Brother XR9550PRW is a computerized sewing machine that is easy-to-use and extremely reliable. Recommended for beginners, advanced sewers, and those who want a feature-rich sewing machine at a reasonable price. This sewing machine is best for basic repair and sewing work, and it works best with light-weight fabrics like cotton. But if you want to do heavy-duty sewing, Brother XR9550PRX is not your first choice.
It comes with 110 built-in stitches (this wide variety of stitch options lets you have your go at the decorative, utility, and heirloom stitches), 8 auto-size buttonhole styles, 8 presser feet, 4 bobbins, needle set, 3 spool caps, extra spool pin, seam ripper, cleaning brush, screwdriver, and eyelet punch.
What I like most is that Brother XR9550PRW comes along with an easy-to-follow manual, ensuring that you can do your garment sewing, crafts, decor, and quilting projects with ease, especially for a beginner if you were.
Table of Contents
What I Like About Brother XR9550PRW
- 110 built-in stitches
- Adjustable stitch width and length
- Speed control slider
- Needle threader (automatic)
- 8 Presser foot attachments
- Extension table
- Portable and light in weight
- Automatic needle up or down function
What I Don’t Like
- It is not a very durable machine.
- The thread cutter is not extremely sharp—it does not cut the thread in one go and pulls the tread’s ends, making it difficult to put the thread into the automatic needle threader.
Check the price of Brother XR9550PRW on Amazon.
Who Is Brother XR9550prw For?
Brother XR9550PRW is an excellent choice of a sewing machine for beginners. It is also an excellent choice of a sewing machine for those who only do basic sewing and repair work with their sewing machines.
It is an excellent choice as a second sewing machine for an advanced sewer.
It is ideal for people who are—
- Newbies and beginners
- Tech-savvy sewing enthusiasts
- Requiring a sewing machine for basic repair and sewing work
- Requiring a second machine that is easily portable
- Looking for a sewing machine at an affordable price
- Requiring a sewing machine that is easy to use and does not have a great learning curve
- Requiring a sewing machine that is rich in features
Who Is Brother XR9550prw Not For?
This sewing machine is not for those who are—
- Sewing heavy or thick fabrics regularly
- Used to a manual sewing machine and would like to continue with a manual sewing machine
- Wanting to make thick quilts (this sewing machine can handle making thinner quilts)
- Looking to invest in a sewing machine that will last them for a lifetime (this machine is not that durable that it will last you over a period of a couple of years)
Features
Now that we have an idea of who the Brother XR9550prw is for and who it isn’t for let us look at the features to get a complete picture of what this sewing machine can do.
#1. Stitches and Sewing Quality
Brother XR9550prw has 110 stitches, which can be used for utility, heirloom, and decorative purposes. Also, it has 8 one-step auto-size buttonhole styles.
The LCD on the top of the sewing machine lets you see the stitch you have selected, and it also lets you change the stitch selection to your preferred stitch more easily.
With this high number of high-quality stitches, you can easily engage yourself in creative, home decor, and craft projects.
However, it does not match up to the stitching quality produced by industrial-quality sewing machines. But this is still an affordable sewing machine that gives you exactly the worth that you paid for!
The Brother XR9550prw works excellently with thin fabrics like cotton. However, it does not work that well with thicker fabrics. Well, you might also not be able to tell the difference if you are just a beginner.
The reference guide present at the back of the manual that comes with this sewing machine tells you which stitch works best with which fabric.
Also, this sewing machine does a great job of making buttonholes.
#2. Ease of Use
This particular sewing machine is straightforward to set up and also, to use. The user manual that comes with this sewing machine is convenient, along with the machine being intuitive. This makes the sewing machine easy to figure out and use—even for beginners!
#3. Presser Foot Attachments
The Brother XR9550prw sewing machine comes with 8 presser feet attachments—meaning, as a beginner, you do not have to go looking elsewhere for a presser foot ever!
