Review: Brother SE-400 Embroidery & Sewing Machine

Stars: 4 out of 5

Brand: Brother
Model: SE-400
Specialty: Embroidery & Sewing


Features

Super Bright LED Lit Work Area
Built-in Memory
On-Screen Editing
Easy Computer Connectivity
Automatic Thread Cutter
Super Easy Needle Threading System
Instructional CD and Written Manual

Included Accessories

4x4 embroidery Hoop

Embroidery Arm
Soft Cover
Free Arm Accessory Compartment
Accessory feet:
Buttonhole foot
Overcasting foot
Zipper foot
Button fitting foot
Monogramming foot
Blind stitch foot
Embroidery foot
Embroidery bobbin thread
USB cable
Power cord
Accessory bag with seam ripper, needle set, cleaning brush, screwdrivers (2), touch pen, spool caps (3), scissors, bobbins (3)


Review

I received my Brother SE-400 as a birthday present from my parents, and it has been extremely useful over the past 10 months or so. I kind of compared this model to plug and play hardware/peripherals for your computer. It really is good to go as soon as you set it up. The written manual is easy to read and organized very well to take you step by step through the process of your first embroidery project. If the manual bogs you down, you always just pop in the CD and watch the tutorials instead. I haven't watched all of them, but the ones I have used I really liked.

There are 70 built in embroidery designs, 67 built in sewing stitches, 5 embroidery fonts, 98 stitch functions, and 120 frame pattern combinations. The build in embroidery designs are pretty basic (floral scrolls, country kitsch stuff, and some decorative flourishes). I have used quite a few of the decorative stitch functions on the sewing side of things. They are great for adding little decorative trims to the edges of sleeves, collars, skirt hems, etc. It also does smocking, buttonholes, and stipple quilting to name a few.

Aside from the decorative stitch functions, there really isn't anything particularly special about the sewing machine functions. It's very similar to every other sewing machine that I've had as far as the way it operates with a couple exceptions. I love, love, love the needle threader. It is super easy to use as long as you remember to always have the needle in the uppermost position when pushing the lever to operate the threader. If the needle is in the wrong position, it will not thread properly. I also really appreciate just being able to push a button to cut the thread. Another nifty little extra is an on-screen message that pops up to let you know that the bobbin is running low on thread. This is particularly useful when doing embroidery because you can't see the bobbin once the hoop is in place. A second built in cutter is up on top where you wind your bobbin. It makes it very convenient to cut thread when the bobbin has finished.

As far as the embroidery functions go, I have been super impressed with this machine. It's on the lower end of the scale for pricing. When I got mine, it was on sale for about $460. I noticed this Christmas they have lowered the regular price down to $399. Considering that most of the embroidery machines range from $800 to multiple $1000, this one is a great deal for a beginning embroiderer. Regular, all purpose thread doesn't work so well in embroidery mode. It will work, but I have found that there is a lot of breakage and bunching of thread overall. It really is worth the investment to get a set of embroidery thread. If you search on Amazon, there are some really good deals on sets of up to 300 colors of thread. Well worth the investment. Also, stick with bobbin thread for the bobbin. It really does make a difference. I don't know what about the bobbin thread is different, but it just works so much better with far fewer hitches. If you follow those couple of tips, the operation is really smooth and hassle free.

This machine will only use a 4x4 hoop. You cannot use anything larger than that, so it does eliminate some of the bigger embroidery designs. Luckily most doesigns are readily available to fit a 4x4 hoop. While it doesn't come with a wide variety of built in designs, there are TONS of free and low-cost embroidery designs for download online. I have literally hundreds of free designs I have downloaded. One of my favorite places to buy designs is the Urban Threads website. Once you have the designs downloaded onto your computer, you just connect your computer to your sewing machine via the included usb cable and transfer the files. Your computer will recognize the sewing machine as an external drive just like it does for a flash drive. You can save up to around five designs on the built in memory of the machine. I rarely save a design unless I am making multiple items using the same one. I just delete them off the machine when I am done so that way it is empty each time I transfer a new design over for use.

