Meet the Machine That Minds Its Own Business
A Pattern Crafters Co Review
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We’ve got a studio full of scraps, half-finished patterns, tea-stained thread charts, and one Very Stubborn Boxer puppy. We don’t need more chaos—we need tools that get the job done.
Enter: The Brother PE900, an embroidery-only machine that showed up, clocked in, and did its work without asking us to sew a pillowcase or learn an app from scratch.
This is the machine for anyone who wants to embroider without distractions. No sewing options. No quilting settings. No extra buttons trying to be helpful.
Just beautiful stitches. On demand. All business (with a little magic, of course).
What Makes the PE900 Worth a Look
We tested the Brother SE2000 first, and we love that combo machine (you can read our review here). But for those of you who are laser-focused on embroidery—not hemming pants or sewing quilt blocks—the PE900 is a powerhouse with less fuss.
Here’s what stood out:
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5x7” embroidery field – Big enough for expressive designs, still manageable for smaller hoops and tighter spaces
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Wireless transfer via Wi-Fi + Artspira app – Send files from your computer or mobile without a USB
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190+ built-in designs + fonts – A solid starting point, even if you use mostly custom patterns
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Built-in thread trimming, needle threader, and on-screen editing – All the little conveniences that make stitching smoother
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No sewing mode = fewer menus and a simpler workflow – Kind of refreshing
So Why Did We Choose the SE2000 First?
Honestly? We like the flexibility of a combo machine. We use the sewing function to finish edges, prep backing fabric, and do the occasional “oops I stitched this on backwards and need to fix it” recovery job.
But for embroidery-only folks—especially those building a dedicated space or side hustle—the PE900 is a solid, focused investment.
And it’s just a bit cheaper than the SE2000 (depending on the seller).
Compared to Other Brother Machines
We test drove a few others before landing on our current setup. Here’s a quick snapshot:
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Brother PE535
Cute! Affordable! But limited to 4x4" hoop, which made us feel boxed in for our watercolor hearts and weird pigeons. -
Brother SE600
Combo machine, great price—but same 4x4 hoop limitation. -
Brother SE1900
A strong contender. Same 5x7 size. Just didn’t feel as tech-friendly as the SE2000. -
Brother Persona PRS100
Gorgeous. Glorious. The Bugatti of embroidery machines. Also: $15k. Not quite our studio budget. Yet. -
Brother PE900 – [this one!]
Focused. Capable. Embroidery-only. No fluff. Just stitches.
So What Have We Made On It?
We borrowed a friend’s PE900 and stitched:
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A set of watercolor designs using our new embroidery files
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A tiny haunted ghost with metallic thread (metallics still test our patience, no matter the machine)
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A test sampler of “Unfinished But Loved” text for our Pattern Graveyard series
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A very questionable hot dog pigeon, which honestly looked better drawn
Every design came out clean and surprisingly fast. The PE900 handled fabric stabilizers and thread changes like a champ.
Who This Machine Is Great For
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Cross stitchers making the leap to machine embroidery
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Creatives with no need (or interest) in sewing features
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Folks setting up a focused embroidery station
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Pattern experimenters who want reliable, customizable stitch-outs
It’s not ideal if:
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You want one machine that can do everything
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You need larger hoop sizes (5x7 is the max)
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You prefer touchscreen navigation with a little more polish
Final Verdict
The Brother PE900 is our pick for “embroidery-only and proud of it.”
It does exactly what it promises. No frills. No sewing drama. Just you, your thread, and a beautiful blank canvas.
If you’re looking to add embroidery to your creative practice—or grow a handmade shop with consistent stitched pieces—this is a fantastic machine to start with.