Thinking about buying a computerized embroidery machine? Read our Brother SE625 review and find out if the Brother SE625 computerized sewing and embroidery machine is worth it. This embroidery machine can be commonly found at local stores in the USA. It is comparably priced with the similar Brother SE600 computerized embroidery machine. Keep reading to learn all about this great embroidery machine.
The Brother SE625 is a computerized sewing and embroidery machine that is sure to serve as your trusty companion in many years of service. Brother has been making quality sewing machines for well over 100 years, so they are definitely an industry leader today. The Brother SE625 has many features that make this machine great for those who want to learn to sew, for those who simply want a machine that will do its job, and even for those who love embroidery.
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About the Brother SE625
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can sew and embroider | Max 4″ x 4″ embroidery hoop |
| Full color 3.2″ LCD touchscreen | Can be complex to use – read manual |
| 80 built-in designs + 200 on CD | Refurbished units can have issues |
| USB transfer to add new designs | |
| 103 built-in sewing stitches | |
| 25 year limited warranty |
Brother SE625 Combination Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine Details
The Brother SE625 computerized sewing and embroidery machine is a great machine. This Brother sewing machine has many great features to help you create beautiful sewn and embroidered projects. This machine comes with a 4×4 embroidery hoop and 280 included embroidery designs. The large, full color touchscreen LCD makes it super easy to use this machine. You can preview your embroidery designs on the screen, complete with changing out thread colors in the display. You can drag and drop elements onto the embroidery field, rotate them, resize them, and more. This allows you to see what the finished embroidery will look like before putting it on your project. With this Brother sewing and embroidery machine you can even create arced lettering automatically!
Another really nice feature of the SE625 Brother embroidery machine is how easily you can import embroidery files into the machine. This lets you add your own favorite and unique designs to embroider with. There is a USB port on the side of the sewing machine that lets you transfer your own embroidery patterns onto the machine. When you import files, you must make sure they are the .PES file format for this machine to be able to use them. A great place to look for embroidery files for this Brother machine is iBroidery.
In addition to being an embroidery machine, the Brother SE625 is also a fully functional sewing machine. This computerized sewing machine has 103 different sewing stitches built in. It also has eight different types of one-step auto sized buttonholes. This machine is capable of free arm sewing, allowing you to easily sew smaller projects like hemming pants, finishing sleeve edges, and create baby clothes. This machine has many other features such as a no-jam drop in bobbin. It is super easy to thread with an automatic needle threader. Threading sewing machine needles is such a hassle, this tool saves you that frustration. Even winding a bobbin with this machine is super easy with automatic bobbin winding. The machine will also keep track of how much bobbin thread you have left, and automatically stop when you run out. No more continuing to sew without the bottom thread! This Brother sewing machine has a bright LED light in the work area so you can see exactly what you are doing as you sew. This Brother sewing machine is capable of sewing at a quick 710 stitches per minute, or you can use the sliding speed controller to reduce this speed for fine control.
This machine includes many different accessories, including a sewing foot pedal for sewing. It also has many different presser feet like the spring action zigzag foot, buttonhole foot, overcasting foot, monogramming foot, zipper foot, blind stitch presser foot, and button sewing foot. It also comes with a 4×4 embroidery hoop and a CD of embroidery designs. This machine also comes with Brother’s 25 year limited warranty and at your side support.
Product Features:
- Computerized sewing and embroidery machine
- 280 embroidery designs total, with 80 built in and 200 on the included CD
- Add your own embroidery designs with easy USB transfer
- 3.2″ full color LCD touch screen display
- 103 built-in sewing stitches
- Eight different one-step, auto-sized buttonholes
- Large 6.4″ x 4.1″ needle-to-arm throat for more room to quilt or work on larger sewing projects
- Max 4″ x 4″ embroidery area
- Can do free arm sewing
- 25 year limited warranty
- Brother at your side support
Brother SE625 Review
Now for the fun part, the Brother SE625 embroidery machine review. The Brother SE625 is a well reviewed computerized sewing and embroidery machine. It has many great features that make using it super easy. It comes with a full color, backlit LCD display that makes it a snap to pick your stitch and change settings. You can also use the display to view your embroidery patterns before stitching them out. This works great with monogramming, allowing you to position letters exactly where you want them. The Brother SE625 can even automatically curve writing and letters for you. This machine will even tell you about how long it will take to stitch an embroidered area! That way you are not sitting around waiting for the machine to be done. You know when the machine will be done embroidering an area. If you have to turn the machine off mid-embroidery, it remembers what part you were on when you turn it on again. In general, this is a great machine that can do a lot of things and is worth the money.
