A sewing machine is probably one of the biggest investment you will make and the Brother CS 6000i would be an excellant choice, it ranks high in sewing machine reviews. Sewing is fun but the wrong machine can make the process very frustrating.

In today’s economy it is of real benefit if you know how to sew. Prices in the stores continue to be expensive even if they have a lot of mark downs, but it tells you just how much of a mark up there has been up to this time. Sewing will help save money in today economy, there are great sales right now in sewing machines, fabric and notions. (For those beginners not familiar with the term, notions are your thread, bobbins, seam rippers, etc.) I was in a Jo-Ann’s Store this week and everything seems to be on sale.

1. Instead of getting rid of clothes that no longer fit, alterations can be done to make them wearable.
2. Altering clothing that you purchase at garage sales or thrift store that don’t quite fit and need minor alterations.
3. Mending clothing; I like being able to sew on buttons by machine, they look neater and are more secure.
4. If you have children that are growing out of their clothes at an alarming rate you will save money by sewing garments.
5. Don’t forget the other pluses, sewing drapes, slipcovers, tablecloths, and other items for the home.

My grandmother started teaching me to sew at an early age on one of the first Singer sewing machines. The skill was the springboard for my choosing my high school electives and later my career. I began teaching Home Economics in the 60’s and “we’ve come a long way baby”; in some cases it was a long way back. In today’s middle and high school curriculums, home economics is no longer taught partly because enrollment dropped due to lack of interest and other times the emphasis shifted away from vocational programs. The skills taught before would be of benefit with so many unemployed and looking for a job. In the 70’s and 80’s I taught industrial sewing in Orlando because Disney was a market for the student’s skills, but the need dwindled and so the course was dropped from the curriculum.

These two videos are the best I've seen. If I were still teaching sewing in school I would recommend my students check them out on youtube.com

One of the duties I had as a sewing teacher was deciding on the sewing machines to be used in class. I learned the importance of researching models to determine the best sewing machine for the class room situation and I use the same methods when I am deciding on a sewing machine for myself.

It is very important that you learn as much as you can about a particular sewing machine before making the decision on what brand and model will meet your needs.

Product Description A -

Equipped with an LCD display for easy stitch selection, this computerized free-arm sewing machine features 60 built-in stitches including utility stitches for mending and garment construction, decorative stitches, heirloom stitches, and quilting stitches, as well as seven styles of one-step auto-sizing buttonholes. Programmable 7mm stitch width and length, as well as an adjustable dial control for thread tension, deliver enhanced sewing flexibility. Operate the machine with the foot control or without, using the built-in one-touch start/stop and reverse functions. Its automatic needle threader, built-in thread cutter, and quick-set drop-in bobbin system offer added convenience. Accessories are included for zipper insertion, darning, twin-needle stitching, and quilting, plus the unit features quick-change snap-on presser feet that include a buttonhole foot, zipper foot, button-fitting foot, blind-stitch foot, over-casting foot, monogramming foot, zigzag foot, walking foot, and a quilt guide. The walking foot ensures accurate stitching of slippery fabrics or multiple layers, and the quilt guide delivers precise, evenly spaced quilt lines. A drop feed allows for creating free-form or traditional quilt patterns. Other highlights include preset presser-foot height adjustment and pressure, electronic speed adjustment, variable needle positions, built-in storage space, and a hard cover to protect the machine when not in use. Lightweight and portable, the sewing machine measures 9-3/5 by 9-3/4 by 12-1/2 inches and carries a 25-year limited warranty.