The presser feet that come along with this sewing machine are—
- Monogramming pressing feet
- Zig-zag pressing feet
- Buttonhole pressing feet
- Zipper pressing feet
- Button sewing pressing feet
- Quilting pressing feet
- Overcasting pressing feet
- Blind stitch pressing feet
Now, the zig-zag pressing foot is the most widely used pressing foot. The monogramming pressing foot is a transparent one that lets you look at the stitches you are making.
The buttonhole pressing foot helps you to make even sized buttonholes. And the zipper pressing foot helps you to attach zippers to your garments.
These are the regularly used pressing feet as a beginner, and you will mostly be using these pressing feet only. And since they already come with the sewing machine, you do not have to worry about purchasing them.
#4. Sewing Speed
This sewing machine has a speed control slider with 3-speed settings – slow, medium, and fast. Regardless of how much pressure you apply on the foot pedal, once you set the slider on a particular speed, the sewing machine will continue to sew on that speed consistently.
You can also start/ stop the sewing using the foot pedal or using the start/ stop button on the sewing machine.
#5. Bobbin System of Brother XR9550prw
This sewing machine has a top drop-in bobbin system. The Brother Company suggests that you use bobbins specifically made for this brand of sewing machines. Using any other bobbins would only mean that the sewing machine could potentially get damaged.
The winding and loading of this bobbin are quite easy. The illustrated figures on the top of the sewing machine are quite helpful in this regard. The bobbin cover is transparent, and hence, you can easily check the thread supply in the bobbin.
#6. Automatic Needle Threader
The Brother XR9550PRW’s automatic needle threader is simply a delight to use, and it is straightforward to do so, too.
Most of this sewing machine’s users can get this needle threader to work—without any difficulty. You need to get the thread through a vast area and then pull it through the machine’s needle.
#7. Stability and Durability
This sewing machine is a light-weight one. Therefore, if you plan on sewing heavy-weight fabrics, you might not have a very stable experience. However, the sewing machine can be said as reasonably durable.
Although we do not recommend it for heavy-duty work, you can do it if you get the tension and the needle right.
Since the Brother XR9550prw comes with a wide table and a quilting foot, most users prefer to do the quilting on this sewing machine.
However, please duly note that it works well only if you are doing the quilting with thinner quilts. Also, the throat area is not large enough to ensure that it can do heavy-duty quilting.
I would also not rate it to be very durable. It may not be the right machine for you if you are looking for something long-term. However, it can still be used for a reasonable amount of time.
So, all in all, if you are looking for a sewing machine with decent features and that can last you a decent amount of time, then the Brother XR9550prw is the right one for you.
Check the price of Brother XR9550PRW on Amazon.
Brother XR9550prw Alternatives
Now that we have learned a great deal about Brother XR9550prw, let’s check out the alternatives you can purchase instead. Here we go—
#1. Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW
If you are looking for a sewing machine that retails at a lower price than the Brother XR9550prw, then you ought to consider the Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW. It does a great job at basic repair and sewing work.
Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW is a sewing machine that is computerized and beginner-friendly. It is also for those advanced sewers looking at this sewing machine as a secondary sewing machine.
It has about 50 in-built stitches and also 6 presser foot attachments included. The presser feet attachments that are included are—
- Button sewing pressing feet
- Buttonhole pressing feet
- Zipper pressing feet
- Blind stitch pressing feet
- Monogramming pressing feet
- Overcasting pressing feet
The speed at which this sewing machine runs is 850 stitches per minute. However, there is no slider to regulate speed. You have to use the foot pedal to regulate the speed of your stitches.
This is a great choice of a sewing machine if you want a computerized model for a low price. However, you have to make do with the low number of in-built stitches.
You also have to make do with the low number of presser foot attachments. Another thing to keep in mind is that you have to control this sewing machine’s speed with the foot pedal.
Check the price of Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW on Amazon
Read my full review of Brother Project Runway CS5055PRW
#2. Brother CS6000i
This is yet another computerized sewing machine at an economical price.
