List Price: $599.00
Sale Price: $199.99
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I bought the Brother Designio after weeks of searching, comparing features, brands, models, and prices. This machine seemed to be the right fit for me I sew clothing, so I probably will never use it to quilt. I bought this Brother to replace an older Husqvarna, so it had some pretty big shoes to fill. Because I like to sew knits like ponte, jersey, and stretchy poly/nylon/lycra/spandex blends, I desperately needed a machine with the additional feed dogs to help obtain higher quality seams that aren't stretched out and wavy. The Designio does an amazing job! This past weekend, I made some beautiful fingerless gloves out of a double layer of Hancock's Ponte fabric to test out the machine and was able to stitch perfectly flat seams thru 4 thick layers of stretch fabric without ANY shifting of the layers. I even added some decorative top stitches to fell the seams, how fun!! The gloves turned out super cute. I'm extremely pleased with the functionality of the machine. The stitching is beautiful and the machine seems fairly rugged and durable, which is precisely what I was looking for.
What I'm not quite as happy about: 1. the thread holder on top of the machine seems excessively fragile, and I'm confident that it's only a matter of time until I break it. Simply sliding the end cap over the thread spool is too much pressure for it you have to hold it with 2 hands to make sure that you aren't pushing too hard. 2. The accessory tray is small and everything is "dumped in" there and it's tough to dig out what you're looking for without emptying everything (my Husqvarna had a removable tray that neatly held bobbins and presser feet, which is already greatly missed). 3. The free arm seems too wide and thick, and is "squared off" not nice and angular for easy twisting of long sleeves and pantlegs. If you're a quilter, clearly this won't be a problem for you. 4. Both Amazon and the Designio box promise 12 presser feet but only 10 presser feet came with my machine. I need to take a moment to figure out which feet are missing so I can request them from Amazon.
Those negatives are potentially big things or small things, depending on your preferences. The Brother Designio machine is priced right, looks sleek, sews perfect stitches (I tested most of them on scrap fabric), and is nice and quiet. Absolutely love the needle up/down feature which I've never had before. Winding the bobbin thread couldn't be easier. I'm very pleased with this purchase and would certainly recommend it to others, both beginning and advanced seamstresses.
I also bought the matching Brother Designio 1134 Serger; and will be doing a review for that machine once I get some practice with it. Happy Sewing!
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program IntroductionThe Brother Designio DZ2400 is a computerized (meaning, electronic) sewing machine that is priced at the basic level, meaning around two hundred US dollars. It's not a mini, entry level machine but though it's priced at the basic level, it does as much as machines that cost over twice as much. Brother is probably the leader in the low priced sewing machine arena, with more offerings, more places to buy them (from online to big box stores to dealers) and they load on the features to tempt the buyer. The Designio DZ2400 has an impressive set of goodies. But is it the machine for you? Let's explore.
The Machine
The machine is very lightweight; I lifted it out of the carton and was stunned: just about 10 lbs, and turns out it comes in at 9.9lbs precisely. (Not including the extension table.) This is important; if you plan to attend classes or quilt and sew with a group away from home, a lightweight machine is a JOY to own.
The handle is "built in" meaning it's a cut-out on the back. I prefer a hinged handle to lift up but at this weight, it's easy enough to handle the machine in and out of a rolling tote or move it onto a table. This is one of the cost savings visible to make this machine more than the sum of its parts. The Designio doesn't have a hard case. I wouldn't worry about that. I tend to sew funky dust covers for my machines (fun project) and if you are going to be on the go, I'd suggest a wheeled tote, though frankly, this machine is so light, a padded duffle of some sort would work as well. (Padded enough to prevent knocks and dings--not just a gym bag.)
