This is the Brother CS6000I computerized sewing machine.
At the time of writing, this is the best selling sewing machine on Amazon, which is pretty impressive! I also believe that it’s one of the best sewing machines for beginners. That’s why I’ve decided to make this the first of my sewing machine reviews. This sewing machine has to be absolutely the best sewing machine available for under $200.
The Brother CS6000i gets great reviews from beginners and more experienced seamstresses alike. When you compare this sewing machine to other machines in this price range, it becomes clear that this is the best value sewing machine for it’s price anywhere. If you are looking for an affordable sewing machine with the features of an expensive sewing machine then this machine should definitely be on your list!
So let’s get on with the review. What features does this Brother Sewing Machine have?
Automatic Needle Threader – This feature saves time and makes the job of threading the needle on your machine much simpler.
Automatic Button Holer – This means that the machine does all the work. All you need to do is to set which button hole you want to use on the LCD screen, it tells you which presser foot to put on and away it goes – perfect button holes quickly and easily.
LCD Screen for stitch selection – The Brother CS6000i has sixty different stitches which include various quilting, utility, heirloom and decorative stitch functions as well as an extra wide 7mm Zig Zag stitch.
Start/Stop Button – This allows you to sew without using the foot pedal, however the foot pedal is still included and can be used by those who prefer it.
Sewing Speed Controller
The speed controller means that you can select your sewing speed, allowing you go as fast or slow as you wish. This is a great feature, particularly for times when a very slow speed is required – I know that the jerky foot on the foot pedal has caused me a few headaches in the past! Where’s that unpicker?…
Free-arm – That’s the feature that allows you to sew tubes easily. It means that you can remove most of the sewing bed (the flat surface that the material sits on when you’re sewing), leaving a smaller area to sew on that doesn’t go all the way down to the table surface, allowing you to sew, for example, the hem on sleeves or trouser legs and other tube type shapes easily. You really don’t ever want to do without a free arm!
Clear Bobbin Cover
Six Point Feed Dogs
1-touch start/stop and reverse functions
Maximum sewing speed 850 stitches per minute
Variable needle position
Second spool pin for twin needle sewing
Built in manual thread cutter on the left side of the sewing machine
Vertical thread delivery
Presser foot lever control with 3 height settings
The Brother CS6000i is a computerized sewing machine
The Brother CS6000i has 60 stitch functions as in the diagram to the left. It also has 7 styles of 1-step buttonholes and comes with 9 snap-on presser feet.
Presser feet are the metal (or plastic) feet that hold the fabric flat down against the feed dogs that move the fabric forward while it is being sewn. Snap on presser feet do exactly that – snap on – rather than screwing on like the presser feet on older types of sewing machines, making it quicker and easier to change the feet on your sewing machine. To change the presser foot, the push of a button located behind the presser foot releases the presser foot. Then simply place the presser foot that you wish to use under the holder, lower the lever and the new presser foot snaps into place. Voila!
The Brother CS6000i uses low shank presser feet, which is great as it means that you can also use generic low shank presser feet to achieve all sorts of sewing tasks on your sewing machine.
The Brother CS6000i comes with the following 9 presser feet included:
Zigzag – also referred to as a General Purpose presser foot. This is the foot that comes with all sewing machines as standard.
Overcasting – for more professional looking seams with protection against fraying edges.
Button Fitting Foot – sew buttons on to garments using your sewing machine and the button fitting foot instead of sewing them on by hand.
Walking Foot – a presser foot with feed dogs for better fabric control when quilting or working with thick layers of material.
Quilting Foot – Spring activated quilting foot can be used for free motion quilting, free motion embroidery, or for darning.
Buttonhole Foot – makes buttonholes automatically. Normal sized buttons are placed in the back of the buttonhole foot and then the machine uses the button as a guide for making a perfectly sized buttonhole using one of 7 different button hole styles. Clever huh?
Zipper Foot
Monogramming Foot
Blind Stitch Foot
As already mentioned it has an easy to use, computerized stitch selection on the LCD screen.
There is an illustrated stitch guide on the side of the machine (as in the image above) to help you to choose the appropriate stitch for your job.
It also sports auto threading, a tension control dial, and an auto-set drop-in bobbin.
One Step, Quick set drop in Bobbin
There are two threads required to be used on a sewing machine. The top thread that comes from the reel and the bottom thread that comes from the bobbin.
The drop in bobbin is the most user friendly, easy to use bobbin set up you can get. It’s simple and saves time and frustration as there is no mucking around trying to get the bobbin carrier out of the sewing machine and then trying to remember which way the bobbin goes and trying to put the bobbin and carrier back.
