Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine Review: Features, Performance, And Recommendations
The Brother XR9000 is a lightweight, discontinued computerized sewing machine that was popular among beginners and intermediate sewers for embroidery, quilting, and home decor projects. In this comprehensive 8,000 word review, we’ll examine the features, capabilities, and performance of the XR9000 to evaluate if it’s still a good choice for shoppers in 2023.
Overview of the Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine
The Brother XR9000 is a computerized sewing machine that was manufactured by Brother, a leading brand in home sewing machines. Although this model has been discontinued, it was considered a fairly affordable and fully-featured machine targeted at beginners and intermediate sewers.
Weighing in at around 15 pounds, the lightweight and portable XR9000 incorporated several automated features that made sewing and embroidery accessible even for those with limited experience. Key highlights included a built-in library of 80 stitches, computerized stitch selection and adjustment, a large extension table for bigger projects, and built-in monogramming capabilities.
The XR9000 delivered versatility across a range of sewing applications – from quilting and garment construction to crafting and home décor. Its approachable price point and varied features cemented its popularity as an introductory computerized sewing machine.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
The Brother XR9000 sewing machine (image credit: Brother)
Now that it has been discontinued, let’s take a deeper look at how the XR9000 performed and what it offered sewists during its tenure.
Notable Features of the XR9000
Extensive Built-In Stitch Library
One of the biggest assets of the computerized XR9000 is its selection of built-in stitches. With 80 built-in stitches covering utility stitches, decorative stitches, heirloom stitches, and quilting stitches, sewers gain access to a versatile range of stitching options.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
Common utility stitches like straight, zigzag, and stretch are all included. Decorative options like hearts, vines, leaves and scallops cater to embellishing projects. 7 styles of one-step buttonholes automate what can be a tedious task. And quilting stitches like hand-look quilt stitch and stippling help piece together quilts with an artisanal look.
In addition to the stitches themselves, there are 120 stitch functions that allow you to adjust stitch width, length, and other settings. For example, you can mirror stitch patterns, elongate satin stitches, and more. This boosts the creative possibilities exponentially.
Computerized Stitch Selection
Choosing your desired stitch is incredibly straightforward with the XR9000’s computerized stitch selection and LCD screen. Simply scroll through the on-screen stitch menu, select the pattern you want, and the machine automatically configures the appropriate settings.
The LCD screen also displays handy references like the recommended presser foot, stitch width/length defaults, and more. No more deciphering complicated stitch charts!
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
The XR9000’s LCD screen makes computerized stitch selection a breeze (image credit: Brother)
Monogramming Font
While many budget computerized sewing machines skip this feature, the XR9000 incorporates a built-in monogramming sewing font.
The font contains 55 characters, including all letters A-Z, numbers 0-9, and 19 special characters like ampersands, periods, and asterisks.
While you can’t adjust the font size, this gives sewers flexibility to personalize projects with names, phrases, and other lettering. It saves you time tracing and stitching out each letter individually.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
Oversized Extension Table
Quilters rejoice! The XR9000 comes bundled with a wide table attachment that provides ample workspace for managing large quilts or other big projects.
The extended surface area gives you room to spread out fabric and square up quilt layers with more ease. And the sturdy build prevents shaking or slipping while you work.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
The oversized extension table gives you more workspace for large projects (image credit: Brother)
Buttonhole Styles
Buttonholes are invaluable when constructing garments, home decor items like pillows, and crafts like bags. Luckily, the XR9000 gives you 8 styles of one-step, auto-sized buttonholes to cater to any project needs.
Options range from standard square and round buttonhole styles to more ornate heirloom and keyhole designs. Each can be easily adjusted to the correct length and width for your specific buttons.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
Convenience Features
Brother packs the XR9000 with features that simplify sewing and save you time. These include:
- Automatic needle threader – Threads the eye of the needle instantly
- Built-in thread cutter – Snips threads automatically with the touch of a button
- Variable speed control – Limit sewing speed as needed for difficult techniques
- Quick-set drop-in bobbin – Super simple bobbin winding and loading
- Automatic bobbin winding – Creates bobbins with even, consistent winding
Between the automated threading, built-in cutter, speed control, and bobbin system, you spend less time on prep work and can focus on the fun, creative aspects of your project!