This computerized sewing and embroidery machine has quite a few automatic functions that make life so much easier. Something I really love is the ability to automatically stop and warn you when you are almost out of bottom thread. I’ve ran out of bottom thread and “kept going” so many times on my older machines, and it is always frustrating to have to resew an area. This machine also remembers settings between sewing sessions. That way when you come back you can start right back up where you were. It also has automatic needle up / down positions, a stop / start button, and an automatic thread cutter. It also has an automatic needle threader, automatic bobbin winder, easy to use drop-in bobbin, and a variable sewing speed control. With all of these automatic features, the Brother SE625 practically sews and embroiders on it’s own.
This machine ranks highly with embroidery enthusiasts, and with the ability to also sew it could be a really great machine for you. This is a great embroidery machine for both beginner machine embroiderers and more advanced users. Beginner embroiderers report that they are able to watch the instructional videos then start working on their own beautiful embroidered creations within 30 minutes! The most important thing to remember about this machine is to read the instructions. This machine can turn out very high quality sewing, but it needs you to read the instructions and use it properly in order to do so.
Another nice feature about this machine is that it combines the ability to do sewing and embroidery in one machine. There are tons of sewing machines out there, and tons of embroidery machines. However, being able to both sew and embroidery from one machine is rarer. Being able to sew and embroider on the Brother SE625 means that you will save space in your craft room and have fewer machines to maintain. It can also save you money since you do not have to purchase two machines, one to sew and another to embroider.
The main complaints about this sewing machine in Brother SE625 reviews are the price, and refurbished machines sometimes don’t perform as well. You’ll want to keep an eye on the price if you are thinking about buying this machine. It has spiked recently with an increase in demand for sewing machines. For the refurbished machine complaints, any refurbished item is a bit risky. Yes, the item was fixed and inspected – but it may never truly be the same as a new model. Buy a new model or be sure to get a warranty if you go the refurbished route. Refurbished machines will not have the Brother 25 year limited warranty included, so that’s another reason to steer clear of a refurbished version, even if the price is tempting.
Another complaint about this machine is that the measuring marks on the sewing plate can be difficult to see. This problem is an easy fix. Simply take some acrylic paint – white if you have it, and quickly paint over the sewing plate and wipe off any excess with a cloth. Let the paint dry completely (24 hours at least) before you use the sewing machine. Your measuring lines will be nice and white, easy to see.
Now, I won’t say that the Brother SE625 is the best embroidery machine or combination machine for you. That will really depend on what you need this machine for. This machine may be missing important features that you really need – like the ability to sew with multiple colors of thread simultaneously or an even larger workspace. If so, check out our post of the best home embroidery machines.
If you are looking for an embroidery machine that can also sew, this would be the perfect machine for you.
Common Questions about the Brother SE625
In this part, I’ll answer some of the common questions that people ask about the Brother SE625. This way, you can hopefully find your answers in one spot and not have to go looking all over the internet just to find out of this is the right machine for you. 😀
Can the Brother SE625 hem jeans?
The Brother SE625 can hem jeans easily. This machine can go through two layers of denim easily with the appropriate needles and thread. Just make sure that you are using denim needles with the sewing machine if you are sewing denim. Using the correct needle will spare you bent and broken needles, and damage to your sewing plate from the needle impacting it. Note that this is not a heavy duty sewing machine, so anything thicker than a few layers of denim is going to be more than this machine can handle. If the machine starts to stall while sewing, don’t force it to continue! Forcing the machine through fabric thicker than it can handle can break the machine, and void your warranty. This means that you would responsible for any repairs to the machine.
Are Brother sewing machines good quality?
