Brother PE900 Embroidery Machine Review
This Brother PE900 review finds an embroidery-only machine with a 5 x 7 inch field, best for home embroiderers who want bigger designs. It doesn't sew, so skip it if you want one machine for hems, zippers and embroidery.
On this page (18 sections)
- Brother PE900 review: the short answer
- Who the Brother PE900 suits
- Brother PE900 specs at a glance
- The 5 x 7 inch field gives you room
- Built-in designs, fonts and bonus patterns
- Color Sort and Jump Stitch Trimming
- The touchscreen and on-screen editing
- Threading and setup
- Wireless transfer and the Artspira app
- Size, weight and the space it needs
- Power and warranty
- What comes in the box
- What the Brother PE900 does well
- Where the PE900 falls short
- Who should skip the Brother PE900
- Before you buy: a short checklist
- Alternatives to the Brother PE900
- Brother PE900 review: our verdict
The Brother PE900 is an embroidery-only machine with a 5 x 7 inch field, so it's built for bigger designs than the SE700 can stitch. This Brother PE900 review covers its features, its drawbacks and who should choose something else.
We compared the specs for the PE900 and checked each feature against what a home embroiderer usually needs. Brother describes it as a dedicated machine for home embroiderers who want something they can grow with over time.
Brother PE900 review: the short answer
The PE900 is a strong pick for a home embroiderer who wants bigger designs and doesn't need to sew. Its 5 x 7 inch field is the main draw, and the lack of sewing is the main limit.
Brother PE900 Embroidery Machine
- 5 x 7 in embroidery field
- 193 built-in designs and 13 lettering fonts
- 50 bonus designs through the Artspira app
- Color Sort and Jump Stitch Trimming
- 3.7 in LCD touchscreen
- Wireless LAN and a USB port
- 21 lb
A dedicated embroidery machine with a 5 x 7 inch field and 193 built-in designs. It weighs 21 pounds and does not sew.
Pros
- 5 x 7 inch field, more than twice the SE700 area
- 193 built-in designs plus 50 bonus designs
- Color Sort reduces color changes
- Wireless and USB file transfer
Cons
- Embroidery only, no sewing
- 21 lb, heavier than the SE700
- Bonus designs need a firmware update and a USB drive
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. The PE900 scores 8.7 because it pairs a 5 x 7 inch field with 193 built-in designs, while it can't sew and weighs 21 pounds.
Who the Brother PE900 suits
The PE900 suits a home embroiderer who wants a dedicated embroidery machine with a bigger field. It also suits someone who already owns a sewing machine and wants embroidery on a separate machine.
- Someone who wants larger designs, up to 5 x 7 inches, in one hoop.
- A buyer who wants a big built-in design library and room to add more designs later.
- A shopper who wants to edit and preview designs on a touchscreen before stitching.
- Someone who sews on another machine and wants embroidery without the sewing features.
New to embroidery? Start with our embroidery machines for beginners guide to see where a dedicated machine fits.
Brother PE900 specs at a glance
The PE900 has a 5 x 7 inch embroidery field and weighs 21 pounds. The table shows the specs that matter most when you compare it with the SE700 and other beginner machines.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Embroidery only, no sewing |
| Embroidery field | 5 x 7 in maximum |
| Built-in designs | 193, including 10 frame designs |
| Lettering fonts | 13 (9 English, 3 Japanese, 1 Cyrillic) |
| Bonus designs | 50 through the Artspira app |
| Screen | 3.7 in LCD touchscreen |
| Connections | Wireless LAN and a built-in USB port |
| Needle to arm space | 7.4 in |
| Weight | 21 lb |
| Size | 17 x 10 x 12 in |
| Power | 120 volts, sold for US use |
The 5 x 7 inch field gives you room
The PE900 field is 5 x 7 inches, or about 35 square inches, which is more than twice the 4 x 4 inch field on the SE700. That extra room lets you stitch larger designs in one hoop.