If you’ve ever used a machine with a traditional bobbin set up, you’ll be familiar with having to turn the drive wheel by hand slowly to try to pick up the bobbin thread – there is no need to do this with the drop in bobbin. This is a one step process – just keep hold of the end of the thread and drop the bobbin in. There’s even a printed guide on the machine to remind you how to insert the bobbin. It’s simple and even if you’re completely new to sewing and sewing machines, you’ll have no problems following the instructions to load the bobbin on this machine. It really does saves time and frustration levels…..
This video explains the features of the Brother CS6000i. When you’re researching and considering ordering online, video is the next best thing to test driving yourself. When you see the projects that are being created with this sewing machine on the video, it is easy to see that this sewing machine over delivers for it’s price and is comparable to many more expensive machines.
It can be operated with either a foot pedal or a 1-touch button for start, stop, and reverse stitching and can operate at speeds of up to 850 stitches per minute.
Dual LED light to illuminate the area that you’re sewing and keep you out of the dark.
The Brother CS6000i has a built in handle for easy portability.
This sewing machine is self maintaining, meaning that you never need to oil it.
What accessories come with the Brother CS6000i?
As seen in the video, it comes with a clip on wide table accessory which creates a nice big flat surface for those larger jobs such as quilting as well as:
A hard cover case to protect your sewing machine while in storage (Note:This is not a carry case. It is a dust/protection cover only. It has no handle or base and it designed to protect your machine when not in use. If you require a carry case, the Brother 5300 Universal Sewing Machine Carrying Casecan be purchased for about $25.)
Seam ripper
Bobbins
Needle set
Extra spool pin
Twin needle
Cleaning brush
Screw driver
9 snap-on presser feet
Power cord
Manual
What is the size and weight?
This machine measures 9-3/4 inches wide by 9-3/5 inches deep by 12-1/2 inches high and weighs in at 16 pounds. The machine is lightweight and has a built in handle for portability.
Does it come with a warranty?
The Brother CS6000i comes with a limited 25-year warranty
What do I think about the Brother CS6000i?
As I said at the beginning of this review, I think this machine is the best value for money for a machine under $200 – hands down! It is a sewing and embroidery machine that has plenty of useful features and would be perfect for someone who’s sewing is in the beginner to intermediate levels.
It is possible that if you were sewing a large, heavy item such as a quilt, the light weight of the machine may mean that the machine would move. This could be remedied by placing your sewing machine on a rubber mat to stop it from sliding or moving on the table.
When you consider that this machine comes with 9 presser feet, the extra wide work table and the dust cover – these added extras that are thrown in by Brother make the price of this sewing machine unbelievable. With almost all sewing machines in this price range you would have to buy these separately.
If I was looking for a beginner to intermediate level sewing machine, this sewing machine would definitely be on my list. Being easy to use, reliable and affordable, it truly is one of the best sewing machines for beginners on the market today.
What others are saying
This sewing machine receives rave reviews from the majority of it’s users, with reviews from over 500 people having given it an average of 4.5 stars out of a possible 5 stars on Amazon.
Here are some comments to date:
“This machine represents the most incredible value-for-money on the market today. It is very, very easy to use, and the manual is exceptionally helpful.”
“I wanted a mid-range sewing machine with some flexibility, and this is the machine. I sews quickly and flawlessly, and is super easy to learn.”
“This machine is very light and easy to carry around – that’s a big plus for someone like me who has to sew at the kitchen table.”
“…sewing with this one is a joy.”
“I have used computerized machines before, but this one was unlike anything I have ever seen. It is absolutely amazing!”
Any complaints?
The majority of feedback on this machine is extremely positive. The reviews that I came across that weren’t so positive seem to be less about how the machine operates, and more about the marketing or advertising of it with one person having ordered it to use in Australia not realizing that the difference in power supply would render the sewing machine unusable.
There were (as always when there are a large number of reviews) a few faulty products and possibly some faulty users? Who knows, but generally the reviews are from very happy owners and users.
How much can I expect to pay for the Brother CS6000i?
I’ve found this Brother sewing machine available for sale for prices as much as $400 and down to about $170. At the time of writing, Target and Amazon both have this machine for less than $170 with Amazon being a couple of dollars cheaper, but because Amazon offers free shipping on this sewing machine, it currently the better deal.
Where can you read more reviews on the Brother CS6000i?
can be purchased for about $25.)
