Brother XR9550: Computerized Sewing and Quilting Machine: Full Review

The Brother XR9550 is a computerized sewing and quilting machine aimed at beginner and intermediate home sewists and quilters. This versatile machine comes with a wide range of features, accessories, and capabilities to handle basic sewing, decorative stitching, and quilting projects.

The XR9550 has a compact, lightweight design and LCD screen display that makes selecting stitches and settings simple and intuitive. It comes with 130 built-in stitches including utility, quilting, heirloom and decorative options. An automatic needle threader, easy bobbin winding system, and thread cutter add convenience.

This Brother model can sew up to 850 stitches per minute and has an extra-large table for managing larger projects. It includes a hard cover, 8 sewing feet, an instructional DVD, and more. Overall, the XR9550 offers user-friendly operation and excellent performance for quilting, fashion sewing, crafts, home decor and everyday mending and alterations.

Specifications

The Brother XR9550 sewing machine has the following specifications:

• Dimensions - 16.5 x 7.9 x 12 inches
• Weight - 15.4 pounds
• Sewing speed - 850 stitches per minute
• Number of built-in stitches - 100 including utility, heirloom, quilting and decorative stitches
• Automatic needle threader
• Drop-in top bobbin
• Adjustable sewing speed control
• Automatic bobbin winding system
• Large color LCD display screen
• Built-in memory
• Adjustable stitch length and width
• Buttonhole styles - 7 one-step auto-size buttonholes
• Included accessories - 10 sewing feet, instructional DVD, hard protective case

The Brother XR9550 has a sturdy construction and smooth sewing capabilities suitable for beginners and experienced sewists alike. With 100 built-in stitches and an LCD screen, it offers enough variety for most sewing and quilting projects. The lightweight design makes it portable to take to classes or sew on-the-go.

The Brother HC1850: 185 Built-in Stitches is another versatile machine from the Brother lineup. It features 185 built-in stitches, including utility, decorative, quilting, and alphanumeric stitches. It also comes with an advanced needle threading system, a detachable wide table, and an LCD screen, making it a comprehensive choice for various sewing and quilting needs. This model is designed to cater to both beginners and advanced sewists looking for expanded functionality and ease of use.

Features

The Brother XR9550 is packed with features, making sewing and quilting projects easier and more efficient. It has a large backlit LCD screen and computerized functions that allow you to select your stitch and adjust settings right from the display.

Some of the standout features include:

• Automatic needle threader - threads the needle for you with just the push of a button

• Auto-size buttonholes - the sewing machine will automatically sew buttonholes for you that are sized to fit your buttons

• Variable speed control - adjust the maximum sewing speed from slow to fast

• Jam resistant drop-in bobbin - makes loading the bobbin a breeze

• Advanced needle threading system - threads the eye of the needle automatically

• Automatic thread cutter - cuts both top and bobbin threads with the touch of a button

• 100 built-in stitches - plenty of decorative and utility stitches to choose from

• 8 styles of 1-step auto-size buttonholes - automatically sized to your buttons

• Adjustable sewing speed - sew slowly or quickly with the variable speed control

• Easy stitch selection - choose your desired stitch on the LCD display

• 7 needle positions - for perfect topstitching or adding zippers

The XR9550 really excels at making sewing tasks like threading, buttonholes, and stitch selection much simpler through computerization and automation. For quilters, the adjustable speed control and extra wide table provide the precision needed for quilting.

If you're a fan of Disney and looking for a versatile machine, consider the Brother SE2100Di: Disney Sewing and Embroidery Machine. This machine combines sewing and embroidery functions, featuring built-in Disney designs that will add a magical touch to your projects. It offers an automatic needle threading system, a full-color LCD touch screen for easy design and stitch selection, and a wide assortment of built-in designs and stitches to choose from. Perfect for sewers and embroiderers of all skill levels, it's an excellent choice for adding fun and creativity to your creations.

Ease of Use

Setting up the Brother XR9550 is straightforward, with most users able to get sewing within a few minutes. The machine comes with an instructional DVD that provides a helpful overview of the setup process.

The LCD display screen is user-friendly, with large text and icons that are easy to navigate. It allows you to select your desired stitch and adjust settings like stitch length and width. There are also quick-set buttons for common stitches like straight, zigzag, and buttonhole.

Accessing the 100 built-in stitches is easy using the LCD screen. You simply scroll through the options and select the number corresponding to the stitch you want. The most commonly used stitches are available as pre-programmed buttons to make selecting them even faster.

Programming custom stitch settings is intuitive using the LCD screen and buttons. You can adjust the stitch length from 0 to 4 mm, width up to 7mm, and fine-tune those settings. There are also buttons to easily adjust the needle position for specialized techniques like topstitching.

Overall, the well-designed LCD screen and panel of convenient buttons allow sewists to easily and quickly access all the machine's features and functions. The Brother XR9550 makes it simple for users of any experience level to start sewing right away.

Sewing Performance

The Brother XR9550 really shines when it comes to sewing performance. It produces excellent stitch quality on a wide variety of fabrics. The stitches are very even and consistent, with no bunching or skipping. Even at high speeds, the stitch quality remains top-notch.

The machine handles lightweight fabrics like silk and chiffon beautifully. The feed dogs grip the fabric well and feed it through smoothly without distortion. Heavy fabrics like denim and canvas are also no problem for this machine. It provides enough power and piercing force to sew clean seams in heavy materials.