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Built-In Stitches | 80 |
| Maximum Stitch Width | 7mm |
| Maximum Stitch Length | 5mm |
| Built-in Buttonhole Styles | 8 |
| Built-in Sewing Font | 1 (55 characters) |
| Presser Feet Included | 7 snap-on feet |
| Work Area Dimensions | 16″ x 6.7″ |
| Sewing Machine Weight | Approximately 15 lbs |
| Warranty | 25 years limited |
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
Performance and Capabilities
Now that we’ve covered the feature set, how does the XR9000 actually perform for various sewing and embroidery tasks? Here’s an overview of what this computerized Brother model excelled at along with any limitations to bear in mind.
Sewing a Wide Variety of Fabrics and Weights
The versatility of the XR9000’s stitches empowers you to sew an assortment of fabric types and weights. It can handle most woven and knit fabrics you’d use for apparel like cotton, linen, jersey, fleece, flannel, and more.
Light to mid-weight upholstery fabrics like canvas, corduroy, velvet, and leatherette are within reach as well, making it feasible to use the XR9000 for small home decor projects. Quilters can piece together both cotton quilt fabrics along with more challenging materials like batiks and flannels.
Where you may encounter difficulties is sewing very heavy materials like denim, leather, and multiple layers of thick batting. The machine can handle them in smaller doses but lacks the power and penetration ability for large-scale heavy duty projects. As long as you work within its capabilities, it will tackle most fabrics gracefully.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
The XR9000 can handle sewing a wide variety of fabric types and weights within its capabilities
High Quality Embroidery and Decorative Stitches
Decorative stitching is truly where this Brother sewing machine shines. With precise stitch formation and programming, it produces attractive satin, heirloom, and other decorative stitches even as a beginner.
The consistency of the stitch quality means your monogramming and embellishing turn out looking polished and professional. Definitely take the time to play around with the stitch settings – adjusting length, width, and mirror imaging – to get a feel for how to customize your decorative work.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
Embellish projects beautifully with the XR9000’s high quality decorative stitches (credit: Brother)
Quilting Capabilities Enhanced by Large Table
For quilters, the XR9000 gives you a robust set of 7 dedicated quilting stitches plus the extension table to provide ample support for managing quilts. The stitches incorporate handy patterns like hand-look quilting, stippling, feathering, and more.
While free-motion quilting is possible, the feed dog mechanism could be sturdier and some sewers recommend investing in a quality walking foot for best results. Use a quilting bar to maintain consistent stitching space. For straight line quilting, engage the needle down setting to pivot and stitch geometric patterns with ease.
The included quilting table expands the work area to better accommodate large quilt sandwiches. Square up the quilt layers comfortably and maintain visibility of the fabric edges as you sew.
Overall, the XR9000 meets the fundamental quilting needs of beginners and intermediate quilters working on smaller pieces. Avid long-arm quilters may want a more heavy-duty choice. But for portable quilting on lap-sized and baby quilts, the Brother XR9000 certainly delivers.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
Tackle quilting projects both large and small with the built-in quilting stitches and extended work area
User-Friendly Operation Even for Beginners
Computerized sewing machines sometimes get a bad rap for being too complex, but the XR9000 proves you can offer automation and features while still maintaining ease of use.
Between the labeled stitch diagrams printed directly on the machine, the graphical LCD screen, and the quick start guide – even total beginners report finding this model incredibly intuitive. It allows you to get sewing faster compared to learning the ropes on a traditional mechanical machine.
