. I am having to sew with a tension between 3 and 4 for basic fabrics, and that helps a lot! Also, in my review above, I stated that when the needle finishes in the down position, I was getting strange loops in my thread. I changed that so that the needle finishes in the up position (instructions are in the manual), and that has solved that problem. So, don't give up! It might be a pain to solve some of these problems, but well worth it once they are fixed!

I recently purchased this Brother sewing machine and am absolutely amazed at the quality of this machine for the price (PLUS a $15.00 rebate!). I am happy to give this machine a well-deserved 5-star rating! I have been sewing for over 40 years on many different machines. I have a wonderful Viking machine that I love using. I recently joined a weekly quilting group and was hesitant about toting my Viking back and forth so much and risk damaging it. I decided to buy an inexpensive machine for that purpose. When I did a search in Amazon the Brother CS6000i popped up. I couldn't believe you could get so much for the price, but in reading the reviews I decided hundreds of people couldn't be wrong and I would give it a try. My good friend ordered one the same day for the same purpose as I did. The machine is light and easy to carry, but it sounds and feels heavy-duty when in use. The stitches are perfect and it is so easy to use. As a quilter I love the following features: needle up/needle down function, right-to-left needle adjustment, built-in quilting stitches, and a walking foot and oversized work table attachment that are included! (The walking foot for the Viking alone sells for $60.00+.) As any quilter knows, a 1/4' seam is essential for every pattern. After reading the product description I was surprised to see that a 1/4" foot was not included, so I ordered one with the machine. No need for that tho! This machine has two built-in stitches that sew 1/4" from the right edge or 1/4 from the left edge!!! But, this is not just a quilter's machine. If you want a machine for clothing construction it also has 7 different buttonhole styles and overcast, stretch and blind hem stitches. The price would be attractive for a beginning sewer, but this is not just a "starter" machine. I researched many other brands out there and you can't find any other brand that is this nice at twice the price. Take it from a very experienced sewer--this is a really good buy! I have to mention that there is one thing I don't care for much on this machine--LED lighting. But then, that may just be me because other reviewers aren't complaining and I personally don't like ANY LED lighting. With the phasing out of incandescent lights maybe all machines how have LED (?). I have a desk lamp that I use to light my work surface so this is really not a deal-breaker for me. I would also like to add that I have purchased hundreds of items on Amazon (my go-to shopping site) over many years, and this is the first review I have written, although I have been pleased with every product purchased through them. This machine is exceptional and I felt it deserves my time to give it the rating it deserves. One suggestion: For those reviewers who mentioned thread & tension problems I agree that using a good quality thread (long fibers) is going to give you the best result and metal bobbins are certainly worth a try. However, the first thing you should always try with these issues is changing your needle. Needles should not continue to be used until they break because over time they get dull and may develop a slight bend in them. With these precision machines even a needle being off just a tad can cause problems. Many sewing experts recommend changing your needle each time you start a new project. I admit I don't do that religiously, but it is usually the first trouble-shooting solution I try.