Reliability is also a strong point for the XR9550. It can sew for hours on end without overheating or losing stitch quality. The internal components and mechanics are precisely engineered for longevity. Owners report getting years of consistent performance from this sturdy machine.

Whether you're sewing garments, home decor items, or quilts, the XR9550 provides excellent stitch quality and reliability that advanced sewers will appreciate. It's built to handle even thick fabrics with ease.

Included Accessories

The Brother XR9550 comes with a variety of accessories to get you started sewing and quilting.

Sewing Feet

The machine includes 7 different presser feet for basic sewing tasks:

• Zigzag Foot - For sewing zigzag stitches and decorative stitches
• Buttonhole Foot - For sewing buttonholes
• Zipper Foot - For inserting zippers
• Button Sewing Foot - For attaching buttons
• Blind Stitch Foot - For invisible hemming
• Monogramming Foot - For embroidering and monogramming
• Overcasting Foot - For finishing seam edges

Having multiple presser feet allows you to tackle different projects without having to purchase additional accessories. The feet snap on and off easily.

Bobbins

Several plastic bobbins are included with the machine. The bobbins are class 15 style and fit nicely into the top loading bobbin area. Having multiple bobbins makes it easy to pre-wind different colored threads for quilting or embroidery.

Needles

The XR9550 comes with 3 needles - a size 14 ballpoint needle for knits, a size 11 sharp needle for wovens, and a size 14 jeans needle for denim. The needles are Brother branded Schmetz needles known for their quality and durability.

Other Accessories

Some other handy accessories include:

• Seam ripper
• Lint brush
• Spool caps
• Screwdriver
• Extra spool pin
• Spool holder
• Darning plate
• Soft cover

The XR9550 really provides everything you need to start sewing and quilting projects right out of the box. The included accessories add convenience and value.

Quilting Capabilities

The Brother XR9550 is an excellent machine for quilting thanks to several key features that make it easy to handle large quilting projects.

It comes with a wide table that provides a generous working area of 8.3" to the right of the needle. This allows you to easily manage the fabric bulk of a large quilt when quilting or sewing. You aren't limited to small projects with the XR9550.

The machine also includes a quilting foot that glides smoothly over multiple layers of fabric and batting. This specialized foot helps ensure even stitching on your quilt layers without fabric shifting or bunching.

Quilters will appreciate the automatic needle threader that effortlessly threads the needle with the press of a lever. No more struggling with tired eyes to get the thread through the needle before quilting! This is a huge time saver that allows you to change threads and start sewing faster.

With its excellent work area, specialized quilting foot, and automatic needle threader, the XR9550 has the key features needed to make quilting projects easy and enjoyable.

Warranty

The Brother XR9550 comes with a 25-year limited warranty. This is an exceptionally long warranty for a home sewing machine, demonstrating Brother's confidence in the durability of their products.

The 25-year limited warranty covers the sewing machine head, which includes the motor, light assembly, wiring, switches, speed control and electronic components. It warrants that the sewing machine head will be free from defects in workmanship and materials, with some limitations.

The warranty does not cover failure due to normal wear, damage caused by improper maintenance or storage, or problems arising from service or modification by anyone other than an authorized Brother dealer. The warranty also does not apply to accessory items and attachments.

Overall, the extensive 25-year limited warranty provides great peace of mind for buyers. It's a testament to the quality and reliability that Brother is known for. Knowing the sewing machine head is covered for defects for such a long period makes the XR9550 an appealing choice for sewists looking for a machine to last them for many years.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Large variety of built-in stitches including 7 one-step auto-size buttonhole styles
• Easy-to-navigate LCD screen with stitch selection and editing capabilities
• Automatic needle threader for frustration-free set up
• Quick-set drop-in top bobbin to get sewing faster
• Advanced motor provides up to 850 stitches per minute
• Spring action quilting foot for even stitch quality on multiple fabric layers
• Hard cover for storage and transport
• 25-year limited warranty for long-lasting peace of mind

Cons

• Manual thread tension adjustment may require some trial and error
• Presser foot pressure is not adjustable
• Included hoop limits embroidery area size
• No automatic thread cutter
• On the heavier side at over 16 lbs

Conclusion

The Brother XR9550 is an excellent computerized sewing and quilting machine that offers great value for money. It has a wide range of built-in stitches, auto-sized buttonholes, variable speed control, and an easy-to-read LCD screen that makes selecting stitches straightforward. The automatic needle threader is a huge time-saver and the drop-in bobbin system makes setting up quick and frustration-free.

Performance-wise, this machine handles a variety of fabrics well from lightweight to denim thanks to the powerful motor. It sews smoothly and quietly at up to 850 stitches per minute. The extension table provides extra working surface for large projects or quilting. While not a heavy-duty machine, it should meet the needs of most home sewers. Quilters will appreciate the generous 7" throat space and included quilting feet.

The XR9550 comes with a hard protective cover, wide table, foot pedal, power cord, needle set, spool caps, twin needle, seam ripper, screwdriver, and other accessories. For the price, it packs in many convenient features found on more expensive models. The 25-year limited warranty provides peace of mind.

Overall, the Brother XR9550 offers versatility and ease of use in a budget-friendly package. For sewists and quilters looking for good value, it's an excellent choice worth considering.