The bobbin pin is on the top and lifts up and back to accommodate larger spools. It's a bit wonky-looking. The plastic has a slight flex, which is good, as it won't be brittle and prone to breakage. But it's a bit clunky-looking. This is another "tell" for a lower-priced machine. Not a huge amount of thought has gone into industrial design to produce the sleekest impression. However, utilitarian or not, it gets the job done. NICE feature: the spool cap (needed to keep your thread spool in place) stores on the back end of the spool pin. A nice touch.
The bobbin winder is excellent. The top of the machine shows you the path for the thread, and I had a very evenly wound bobbin right away. The knob that engages the bobbin winder was a bit stiff on its stem but yielded to a firm push; again, not the feel of fine machine quality but got the job done.
Threading was no problem. Dropping the bobbin in, again, easy and the bobbin thread path is right on the top. The cover is a bit thin and flexible but clicked into place.
The needle threader has been improved over one belonging to an older Brother I own. It worked very well and got the needle threaded first pass. The thread cutter is on the edge of the left back--a little far back for my tastes but worked ok.
STITCHES
Right out of the gate, I was able to stitch a straight stitch. It's a bit wavy. If you demand absolutely rock-solid, no-wiggle straight stitch, stop right here. It's what you'd expect from a lower-end machine. Acceptable, but not gorgeous. I then moved on to the decorative and zig-zags. Boy, do you get a huge selection of these. Again, they were acceptable. Some changing of needles and thread, and the use of stabilizer would make the fancier stitches look better, which is true of all machines, low or high end.
As an aside, some people ask me what you DO with all those stitches? One thing that is very fun to do is to draw chalk lines (or meltaway marker, whatever you use) on a piece of fabric and then sew rows of decorative stitches in a sequence. Each stitch is a maximum of 7mm, so you space your lines accordingly. Change colors of thread in a sequence or do it in one color and you make imitation folk embroidery or imitation French handsewing (using a winged needle for some of the heirloom style stitches to create the openwork type look, if you like.) Again, stabilizer of some kind, spray on or non-woven is helpful to prevent puckering. This is a handy way to make pillows, aprons, placemats, napkins and baby or children's clothing or even costuming. Since you go through a lot of thread, you may find buying a few basic colors (black, red, brown, gray, cream) in large spools is best, and add a thread stand to hold the larger spool in back of the machine.
The important stitches are here--the ever-useful feather stitch, the heirloom stitches, leaf stitch, scallop stitch (makes scallops along a folded edge of fabric) and a lot more. Stretch stitches and triple stitch, which is good for top stitching or making blue-jean effects. The instruction book has demonstrations for "fagoting" which is joining two finished edges of fabric with a lacy thread insert and a very pretty effect on hems.
THE MANUAL
The manual is in English, with drawings. There is a second manual in Spanish. Nice that English and Spanish speakers can choose a single manual and not have to flip back and forth to the right language. It's well written and clear. You also get a DVD to watch.
FEET and ACCESSORIES
This machine has 12 accessory feet including a walking foot. Considering machine feet can run ten or more dollars, this is generous.
It also includes the extended table (a surface that fits over the free arm.) If you do any sewing on larger pieces of fabric, this is really important. Many machines do not include it and it's not cheap to add it in some cases. Very good to have. It also includes the 1/4 inch piecing foot (quilters love this) and the stitch guide foot (lets you see as you make decorative stitches.)
Zigzag foot
Buttonhole foot
Zipper foot
Button sewing foot
Overcasting foot
Blind stitch foot
Monogramming foot
Quilting foot
Walking foot with quilt guide
1/4 ( piecing ) foot
Stitch Guide foot
LED Display
Nice, large and bright. Shows the stitch you choose, the length and width if applicable, the foot to use (by letter) and what it looks like. The controls are scroll buttons, plus or minus. A more expensive machine would have a rocker or joystick button, but these are easy enough to use.
The top of the machine has a reference table for stitch, listed by number and type.
There is one font for creating words and labels. The memory will hold up to 35 characters at a time. The memory will erase when you power down the machine, and there is no custom memory storage aboard.
There are 8 automatic one step buttonholes and the buttonhole-button foot.
