The Brother CS6000i is a popular low-cost entry-level sewing machine. It can take on a variety of projects, from making clothes and sewing cuffs, to decorative stitching and quilting.
We believe this little beauty is one of the best machines to help you find your footing when you’re just stepping into the sewing world. But it will also support you and help you to grow as you get more experienced as a sewer.
With 60 in-built stitches, computer power and a host of other features, the Brother CS6000i sewing machine represents incredible value for money.
It’s not a perfect machine — but don’t worry, we’ll cover everything you need to know about, both good and bad, so you can make an informed buying decision.
Let’s take a look!
Introducing the Brother CS6000i
Who Is It For?
The CS6000i is one of Brother’s best machines for those who want a sewing, quilting and embroidery combo and need something that can handle multiple layers of fabric.
It is super beginner friendly without sacrificing the advanced features and customisations that are required to work on more advanced projects.
One of the reasons this has become such a popular bestselling model is that it’s so versatile.
You can make your own clothes and work on your own fashion line, or you can take the plunge in to quilting and embroidery. While the machine isn’t known as a ‘heavy duty’ performer, it can still handle some thicker materials that other models in the same price range will struggle with.
It is right in the middle of Brother’s line of consumer-grade machines, which run from $100 all the way up to $799.
Brother CS6000i vs CS7000i
If you like the look of the CS6000i, you may well be wondering whether the machine compares favorably to the newer model in the series: the CS7000i.
Truth be told, there’s not a lot of difference between the two models.
However, the CS7000i boasts some extra stitches and a slightly revamped design.
Price-wise, the CS7000i is around $10 to $20 more expensive.
Whether you think it’s worth a little bit extra for a few more stitches and an upgraded design is a matter of personal choice. Under the hood, it’s the same machine.
If it’s extra stitches you are looking for, the Brother HC1850 should also be on your radar. It has a huge 185 built-in stitches, making it a fashionista’s dream to work with.
Let’s see what else the CS6000i has to offer…
What Does The Machine Look Like?
The light gray, rounded body of the machine feels both modern and familiar, like you’d expect to find it sitting in your mother’s crafting room after a particularly nice Christmas.
The Brother CS6000i includes an easy-to-read LCD stitch selector that is highlighted by a dash of blue plastic, drawing the attention of the curious (or overworked) sewer.
The machine doesn’t appear bulky at first glance, though it weighs in at a fairly heavy 17.4 pounds.
Otherwise pretty nondescript, it comes along with a plastic cover, better to allow it to blend into any crafting room.
Let’s have a tour around the features:
- Extra wide table
- Quick-set and jam resistant bobbin
- Automatic needle threader
- Stop/Start button and reverse stitch
- Manual thread tension dial
- Stitch selection buttons
- LCD screen
- Stitch speed control
- Stitch size selection buttons
- Stitch and buttonhole table
Specs
- Weight: 17.4 lb
- Dimensions: 16 x 6.7 x 11.4 inches
- Stitches: 60 built in stitches
- Speed: 850 stitches per minute
- Computerized/Mechanic: Computerized
- Bobbin: Jam Resistant, quick set, top-drop in
- Warranty: 25 year limited warranty
What Accessories Are Included?
The Brother CS6000i sewing machine comes with the following accessories:
- Walking foot
- Spring action quilting foot
- Quilt guide for foot holder
- Buttonhole foot
- Overcasting foot
- Monograming foot
- Zipper foot
- Blind stitch foot
- Button fitting foot
- Bobbin
- Eyelet punch
- Needle set
- Twin needle
- Seam ripper
- Cleaning brush
- Wide table
- Screwdriver
- Extra spool pin
- Hard case/cover
Needless to say, it’s well kitted out when it arrives. All the better for getting started straight away!
The Company Behind The Machine
Since 1954, Brother International Corporation has been working to serve the needs of the home and office as a US branch of the Japanese-based Brother Industries Ltd.
Their sewing and embroidery machines have been awarded “Consumer Digest Best Buy”, and Amazon claims the Brother CS6000i, specifically, as one of its bestselling sewing machines.
Brother’s longstanding reputation of creating quality sewing machines, backed by their standard 25 year minimum warranty, stands as testament to their dedication to their sewers.