As a final note, I would say this machine is a great value for someone just beginning to use an embroidery machine. It's great for embroidering hand towels, baby bibs, diapers, purses, and other small items. It's easy to use and affordable. Keep in mind that if you ever play on being able to create your own designs or make major edits to existing designs, you will need to purchase additional computer software to do that.

10% Off After Christmas Sale in My Etsy Shop

I'm offering 10% off on all of my pre-made items currently posted in my Etsy store. The sale will be on beginning 12/27/12 through next Friday, 01/04/13. All you have to do to get access to this and additional promo codes as they become available is like my store's Facebook page. This promo code is good in both of my shops. Below are the links for the code as well as the shops.

Facebook Page Link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pandoras-Box/218458428199326

Pandora's Box: Sewing, Crafts, & Costuming Etsy Store Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/purplepandabear

Pandora's Pervertables (Adult Content) Etsy Store Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PandorasPervertables

First Testimonial on Purchases Made in my Etsy Store!

Meg (user eccomeg) purchased a 5 piece custom set of Christmas stockings from me on Etsy (please see the previous   post about flip flop stockings for pictures of her order), and with her permission I am posting what she had to say about the stockings when she received them in the mail. I had sent her a message the day after Thanksgiving to confirm receipt of her order since the USPS tracking info indicated that it had been delivered that day. This is what she replied:

Yes! Thank you!! We just got back from being away for the Thanksgiving holidays yesterday.

The box was waiting for us and I could not have been happier when I opened it. They're already hanging up! The kids loved theirs and the dog's and my husband was tickled by the hairy toes on his. My is wonderful as well!

I can't believe you made these and with such speed! Thank you so much! Every year I say I am going to make our stockings and every year I have a bag of materials that I feel guilty about so thank you!

We love them - they are too darn cute.

Take care and I hope you had a wonderful holiday with your friends and family and we wish you a relaxing and joyous holiday and New Year.

Meg

I am so happy to hear that she was so thrilled with the results of our collaboration. I always enjoy the creativity and on the fly problem solving that goes into a custom order of an item that I've never made before. I think the purchase ended well for everyone: Meg has five great stockings for her and her family and I have a new pattern to add to my repertoire.  

Christmas Stockings for Tropical Climates and Those Who Would Just Rather Be On The Beach

As a lot of you know, I have an Etsy store where I sell a lot of things that I post about in my blog here. Around this time of year, after the hand full of Viking hat orders that I get just before Halloween, I start to get requests for Christmas stockings. I don't make just any Christmas stockings. I like to make ones that are a little outside the ordinary. Some of the ones I have made in the past include monster feet, dragon feet, mermaid tails, pirate boots, victorian boots, high heel boots, ballerina slippers, wolf paws, puppy paws, and bare feet. I even made a monster ballerina stocking for my wife.

I love the challenge of coming up with designs that are new and different, and I put in all my ads to message me for custom orders. So, I wasn't altogether surprised that during the first part of November I got a message requesting a special order. At first we were discussing making bare feet stockings for a husband and wife as well as maybe a pirate boot and ballerina for a daughter a son and a puppy paw for the family pet.

 As we exchanged emails back and forth establishing exactly what was wanted, the customer sent me a picture of a stocking that she saw online and asked if I could make one like it. Pictured to the right is the original photo. I checked all over online, and I couldn't find anywhere selling them. From the blog article where the photo was posted, it looks like the person may have purchased them on a trip to Hawaii. I had seen the photo before, but I had never seriously considered how I would make the pattern.



Of course, it being me, I said, "Sure, I'll give it a go!" I spent the next week working up a pattern eyeballing the photo and making my prototype. I then sent a picture of my mockup to the customer to see if it was what she wanted. It turns out, it was. She ordered one for herself, her husband (with hairy toes for him), and her son and daughter plus the original puppy paw for her dog. It was a fun back and forth deciding on colors and themes and embroidery for the names on the cuffs. It's the first time I've gotten to use the text option on my embroidery machine. I was really looking forward to testing that out too.

I think they turned out really, really well. It's a design that I will definitely keep in my pattern book. I have never claimed to be a great pattern maker, so I'm rather proud of myself for how well they turned out just from looking at a photo.  Below are the stockings that I made for the family.
This one is for the dad, Chris.    .

This one is for the mom, Meg.

This one is for the son, Wes.

