Brother PE900
Beginners who already sew (or do not need to) and want room for T-shirt fronts, totes and most popular design sizes.
- Field5 × 7 in
- TypeEmbroidery only
- TransferWi-Fi + USB
Updated October 202618 machines, specs from the manufacturers
Buy the embroidery machine you won’t outgrow.
Most beginners pick by price or built-in designs, then find their hoop is too small. We compare machines by what you actually want to stitch, so you buy once.
- Sourced specs, checked October 7, 2026
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More top picks for 2026
The best first machine depends on one question.
What is the biggest design you want to stitch? A 5 × 7 inch field fits most designs people sell. Choose 4 × 4 only if you are sure you’ll stay with names and small motifs.
Brother SE2000
Beginners who want one machine for both sewing and 5 × 7 embroidery.
- Field5 × 7 in
- TypeSew + embroider
- TransferWi-Fi + USB
Brother PE545
Beginners who already own a sewing machine and mainly want monograms, names, patches and small motifs.
- Field4 × 4 in
- TypeEmbroidery only
- TransferWi-Fi + USB
Brother SE700
Beginners who want sewing plus small embroidery in one machine, with wireless design transfer.
- Field4 × 4 in
- TypeSew + embroider
- TransferWi-Fi + USB
Brother NQ1700E
Beginners who already know they want bigger designs (jacket backs, larger quilt blocks) without re-hooping.
- Field6 × 10 in
- TypeEmbroidery only
- TransferWi-Fi + USB
Shop by project
What do you want to make?
Side by side
The shortlist, by the numbers that matter.
| Model | Field | Type | Designs | Max speed | Transfer | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother PE545 | 4 × 4 in | Embroidery only | 135 | 400 spm | USB, Wi-Fi, Artspira app | Check price ↗ |
| Brother SE700 | 4 × 4 in | Sewing + embroidery | 135 | 400 spm | USB, Wi-Fi, Artspira app | Check price ↗ |
| Brother PE900 | 5 × 7 in | Embroidery only | 193 | 650 spm | USB, Wi-Fi, Artspira app | Check price ↗ |
| Brother SE2000 | 5 × 7 in | Sewing + embroidery | 193 | 650 spm | USB, Wi-Fi, Artspira app | Check price ↗ |
| Brother NQ1700E | 6 × 10 in | Embroidery only | 258 | 850 spm | USB, Wi-Fi, Artspira app | Check price ↗ |
| Janome Memory Craft 400E | 7.9 × 7.9 in | Embroidery only | 160 | 860 spm | USB | Check price ↗ |
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Answer five questions about sewing, design size and what you’ll make. No email, no signup, no paid placements.
Don’t get stuck on day one
The supplies to order with your machine.
Cut-away stabilizer
Permanent support for knits, T-shirts, sweatshirts and anything that stretches.
Shop on Amazon ↗Tear-away stabilizer
Temporary support for stable wovens such as canvas, denim, twill and quilting cotton.
Shop on Amazon ↗40 wt polyester embroidery thread set
A starter range of colors in the weight most home designs are digitized for.
Shop on Amazon ↗Embroidery bobbin thread or prewound bobbins
Lighter bobbin thread keeps the back of the design flat and reduces bulk.
Shop on Amazon ↗Embroidery needles (75/11)
Embroidery needles have a larger eye and groove that protect rayon and polyester thread at speed.
Shop on Amazon ↗Curved embroidery or appliqué scissors
Trim jump stitches and appliqué fabric close to stitches without lifting the hoop off the machine.
Shop on Amazon ↗
Head to head
Stuck between two machines?
Brother embroidery machines compared: the whole lineup, explained
Every current Brother home embroidery machine on one chart: PE vs SE vs NQ explained, hoop sizes, Wi-Fi, which models are discontinued and what replaced them.
Brother PE800 vs PE900: is the upgrade worth it?
Brother PE800 vs PE900 compared spec by spec: same 5 × 7 field and 650 spm, but the PE900 adds Wi-Fi, jump stitch trimming and more designs. Which to buy.
Brother SE1900 vs SE2000: what changed and which to buy
Brother SE1900 vs SE2000: both are 5 × 7 sewing and embroidery combos. See every spec difference, Brother’s data conflicts, and who should buy which.
Brother PE535 vs PE545: differences, and when to skip both
Brother PE535 vs PE545: both are 4 × 4 embroidery-only machines. Compare every spec, Brother’s data quirks, warranty status, and when a 5 × 7 PE900 is smarter.
Brother SE700 vs SE2000: 4 × 4 or 5 × 7 combo?
Brother SE700 vs SE2000: a 4 × 4 vs 5 × 7 sewing and embroidery combo. Every spec difference, hoop-size regret, and the SE630 as the no-Wi-Fi option.
Brother PE900 vs SE2000: do you need sewing too?
Brother PE900 vs SE2000: identical 5 × 7 embroidery specs, so the choice is about sewing. Full spec table, workflow trade-offs and a verdict by buyer type.
Measure twice, stitch once
Free tools that answer the questions before you buy.
◎
Embroidery machine finder
Answer five questions and get a spec-based shortlist of beginner embroidery machines.
Open tool →▱Embroidery hoop fit checker
Check your design dimensions against a machine embroidery field, with rotation.
Open tool →◷Embroidery stitch time calculator
Estimate stitching time from stitch count, machine speed, color changes and setup.
Open tool →＋Embroidery startup budget calculator
Add up the machine, supplies, software and a test allowance before you buy.
Open tool →$Embroidery pricing calculator
Price a custom embroidery job with materials, labor, overhead and a true margin.
Open tool →◉Embroidery thread palette planner
Build and download a digital color palette to match against physical thread cards.
Open tool →Learn as you go
Guides for the parts nobody puts on the box.
Buying guides
Pick a first machine by hoop size, workflow and budget, not marketing.
16 guides →Comparisons
Side-by-side specs for the beginner machines people actually shortlist.
9 guides →Getting started
Hooping, first stitch-outs, beginner projects and the vocabulary you need.
7 guides →Supplies
Stabilizer, thread, needles and accessories: what to buy first and why.
7 guides →Designs & software
File formats, transferring designs, resizing and beginner software.
7 guides →Troubleshooting
Fix thread nests, breaks, puckering and files your machine will not read.
5 guides →Business & pricing
Budget, time and pricing math for selling embroidery.
4 guides →New here? Start with the beginner roadmap.
12 steps, in order →Why trust EmbroideryWise
Honest picks. Visible sources.
No sponsored rankings, no invented scores. Just published specs, visible math and plain-English advice.
Read our methodology →- ✓
Every spec is sourced
Machine specifications link to the manufacturer page and carry a “checked” date. When sources conflict, we say so.
- ✕
No fake testing
We do not claim hands-on reviews we did not do, and we never invent star ratings or rankings.
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Formulas you can check
Every calculator shows its formula and assumptions, so you can verify the math yourself.
Top pick: best for most beginnersBrother PE900
Check price ↗