They run a sewing blog, ‘Stitching Sewcial,’ in order to create a community of sewers and to provide personal stories, tips, and DIY project designs to sewers who are considering their products.
What Warranty Is Included?
The aforementioned 25 year warranty for the Brother CS6000i ensures that parts, labor, and accessories for the machine can be replaced up to one year after purchase of the machine.
Electronics and printing circuit boards can be replaced at up to two years after purchase, and the chassis casting can be replaced up to twenty five years post-purchase.
A more detailed explanation of the warranty is provided by Brother and can be read in PDF form here.
Key Features of the Brother CS6000i
While the sheer number of accessories that come with the Brother CS6000i serves as a selling point of its own, Brother advertises several other features that make the CS6000i ideal for beginning sewers.
If you are looking for the best sewing machine for beginners, this is definitely a strong candidate.
The machine’s brightly lit work space compliments its LCD stitch selector, making work and stitch selection easy to see, either for those just learning how many different types of stitches there are in the world or for those with poor eyesight.
Threading is simple, too, thanks to its automatic needle threader and easy bobbin winder.
Adjustable speed settings allow for beginning sewers to work their way up to more comfortable paces over the course of a project.
The free arm and oversized table make this machine an excellent choice for quilt makers too.
Brother CS6000i Review: The Best Entry Level Machine?
What do we really think of the Brother CS6000i?
Here are the main pros and cons.
The Positives
It’s Ideal for Beginners
If you want to get serious about sewing, we’re not sure that there’s a better sewing machine to get started with than the Brother CS6000i.
First off, it’s really easy to use. We’re talking an automatic needle threader, jam-resistant and easy bobbin winding, and a computerized display for easy stitch and speed selection.
If you need a little direction when it comes to getting started, check out this video tutorial in threading the needle and winding the bobbin:
Not only is it easy to use, but it’s perfectly positioned to take you from a beginner sewer to a more experienced one.
There are over 60 in-built stitches (that’s a lot at this price point), a free arm and an extra large table to allow you to take on a variety of different projects on this machine.
While there may be much cheaper sewing machines available for beginners, we’re not sure any stand up to the Brother CS6000i in terms of it sewing potential.
All the Accessories
The Brother CS6000i’s plethora of accessories may seem overwhelming at first, if only for the sheer amount of opportunity they present!
Beginners can make use of some of the more basic feet included with the machine, while adventurous sewers can find themselves experimenting with blind stiches and button holes.
Some machines on the market — particularly at this price point — sell just the machine alongside a couple of feet, upselling you into buying all the extra accessories you’re likely to need at some point in your sewing career.
We love that Brother simply include more or less everything as standard. In fact, we haven’t bought any extra accessories for this machine since we got it!
Perfect for Quilting
The Brother CS6000i reviews sing its praises when it comes to the machine’s ability to quilt.
We don’t do a huge amount of quilting personally but like the opportunity to dabble every now and again — and the CS6000i is perfect for this. We told you it was a versatile machine!
Fun toys, like the spring action quilting foot, the additional wide table, and the foot holder quilt guide all lend to the machine’s quilting prowess.
Automatic Needle Threader
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — no sewer ever regrets buying a machine with an automatic needle threader.
It’s a silky balm to our poor strained eyes.
In its continued appeal to beginner sewers (and even us more experienced ones!), the Brother CS6000i sewing machine’s automatic needle threader reduces the struggle of threading down to the push of a lever.
Stress levels reduce just as automatically as this needle threads.
Slow Your Roll
The Brother CS6000i’s adjustable speed setting is enough to make your heart flutter.
Maybe that’s just us…
Beginner sewers nervous about making mistakes or starting their first projects can be overwhelmed by machines that start them off at top speeds. The Brother CS6000i allows those of us who want to take it easy an opportunity to ease ourselves into our projects.
More experienced sewers can start out strong, too, but it’s always nice to have a tortoise speed to compliment the hare.
The Cost
It’s the price though, along with the accessories, the versatility, and the ease of use, that makes the Brother CS6000i sewing machine really worth considering.
It’s priced towards the lower end of the mid-market, but we’d honestly be happy paying a little more as it’s so full of features.