This one is for the daughter, Sophia.

And this one is for the puppy, Ozzie.

Delving into Baby Bunting ... Not Rabbit Skin Here

My mother recently asked me if I could make a baby sleep sack for a cousin and another for the grandchild of a family friend. As many of my projects have started, I did a bit of research and went, "Sure, I can make that!" While the newer ones sometimes call them sleep sacks, sack sleepers, or baby sleeping bags, the older name that I am familar with is baby bunting. Remember the old nursery song? No rabbit skin used herre, but the principle is the same. You want to make a piece that you can wrap your baby up snug and tight to fight the fall and winter chill while simultaneously creating a secure and comforting confinement.

First Pattern in the Bunting Wars

There are many different patterns out there both sewing and knitting and crocheting. Just google baby sack or baby sleep sack and you will find all variations listed. For my first one, I chose to go with Simplicity 2165 sewing pattern. It seemed to be the easiest design inspired more by the way you swaddle a baby in a blanket than by the more common jumper style sleep sack. It's the image in the top left hand corner of the pattern front to the left of this paragraph. This pattern also includes two styles of diaper covers, a changing pad that folds into a bag, a doll, and a nursing cover.

I chose to make this the simple way. I found some lightweight fleece receiving blankets at a local store for $1 each. I used two yellow and blue plaid blankets to make the outside and two solid, powder blue blankets for the inside. There are only two pieces to this pattern: the t-shaped back piece and the oval piece that makes up the lower front section. I made a really simple matching hat with some of the left over material (hat found on the Butterick pattern mentioned below). I would still have enough material left over to make a couple of more hats or matching mittens and booties as well.

McCalls 4236 Sewing Pattern

The next version I plan to make will be using  McCalls 4236 sewing pattern. I will be making option A, which is the long sleeve sleep sack with the fold over hand covers (middle picture on the right hand side of the pattern front to the right of this paragraph). It takes a little more skill because it involves setting sleeves and putting in a zipper. It shouldn't be too difficult though. I think I will end up using a little heavier fleece on this one because it is only one layer instead of two like the previous one. I think it would be really cute to either use a fun printed fleece or use a solid and then embroider a design on one side of the chest like they show on the main picture of the pattern front.This same pattern also features a pleated and non pleated version of a sleeveless sleep sack as well as a hat, two different jumpsuits, and a receiving blanket.

Butterick 5583 Sewing Pattern

The third and last version that I would like to make uses Butterick 5583 sewing pattern. This one is similar to the McCalls pattern, but it offers a couple of slight variations. One is almost identical to the previous one except it has fitted cuffs at the neck and wrists (think sweat shirt style). It also has another option that leaves the bottom open like a  night gown and has a drawstring to draw it closed at the feet. I really like the drawstring option because then it would allow you to change the baby without completely undressing him or her. Another reason why I really like this pattern is that it offers so many other items all in one pattern package. It has patterns for hats, receiving blankets, mittens, booties, aprons, diaper covers (which I plan on converting to a cloth diaper), the ever popular feetie pajamas, and a cardigan style shirt.

Below are pictures of the baby bunting that I have completed so far. This is the first one described above. I will continue to post pictures of the others as I make them.

Counting Sheep: The Sheep Pillow Experiment - Take One

A while ago my cousin Karla emailed me a photo of a sheep pillow that she has seen online and asked me if I thought I could make one for her to go in her upcoming daughter's crib. I looked at it and with my normal crafty optimism, went, "Sure, I think I could do that!" Below is a picture of the original photo she sent me.

When I start a new crafting project that I don't have a pattern for, I start by dissecting the prototype or model into parts. When I looked at this picture, I said to myself it's a cloud with feet plus a big egg with orange slices for ears. Basic circles for eyes. I know ... it's a weird way to break things down, but it works for me. So, I was off to Google Land searching for pictures of clouds. The cloud clip art I found was okay, but the thing I really liked was a picture of a thought bubble that came up on one of my searches.  So, I proceeded to crop out the bubbles at the bottom of this picture and blow it up to the size that I wanted. I thought the feet just looked like a tree trunk, so I free-handed the shape and stitched up the middle for a dividing line. For the head I used the basic shape oval function in Word. I also used the basic shape crescent function in Word for the ears as well. I free handed the two sets of circles that make up the eyes.