I am new to the sewing world and had a difficult time trying to figure out how to thread it. My husband had to try to figure it out. Once you get passed the threading part, which the machine automatically threads the needle, sewing became a breeze. I was amazed at how quiet it sews. I am still learning how to measure accurately and straight but for the most part the machine guides you. It offers many types of sewing functions and comes with different needles to get you started in case the one needle breaks. For me, that was a plus! Over all I am amazed with the machine and hope to learn to quilt soon. I will update you at a later time once I get the hang of it. Shipping was prompt as I recieved it a day early! Replacement needles can be bought here on amazon for a low price. Thank you! UPDATE 11/30/12 - Threader needle eventually bent so getting thread through the needle is impossible. Will be contacting Brother for replacement part or looking for it online. So far machine works fine for quilting. Working on my 3rd quilt. Will be keeping you posted. UPDATE 12/1/2012 - contacted Brother regarding the Threader piece and yes they would cover the repair under warranty at an authorized Brother dealer. Unfortunatley for me that's about an hour and 15 mins away. Brother would not send me the threader for free; I had to pay for it. So much for warranty.. Anyway, The Threader assembly comes off easily as it slides off. Waiting for replacement arrive in the mail so that we can fix it. 12/7/2012 - Replacement threader assembly arrived a few days ago and after a few threadings the middle needle bent again. So I had to go back to the old method of maually threading it with a threader. Also, this machine did not last very long. I was sewing this morning when the dogs decided to shred up the bobbing thread. Despite my best efforts to clean everything out it continued to shred and then eventually broke two needles. This was my breaking point and decided to package it up for return to Amazon. This is really bad timing considering I am making quilts for my niece and nephew and time is running out. So I had to run to Sears to purchase the Singer 2010 which seems to be working smoothly. Well, I have tried to keep you updated with my experience with this machine. If you are reading this chances are you're probably confused as the reviews are very mixed. I went based on the positive reviews, too. Despite what I wrote about the Brother Machine in my original posting, I admit that I loved some of the following features: * Brother offers the walking foot and many of the optional feet in addition to the basic accessories. * Awesome grid. It provides the 1/4 mark for sewing whereas the Singer does not. It made quilting easier. * The set up for winding the bobbin is fool-proof. I do wish the Singer made it that easy. * 60 built-in stitches What I did not like: * Found the extension arm to be unstable during my quilting. When trying to push the material through the machine the legs on the extension arm would fold in making it more difficult. Yes, I am only a month in of learning to sew, but now that I have the Singer I am able to make some comparison. * Threader assembly failed to work * Warranty is only covered if you take it to an authorized dealer. Be sure you have a dealer close by * Dogs shredded bobbing thread on multiple occasions eventually leading to needle breakage and ruined fabric * Built-in light is not very bright All in all I really did try to enjoy this machine. I wanted it to work and be able to provide a final positive review, but I can't. My journey and updates end here. I hope my review is somewhat helpful to you. I wish you the best!

I was a little hesitant to buy this machine initially, but am so glad I did. First, a little about the sewing I do, then the pros and finally the cons of this machine. My Background: I don't do a ton of sewing, but all the machines I have ever had were Singers. My sewing was mainly for things like hemming, basic repairs and home dec. I also did some clothing -- mainly shirts, skirts and simple dresses. Nothing fancy. However, as years passed, I wanted to get into more creative sewing and my Singer wasn't very feature-rich. Plus it was starting to give me problems -- time for a new machine! But which one to buy? My first thought was another Singer, but after doing a lot of research, I decided on the Brother CS6000i. And I do not regret my decision. BTW, I am writing this review after using it for 2+ years, so I've been through quite a few projects. Has it always been easy? I've run into the occasional problem, but the vast majority were "user error". But for 98% of the time, it has been trouble-free. Pros: Stitches -- plenty of stitches to keep me happy when creativity strikes. I also love the automatic buttonhole feature -- after years of 4-step buttonholing, I no longer fear to use patterns that include buttons! Automatic Threader -- I'll admit, I had issues with this at first - no matter what I did, it didn't seem to work. Then I watched a couple of YouTube videos and problem solved! Top-load Bobbins -- I do not like the side-load bobbins, so I specifically looked for a machine with a top-load -- ahhhh! And BTW -- I didn't buy the "Brother" bobbins -- I got some generic class 15 clear bobbins (something like 30 bobbins for $2) and they have worked fine for the most part. (Yeah, I a couple of the cheapie bobbins had issues, but I just tossed 'em -- I had plenty more.) Snap-on Feet -- This is a low-shank machine and it takes the "generic" snap-on presser feet. I have gone crazy and bought all kinds of sewing machine feet (read, the 32 feet packs here on Amazon) and they have all worked great with the machine. While the occasional foot needs the shank changed out, the vast majority are snap-on -- quick and easy. Quiet -- It's so nice to have a quiet machine!!!!! Adjustable Speed -- This is a very nice feature - while I use the medium for most of my work, there are times I need to go slow, and times for "petal to the metal". They all work great. Solidity/Weight -- It's not a steel machine, which makes it lighter. However, it's plenty solid and doesn't feel cheap. Very easy to move from room to room. Works Great on Different Materials -- Although I mostly sew with cotton/cotton blends, I have sewn silks, satin, knits and canvas. I've also sewn multiple layers of cotton with heavy fleece interfacing without issue (even when I have forgotten to change out to a heavier needle - my bad). Cons: All machines have cons, but mine are mostly along the lines of "I wish..." Occasional Tension Issues -- Most have been my fault, for choosing the wrong tension for the project. The times I knew I had the tension set right, I turned the machine off, back on and re-threaded the machine (needle and presser) and it seemed to resolve itself. Small Harp/Throat Space -- Now that I am doing some quilting, the harp/throat does seem kind of small. Oh well. Default Needle Position -- The default position is with the needle to the left. It's an annoyance to always have to set it to center needle. No Right Needle Position -- I wish they had a needle position to the right, or an adjustable needle position (i.e., move the needle in small increments to the left/right). I guess both would be present on pricier machines (meaning, I can't have everything for a machine under $150, LOL). Summary: I am very, very happy with this machine. While I am more of an intermediate (barely) sewer, I think this machine would be suited for all levels of experience. I look forward to using it for many more years.