The Negatives
That doesn’t mean, of course, that the machine is perfect.
There are some downsides that may be deal breakers for more experienced sewers, but it all depends on what kind of projects you’re interested in pursuing.
It’s Not So Good on Layers
The biggest problem that we’ve found and that other Brother CS6000i reviews report is that the machine has some difficulty working through multiple layers of fabric or with fabric that is particularly thick (for which a specialist leather or denim machine may be required)
It’s definitely not a heavy duty machine and shouldn’t be used as such.
There’s debate as to whether or not the machine can handle denim, as well, making a sewer’s dream of the perfect jean jacket – or properly hemmed pants – a little more difficult to achieve.
We’ve found that it can tackle denim, as long as you go slowly and work carefully. It might groan a little bit so take care not to treat it like a work horse.
No Automatic Tension
One way in that the Brother CS6000i computerized sewing machine isn’t set up for beginners is that there’s no automatic tension control.
This doesn’t take a huge amount of time to master but we often found we had to readjust it every time we fired up the machine.
A small niggle, but a little annoying.
The ‘Extra’ Light is Still Dim
Brother wax lyrical on their supposed ‘extra bright’ work area, but we still found it a little dim for our poor, tired eyes!
This is nothing that an extra desk lamp can’t fix, but it wouldn’t have hurt to put in a couple of extra LEDs to live up to the advertized expectation.
Overall Verdict on the CS6000i
We highly recommend the Brother CS6000i sewing machine – it represents excellent value for money.
It’s not a workhorse and certainly isn’t a heavy duty machine, but it’s pretty much perfect for the beginner sewer or for someone just using it for everyday projects (with some quilting on the side!).
As well as being reasonably priced, it’s easy to use and comes with a host of interesting accessories.
If you want to practise your sewing skills or venture into some more ambitious projects, the Brother CS6000i is the sewing machine for you.
For a few extra stitches and a few extra dollars, you might consider its successor: the CS7000i. But they are essentially the same machine.
Another great alternative is the Brother HC1850, which has considerably more stitches without breaking the bank.
Where To Buy The Brother CS6000i
The enduring popularity of the Brother CS6000i ensures that you can find it in nearly all the sewing nooks and crannies of the Internet.
Compare below for the best prices:
- Walmart
- Sewing Machines Plus
- eBay (available new or used)
And, of course, you can also get a fast delivery at a cheap price via Amazon:
Now that’s everything you need to know about the Brother CS6000i!
Will you be buying one?
Not sure if this is the model for you? Browse our latest machine reviews.
Brother CS6000i Review
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User Experience
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Sewing Specs
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Good for Beginners?
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Craft Sewing
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Value for Money
SFH Verdict
We love the Brother CS6000i — it’s one of the best sewing machines for beginners on the market. It’s reasonably priced, easy to use and will grow with you as you grow in experience.
It’s not great on multiple layers and the jury’s still out on how well it can handle denim, but it’s perfectly good for most sewing and quilting projects.
It’s a 17.4 lb. machine . stated in “specs” as a 4 lb machine
Thanks Norene – we’ve corrected this now!
The little engine that could…
It’s my 3rd machine.
Works beautifully.
The only issue I’ve had is with the bobbin winder. The thread sometimes jumps off and winds itself underneath. Not a major annoyance. I just need to closely watch it.
All in all, best machine I’ve used so far…..
Hi can you tell me if this machine has a metal bobbin casing? Does it have Solid State electronics?
My husband bought this machine for me about two months ago. I’m a self taught beginner, but I have a “talent” for it (says several people, I’m not just rooting my own horn, I swear!) so I’d say I’m an advanced and adventurous beginner.. anyway this machine has been amazing! No problems with tension this far. Had the issue with multiple layers of fabric but slowing down and a change in needle size helped! Same with its ability to work with knit fabric. As with any machinery, you have to know something of what you’re doing to do it right. It’s not a toy. If you can understand the issue, you can reach a solution! It works amazingly on thick material. I had a cheap purse repurposed by putting football jersey fabric over it and it punched through the purse like hot butter. It was wonderful. I love the speed adjuster and all the fun stitch patterns. Could not be more pleased!!