In the picture it looks like it was all made out of felt with only the body stuffed. I wanted it to have a little more pop, so I decided to make a front and back for the face/ears and stuff the head as well. I did that first and then sewed it onto the front of the body before I put the rest of the pillow together. I did decide to stay with the original felt material since I have a lot of felt scraps from making Christmas stockings. I used white for the body and dark brown for the face and legs. I used a whip stitch to hand stitch all of the pieces together and filled it with a cotton blend fiber fill.

I am really happy with the results. I think by stuffing the head/ears as well as the body and feet it gives it a much more three dimensional look and makes the ears adjustable. It also results in a more plush pillow.

The whole project from designing the pattern pieces to cutting out them out of the fabric to sewing to filling it with stuffing all took about three hours to do. Not a bad evening's work.

The Cloth Diaper Craze ... I've Begun My Journey ... Have You?

So, I am slightly amused but mostly intrigued by the revival and revamping of cloth diapers lately. I remember the cloth diapers that my mother and aunts used on my cousins and I when we were little. They were cumbersome and awkward to fold, often leaked, and had to be pinned in place with large safety pins and further waterproofed with a layer of plastic pants on top of the diaper. Who would want to go back to that?! That was my thought when I first heard about cloth diapers being offered again. But, wow, have they ever changed! Not only do they work so much better, but they are also much easier to use and a thousand times cuter than the old ones.

I have read hundreds of website pages describing how to make just as many different variations of cloth diapers. A lot of them have you start with a disposable diaper that fits your baby well and then use that as a pattern for cutting out the new cloth diaper. I don't have a baby yet, so I don't really keep a supply of baby diapers around the house. Plus, I will be the first one to tell you that pattern making is not my forte. I sew really well, but creating a pattern from scratch has always been a bit of a challenge for me. So, when I spotted a book devoted entirely to making cloth diapers at Joann Fabrics and Crafts, it was the perfect solution.

The book is called Cloth Diapers Made Easy by Babyville Boutique. It has 10 different diaper designs in it as well as a couple of different deigns/ideas for how to do the soakers for the diapers. Each diaper design is discussed, and the author goes step-by-step through how to make each with pictures illustrating each stage of construction. The book also comes with the diaper patterns in four sizes for you to cut out and use. No drafting your own pattern!

The Babyville Boutique brand also offers a wide variety of PUL (waterproof) fabrics, color coordinated snaps and velcro, lining fabrics, decorative appliques, and tools that will all work together to make your diaper making easier and more successful. All of these supplies are available at Joann's as well. In my Joann's store they have all of the Babyville Boutique items in their own special area. NOTE: The picture shows the pre-cut sets of fabric, but you can also buy the PUL fabrics by the yard.

So, I bought the book, a scrap piece of PUL fabric, a piece of coordinating scrap fabric for a lining, some matching velcro, and a package of elastic to see how hard it would be to make one of these new diapers. There are a lot of different designs listed in the book, but for the first one, I decided to go with a pretty basic, straightforward design. I decided to make a velcro closure, pocket-style diaper with hidden elastic. What that means is there will be an opening in the back of the diaper along with waistband for you to insert the soaker into the diaper shell. I like this design because it allows for you to adjust the thickness/absorbency as well as placement of the soaker for children who wet heavier or lighter, for nighttime versus daytime, and for boys versus girls. The reason I decided to do hidden elastic was just a familiarity and economic decision. I am very familiar with sewing casings for elastic, and the pretty, coordinating  fold-over elastic that you will see on the outside edge of many cloth diapers is rather expensive. Using standard elastic allowed me to save some money in the end, so that's what I did.

The whole process of making this style diaper was pretty easy. The pattern was simple, and the directions were easy to follow. The book even has a little chart in the front to help you estimate the correct length of your elastic pieces for the waist and legs based on the age of the baby who will be wearing the diaper. That was a really handy thing to have access to. I wish I had taken more pictures during the construction of the diaper, but I was so focused on making it correctly that I forgot. I plan to go through and make examples of each type of diaper design in the book, so I will definitely take more pictures next time. I do have a picture of the finished product however.

... To Be Continued ...