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Brother PC420 PRW Project Runway Computerized Sewing Machine Review

Back in April, my Singer sewing machine went out on me.  It has worked well for the last 12 years, and I definitely got my use out of it.  A couple my friends have told me I should upgrade to a computerized sewing machine, but I am always weary when it comes to new technology or messing up a good thing.  On the other hand, there have been things I haven’t been able to do with my old Singer.  So I set out to research the best sewing machine that would fit my needs but would still be easy to use.

I took many things into consideration while trying to choose a sewing machine.  Feature set was followed by cost, which was followed by ease of use.  Supportability is important as well, but since I was only looking at the bigger name brands, I felt I could get reliable support if needed.  I am VERY analytical when buying something that I expect to last me for the next 10+ years, so let me share what lead me to the decision to buy the Brother PC 420 PRW Sewing Machine.

Top things to look at when choosing a computerized sewing machine

While doing my extensive research, I found there are a few critical things to look at when buying a computerized sewing machine:

• Versatility (adjustable stitch width/height, customizable patterns, etc…)
• Ease of thread management (needle threader and built-in thread cutter)
• Patterns and automatic stitches (straight, zigzag, automatic button holes, etc…)
• Fabric Management (droppable feed dogs, one button reverse stitching, etc…)

There are many different brands and models of computerized sewing machines to choose from.  Without doing proper research, you may find yourself with a sewing machine without a feature or capability for the lifetime of the sewing machine.  Most well built sewing machines last 10 years or longer, and I fully expect to get every bit of that out of my Brother PC 420 PRW Sewing Machine.

The possibilities are endless with a computerized sewing machine!

With all the different types of garments and accessories we can make sewing, I didn’t want to be limited with the capabilities of my sewing machine.  I subscribe to Threads magazine and they often showcase new expert design tips and techniques.  A good portion of these sewing techniques are dependent on the sewing machine being used. So I tried to find the computerized sewing machine that had the most options for my advanced sewing down the road.

One of the most important options is the ability to adjust the stitch width and height.  When doing decorative stitching like the zigzag pattern you see here, it’s nice to be able to adjust the width and height of the stitch as needed to fit your fabric or design you’re trying to achieve.

Another important requirement of a computerized sewing machine is the ability to create or import customizable stitches and patterns.  Most of the new sewing machines come with a ton of built in patterns, but what do you do if the new design you are creating calls for a unique stitching pattern? You need the ability to create a new pattern or adjust the built in patterns of your sewing machine.

The Brother Computerized Sewing Machine has digital stitch length and width control which means that you can adjust the stitch by millimeters!  It also has a LCD screen built into the sewing machine for you to design your own patterns and save it to the internal memory for those advanced designs you may need in the future.

A computerized sewing machine shouldn’t be complicated to use!

I am constantly reminded I am getting older every day.  Because my new sewing machine is computerized, it shouldn’t be harder to use.  In fact, they keep telling me computers are supposed to make things easier for us!

One of my biggest complaints with my old Singer was how difficult it was the thread the eye of the needle.  I am ashamed to say, but the last couple years have forced me to start using a magnifying glass to get my thread started.  Luckily for us, they have come a long way since my old Singer.  Most sewing machine manufacturers now have different mechanisms built into the sewing machine to make the job of threading the needle easier.  In addition, they have also made the process of bobbin winding easy as well.

The higher end computerized sewing machines have a built in thread cutter.  This reduces the need for a set of shears or scissors when sewing.

The Brother PC 420 PRW Sewing Machine has an amazing automatic needle threader, which is my favorite feature.  It is no longer a bother when switching thread colors or needles.  Even at my age, I can easily thread the needle in less than 5 seconds.  It also has a one button thread cutter.  This makes removing the garment from the machine super easy!

Built in Patterns and Stitches

If you have been stitching as long as I have, you know it wasn’t that long ago when we only had a single straight stitch.  Today many of the computerized sewing machines have custom built in stitches.

Another very useful function that the computerized sewing machines have is the ability to automatically sew button holes.  I love this feature!  This makes doing buttons a snap and saves hours of work!

The Brother Computerized Sewing Machine has 294 utility and decorative stitches!  That’s more than any of the other competitors in its price range.  These include 10 styles of automatic button holes and 3 styles of letters with full punctuation symbols.  You can combine these together to make designs like the leaf design shown here.  While doing my research for this Brother Project Runway Sewing Machine Review, I couldn’t find any other sewing machine that had this much bang for the buck when it comes to stitching patterns.

No more Fabric Kinks or Uneven Sewing

One must have feature is droppable feed dogs.  They are the component that is responsible for pulling the fabric to the needle in a uniform fashion.  It’s important to find a computerized sewing machine that features feed dogs that “drop” away while repositioning for the next pull of the fabric.  This prevents any kinks or uneven tugs on your fabric while sewing.

Another really useful feature is One-Button reverse.   I use the reverse switch to lock my straight stitch into place.  This prevents the thread from pulling out or coming apart.

What comes with the Brother Computerized Sewing Machine?

The Brother PC 420 PRW Sewing Machine comes with a plethora of accessories including:

• Seam Ripper
• Needle Set
• Twin Needle
• Cleaning Brush
• Eyelet Punch
• Large Screwdriver
• Small Screwdriver
• Large Spool Cap
• Medium Spool Cap
• Small Spool Cap
• Grid Sheet Set
• Knee Lifter
• Hard Case

What feet are included?

Again, Brother came through with everything I can possibly want!

• Buttonhole
• Overcasting
• Monogramming
• Zipper
• ZigZag
• Blind Stitch Foot
• Button Fitting Foot
• Walking
• Quilting Foot
• Stitch Guide Foot
• Adjustable zipper/piping foot
• Non Stick Foot
• Open Toe

How long is the Warranty?

Brother PC 420 PRW Computerized Sewing Machine comes with a 25 year limited warranty.  I did take comfort in that Brother has been in the business a long time and love my Brother embroidering machine that I bought last year.

What others are saying about the Brother Computerized PC420:

Customers have given this brother computerized sewing machine a 5 star rating on Amazon.  While doing my research for this Brother Project Runway Sewing Machine Review, I couldn’t find one negative review out there!   These comments are straight from Amazon:

• "I have been using it for over a month and love it!"
• "Perfect for all levels..."
• "SO glad I made the RIGHT decision!"
• "LOVE THIS MACHINE!"
• "Very, very satisfied"

Where can I buy the Brother PC 420 PRW Sewing Machine?

Before I bought my Brother PC 420 PRW Sewing Machine, I shopped around for about 2 weeks.  The best price I could find by far was Amazon.

Would you like more reviews?

As with this Brother Project Runway Sewing Machine Review, it’s important that the review is actually from an owner of the sewing machine.  You can find many reviews from other owners on the Amazon website.  This was one of the decision criteria when I landed on the Brother PC420 PRW Project Runway Computerized Sewing Machine.