Brother NS80e

The Brother NS80e is arguably the best sewing machine for beginners, while also being a great lightweight travel machine given its portability and easy-to-use design.  If your budget is hovering in that $500 range, we highly recommend you consider the NS80e.  The workspace may be a couple inches smaller than its Brother PaceSetter 500 counterpart at $799, but you still get a truly automatic needle threader, you still get 80 different stitch patterns to choose from (including one-step automatic buttonholes), and you still get a Japanese-designed machine that prioritizes reliability and ease of use.

Quilting on the Brother NS80e ★★★★☆

The Brother NS80e earns a 4-star quilting rating because of its exceptional ability to piece quilt tops.  It may not have quite the throat space as Bmore expensive models like the Brother PS500 or Baby Lock Brilliant, but it still offers a beautiful straight stitch, a variety of needle positions, and it is compatible with all sorts of useful presser feet for quilting, including Brother’s entry-level walking foot. The NS80e also gives you the ability to drop the feed dogs and perform free motion quilting.

+ 6.25″ Throat Space
+ Programmable needle up/down
+ Speed control slider
+ Compatible with Baby Lock’s entry-level walking foot

Clothes, Garment, Mending on the Brother NS80e ★★★★☆

The NS80e earns a 4-star rating in the garment category because of its beautiful straight stitch, automatic one-step buttonhole, and free-arm for sleeves and pant legs. A multitude of other garment stitches, such as the overcasting stitches that mimic a serger, are also a huge plus.

+ Beautiful Straight Stitch.
+ 80 stitches, including 8 one-step buttonholes.
+ Compatible with straight-stitch needle plate.
+ 7 millimeter stitch width capability.
+ Easily accessible Free arm allows user to sew sleeves and other tubular material.

Ease of Use  ★★★★★

We say it all the time in our shop, but the Brother NS80e might be the sewing machine easiest to use in the entire world.  It’s the laest expensive machine in the world with a truly automatic needle threader.  Selecting stitches is as simple as turning the dial to stitch number of your choice.  The top-loading drop-in bobbin is easy to wind and load.  Manipulating stitch length and stitch width is as easy as pressing +/- buttons next to the LCD screen.  “Reading” the screen is also easy and intuitive.

+ Truly automatic needle threader.
+ Top loading bobbin is easy to drop-in and thread.
+ Programmable Needle up/down.
+ Take-up lever is easy to thread.
+ Easy to use Bobbin Winder.
+ The Brother NS80e is a Sewing Machine Shop staff favorite, meaning that we know this machine extremely well, so we are good at helping people learn how to use it.

Reliability of the Brother NS80e ★★★★★

+ Brother electronics are exceptional; we have sold this machine for nearly a decade and see very few problems.
+ Like all the machines we sell, the NS80e is designed with an internal frame made of metal, not plastic.
+ The NS80e is a horizontal rotary hook machines with a top-loading bobbin, which is easy to use and does not lend itself to user error.  Ease of use and reliability are inextricably linked: less user error means increased machine longevity.
+ One of the most common issues we see is when the user accidentally threads the machine and forgets to properly thread the take-up lever.  All machines, including the NS80e, are susceptible to this problem. However, the take-up lever on the NS80e is easy to see and thread properly.

Heavy Duty ★★★☆☆

+ The Brother NS80e can sew denim and quilts without issue.  However if you plant to sewing a light leather or vinyl for the majority of your projects, then I might consider a more heavy duty machine.

Customer Satisfaction ★★★★★

+ I do not exaggerate when I say that we’ve sold hundreds of this platform over the past 5 years, from people who are beginners sewing, to experienced sewists who were moving on from their vintage machine in favor of a sewing machine with modern features.  Therefore, we are confident when we say that you won’t regret the Brother NS80e.  If you’re a beginner, this machine will do a lot to make you sewing experience as enjoyable as possible.  If you’re a seasoned veteran, then you’ll definitely appreciate modern features like the automatic needle threader and one-step button hole.

Conclusion

If you like sound of the NS80e, but want a sewing machine that has automatic thread trimming and is a little bit larger in terms of throat space, consider the Brother PS500 at $799.

If you want a reliable Japanese designed machine, but have budget in the $200-$400 range, consider the Juki HZL-LB 5020 or the Baby Lock Joy.

We are sewing machine professionals, not just another internet retailer. Please call 1-925-937-7575 about current promotions, interest-free financing, and our low price promise on this model and all the machines we sell.