Brother sewing machines are good quality, inexpensive machines. Brother sewing machines often have more features than similarly priced competing sewing machines. With the additional 25 year limited warranty, you know that even if the machine is defective you have the warranty to support you. The Brother SE625 sewing machine has quite a few plastic parts, so I would recommend caution when dealing with heavier fabrics or thicker seams. If the machine is struggling, don’t force it. Damage from improper use would not be covered under the warranty.
Is the Brother SE625 a good sewing machine?
The Brother SE625 sewing and embroidery machine is a highly rated, reliable machine that has the flexibility to let you sew and embroidery amazing projects from one machine. With the ability to both sew and embroider or monogram your projects, this machine can save you space in your craft room. This is an amazing machine!
Sewing on this machine is easy to do, and with the 103 different built in stitches there is a stitch for any situation. This machine is quite capable of sewing clothing, quilts, and most home decor items. You would want to be careful with thick or heavy materials like denim or leather. More than a few layers of thick or heavy materials may be too much for this machine. Always be sure to use a sharp, correct needle for the material you are working for and the correct thread. If the machine stalls out or struggles with the material, stop! Do not try to force it through a project. Doing so can void your warranty and lead to costly repairs that you are responsible for.
Does the Brother SE625 sewing machine come with a warranty?
When purchased new, the Brother SE625 sewing and embroidery machine comes with a 25 year limited warranty. You will want to make sure to fill out the warranty card for this machine so that you can take advantage of this warranty if you need to! This is Brother’s standard warranty for their sewing machines. You can view the full details of the warranty here.
How long does it take to learn how to use the Brother SE625 Brother computerized sewing and embroidery machine?
The Brother SE625 sewing and embroidery machine is very easy to learn how to use. It has a full color display that shows you what stitch you are using, letting you preview your work. You can also use the Brother SE625 sewing machine without the display if you want to, although using it is recommended. You can even adjust and control embroidery designs right on the color touchscreen display as you stitch them out.
It is best to practice some on simple embroidery designs to learn how the Brother SE625 Brother machine works, before trying out your own designs. You can find embroidery files online from sites like iBroidery that are great for learning basic embroidery techniques with this Brother computerized sewing and embroidery machine.
Can the SE625 do free arm sewing?
Yes! The Brother SE625 can do free arm sewing. Free arm sewing is where you remove part of the bottom of the sewing machine. This allows you to wrap small items around the sewing machine and more easily sew them. Free arm sewing is great for hemming pants, sewing sleeve cuffs, insetting sleeves, and finishing collars. Free arm sewing make sewing children’s and doll clothing much easier too. Simply remove the embroidery attachment and the onboard storage compartment and you are ready to do free arm sewing.
Does the Brother SE625 come with software to make embroidery designs?
No, the Brother SE625 does not come with the software needed to make your own embroidery designs. This software would have to be purchased separately, or you can buy designs that others have made and import those onto your machine.
If you are interested in buying designs others have made, check out iBroidery and Etsy. iBroidery is Brother’s site dedicated to custom embroidery machine designs, and Etsy has a great collection of embroidery designs created by individuals too. Be careful when downloading and adding designs onto your machine. Make sure that you only use trusted designs.
Can you add any image to the Brother SE625 to embroider?
The Brother SE625 can use a USB drive to import new design and stitch patterns. You can add any image that is formatted to a .pes, .phc, or .dst design to the Brother SE625 to embroider. So your basic image formats will not work to embroider from. Images must first be converted to the appropriate design file type using embroidery software. Keep in mind that the Brother SE625 embroidery machine only comes with a 4×4 embroidery hoop. If your pattern is larger than this you will either need to resize the pattern, reposition the hoop at some point, or buy a larger embroidery hoop for your project.
You can also import decorative stitches into the Brother SE625 sewing machine. These stitch files must be formated as .pmx, .pmv or .pmu format. These files are treated slightly differently, .pmu and .pmx files are read only. Files that are .pmv are both read and writable. This allows you to modify or create your own stitches on the machine.