Es muy buena es muy buena máquina. Es muy fácil de usar. Llega rápido y cuenta con todos los accesorios que muestra. Realmente esta máquina es muy completa y muy económica y muy divertido y fácil de usar lo recomiendo

I bought this machine to replace an old Singer that had been in our family for about fourty years. About a year and a half ago, I discovered cosplay, and I’ve been sewing my own costumes since. My old machine was struggling after so many years, and I wanted options like fancy stitches and one-step buttonholes. This machine absolutely stepped up to the task. I can see through multiple layers of vinyl (granted, not at top speed, but still at a decent clip), the fancier stitches look gorgeous, and I love the little extra features that I’ve never experienced before. The see-through bobbin case is a big plus for me, as I love being able to double-check that I have enough thread. The needle threader, which I’ve never had before, works like a charm, and it takes me barely twenty seconds to retread my machine now. It’s also way quieter than my old machine, and just has a nice sound about it. All of the accessories that came with it work well. The walking foot is a revelation, and my new favourite toy when sewing stretch fabric. As aforementioned, it’s really easy and quick to re-thread the machine. There’s a sticker with a simple diagram up top, and each piece that you use when threading the machine is numbered. It’s pretty easy to switch out needles and feet. The computer part works well; I have no issues scrolling quickly through the stitches, and I appreciate that it tells you which foot to use for which stitch. I’ve sewn through a lot of different types of fabric, and this machine has held up well under all of them. I wanted something that was multi-purpose but had more options than my ancient Singer offered. This one was a fantastic choice, and I’m really glad it’s the one I got.

I am autistic and very sensitive to sound. I have wanted a sewing machine for a long time because i sew everything by hand and some things can take hours for something very small. This machine is very easy to use for beginners, quiet and enjoyable. I can’t really say much on weight as I’ve never owned a machine before but it’s light enough for me to carry from upstairs to downstairs when I need to use it and the case keeps it well protected.

I can start working again.

I am loving this machine! I've had many sewing machines, Kenmore, Omega, Janome, and this one certainly has them beat! I bought a brother basic machine in Walmart years ago and it was one of my worst buys ever, so I was surprised when my sister advised me to go with a Brother machine. After studying reviews I settled on this one. It is very lightweight which I don't usually consider a pro, however unlike many cheap machines there is no gradual moving across the table from slight bouncing as I sew so I can enjoy the ease of setting it up and putting it away. There are so many great perks that make it feel like a more expensive machine compared to the base model machines I have spent so much more money on in the past. I love the quilting table thing and will not sew without out it possibly ever again. Highly recommended this!