Hand embroidery may be a fun way to kill some time. The results may not be professional, and the process may take a toll on your eyes and hands.
These days, the market is flooded with embroidery machines that are capable of producing high-quality designs. Most are computerized, so you don’t even have to learn the fine art of embroidery. You can monogram your clothing, embellish your accessories with personalized designs, or even make gift items with such machines.
Today, we will look at one of the best embroidery machines on the market: the Brother Pe535. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump into this handy Brother pe535 review.
Contents
A Little About the Brand
Brother ranks as one of the most trusted sewing machine manufacturers in the United States. Therefore, it may surprise you that it’s a Japanese company. It was founded over 100 years ago by 2 brothers, Masayoshi and Jitsuichi. Hence the name.
Since then, the company has produced some of the best serger, crossover, sewing, and embroidery machines. So, each of their products comes with over a century of high-quality Japanese craftsmanship and innovation.
Brother PE535 Specifications
- Amazon Rating: 4.5 Stars from 615 Reviews.
- Size: 16.5 X 7.8 X 12 Inches, 10.82 Lbs.
- Machine Type: Computerized.
- Threader Type: Automatic Needle Threader.
- Font Package: 3 Japanese & 6 English Built-In Lettering Fonts
- Power Source: Treadle Powered.
- Embroidery Area: 4 x 4 inches
- Design localization option: USB port
- Application: Embroidery only machine
- Design Templates: 80 Built-In Embroidery Designs.
- Warranty: 25 Year Limited Warranty.
What’s In The Box?
The Brother pe535 Embroidery Machine comes with loads of accessories that make it an excellent choice, especially if you’re new to the craft. These include things like;
- Manual and quick start guide
- A seam ripping tool
- Spool caps, inserts, and a net
- A pair of scissors
- Bobbins and clips
- A set of needles
- Brushes and other cleaning tools
- Framesets
The Brother pe535 Embroidery Machine also comes with a dust cover. You can also order the special package that comes with a pre-installed Monogram software.
The Features of Brother PE535
The Brother pe535 Embroidery Machine is rich in features that can transform you from a hobbyist into a thriving entrepreneur.
Here are the standout features of The Brother pe535 Embroidery Machine;
Stitch Capacity
At first glance, the Brother pe535 may appear to be a small and limited embroidery machine. But, it’s light on the treadle and has loads of computer-aided design and production functions. It can perform over 400 flawless stitches per minute, which means you’ll be done within no time.
Display Screen
The Brother pe535 Embroidery Machine comes with a 3.2-inch LCD screen. It’s full color and touch-enabled, meaning you can alter your designs on the fly without the need for a computer.
Design Templates
You don’t have to come up with your designs from scratch if you have the Brother PE535. The Brother PE535 Embroidery Machine comes with 80 built-in designs to choose from. These include borders, floral patterns, font packages, and various themed designs.
Brother also provides access to many other designs through its online platform on iBroidery.com. You can download loads of logos and popular characters like marvel, DC, Disney, and other blockbuster classics.
Built-In Fonts
Lettering is a special skill that takes time to perfect. The good news is you don’t have to struggle so much with the Brother PE535.
The machine comes with 6 English and 3 Japanese lettering fonts that include numbers and other characters. This gives you loads of creative flexibility in executing your designs.
Embroidery Field
This embroidery machine may not do much for you in terms of stitching and sewing. But, it’s excellent at embroidery areas that can accommodate projects of 4 x 4 inches. This gives tons of space to be creative with intricate laces and even 3D projections. It also has an alignment tool that includes a grid sheet. So, your designs will always go where you want them.
Automated Functions
For starters, the Brother pe535 model has a USB port. You can slot in a USB drive with all your custom-made designs and get it embroidered with a few clicks on the touch-enabled screen. It is a full-color display, unlike the legacy Brother PE525 model, which was monochromatic.
The Brother pe535 model also has 10 different embroidery designs and 4 extra lettering fonts. This updated model has built-in memory capacity, so you don’t have to plug in a pen drive every time you want to use a particular design.