CONTROLS
Needle-up Needle-Down memory (good for quilting, as you can pivot with needle down.)
Start-stop button
Speed push bar control
Foot pedal.
Presser Foot Pressure control (NOT found on inexpensive machines too often!!!)
Drop down feed dogs for free motion quilting and darning.
WARRANTY AND REPAIR
It has a basic 1 year warranty on parts and accessories, labor & parts included. 2 years on electronics (boards, LED) but LABOR IS NOT INCLUDED. There is a limited 25 year warranty against manufacturing defects (not user-created damage) and you have to take it or ship it to a repair center. Some dealers in your area may be authorized repair centers.
What this means to you is really, if the quote for repairing a defunct LED is close to the purchase price, you will have the sad experience of costing out replacing and discarding it versus repairing it. These are not meant to be as durable as my ancient Elna Supermatic (older than me and still running) or a Singer treadle model (I have an 1918 that I dusted off out of an antique store, popped on a foot, installed needle, dropped in bobbin and the durn thing sewed like it had never been covered in cobwebs, sleeping like Rip van Winkle. These machines are not built like that.
SUMMARY
For the price, this is a very loaded-up machine. While it doesn't sew with the conviction of a Janome (my go-to machines) it gives you huge amounts of stitches --185 of them to be exact, and a generous amount of accessories compared to other brands. Way more.
it's easy to use, it sews well enough if you take care about the proper needle (use a fresh one frequently, check the size you need for each fabric and type of sewing.) Considering the included feet and extension surface table, it's a bargain. It would suit anyone who likes to sew and wants plenty of bells and whistles. It would suit for quilting and home decor sewing. It has enough on it that you probably would not outgrow it.
It would be a bit much for a VERY young sewist, and it would not do if you sew professionally (heavy use, want rock-solid stitching.) It's really good for quilters who want a take-along machine that does a LOT.
I have to say, I was impressed. For the money, this is a beautifully-designed machine that offers big sewing bang for the buck.
Best Deals for Brother Designio Series DZ2400 Computerized Sewing & Quilting
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program My wife already has the Brother DZ3000, so much of this review will be a comparison between this machine, currently $100 cheaper, and that one. As far as the machines themselves are concerned, the one and only functional difference is that the DZ3000 has the additional, fancier "script" font of alpha-numeric monogramming characters. Yes, the LCD screen is slightly smaller on this DZ2400, but that makes no practical difference at all. It is not like the DZ3000 screen is a big color TV that is "enjoyable" to watch or anything. Unless you set the machines directly side-by-side, you'd never detect any difference at all. In fact we did set them side-by-side, and it is clear that the metal, mechanical parts of the two machines are the same. In fact, the machines are 100% identical when viewed from the back. All Brother has done is change the shape of the front housing somewhat, and rearrange the shapes and positions of the control buttons a bit. This is made more evident by the fact that Brother issues the exact same instruction manual with both machines. Both machines are capable of the same number of different sewing stitches.As I said in my review of the DZ3000, the script monogramming font on that machine is totally unreadable and useless, so the short answer is that the DZ3000 and the DZ2400 are the same machine.
Which brings us to the accessories. Compared to the DZ3000, this machine here lacks the "metal open toe foot," the "adjustable zipper piping foot," and the circular sewing attachment. Of these, my guess is that the circular sewing attachment is the most significant loss. It does seem like a pretty neat gizmo to have.
So which is a better deal? I can't say. I'm torn myself. Part of me has this "hit it hard the first time" attitude which would probably cough up the extra $100 for the more complete outfit. But another part of me has this stubborn zen-like aesthetic that is really annoyed by loose ends such as features which are included but not functional.
I will say that both of these machines offer astonishing functionality for the price. My wife has been doing practically all her sewing on the DZ3000 since she got it, despite having a couple other very good machines at hand. The needle threaders are fairly slick, and I really like the easy and clearly defined way you deal with the under-thread.
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