If you love to sew, you have many sewing machines to choose from on the market. Singer and Brother both make high-quality machines with user-friendly features. Let’s review two popular models to see which one best suits the projects you love to do.
Singer Futura XL-400 Portable Sewing and Embroidery Machine
The Singer Futura XL-400 is mainly an embroidery machine. It’s an excellent choice if you want to decorate quilts, furnishings, and clothing.
To begin, the Futura XL-400 has an important advantage over similar sewing machines. Not only can you perform basic edits of the 125 designs in its memory, but you can also edit and transfer new designs from your computer over the included USB cable.
This machine is compatible with a wide variety of design file formats like FHE, JEF, CHE, HUS, PES, XXX, DST, SHV, PEC, EXP, VIP, PCS, PSW and SEW. It also lets you customize colors, flip designs, rotate them, and resize them.
Next, the Futura XL-400 comes with thirty built-in stitches including two one-step buttonhole makers. There are also five fonts plus outline lettering. You can program multiple designs and lettering into one file for straightforward sewing without delay.
It’s easy to set up the Singer Futura XL-400 because it has both an automatic needle threader and a drop-in bobbin system. Then it brightly illuminates the work area with its six LED lights. And the speed control on the front of the machine helps you sew without the need for a foot controller.
As you sew, you’ll have the benefit of multi-hooping where you can embroider designs as large as 11 by 18.5 inches. Plus, the extra large sewing space gives you 8-1/4-inches of room to the right of the needle for large quilts and tablecloths.
In conclusion, you can expand the capabilities of the Futura XL-400 with additional software like PhotoStitch, Auto CrossStitch, HyperFont, and more. With these programs, you can convert photos into embroidery designs, make cross-stitch patterns, and use a Windows font for custom writing.
More features of the Singer Futura XL-400 Portable Sewing Machine:
- Covered by 25-year limited warranty
- Requires a PC with a minimum of Windows XP, 1GHz processor, and 500MB RAM
Brother Sewing XR9550PRW Computerized Sewing Machine
Although the Brother XR9550PRW doesn’t embroider like the Singer Future XL-400, it can create monograms with the included monogram foot. And it has 110 built-in stitches for garment construction, quilting, and decorative projects.
Like the Singer machine, the Brother gets you off to an easy start with an automatic needle threading system and a drop-in bobbin. Plus, the bobbin winder has an independent motor. And the bobbin is resistant to jams just in case you tend to sew off the edge.
The bright LED work light makes sewing more enjoyable. And the eight one-step auto-size buttonholes turns a tricky step into a cinch. In fact, it’s also easy to choose any stitch you want with the press of a button.
If you love to quilt, you’ll appreciate the quilting presser foot and large worktable that come with the Brother XR9550PRW. There is also a selection of presser feet for overcasting, zippers, button sewing, blind stitch, and general purpose sewing. And you can drop the 7-piece feed dogs for free motion sewing.
On the other hand, if you enjoy making clothes, the XR9550PRW has a free arm for sewing cuffs, collars, and sleeves. And you can adjust the speed with the controller on the front without using a foot pedal.
More features of the Brother Sewing XR9550PRW Computerized Sewing Machine:
- Covered by a 25-year limited warranty
- Comes with a hard case and other accessories
Recommendation
If you’re enthusiastic about sewing, you might have a difficult time choosing only one of these two sewing machines. Each one has unique abilities.
For example, if you love to embroider, the Singer Futura XL-400 lets you create, edit, and upload designs measuring up to 11 by 18-1/2-inches in size. It comes with many user-friendly features, too, like a large worktable, a speed control slider, and bright work lights.
Meanwhile, the Brother XR9550PRW is aimed at quilters and those who construct garments and furnishings. With it, you can do free motion sewing and monogram, too. And it also has helpful features like an independent bobbin winder and automatic needle threading.