Brother XR9500PRW Project Runway Sewing Machine My Complete Review
This is an in depth review of the [easyazon_link identifier=”B005GXPOAM” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”sewsavvy-20″]Brother XR9500PRW[/easyazon_link] Limited Edition Project Runway sewing machine.
I will overview the following features and aspects of this sewing machine:
- The overall features
- Built-in stitches and buttonholes
- Presser feet and included accessories
- A video demo
- What users have to say (reviews)
- The pros and cons
- And the best current price
So let’s get started!
Introduction to the Brother XR9500PRW Project Runway Sewing Machine
With 100 unique built-in utility, decorative and heirloom stitches, the [easyazon_link identifier=”B003KK807M” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”sewsavvy-20″]XR9500PRW Project Runway™ sewing machine[/easyazon_link] is a feature-packed machine that can be used for embellishing clothing and home décor items to creating beautiful quilt designs. This is a computerized sewing machine and it has a large back-lit LCD screen for easy stitch selection.
This really is a great machine for all sewing levels. It is usable right out of the box so it is perfect for beginners. On the other end, more experienced seamstresses will appreciate all of the automatic features, the plethora of built-in stitches and automatic buttonholes, and the quilting table to accommodate your quilting or other large projects.
I’ve read a lot of rave reviews from people of all sewing levels, including moms who teach their children how to sew on this or bought it for their teens as a first machine.
Let’s get into the details.
Overall Features of This Machine
Here is a general overview of the features and accessories included. Continue reading below for a more in depth overview of each of the features included in this table.
Name | Brother XR9500PRW Limited Edition Project Runway Sewing Machine |
---|---|
Photo | |
Built-In-Stitches | 100 |
Stitch Selection | LCD |
Buttonhole Styles | 8 One-Step Styles |
Needle Threading System | Automatic |
Easy Bobbin Winding | Yes |
Automatic Thread Cutter | Yes |
Presser Feet Included | 7 (No Quilting Feet Included) |
Feed Dog | Yes |
Quick Set Bobbin | Yes (Drop In) |
Max Sewing Speed (stitches per minute) | 850 spm |
Stitch Width | 7mm |
Stitch Length | 5mm |
Speed Controller | Yes |
Automatic Needle Up / Down | Yes |
Drop Feed / Free Motion | Yes |
Built-In Quilting Stitches | Yes |
Accessory Storage | Yes |
Carrying Case | Included |
Machine Weight | 9.92 lbs |
Machine Dimensions | 11.45" x 6.69" x 16.02" |
Warranty | Brother 25 Year Limited Warranty |
Current Rating (from Amazon) | 4.6 / 5.0 |
Current Price | |
Brother XR9500PRW Built-In Stitches
This limited edition Project Runway sewing machine has 100 unique built-in stitches, including 55 alphanumeric stitches for lettering or basic monogramming.
One thing to keep in mind is that this sewing machine is one of the least expensive machines that include a letter font.
With 100 stitches you have options for every possible sewing need you have.
It has a nice mix of utility, decorative and heirloom stitches and it wit the large back-lit LCD screen you can easily choose the stitch you want to use with the unique flip-stitch guide.
Brother XR9500PRW Buttonhole Styles
Included in the built-in stitches are and 8 styles of 1-step auto size buttonholes.
If you aren’t familiar with a one-step buttonhole, it is a very convenient feature that makes creating buttonholes quick, simple, and accurate every time.
You simply put on the buttonhole presser foot (see below), then adjust the size to easily create custom-sized buttonholes based on whatever style of button you are using.
It is a great feature and you can make a buttonhole in under a minute.
Presser Feet Included
- Buttonhole foot
- Zigzag foot
- Zipper foot
- Button Sewing foot
- Overcasting foot
- Blindstitch foot
- Monogramming foot
Brother also has dozens of other presser feet that you can purchase for other techniques like gathering fabric, bias tape binding, invisible zippers and more. I own this set of 32 additional presser feet. It’s a great bargain.