Automatic Needle Threader
Needle threading can be such a tedious and repetitive task. Good thing you don’t have to strain your eyes if you have this model. It comes with an automatic needle threader that saves you a lot of time and makes your craft more enjoyable.
Instructional Guides
Such a collection of features makes this computerized embroidery machine seem intimidating. Fret not! It comes with a detailed manual that will make setting up a breeze of a task. The manufacturers were considerable enough to build a few tutorials into the machine’s menu. So, you don’t even have to go to Twitch or YouTube to look for tutorials.
What We Liked about the Brother PE535
You’ve probably already sprung for your credit card at this point. But, let’s tell you a few things about the Brother pe535 that will enrich your experience.
Stress-Free Set Up
This machine requires a little assembly before you can make a single stitch. The good news is that it’s a straightforward process. The bobbing slides into the motor with the use of the spools that come with every purchase.
Then all you need to do is insert it into the compartment found next to the needle plate. Now all you need to do is feed the end of the tread to the machine. The automatic Threader does the rest for you.
Easy To Use
This model is easy to use even though it looks technical at first. Once threaded, all one needs to do is pick a design from the 80 embroidery designs built into the machine. You can go login to iBroidery.com or scour the net for additional designs.
The full-color touch-screen allows you to modify the designs as you please. Such functions eliminate most of the bottlenecks and steep learning curves that make embroidery such a drag for newbies.
Versatile Application
80 in-built designs barely scratch the surface of this machine’s capabilities. Their iBroidery.com platform gives you access to an endless arsenal of techniques. You can also work your embroidery into several fabric types. This includes Leather, Cotton, Damask, Chenille, Denim, and many more.
The Brother pe535 embroidery is widely compatible with SCHMETZ and most embroidery needles. So, you don’t have to search for compatible needles.
Portability
It tips the scale at 10.82 lbs. which makes it easy to haul around. The machine has a dimensional size of 16.5 X 7.8 X 12 Inches, a small footprint for an embroidery or sewing machine. And, it won’t soak up all the space on your craft table. You can carry it to an embroidery class, a client’s place, or anywhere you would like to go.
What We Didn’t Like About The Brother PE535
The Brother PE535 has a few drawbacks. But they don’t constitute much of a deal-breaker as you get an excellent machine rich in features for home use. These include the following;
It’s not a Stitching Machine
The box has an embroidery only advisory labeled on the packaging and frame. This may upset people that need a machine that can do both embroidery and stitching. It works if you already have a sewing machine or are not concerned about hemming or performing backstitches.
Unsuitable for Advanced Users and Enterprise-level Embroidery
This machine may not provide enough creative freedom for users with advanced embroidery and stitching skills. For one, a 4 x 4-inch surface may be inadequate. It’s built specifically for home use. It may be wise to look into an alternative embroidery machine if you need something that can meet enterprise-level embroidery demands at both speed and scale.
FAQs
1. Can You Sew With The Brother PE535?
Unfortunately, no, you can’t sew with the Brother pe353. It’s designed as an embroidery only machine suitable for home use and beginners.
2. Is the Brother PE535 suitable for lettering and monogramming?
Yes, this model makes an excellent lettering and monogramming machine. It comes at an affordable price, has many font styles, and stress-free needle threading.
3. Which bobbin thread does the Brother 535 support?
The Brother 535 embroidery machine uses class 15-bobbin thread. This type of bobbin thread comes labeled as SA156 bobbin. The use of any other class of thread may damage the machine, so it’s recommended that you use genuine parts and accessories.
4. Can I Upload My Own Designs into the Brother PE535?
Are you confident in your digital illustration skills? Then, you’re in luck as the Brother pe535 has a companion software that converts PSDs, vectors, JPGs, and other file formats into PES formats. This saves you loads of time in converting your original creations into native embroidery file formats.
Verdict
It’s no surprise that the brand is such a popular choice for Americans and passionate embroidery artisans worldwide. It’s easy to use, assemble and it’s small enough to take anywhere you’d like to work. What more could you ask for?
As you can see, the positives of the Brother pe535 outway the drawbacks. This is thanks to over a century of R&D and constant upgrades of legacy models. The result? A tiny workhorse with loads of craft and life-enhancing features.
