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The four machines side by side
| Spec | Brother PE535 | Brother PE800 | Brother SE700 | Brother SE2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embroidery field | 4" x 4" | 5" x 7" | 4" x 4" | 5" x 7" |
| Built-in designs | 80 | 138 (incl. 10 frame designs) | 135 | 193 |
| Fonts | 9 lettering styles | 7 alphabet fonts in spec table (description says 11, verify) | — | — |
| Screen | Color touch LCD | 3.2" x 1.8" color touch LCD | 3.2" x 1.8" LCD | 3.7" color LCD |
| Design import | USB port (cable not included) | 1 USB port | — | — |
| Warranty | 1/2/25-year limited (Brother USA) | 1/2/25-year limited (Brother USA) | 1/2/25-year limited (Brother USA) | 1/2/25-year limited (Brother USA) |
| Built-in stitches | — | — | 103 | 241 |
| Embroidery fonts | — | — | 10 | 13 (per Brother spec table) |
| Wireless | — | — | Wireless LAN | Wireless LAN |
Sources (manufacturer pages): Brother PE535 · Brother PE800 · Brother SE700 · Brother SE2000. "—" = not published on that page.
01Best embroidery-only machine
Brother PE800
Embroidery-only machine
A 5x7 field, 138 built-in designs and USB import. You pay for embroidery, not for sewing functions you may already own.
Why it stands out
- 5x7 field without paying for sewing functions
- USB design import
- Popular platform: lots of hoops and tutorials
Keep in mind
- Embroidery only
- Single needle: manual color changes
Key specs
| Embroidery field | 5" x 7" |
|---|---|
| Built-in designs | 138 (incl. 10 frame designs) |
| Fonts | 7 alphabet fonts in spec table (description says 11, verify) |
| Screen | 3.2" x 1.8" color touch LCD |
| Design import | 1 USB port |
| Warranty | 1/2/25-year limited (Brother USA) |
Specs: Brother USA product page
02Best starter combo
Brother SE700
Sewing & embroidery combo
Sews and embroiders, with a 4x4 field, 135 designs, 103 stitches and wireless transfer. A good first step if you have no sewing machine yet.
Why it stands out
- Sews and embroiders, so one machine to start
- Wireless design transfer
- 135 designs and 10 fonts out of the box
Keep in mind
- 4x4 field limits chest logos and tote designs
- Small screen compared with the SE2000
Key specs
| Embroidery field | 4" x 4" |
|---|---|
| Built-in designs | 135 |
| Built-in stitches | 103 |
| Embroidery fonts | 10 |
| Screen | 3.2" x 1.8" LCD |
| Wireless | Wireless LAN |
| Warranty | 1/2/25-year limited (Brother USA) |
Specs: Brother USA product page
03Best combo with room to grow
Brother SE2000
Sewing & embroidery combo
The 5x7 field plus 241 stitches and a 3.7" color screen. The upgrade most SE700 owners eventually look at.
Why it stands out
- 5x7 field: roughly 2.2x the area of 4x4
- 241 stitches for a combo machine
- Larger 3.7" screen
Keep in mind
- Costs more than the SE700
- Still a single-needle machine: one color at a time
Key specs
| Embroidery field | 5" x 7" |
|---|---|
| Built-in designs | 193 |
| Built-in stitches | 241 |
| Embroidery fonts | 13 (per Brother spec table) |
| Screen | 3.7" color LCD |
| Wireless | Wireless LAN |
| Warranty | 1/2/25-year limited (Brother USA) |
Specs: Brother USA product page
04Lowest-commitment way to try embroidery
Brother PE535
Embroidery-only machine
Embroidery only, 4x4 field, 80 designs and USB import. Enough to learn hooping, stabilizers and lettering.
Why it stands out
- Simplest way to try machine embroidery
- USB import of your own designs
- Color preview before stitching
Keep in mind
- Embroidery only: no regular sewing
- 4x4 field
Key specs
| Embroidery field | 4" x 4" |
|---|---|
| Built-in designs | 80 |
| Fonts | 9 lettering styles |
| Screen | Color touch LCD |
| Design import | USB port (cable not included) |
| Warranty | 1/2/25-year limited (Brother USA) |
Specs: Brother USA product page
4x4 or 5x7: what the numbers mean
The hoop size is the maximum area the machine can stitch without re-hooping. A 5x7 field (35 sq in) is about 2.2 times the area of a 4x4 field (16 sq in). Designs larger than the field have to be split and re-hooped, which takes practice to align.
| Project | 4x4 field | 5x7 field |
|---|---|---|
| Monogram on a towel | Yes | Yes |
| Left-chest logo (about 3.5 in) | Yes | Yes |
| Name across a tote bag | Short names | Most names |
| Back of a jacket | No | No (needs a larger field) |
What else you will need
- Stabilizers: cut-away for knits, tear-away for stable wovens, water-soluble for towels and lace.
- Embroidery thread: 40 wt polyester or rayon, plus bobbin thread.
- Embroidery needles: larger eye than universal needles.
- Extra hoops: smaller hoops waste less stabilizer.
Frequently asked questions
What size hoop do I need as a beginner?
4x4 inches handles monograms, baby items and small motifs. 5x7 handles most tote bag designs, larger names and left-chest logos with room to spare. If you are unsure, 5x7 is the safer long-term choice.
Can I use my own designs?
All four machines import designs: the PE535 and PE800 via USB, the SE700 and SE2000 also wirelessly. Brother machines read the .PES format.
Do I need digitizing software?
Not to start. Built-in designs and purchased design files are enough. Digitizing software lets you turn artwork into stitch files later.
Is a combo machine a good idea?
Yes if you need a sewing machine too. If you already own one, an embroidery-only machine puts the budget into the embroidery side.
— The BobbinBench Team