Every design that I make for my shop is tested on the Brother PE535 before I post it for sale. This is about the least expensive, quality home embroidery machine that you can buy with a retail price of $299.99. I bought mine on Amazon, but they are widely available. I purchased this machine for the specific purpose of sewing my design samples, but it is capable of much more. The PE535 is almost identical to the PE800 with regard to functionality, the only major difference being hoop size. The PE535 comes with a 4"x 4" hoop, which means you have a stitch area of about 3.8" x 3.8". This can be limiting for some, but works perfectly for my purposes. If you are looking for more stitch area, the PE800 is a better option, since it offers a 5' x 7' hoop. Neither of these machines have the ability to trim jump stitches.
I find this machine to be extremely user-friendly. I have a Brother sewing machine, and the functionality is virtually identical. I was up and running within 30 minutes of unboxing the machine. The compact design and reasonable price make it an attractive choice for home users or small businesses looking to add embroidery to their projects. I have used a powerful, 12 needle commercial embroidery machine at work for ten years. I knew what to expect with the speed of the PE535, which is 400 SPM versus the 1200 SPM I get on my commercial machine, but I was not prepared for the quality of the stitching, which is outstanding. I can absolutely say that I get equally as beautiful stitch-outs with this machine as I do on the commercial machine. The only difference is the previously mentioned jump stitches.
If you do not have access to digitizing software, you may be enticed by the impressive selection of built-in designs and fonts on the PE535. With over 80 embroidery designs and 9 font styles, users have a diverse range of options to choose from, allowing them to personalize their projects with ease. Whether you're embroidering monograms, decorative patterns, or intricate designs, the variety available on this machine is a definite plus. If you do have the ability to digitize your own designs, or you purchase digital downloads for use on the machine, the user loads the designs into the machine via USB port on the machine itself.
The 4" x 4" embroidery area is sufficient for most projects and provides a good balance between size and portability. While it may not accommodate extremely large designs, it handles most common embroidery tasks effectively. I definitely enjoy the portability of this machine that I would not have with a larger machine.
The user interface of the PE535 is straightforward, making it suitable for those new to embroidery. The LCD touchscreen allows you to preview designs, select stitches, and make adjustments easily. The user can also flip, rotate and duplicate designs from the LCD screen. The intuitive navigation system helps you access the features you need without feeling overwhelmed by complicated menus.
The PE535 also offers a decent needle threader for those who enjoy this feature. In my experience, it's hit or miss. I prefer threading the needle manually.
Overall, I think the Brother PE535 is a solid entry-level embroidery machine with a good balance of features and performance at an extremely affordable price. It's suitable for hobbyists and small-scale embroidery projects. If you are happy with the 4" x 4" frame size, this is a fantastic machine for the price.
Happy sewing!
Beth
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