Accessories Included
- Oversized wide table for quilting
- Accessory pouch with needle set
- Twin needle
- Ball point needle, bobbins (3)
- Extra spool pin
- Screwdriver
- Seam ripper
- Cleaning brush
- Spool pin
- Power cord
- Operation Manual
- Hard Cover[easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”right” asin=”B0002KHBS2″ cloaking=”default” height=”63″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31YF8MVBAZL._SL75_.jpg” tag=”sewsavvy-20″ width=”75″]
This machine comes with a nice set of accessories, including the hard cover, which is a great addition. A cover is helpful to protect your machine and makes it easier to transport.
Video Demo
I couldn’t find a good video for this exact machine (only short clips showing a picture of the machine and someone talking in the background) and I don’t own this exact machine so I can’t do my own demo, but I did find a comparable video for another Brother Project Runway sewing machine.
This is a video from hsn.com. I don’t think the machine is still listed for sale on their website but this video does a great job of showing the overall features of this sewing machine.
[video_youtube video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA2HvyPvuc4″ width=”480″ height=”360″]User Reviews of the Brother XR9500PRW
Currently Rated 4.6 / 5.0 with 400+ User Reviews
Users of this machine rave about how versatile it is – perfect for everyday sewing projects but also great for more advanced quilting projects.
Users were also happy with the simplicity of the machine, making it great for beginners, but were also impressed with the quality and technology that also make it ideal for experienced sewers.
Owners also commented on how lightweight and quiet the[easyazon_link identifier=”B005GXPOAM” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”sewsavvy-20″]XR9500PRW[/easyazon_link] is too.
Pros and Cons of the Brother XR9500PRW
[two_columns_1]PROS
[green_plus_list width=”100%”]- Many automatic features including automatic needle threading
- Wide range of needle positions
- Alphanumeric font for monogramming
- Weighs only 9.92 lbs.
- Comes with a hard cover ($20+ value)
CONS
[red_arrow_list width=”100%”]- Not the best for heavy duty sewing (leather, thick denim, etc.)
- Some users wished for something a little more sturdy
Overall Summary of the Brother XR9500PRW Limited Edition Sewing Machine
I think this is an excellent machine for beginners who want to invest in a sewing machine but want to spend less than $200. It is also a perfect option for avid sewers who’ve outgrown their current machine or are looking for something with more bells and whistles.
The Brother XR9500PRW is affordably priced but it has so many awesome features – automatic needle threader, automatic needle position, speed selection, 100 stitches, letter and number fonts, quilting capabilities, and it even comes with a carrying case.
Another thing to point is the weight of this machine. It is onlyh 9.92 lbs. so it is a lightweight sewing machine perfect for travel.
It is very versatile and is a machine that you can use for years and not outgrow.
Current and Best Price and Where to Buy
You can find the XR9500PRW on Amazon.com and if you are a member of Amazon Prime you can get it shipped to your door in under 2 days. [easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”right” asin=”B009SC1YA6″ cloaking=”default” layout=”top” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”sewsavvy-20″] (I highly recommend this. I’ve been a Prime member since 2009. It has a myriad of benefits on top of the free 2 day shipping on thousands of items 🙂 )
Another plus to ordering from Amazon is that you can sometimes find an open box deal on sewing machines (used, but in great condition), which can save you anywhere from $20 to $50. I’ve bought a used sewing machine (they are typically items that someone simply returned for whatever reason but still in perfect working order) and I’ve never had an issue.
Amazon also has tons of user reviews so you can see what people who have this particular machine think about it.
If you want to save a little bit of money then look at this machine’s “little brother.” It has 30 less built-in stitches, no quilting board, no speed control, and it will save you $20 to $30.
Let me know if you have any questions. I’ll do my best to answer. Happy sewing shopping 🙂
Can this machine sew vinyl?
Hi Elisabeth, I am not sure if this machine would handle vinyl very well and definitely not more than one layer of it. If you are going to be sewing with thick materials like that often you may want to look into a more heavy-duty machine.