Brother SE400 Review: is This 2-in-1 Machine Worth Your Money for 2025?

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You’ll find the Brother SE400 offers impressive bang for your buck as a 2-in-1 sewing and embroidery machine.

It combines 67 built-in stitches with 70 embroidery designs and 5 fonts, all controlled through an intuitive touchscreen.

While it excels at basic projects and decorative work within its 4"×4" embroidery area, you might notice some limitations with zigzag stitches on stretchy fabrics.

The USB connectivity lets you expand your design library beyond the built-ins—a feature that puts this workhorse ahead of similarly priced competitors.

Before making your decision, you’ll want to weigh how its compact size balances convenience with creative possibilities.

Brother SE400 Overview

You’ll find the Brother SE400 combines 67 built-in sewing stitches with 70 embroidery designs in one compact machine, offering dual functionality that’s perfect for both everyday sewing and creative embroidery projects.

Versatile dual functionality meets creative potential in one accessible machine—perfect for everyday sewing and personalized embroidery.

At around $315 on Amazon, this 2-in-1 workhorse earned a respectable 67/100 overall score, making it ideal for crafters who want to switch between basic garment construction and personalized embroidery without breaking the bank, providing a great option for those seeking everyday sewing.

Sewing Performance and Capabilities

The Brother SE400 sewing machine delivers solid sewing performance with its 67 built-in stitches and 98 stitch functions.

While stitch quality shines in scallop stitches and zipper attachment, zigzag and long straight stitches on fabrics like woven cotton could use improvement.

Its motor power handles various fabrics well, but struggles with thicker layers, limiting project versatility.

Many sewists enjoy the automatic needle threading found in computerized machines, which is a key feature for sewing performance and overall project versatility.

Embroidery Features and Capabilities

Consistently, the Brother SE400 combines embroidery with sewing features, offering 70 built-in designs, 5 fonts, and 120 frame patterns.

You’ll work within a 4"×4" embroidery area, perfect for smaller embroidery projects.

The machine simplifies applique creation and provides essential editing options—rotate, resize, and mirror—making machine embroidery accessible for beginners and intermediates alike, with features like CNC embroidery functionality including thread detection, while USB connectivity enables design importing from your computer.

Key Specifications and Features

The Brother SE400 packs a punch with its versatile machine features. Compact yet sturdy, its dimensions and weight details make it portable without sacrificing stability. Power consumption is efficient, keeping your energy bills happy.

• Material composition guarantees durability for long-term use.
• Included accessories like presser feet and an embroidery hoop elevate convenience.
• Computerized embroidery adds precision to your projects.

SE400 Ease of Use

You’ll appreciate the Brother SE400’s user-friendly design that earned it a solid 7/10 for ease of use, featuring a backlit touch screen and automatic functions that take the headache out of complex sewing projects.

Its impressive 8/10 setup score comes from thoughtful details like the easiest automatic needle threader on the market and an efficient bobbin system that gets you from unboxing to creating in record time.

User Interface and Display

The heart of your SE400 experience lies in its back-lit LCD touchscreen interface.

While functional, you’ll notice the display resolution isn’t exceptional, with rather low-resolution previews for stitch selection.

The Brother SE400’s menus and submenus use icons that aren’t always intuitive, requiring some practice to master.

However, built-in tutorials improve accessibility, and the handy screensaver function preserves display life during breaks.

Automatic Features and Settings

The touchscreen isn’t just for show—it connects you to the Brother SE400’s impressive array of automatic features.

You’ll appreciate the auto threading system, perfect for those with limited dexterity. The illuminated Start/Stop button lets you sew without a foot pedal, while the automatic thread cutter saves time and reduces waste.

With adjustable speed control and programmable needle position, you’ll find your sewing rhythm without breaking a sweat. Many users find the SE400 threading products helpful to maintain this feature.

Threading and Bobbin Winding

The Brother SE400 simplifies threading with its automatic needle threader, saving you from squinting struggles.

Bobbin winding is a breeze, thanks to its clear instructions and efficient design.

Bobbin installation includes a built-in blade for precise thread trimming, ensuring a tidy setup.

While winding efficiency and thread tension are reliable, beginners might appreciate the extra guidance from the included manual and CD, which provides a comprehensive understanding of the bobbin winding process.

SE400 Sewing Functions

You’ll find the SE400 packed with 67 built-in stitches and 10 buttonhole styles that cover everything from basic mending to decorative flourishes.

The machine excels with scallop stitches and zipper attachment but shows some weakness with zigzag and straight stitches on certain fabrics, earning a respectable 6 out of 10 in sewing performance.

Built-in Sewing Stitches and Styles

The user-friendly controls we explored earlier give you access to an impressive stitch library.

The Brother SE400 comes equipped with 67 built-in sewing stitches that expand to 98 stitch functions.

Plus, you’ll enjoy 10 different buttonhole styles to customize your garments.

Scallop Stitches and Zipper Attachment

Shining in decorative work, the Brother SE400’s scallop stitches create aesthetically pleasing edges that won’t unravel across various fabrics.