This sewing machine has 60 in-built stitches and also 7 one-step auto-size buttonhole styles.
When it comes to comparing the two sewing machines’ speed—Brother XR9550prw and Brother CS6000i—they are similar. They both have three-speed settings—fast, medium, and slow. At the fastest, the Brother CS6000i can sew at a speed of 850 stitches per minute.
This sewing machine comes with 9 presser feet attachments. They are—
- Monogramming pressing feet
- Blind stitch pressing feet
- Walking pressing feet
- Quilting pressing feet
- Zig-Zag pressing feet
- Zipper pressing feet
- Button sewing pressing feet
- Buttonhole pressing feet
- Overcasting pressing feet
You can use them for various kinds of projects.
All-in-all, apart from the less number of in-built stitches, the two sewing machines are very similar.
Check the price of Brother CS6000i on Amazon
Read my full review of Brother CS6000i
#3. Singer Quantum Stylist 9960
Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 is a feature-rich sewing machine. It is a little more expensive than the Brother XR9550prw, but the cost is justified given the functionalities and features.
There are 600 in-built stitches in the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960. You can use them for decorative, regular, craft, and heirloom sewing. The number of one-step auto-size buttonhole styles that are present is 13.
The sewing speed for both the machines is the same—850 stitches per minute.
This sewing machine comes with 18 presser feet attachments, and hence, it adds extra value to the customer who wants to purchase it. This sewing machine is also more durable.
Check the price of Singer 9960 on Amazon
Read my full review of Singer 9960
FAQs:
#1. What Fabrics Can the Brother XR9550prw Sew? Leather or Denim?
The Brother XR9550prw sewing machine can sew thin fabrics and also thick fabrics like denim or leather. Some users have even sewn upholstery on it. However, we suggest that you use a heavy-duty sewing machine to sew heavy-weight fabrics.
This sewing machine will not last long if you continuously sew heavy-weight fabrics on it. However, if you sometimes have to sew heavy-weight fabrics on this sewing machine, we suggest getting the needle, the thread, and tension right.
#2. Is Brother XR9550prw Sewing Machine Portable?
Yes, this sewing machine is extremely portable because it just weighs a little above 10 lbs. It also has a very convenient handle at the back so that you can pick it up and transport it wherever you wish to.
This sewing machine comes with a hard case that protects it from dust gathering on it—while it is being transported or while it is just sitting on the top of your sewing table!
#3. Can This Sewing Machine Quilt?
The Brother XR9550prw is a sewing and quilting machine. The wide extending table is meant to hold larger fabrics like quilts. This sewing machine’s throat size is also apt to sew quilts, even though it might be a little difficult to sew king-sized quilts on this sewing machine.
The quilting presser foot will help you in quilting. However, this sewing machine does not come with a walking foot.
You do not have to worry, though, because you can easily purchase a walking foot compatible with this sewing machine in the market and use it for sewing up your quilts.
#4. Is Brother XR9550prw an Embroidery Machine?
The Brother XR9550pre is not an embroidery machine. It cannot be programmed to sew designs onto your garment.
However, this sewing machine does come with a monogramming font that is in-built. It has about 55 in-built stitches that come within a single font.
Therefore, if you aim to do more embroidery, consider purchasing a different sewing machine.
#5. Is Brother XR9550prw Sewing Machine a Serger?
No, the Brother XR9550prw is not a serger. This means that it cannot trim the excess fabric, sew a seam allowance, and also finish the raw edges—all at once.
However, if you want to make do with this sewing machine itself, there is away. You can finish the edges and sew a seam by selecting an overcast stitch and simultaneously using the overcasting foot.
The only thing you need to keep in mind is that you have to trim the edges before you sew the seam.
The maximum speed of this sewing machine is 850 stitches per minute, which is fast. However, it cannot compete with the speed of a serger.
Check the price of Brother XR9550PRW on Amazon.
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