Brother PE900 field size and the frame in the box
Brother includes a 5 x 7 inch embroidery frame set in the box. A design larger than 5 x 7 inches won't fit in one hoop, so check each design's size before you stitch it.
Brother also gives the PE900 7.4 inches of space from needle to arm. For how hoop sizes match design sizes, see our hoop sizes guide.
Built-in designs, fonts and bonus patterns
The PE900 has 193 built-in designs, 13 lettering fonts and 50 bonus designs through the Artspira app. The built-in library includes scrollwork, florals and quilt patterns.
The library also has 10 frame shapes and 14 stitch patterns. The 13 fonts are 9 English, 3 Japanese and 1 Cyrillic, so the font list covers more than one language.
The 50 bonus designs need firmware 1.51 or later and the Artspira app. Brother says the firmware update needs a USB drive, which is not included, so buy one before you set up the machine.
Brother says the bonus patterns are for personal, non-commercial use only. Use designs you have the right to stitch.
Color Sort and Jump Stitch Trimming
Color Sort and Jump Stitch Trimming cut down on color changes and extra thread jumps. Those two features matter most on multi-color designs.
Color Sort adjusts the order in which a multi-color design stitches, which reduces the number of color changes. Fewer color changes means less time switching thread at the machine.
Jump Stitch Trimming automatically trims any excess thread jumps within a color, so you spend less time snipping.
The touchscreen and on-screen editing
The 3.7 inch touchscreen handles letter editing, zoom, resizing, rotating, repositioning and combining designs. Those tools let you change a design on the screen before the machine stitches.
Brother also lists mirror image as an editing option, so you can flip a design on the machine.
Brother includes step-by-step tutorials on the screen for threading, attaching the embroidery arm and more.
Threading and setup
The PE900 has an automatic needle threader and a numbered threading diagram printed on the machine. Brother says the threader saves time by pushing the thread through the eye of the needle.
The on-screen tutorials walk you through attaching the embroidery arm. Work through them once before your first design.
Wireless transfer and the Artspira app
The PE900 takes designs over a wireless network, through its USB port or through the Artspira app. Each route works in a different setup.
Design Database Transfer is free software that sends embroidery files from a PC to the machine over a wireless network. The built-in USB port is the wired route if the network doesn't work.
Brother says compatibility may vary by device and operating system, and that wireless transfer needs a wireless network connection. Check your PC and router before you buy, so you know which route will work at home.
The Artspira app lets you draw custom patterns on a mobile device and download patterns to send to the machine wirelessly. Artspira Thread, sold separately, helps keep your thread colors organized inside the app.
Size, weight and the space it needs
The PE900 weighs 21 pounds, which is 5.4 pounds more than the SE700. Brother gives its size as 17 x 10 x 12 inches, so measure your table and the height under any shelf before you order.
Plan a clear path from the door to the table before you carry it. Keep your fingers clear of the needle while the machine runs, unplug it before you change a needle, and cut thread with snips.
Power and warranty
Brother says the PE900 is intended for sale only in the US at 120 volts, and that any other use or sale may void the warranty. Check the voltage before you plug it in.
Brother's limited warranty splits by part: 1 year on parts, labor and accessories, 2 years on electronic components and circuit boards, and 25 years on the chassis casting.
Brother also says technical support is for the life of the product. Start at Brother USA for the full terms.
What comes in the box
The PE900 box holds embroidery supplies and no sewing feet, since it's embroidery only.
- 4 bobbins and white embroidery bobbin thread
- A 5 x 7 inch embroidery frame set
- A needle set, a spool net and a set of spool caps
- Scissors, a seam ripper, a cleaning brush and three screwdrivers
- A dust cover and an operation manual
What the Brother PE900 does well
The PE900 does one job well: it stitches a bigger 5 x 7 inch field with a large built-in library and editing tools on the screen. Those features make it a strong pick for embroidery alone.
- 5 x 7 inch field for bigger designs in one hoop.
