Brother SQ9185 is a good quality, intermediate sewing machine. It is feature packed and the stitch quality is quite good. But it is not so good for monograms.
Brother SQ9185 Main Features
- 130 built-in stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- Programmable needle up/down
- Top drop-in bobbin
- Variable speed control
Brother SQ9185 Review
Sewing Machine Reviews Recommendation Level : HIGH
Brother SQ9185 is a feature packed sewing machine. It has a striking similarity with another Brother machine in terms of features though (we will get to that later). The machine has been well received by sewers. The machine comes with 130 built-in stitches including 55 alphanumeric stitches for monogramming, 30 mirror image stitches and 8 one-step buttonholes. It has 1 built-in lettering font. The machine is a computerized one and has a premium feel to it. There is a sewing start/stop button and speed control slider to sew without using the foot pedal.
The LCD screen is of decent size. Stitch settings can be viewed on the LCD screen. The maximum stitch width is 7mm and stitch length is 5mm. The screen will also display the recommended presser foot to us. The reverse sewing button and programmable needle up/down buttons are conveniently placed. The needle position button is one very important feature that is very useful while quilting and pivoting. It is like having an extra hand to work with.
Brother SQ9185 has a mode button to select from normal stitches or alphanumeric or mirror images. The stitch chart is printed right on the machine itself. It has an automatic needle threader which works straight away. Normally, automatic needle threader of Brother machines have a learning curve, not this one. It has a top loading drop-in bobbin with clear cover.
The accessory compartment is quite handy and it has enough space to store all your accessories. The free arm mode can be used for hemming pants or stitching sleeves. The extension table gives you the flexibility to work with large projects. There is a manual thread cutter on the side of the machine.
The work lights are good enough to work in the dark. The drop feed lever can be engaged to do free-motion quilting. In spite of all these features, the machine is pretty lightweight. It weighs just 9.9 pounds, which is good news for those who are attending sewing classes. Brother SQ9185 comes with a 25 year limited warranty cover.
Usability
Brother SQ9185 is a well behaved sewing machine, it is not a rattling machine at all. It doesn’t make a lot of noise. The machine is very easy to thread. It is a no nonsense kind of a machine. There is nothing confusing about it. The machine can easily sew through denim and lightweight leather, provided you use the right needle for it. The machine can handle multiple layers with ease. I have tested it with up to 15 layers of medium weight fabrics and it worked flawlessly. The walking foot is handy for quilting. Finished stitches look nice and clean.
Limitations
Brother could have included a hard cover as default.
Monogram letters are not really large. It will be close to 1/4″ and you can’t adjust the size. They are neat but not professional. So don’t expect this machine to do a lot of fancy monograms.
There is no presser foot pressure adjustment option.
Pros
- Lot of stitches
- Advanced features
- Stitch quality
- Hassle free operation
- Excellent price
Cons
- Not great for monograms
Is It Worth Buying?
Other than the monogramming part, there is nothing to worry about Brother SQ9185. It is a quality machine. Even more attractive thing is that, it is available at an excellent price. When you own something, sometimes you get a feeling that every dollar spent on it was really worth it. You get such a feeling with this sewing machine.
In terms of features, Brother SQ9185 is identical to Brother HC1850 which is available for more or less the same price. The quality is the same. It will be a good idea to compare the prices before you make a decision. If you can save couple of dollars, you can use it for some extra accessories.