Handy touches like the speed control, needle up/down button, and reverse button give you flexibility to navigate new techniques or challenging spots in a project without frustration. Both kids and adults can get up and running sewing or embroidering in very little time.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
Well-labeled buttons and guides make the computerized XR9000 beginner-friendly
Pros and Cons of the Brother XR9000
Pros
- Computerized functionality provides convenience and efficiency
- Jam-packed with 80 stitches for creative variety
- Monogramming font built in
- Extension table offers ample workspace
- Easy to thread and wind bobbins
- LCD screen is intuitive and guides stitch selection
- Affordable price point for a computerized machine
- Lightweight and portable for sewing on the go
- Good for beginners with its approachable operation
- Produces precise, high-quality embroidery and decorative stitches
- Handles a range of fabric types and weights reasonably well
Cons
- No adjustment for presser foot pressure
- Feed dogs may struggle with heavy, dense fabrics
- Not suitable for intensive heavy duty sewing
- Free motion quilting could be easier with an upgraded foot
- Discontinued model may make finding accessories a challenge
- Small font size with no ability to scale or add new fonts
- No alternative alphabets like Cyrillic or Greek
- Limited to 7mm wide stitches
- Accessory storage uses a bag rather than an integrated drawer
Consumer Reviews and Recommendations
Now let’s examine some of the first-hand consumer perspectives on how the XR9000 held up in real world use.
Reviewers on retail sites like Amazon and viewpoints.com gave the Brother XR9000 overall positive ratings, with most customers awarding it 4 out of 5 stars.
Those who scored it highly praised the variety of stitches, commenting that it allowed them to make projects more unique and personalized compared to basic machines. They also called out the abundance of included accessories like presser feet and needles.
Several remarked on convenience factors like the automatic needle threading, easy bobbin loading, and automatic thread cutting. The ability to control and limit sewing speed was also popular among beginners still developing confidence handling a machine.
Critical reviews warned that some units had issues maintaining straight fabric feeding, likely due to poor calibration. There were also comments that it struggled sewing through very thick materials or layers. These perspectives aligned with our own assessment of its capabilities being best suited for lighter weight sewing.
Overall recommendations emphasized it as an excellent entry-level computerized machine for home sewing and simple crafting. Most agreed it met their expectations given the reasonable price point. It suits beginner to intermediate sewers focused on embroidery, quilting, and homemadeprojects more so than intensive garment construction.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review
Alternatives to Consider
Since the XR9000 has been discontinued, what are your options if you’re seeking a similar set of features today? Here are a few recommended alternatives:
- Brother CS7000X – Very similar successor with 70 stitches, monogramming font, and LCD screen
- Brother HC1850 – 130 stitches and monogramming with added quilting convenience
- Janome MOD-19 – Basic computerized model with 60 stitches and 1 font
- Juki HZL-F300 – Entry level computerized Juki with 126 stitches, lighter weight
- Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 – 600 stitches, loads of creative possibilities
- EverSewn Charlotte – Budget-friendly computerized model with 80 stitches
Evaluate your priorities – like weight, accessories, brand preferences, and stitch count – to select the best replacement option for your needs. Consult sewing machine reviews to compare these models head-to-head.
Many sewists also opt to purchase a quality used or refurbished XR9000 online through specialty retailers. This allows you to continue enjoying this particular model and its capabilities. Just be sure to verify it includes all accessories and functions properly before purchasing.
Our Final Take: Is the Brother XR9000 Worth Buying?
For those on the hunt for their first computerized sewing machine or upgrading from a basic mechanical model, the Brother XR9000 was a feature-packed choice with excellent value. While it lacks some of the more advanced editing and programming abilities of high-end machines, it neatly fills the gap for intermediate sewers seeking accessible decoration and quilting functionality.
Given it has now been replaced by newer Brother models, we recommendturning to the alternatives we listed if purchasing new. However, the XR9000 remains a worthwhile option if found refurbished or used since it still holds up well against other machines in its class. Spare parts may be harder to source over time, which is one point to weigh carefully.
Ultimately, we think this versatile, user-friendly Brother model lived up to its reputation during its tenure. For those who already own the XR9000, know that it will continue serving you as a trusty sewing companion for years to come! Simply play to its strengths while avoiding heavy duty projects it’s not designed to handle.
We hope this in-depth Brother XR9000 review gave you insight into how it performs and assists your purchasing decisions as you equip your craft room! Be sure to visit our site frequently as we continue sharing sewing machine reviews, comparisons, and recommendations.
Brother XR9000 Sewing Machine review