If you want to browse lots of great embroidery designs for your machine, iBroidery is a great resource for new designs. Just make sure that any design that you purchase is formatted as a .pes, .phc, or .dst file type. You would need to transfer these designs onto a USB stick or flash drive, then you would be able to add them to your Brother sewing and embroidery machine.
What other items do I need to embroider?
To successfully embroider, you should also pick up some embroidery thread and stabilizer. This embroidery thread will not be like the hanks of embroidery thread that you can see in craft stores. You will want embroidery thread on spools so they can be used with your embroidery machine. Machine embroidery thread is more glossy than normal sewing thread. It is made of slightly different materials (often rayon or polyester) from your normal cotton sewing thread. It is also spun as 2-ply threads, so is not able to stretch or endure rubbing as well as normal sewing thread. You *can* embroider with normal sewing thread, but your embroidery will not be as vibrant and glossy. Also, you may have issues with the thread flowing correctly to create the design. Getting the appropriate embroidery thread to create your embroidery with is highly recommended.
There is not a specific “Brother se625 embroidery thread”, any embroidery thread would work in this machine. That said, Sulky is a good common brand of embroidery thread. You will also want to be sure to use stabilizer with all of your embroidery projects. This will help to ensure that your embroidery comes out smooth and even by providing some extra body to the fabric. If you get tear away stabilizer, you can remove it easily after your embroidery design is completed.
Can you embroider multiple colors at once with the Brother SE625?
The Brother SE625 computerized embroidery machine can only embroider one color at a time. If you are looking for a machine that can embroider more than one color at a time, you would want a commercial embroidery machine. Check out our reviews of some great commercial embroidery machines for home use.
Can you embroider hats with the Brother SE625?
Yes! You can embroider hats with the Brother SE625. You will need to use a specialized embroidery hoop like this one with this machine to embroider hats. It can also be a bit of a challenge to get the hat positioned in the hoop just right. However, with some patience and trial and error you can get it right and embroider hats with this machine.
Can you use the Brother SE625 computerized sewing machine to sew through leather?
The Brother SE625 computerized sewing machine is able to sew through very light weight leathers and and fake leathers. Lightweight suedes or pleathers that are about the same weight as denim is about as thick as this machine can handle. When sewing leather with the Brother SE625 or any other sewing machine, make sure that you use heavy duty needles that are designed to go through leather. This will improve the machine’s performance and help prevent you from breaking needles. If the machine stalls or has difficulty with your leather, it may be too thick for the machine. If this happens stop sewing the leather with your sewing machine as you can damage the machine.
Can you quilt with the Brother SE625?
You can quilt with the Brother SE625, but this machine was not designed for quilting. It does have a larger throat that makes it easier to pass bulky quilts or projects through the machine, but the throat is not as large as a dedicated quilting machine. Adding a darning or walking foot to the machine would allow you to do free motion quilting since the feed dogs are capable of fully dropping. This machine also comes with many different decorative stitches that would work really well to create beautiful quilts. Again, keep in mind that this machine is not designed expressly for quilting. So while you can quilt on it (as with most any sewing machine) it does not come with the appropriate feet or the extended work table that other quilting machines have. You can buy these accessories separately though.
How easy to use is the automatic needle threader on a Brother SE625?
The automatic needle threader on the Brother SE625 is super easy to use. You start by threading the machine normally, following the arrows and path inscribed on the machine. When you get to the needle part, raise the needle to it’s highest position and lower the presser foot. Press down on the needle threader lever and hook the thread onto the guide hook as you lower it. Continue pressing the needle threader lever to have the hook pass through the eye of the needle. Catch the thread on the hook, and lightly hold the thread as you release the needle threader lever. Pull the rest of the thread loop through the needle, and you are ready to start sewing!
What size bobbin does the Brother SE625 use?
The Brother SE625 uses plastic SA156 class 15 bobbins. You can find the bobbins for sale here. You should only use these bobbins with this sewing machine. Using the wrong size bobbin can damage your sewing machine, causing it to need costly repairs. You could also just end up with repeated tangles and bird’s nests under your sewing machine. These are never fun to clean up, so make sure to use the correct bobbin type!
Can I use a metal bobbin with the Brother SE625?
