Brother SE600 Sewing Machine Review

The Brother SE600 Sewing Machine is the natural successor to the popular SE400 model and promises the best of both worlds – a machine fit for both sewing and embroidery projects.

Of course, the worry with combination machines is that you’ll end up with trade-offs on both sides. Some users end up wishing they’d invested in a fully dedicated sewing machine with the latest technology. Others find that a combo machine’s embroidery options are significantly limited compared to a machine that handles just embroidery (like the popular PE800 – previously reviewed here).

The good news with the SE600 is that it has admirers for both its sewing and embroidery capabilities.

Brother has come up with an upgrade that is incredibly versatile. It works well as both a standalone sewing machine or a standalone embroidery machine – the fact that it can do both, so well, is a wonderful bonus.

It’s a great starter machine, but not without flaws – particularly if you need the flexibility of working with custom stitches.

Let’s take a closer look at the Brother SE600!

Brother SE600 Sewing Machine: The Details

Who Is The Brother SE600 For?

The Brother SE600 is a mass-market sewing and embroidery combo machine that is built for users who want the flexibility of a machine that can both sew and embroider without compromising on quality.

The machine strikes an impressive balancing act in doing both tasks well.

Previous users of the SE400 will note a massive upgrade in the number of stitches (103 vs 67), as well as a larger LCD screen, and some modest performance enhancements.

While the machine is great value for those who want both sewing and embroidery functionality in one unit, there are some drawbacks.

First, the machine is not built for speed. It has a maximum sewing speed of just 710 stitches per minute which is on the slower end for sewing machines.

This won’t be an issue for most users, but if you plan on doing a lot of high-speed sewing, it might be worth considering a more powerful model.

Second, the machine only comes with 60 built-in embroidery designs. This might be enough for some users, but if you’re looking for a machine with hundreds of built-in designs, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

This particular machine does not come with embroidery design software included, meaning you’ll have to purchase your own if you want to design your own patterns – or source them elsewhere.

What Does The Machine Look Like?

The Brother SE600 Sewing Machine is quite modern-looking. At about the size of a large textbook, it has a very sturdy appearance.

It features a mostly white exterior with a grey panel for the touchscreen. This grey panel also has purple and white accents that create a flower design.

The touchscreen, buttons, and switches give it its modern vibe. This machine doesn’t hide that it is fully computerized.

Specs

• Weight: 26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 21.2 x 15.5 x 16.5 inches.
• Stitches: 103 built-in stitches.
• Speed: 710 spm.
• Computerized/Mechanic: Computerized.
• Bobbin: Drop-in bobbin.
• Warranty: 25-year warranty.

What Accessories Are Included With The SE600?

• Embroidery arm.
• 4 x 4 inches embroidery hoop.
• Embroidery foot.
• Three bobbins (pre-wound).
• Spring action zigzag (on machine) foot.
• Buttonhole foot.
• Zipper foot.
• Button sewing foot.
• Blind stitch foot.
• Overcasting foot.
• Monogramming foot.
• Twin needle.
• Darning plate.
• Bobbins (2).
• Bobbin clips (3).
• Six-piece needle set.
• Disk-shaped screwdriver.
• Four spool caps.
• Spool net.
• Scissors.
• Cleaning brush.
• Power cord.
• Foot controller.
• Machine dust cover.
• English/Spanish operation manual and quick start guide.

The Warranty

The Brother SE600 Sewing Machine has a 25-year limited warranty. This means that for one year, the entire machine is covered; for five years, the circuit board is covered; and for 25 years, the chassis unit is covered.

Within these time frames, Brother will fix or replace parts to ensure your sewing machine works properly again. If your machine needs to be shipped, you are responsible for paying this fee.

The warranty does not cover abuse or misuse of the machine in any way, and it doesn’t cover any of the accessory items.

Key Features of the Brother SE600

103 Built-in Stitches

The Brother SE600 Sewing Machine comes with 103 built-in stitches, including basic utility stitches; decorative stitches like the Greek key, scrolls, scallops, waves, feathers, and stars; and 10 different types of buttonholes that are auto-sized.

While there are sewing machines with more stitches on the market, this one will fit the majority of your needs.

The previous SE400 model had only 67 stitches by comparison, however even this is sufficient for most beginners who are likely to use far less for the majority if their projects.

Color Touchscreen

The color touchscreen on the Brother SE600 allows you to choose any and all settings with just the touch of an icon on your screen.

You can pick the stitches, change the color of an embroidery design, look up tutorials, and pick your basic stitch length and width.

Since this is a computerized sewing machine, almost everything you need can be found right on the screen. This touchscreen is 3.2 inches, making it easy to see and use.

The touchscreen is another notable upgrade from the SE400, which was slightly smaller and only displayed in black and white.

Drop-In Bobbin

The SE600 also has a drop-in bobbin, ensuring you can just slide open the little door near the needle plate to insert your bobbin.

Additionally, since it’s directly in your sewing area, you can easily monitor the amount of thread available and refill it as necessary.

Brother promises that it’s jam-resistant – you’ll likely never be forced to stop and make corrections along the way.

Useful Embroidery Features

The Brother SE600 also has numerous embroidery features. It comes with a 4 x 4 embroidery field that includes the hoop, embroidery arm, and the foot – so you have everything necessary to create your design.