- 193 built-in designs and 50 bonus designs through the app.
- Color Sort and Jump Stitch Trimming for multi-color work.
- Touchscreen editing with zoom, resizing, rotating and combining.
- Wireless and USB transfer with Design Database Transfer.
If you already sew on another machine, the PE900 adds a bigger embroidery field without repeating the sewing features you already have.
Where the PE900 falls short
The PE900 doesn't sew, it weighs 21 pounds, and its bonus designs need a firmware update. Each one matters for a different buyer.
Brother describes the PE900 as embroidery only, so you'll need a separate sewing machine for hems, zippers and buttonholes. It doesn't work as a traditional sewing machine.
Getting the bonus designs takes extra setup, since the update needs a USB drive that isn't included. Brother's support site has the latest firmware.
Caps need a cap hoop sold separately, and the hoop has to list your model. Read each hoop's model list for the PE900 before you buy.
Who should skip the Brother PE900
Skip the PE900 if you want one machine that sews and embroiders, or if your designs fit a 4 x 4 inch field and you want a lighter machine.
- You want hems, zippers and buttonholes on the same machine. The SE700 review covers the combo option.
- Your designs fit 4 x 4 inches, and you'd rather keep the weight smaller. The SE700 weighs 15.6 pounds.
- You plan to stitch caps often. Most home machines are single-needle and flat-bed, so read our hat hoops and cap frames guide before you buy.
Before you buy: a short checklist
Four checks decide most PE900 purchases, and each takes a few minutes. Do them before you order.
- Measure your table and the path from the door to the table, since the machine weighs 21 pounds.
- List your largest design and check it against the 5 x 7 inch field.
- Plan the firmware update and a USB drive if you want the 50 bonus designs.
- Confirm your router reaches the machine's spot, or plan to use the USB port.
Our can a home embroidery machine stitch hats guide explains what caps need, if hats are part of your plan.
Alternatives to the Brother PE900
If the PE900 is more machine than you need, the SE700 is the combo option. If you're looking at other brands, the Poolin comparison covers another route.
The Brother SE700 vs PE900 comparison puts the two Brother machines side by side, with the field size and sewing differences in one place. If you're weighing a Poolin machine instead, Poolin vs Brother embroidery machines covers the trade-offs.
If you're looking at machines for a home shop, our best embroidery machines for a home business roundup compares bigger fields and more needles.
Brother PE900 review: our verdict
Buy the PE900 if you want a dedicated embroidery machine with a 5 x 7 inch field and you don't need to sew. It fits a home embroiderer who plans to stitch bigger designs over time.
Pick the PE900 if you already have a sewing machine, want bigger designs and like on-screen editing. Pick the SE700 if you need sewing and embroidery in one box and your designs fit 4 x 4 inches.
Measure your table, check your largest design and confirm your router can reach the machine before you order. Then plan for the firmware update if you want the bonus designs.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Brother PE900 sew?
No, the PE900 is embroidery only. Brother says it does not work as a traditional sewing machine, so hems, zippers and buttonholes need a separate machine or the combo Brother SE700, which has 8 sewing feet and 103 built-in stitches.
How big is the PE900 embroidery field?
The PE900 has a 5 x 7 inch maximum embroidery area, about 35 square inches, which is more than twice the 4 x 4 inch field on the SE700. A design larger than 5 x 7 inches won't fit in one hoop, so check each design's size before you stitch it.
How many designs come with the PE900?
It has 193 built-in designs and 13 lettering fonts, and Brother offers 50 bonus designs through the Artspira app. The bonus designs need firmware 1.51 or later, and the update needs a USB drive that isn't included, so plan for that before you set up.
Is the Brother PE900 heavy?
It weighs 21 pounds, which is 5.4 pounds heavier than the SE700 at 15.6 pounds. Brother gives its size as 17 x 10 x 12 inches, so measure your table and plan a clear path from the door before you carry it.