No, you can not use a metal bobbin with the Brother SE625. Using a metal bobbin with this sewing and embroidery machine could damage it, leading to costly repairs. You will also invalidate the warranty by using a metal bobbin in the embroidery machine. This means fixing any damages caused by using a metal bobbin would have to be paid for by you! Use the plastic SA156 class 15 bobbins with this sewing machine.
How do I wind a bobbin on the Brother SE625?
Winding bobbins using the Brother SE625 sewing and embroidery machine is a snap. If you want a full color walkthrough, one is available on your LCD touch screen. There are also instructions printed on top of the machine itself. Basically, you place an empty bobbin on the bobbin winding shaft. Thread your machine to wind a new bobbin, then push the bobbin winding shaft to the right and begin threading.
Is the full color LCD screen of the Brother SE625 worth it?
The Brother SE625 comes with a large, full color LCD screen. This 3.2 inch touchscreen is super sharp and displays what the sewing machine is doing in crisp detail. Having such a large full color screen like this allows the sewing and embroidery machine to have tutorials stored on the machine itself for easy reference. The full color LCD screen of the Brother SE625 also allows you to view your embroidery patterns in high detail. You can use the LCD screen to maneuver, rotate and even change the colors in your pattern before you start to embroider it. This lets you better preview a work before sinking time and materials into it.
Another great benefit of the LCD touch screen is that you can actually preview your design in color before sewing a stitch. This may seem unnecessary, but I say it’s totally worth it. Your individual thread colors may look great sitting next to each other, but how do they look once they are combined into your different designs? Being able to preview your colors next to each other is completely invaluable. Your thread color palette may be amazing, but nothing beats being able to preview it before you spend a long time sewing your design.
The full color LCD screen is totally worth it and is one of the best features of this embroidery machine.
How do you know if Brother’s SE625 Brother sewing and embroidery machine is right for you?
If you are looking for a great computerized sewing and embroidery machine, the Brother SE625 Brother sewing and embroidery machine can definitely be considered. It has many features that make it super easy to use. This Brother sewing and embroidery machine is great for a variety of sewing projects including children’s clothes and home deco items. It has a touch screen display, with Brother’s Brother Link system that makes uploading your own embroidery files super easy to do as well. It has easy automatic features that make them super easy to use such as automatic needle threading, bobbin winding, and auto speed control. Brother’s SE625 Brother computerized sewing and embroidery machine also has many other easy one step features. Brother’s SE625 Brother computerized sewing and embroidery machine is a great all around sewing machine.
Does the Brother SE625 come with a case?
The Brother SE625 comes with a soft dust cover to protect it. The Brother SE625 sewing and embroidery machine does not come with a hard case. If you want a hard case, you would have to buy a case separately for this machine. Sewing machine cases are designed for the dimensions of most sewing machines – not embroidery machines. So if you wanted to carry or store your Brother embroidery machine in a case you have to detach the embroidery extensions from the machine in order for it to fit into a standard case.
What accessories come with the Brother SE625?
- Four bobbins
- Seam ripper
- Basic needle set
- Ball point needle
- Twin needle
- Screwdriver
- Three spool caps
- Extra spool pin
- Three pre-wound bobbins with embroidery thread
- Power cord
- Accessory pouch
- Embroidery arm attachment
- 4″ x 4″ embroidery hoop
- Buttonhole foot
- Button sewing foot
- Overcasting foot
- Monogramming foot
- Zipper foot
- Spring action foot
- Zigzag foot
- Blind Stitch foot
- Instruction manual
- Bonus CD of embroidery designs
What presser feet come with the Brother SE625?
The Brother SE625 computerized sewing and embroidery machine comes with these presser feet:
- Buttonhole foot
- Button sewing foot
- Blind stitch foot
- Zipper foot
- Monogramming / embroidery foot
- Overcasting foot
- Spring action zigzag foot
What other accessories can I purchase for the Brother SE625?
There are many other accessories that you can purchase for the Brother SE625. Additional presser feet, embroidery thread, larger embroidery hoops and more. You can view a full list of compatible accessories on Brother’s site here.
Does the Brother SE625 have variable speed control?
