Brother CS5055PRW 50-Stitch Project Runway Computerized Sewing Machine

This machine is AWFUL. Locks up, throws error codes, after 11 months, it went out of timing. Finally got it back out, the machine was cleaned, still throwing the same errors, and now the it doesn't stitch the "style" chosen. I will NEVER buy another Brother machine. The frustration is not worth it.

I think i must have bought mine when it first came out because i have had it for more than 12 years. I love this machine. I do agree the automatic threader is pretty useless which makes needle threading a chore but i still give this 5 stars. I have never had any problems with my machine. I am finding it difficult now to find a walking foot and couple extra feet.

From the day I bought this machine it has been nothing but trouble. It wasn't even put together correctly when I got it. Kept breaking needles and it turns out that the screw holding the bobbin case down was missing. After fixing that, it was fine for about 3 days and then the tension kept messing up. I rewound the bobbin, changed the thread and the needle and it still won't sew correctly. Threading tension is always off and troubleshooting does not fix it. I have spent more time fixing this piece of junk than I have sewing.

I purchased this because I needed a step up from the dinosaur I was currently using. I was so excited to receive this machine because of all the great reviews. Soon I realized this was not the machine for me. This is machine is great and well built and it had no problems...BUT...I just can't sew when my material is feeding through the machine and has a mind of its own. My material would constantly go to the right and I would have to try to pull it back. Too much struggling to get a straight line. The guide plate for measurements is WAY off (no matter if you are using stitch 00 or stitch 01). I was trying to make something with a half inch seam allowance and it always was coming up short. SO please take that into account if you are going to purchase this machine. Switching between stitches and figuring out which one is the best was easy to accomplish. Someone in an earlier comment said something about the needle being too far back and I agree. It was hard to see what I was doing sometimes. The light is too dim. I would still have to put an extra lamp behind the machine to see what I was doing half the time. The presser foot made it hard to see especially if I was following a line or something. All in all, I would not purchase this or any of the Project Runway machines again. This machine wasn't for me but it doesn't mean it won't be for you. Just telling what my biggest gripes were about this machine before I returned it to the store.

I bought this machine as my very first sewing machine ever. I absolutely love it and would definitely recommend it to anyone! I have learned so many new things with this machine, from how to sew buttons and button holes to how to use each stitch and what they are used for. Attached is a photo is my latest project, paper piece quilting. It's a Harry Potter bookshelf quilt. I haven't finished it yet, as you can see, but I'm just thankful to be able to create it. All thanks to this sewing machine!