You’ll also appreciate how the specialized zipper foot clears all parts of your zipper, creating even, consistent stitches.

The machine’s automatic needle threader simplifies setup, especially for users with dexterity issues.

Feature	Performance
Scallop Stitch Variations	Excellent for decorative applications
Zipper Foot Types	Specialized presser foot included
Fabric Considerations	Handles multiple fabric types reliably

Issues With Zigzag and Straight Stitches

While the SE400 excels at scallops stitches and zippers, you’ll notice some hiccups with zigzag and long straight stitches.

Tests revealed inconsistency when working with woven cotton and jersey knit fabrics. Stitch evenness varies, particularly when the machine tackles thicker materials.

To guarantee consistent stitch quality, consider adjusting thread tension based on the fabric type. The Brother SE400’s overall sewing performance scored 6/10, which isn’t terrible, but fabric handling could definitely be improved for these specific stitch types, affecting its overall performance.

SE400 Embroidery Capabilities

You’ll transform your crafting projects with the SE400’s robust embroidery capabilities, including 70 built-in designs, 5 fonts, and a computer connection for importing custom patterns.

The 4"x4" embroidery area gives you plenty of space to create personalized monograms, decorative elements, and appliques that’ll make your friends wonder if you’ve secretly been taking master classes, utilizing the machine’s capabilities for custom patterns and embroidery.

Built-in Embroidery Designs and Fonts

With the Brother SE400, you’ll access an impressive 70 built-in embroidery designs spanning flowers, scrolls, animals, and holiday motifs.

The machine includes 5 embroidery fonts in three sizes (small, medium, and large), perfect for custom lettering projects.

You’ll also enjoy 120 frame pattern combinations using 10 shapes and 12 stitch patterns, with all these preloaded patterns being easily accessible through the LCD touchscreen, making motif selection a breeze.

Computer Connectivity and Design Editing

Design importing on the Brother SE400 is seamless with its USB transfer feature.

You can upload patterns directly from your computer without extra embroidery design software.

Editing tools like resizing, rotating, and mirroring are accessible via the LCD screen.

It supports standard file formats, making it versatile and user-friendly for computerized embroidery projects.

Users often find the SE400 USB import process straightforward.

• USB transfer for importing designs
• Supports standard embroidery file formats
• Built-in editing tools: resize, rotate, mirror
• No additional software needed for uploads
• Easy design adjustments on the LCD screen

Embroidery Area and Hoop Size

The Brother SE400’s 4×4 inch embroidery area is compact but versatile.

While larger projects may feel cramped, it’s ideal for monograms, borders, and small designs.

Multi-hooping can extend possibilities, though it requires patience.

The included hoop handles most tasks smoothly, but scaling designs within this space takes practice.

A 4×4 hoop provides a 3.94×3.94 inch stitch area for designs.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Feature	Details
Embroidery Area	4×4 inches
Hoop Limitations	Small-scale projects
Design Scaling	Moderate flexibility

SE400 Value and Comparison

You’ll get impressive value with the Brother SE400’s dual sewing and embroidery functions at around $315, making it a practical choice compared to buying separate machines.

While it outperforms many competitors in its price range with 67 built-in stitches and 70 embroidery designs, you should consider its limitations with multiple fabric layers and the modest 4×4 inch embroidery area before making your decision, taking into account the overall practical choice it offers.

Price and Affordability

Many budget-conscious crafters find the Brother SE400’s price point quite reasonable for a 2-in-1 machine. You’ll typically spend around $315 on Amazon, which sits comfortably between entry-level and professional models.

Price Comparison	New	Used
Amazon	$315	$82.87
Standard Retail	$499	Varies
Canadian (CAD)	$540	Limited

When evaluating cost justification, consider the long-term savings of combining both sewing and embroidery capabilities in one investment, which can lead to significant financial benefits and a more efficient workflow.

Comparison to Similar Machines

When comparing the Brother SE400 to other models, versatility becomes its strongest selling point.

You’ll find fewer built-in stitches than the SE600 but better value than the SE425 thanks to USB connectivity.

The machine’s automatic needle threading enhances user convenience.

Feature	SE400	SE600	PE500	SE425
Built-in Stitches	67	103	N/A	67
Embroidery Designs	70	80	70	70
Connectivity	USB	USB	USB	CD only
Value Rating	Good	Better	Basic	Fair

The comparison highlights the value rating of each model, with the SE400 offering a good balance of features and price.

Limitations and Restrictions

While comparing options, you’ll need to keep in mind the SE400’s limitations before making your purchase. Despite its versatility, this machine isn’t without shortcomings that might impact your sewing experience.

The following table outlines some of the key limitations and potential workarounds:

Limitation	Impact	Workaround
Fabric Thickness	Struggles with multiple layers	Use specialty needles
Quilting Limitations	Can’t maintain even stitches	Consider dedicated quilter
Foot Incompatibility	1/4" foot issues with walking foot	Use alternative feet

The SE400’s Power Deficiency becomes apparent when tackling heavy-duty projects, making it less ideal for serious quilters or those working with upholstery fabrics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)