Guides

Combo machine or embroidery-only?

A combo machine sews and embroiders. An embroidery-only machine does one job. Three questions settle which one you need.

1. Do you already own a sewing machine?

If you do, an embroidery-only machine adds what you’re missing without paying twice for sewing. If you don’t, and you have room for one machine, a combo covers both.

2. How big are your designs?

At the same budget, embroidery-only machines often give you a bigger field. On Brother’s own site, the embroidery-only PE900 has a 5 × 7 in field, while the SE700 combo at a lower price has 4 × 4 in. The SE2000 combo matches the PE900’s 5 × 7 in field, at a higher price. Check your design sizes with the hoop size checker.

3. Will you embroider for hours at a time?

On a combo, the machine is busy while it embroiders, so you can’t sew at the same time. If you plan long embroidery runs, for example for a small business, having two separate machines keeps you working.

Machines in each group

Sews and embroiders

• Brother SE700 · 4 × 4 in
• Brother SE2000 · 5 × 7 in
• Singer SE9180 · 6.7 × 3.9 in (170 × 100 mm)

Embroidery only

• Brother PE545 · 4 × 4 in
• Brother PE570 · 4 × 4 in
• Brother PE900 · 5 × 7 in
• Janome Memory Craft 500E · 7.9 × 11 in
• Poolin EOC06 · 7.9 × 11 in

Filter them side by side in the machine finder.