This Brother machine also has embroidery features programmed directly into it, so you can preview your design and change thread colors, move the design, and/or place lettering in different shapes.

Finally, you can import all your designs from a USB drive.

All in all, there are 80 built-in embroidery designs, compared to 70 on the SE400 model.

Automatic Needle Threader

The automatic needle threader ensures you’ll never strain your eyes while beginning a project.

Simply use this feature to thread your needle, with no effort required from you, and get to the important part – sewing!

Lighting

The SE600 features built-in lighting, so dimly-lit areas or late-night projects won’t hold you back.

Brother uses very bright LED lights around the needle area, which help you see what you’re stitching, where to move the fabric for free-motion quilting, and will help with darker fabrics, especially if you’re also using dark thread.

Brother SE600 Sewing Machine Review

The Positives

Easy to Set Up

While this Brother SE600 Sewing Machine may seem difficult with the touchscreen and the computerized functions, it’s actually very easy to set up.

Once the bobbin is threaded, you simply place it in the bobbin case near the needle plate, letting the thread’s end hang up through the lid. Next, thread the machine with the thread guides and tension rod.

You can either thread the needle yourself or use the automatic needle threader. Once that’s done, you can choose your stitch, embroidery design, and stitch length and width from the touchscreen.

Finally, push the foot pedal – and you’re ready to go. You won’t spend too much time fumbling about before getting this machine up and running.

Easy to Use

Once it’s threaded, you can pick the speed via the switch on the front of the machine, push the foot pedal, and simply move the fabric through while the needle did its job.

Additionally, if you want to change anything – such as the type of stitch or the color thread you want to use for an embroidery design – you need only make your corrections through the touchscreen.

You’ll have a USB port where you can easily input designs without the use of messy wires, and additions like the jam-resistant feature mean you’ll spend less time troubleshooting and fixing mistakes.

A machine that’s easy to use will make it all the easier to spread your creative wings and try tackling all sorts of projects that this machine gives inspiration to. The SE600 delivers on this front.

Versatile

Speaking of projects, with 103 different built-in stitches, it’s easy to see why many users raved about the machine’s versatility.

Personally, we don’t think a beginner truly needs that many stitches. But we’re not complaining.

The fact that this machine can tackle both sewing and embroidery projects already gives this machine more flexibility than most. It has all the essentials, plus many fun extras. Only highly specific projects will find the SE600 lacking.

Whether you are sewing a hem, embroidering a shirt, or making a quilt, this Brother sewing machine will have the feature you need for the job.

Convenient

Everything you could want is right at arm’s length.

Need to cut a thread? There is a thread cutter right near the front of the machine. Is the SE600 going too fast for you? You need only press a switch to lower the speed.

The bobbin case is even jam-resistant, so there’s no worry of it becoming locked, as some other machines tend to.

The size of this machine is also super convenient, and weighing in at under 14.33 pounds (slightly heavier than the SE400), you won’t have to worry too much about this machine weighing you down if you want to bring it to class or other events.

Its convenient size and weight are also great for those short on space since you can tuck it away until it’s needed!

The Negatives

Early Retirement Issues?

While this is rare, we’ve seen a few reports of users who had their SE600 stop working shortly after it arrived.

Some used it for a couple of days before an error message popped up and the machine ceased to function. Others had the sewing machine for several months before it ultimately broke down.

It seems that an error message on the touchscreen or the bobbin locking up were the two most common problems. Thankfully, you’ll have your warranty to back you should something like this happen.

Breaking Needles

Some users had the needles constantly break – and not because of too thick fabric or abuse of the machine. This appears to be an issue with the SE600.

While we haven’t had an issue, it was an issue too frequently reported to be user error.

So, if you end up purchasing this sewing machine, make sure to be on the lookout for needle breakage.

Not The Most Intuitive Touchscreen

A few users have complained about the touchscreen; it was too complicated and they couldn’t figure out all the features.

This may be a sewing machine for someone who is more experienced or who is a little tech-savvy. A large number of options can overwhelm new sewers since they’re just learning what a basic machine can do, let alone a highly computerized one.

Altogether, some users felt the interface could be a little cleaner and more user-friendly, we’d say it does a decent enough job. Be sure to commit a few hours making yourself familiar with the options before diving in to your first project.

This video shows what the Brother SE600 looks like out of the box.

Overall Verdict

As one of the best rated sewing machines that delivers strong performance in both the sewing and embroidery departments, we can certainly recommend the Brother SE600 Sewing Machine.

It has numerous features, is easy to use, and with the needle threader and drop-in bobbin, it won’t cause you too much frustration during the initial learning curve.

Should you upgrade if you already own the SE400?

Probably not.

The extra stitches and embroidery designs do not justify replacing your old machine, and the performance gains are only modest versus what was already a very popular model.

Where to Buy the Brother SE600 Sewing Machine

Brother is a known name in the sewing and crafting community with decades of expertise under their belt, and a large variety of sewing machines in their arsenal.

Their popularity and success mean their products are available around the globe. You won’t have too much trouble finding the Brother SE600 Sewing Machine both in-store and online.

While it’s usually best to check crafting, sewing, and home department stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers:

• The Home Depot
• WalMart

And of course, you can also find this Brother sewing machine available on Amazon.

---

That’s the end of our Brother SE600 review. Curious to give it a try?

Not sure if this is the model for you? Browse through the rest of our sewing machine reviews.