Yes! The Brother SE625 has variable speed control. Variable speed control is useful for regular sewing. It lets you control the max sewing speed of the machine. This is a great way to let people who are newer to sewing get adjusted to the machine. If they slam down on the foot controller, the sewing machine will not run away with their project. If you spend much time sewing, the variable speed control also lets you speed up the machine – allowing you to complete projects faster!
Can you do free-motion quilting with the Brother SE625?
Yes! You can do free-motion quilting and free-motion sewing with the Brother SE625. Free-motion sewing is when you drop the feed dogs completely into the down position. Not all sewing machines can drop feed like this. Having your feed dogs dropped allows you to move the fabric by hand as you sew. This allows you to create beautiful designs with your sewing machine that cannot be designed in a pattern. You can use this to create graphics like random designs or follow a pattern.
What is the max hoop size for the Brother SE625?
The maximum hoop size for the Brother SE625 is 4″x4″. Even if you could attach a larger hoop, this is the max size that the machine is capable of embroidering in the onboard computer. So, if you are embroidering larger projects, this may not be the best embroidery machine for you and you should check out our post of the best home embroidery machines.
What are variable speed controls?
Variable speed control is the ability to control the max speed of a sewing machine. Variable speed control can be used both with and without a presser foot. It allows you to reduce the max speed of a sewing machine. The Brother SE625 has a maximum speed of 710 stitches per minute, which is fast for a sewing machine. Variable speed controls are great for a new sewer who may accidentally press too hard on the presser foot and have their project run away on them. Variable speed control is also great for when you are just getting started with embroidering and want to be sure the machine is going correctly before having it run at full speed.
How many built-in embroidery designs does the Brother SE625 have?
The Brother SE625 has 80 built-in embroidery designs included with it. You can easily select these designs, then do design edits with the LCD display. In addition to these 80 included embroidery designs, you can also import more designs by copying them from your computer to a USB stick then using the built-in USB port to transfer the files. The 200 additional embroidery designs on the included CD are intended to be transferred this way. You can also find other designs online that you can import to your machine.
How many built-in sewing stitches does the Brother SE625 have?
The Brother SE625 has 103 built-in stitches. These stitches range from traditional sewing stitches to more decorative stitches. There are also eight different styles of one-step buttonholes.
What’s the difference between the Brother SE600 vs SE625 embroidery machines?
There are only two real differences between the Brother SE625 vs SE600 sewing and embroidery machines. These are basically the exact same machines. The first difference between the two machines is that the colored design on the front of the machines is different. The Brother SE625 is a gold / tan color, and the Brother SE600 is silver / grey.
The second, and main difference between the two machines is that the Brother SE625 comes with the CD with 200 additional embroidery images. These bonus images are nice, but having them on a CD can be an issue if your computer does not have a CD reader. Since the SE625 has a USB port, these images would need to be transferred off of the CD onto a USB dongle in order to be transferred onto the embroidery machine. Keep in mind that these additional designs are licensed for personal use – not commercial use. So you would not be able to use them on any project you plan on selling. This makes the use of these additional designs limited to personal projects and gifts you plan on giving out. You would not be able to use them for items going to a craft fair, Etsy shop, or even just embroidery designs for your home business.
These are the only differences between the two machines. when comparing these two machines to determine which to buy, take a look at the CD of additional images and see if there are any you would use. Then compare the price of the two machines to see if those images are worth it to you. Remember – you can also find additional embroidery images at iBroidery. If the additional designs are not something you would want, than go with the cheaper machine. 🙂
Read our full Brother SE600 review for more details about this great machine!
Brother SE625 Features Video
Looking for a video that goes over the Brother SE625 sewing and embroidery machine’s features? Check out this video from Brother USA for an overview of this fantastic sewing machine.
In summary
The Brother SE625 computerized sewing and embroidery machine is a feature rich machine that is great for advanced sewers. Being able to sew and embroider with one machine can save you space in a smaller work room. With the ability to import embroidery patterns onto it, you can create virtually any design you want automatically. This machine really speeds up the time it takes to create a project. At it’s price point, it is rare to find a machine with so many features and options. Brother machines are also highly regarded for their quality and features. This is a great machine to start embroidering on.
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