Product Description B-

The CS6000i from Brother is a 60 stitch computerized free arm sewing machine with multiple stitch functions. The machine features an LCD display for computerized stitch selection. The built in stitches include utility stithces for mending and garment construction, decorative stitches, heirloom stitches and quilting stitches. This machine has a one step automatic buttonholer with 7 styles of auto-size buttonholes built-in. The machine also has built-in super-wide 7mm zigzag and decorative stitches. The CS6000i is easy to thread with the automatic needle threader and our one-step quick set drop-in bobbin. Included with this machine are accessories for zipper insertion, darning, twin needle stitching, quilting, as well as an oversized accessory table to increase your sewing area for large projects and quilting. The quilting feet include a walking foot for accurate stitching of slippery fabrics or multiple layers as well as a quilt guide for precise evenly spaced quilt lines. The CS6000i also has a drop feed so you can create free-form or traditional quilt patterns. The machine can be operated without a foot control using the built-in one-touch start/stop and reverse features. You can also choose your most comfortable sewing speed with the electronic speed control. Accessories are included for quilting, zipper insertion, darning, twin needle stitching, buttonholes and button sewing. The machine is lightweight and portable and includes a hard cover to protect your machine when it is not in use. Instructions are bilingual in English and Spanish

The following review is done by an on-line company thatspecializes in product reviews.      sewingmachinereviewer.com

Brother CS 6000i Computerized, Portable and Affordable Sewing Machine

Brother Sewing Machines - Why Brother Sewing Products Stand The Test Of Time - Brother sewing machines are one of the handfuls of sewing products that have withstood the test of time. The company continuously improves their products, perfectly combining technology with function and design. They are currently operating their main office in the United States, particularly in New Jersey.

The Brother CS 6000i sewing machine can amaze you with the many features it offers.

First of all, the Brother 6000 model is computerized, which is good for those who are in garment mass production. It can cut down the time you spend in adjusting the length and width of stitches, even feeding the thread into the needle.

Second, it has a lot of stitches to choose from, and you can produce numerous stitching functions.

Third, it is not only meant for sewing, but also for embroidery and quilting.

Brother CS 6000i Review

The Brother CS 6000 sewing machine is equipped with programmable and electronic speed controls. This helps especially when you work on denims, wool, leather, and other delicate or hard-to-work-on fabrics and may need to customize the speed of your controls.

This way, you can add the much-needed power to your fabric. It's also very easy to do this with the Brother CS6000i model because the controls and settings are not only electronic but also can also be programmed.

The length and width of the stitches can be customized since some patterns require to have wider stitches, while others finer.

Regardless of what sewing project you're working on right now, it's essential that you have full control when it comes to your stitches. You can input the corresponding length and width of the stitch into CS6000i.

You can also control the tension of the fabric. Coming up with perfect finishes means no creases and loose stitches. The best part to control therefore is the tension.

CS6000i gives you full freedom to monitor and customize the tension assembly of the sewing machine, depending on the fabric that you're using and the design that you're working on.

Advantages of Brother 6000

1. It's lightweight.
   The Brother CS 6000 is not actually a toy sewing machine, which lacks a number of sewing functions. Nevertheless, it's still remains lightweight, which makes it so easy for you to move it from one corner of your home to another.
   
   If you want, you can even tag this along with you when you attend a sewing workshop. You also don't have any problem looking for possible storage compartment, since it's just small. If not, you can conveniently place it on top of any table.
   
   2. It's simple to use.
   The Brother CS6000i sewing machine is equipped with programmable buttons, which you only need to press if you want to get something done.
   
   3. It's affordable.
   Despite the many features that you can find in Brother CS6000i, you will discover that it's very affordable. You can even get one below $200. What's more, it's loaded with all accessories you can possibly think of, especially presser feet. You don't need to purchase them one by one.
   
   4. It works with almost any type of sewing project.
   Whether you're dealing with quilts or embroideries, you can always count on CS6000i. It has a large working space connected to it so you can work on big fabrics.

Disadvantages of Brother CS 6000i

1. You may experience some bobbin problems.
A number of consumers are sometimes having trouble with the bobbins since they tend to get jammed. Nevertheless, you may want to check your manual. Perhaps you have done something wrong along the way.

2. The cover doesn't get attached to the machine.
If you're thinking of traveling, you may want to consider purchasing another cover. This is since the hard cover that goes with the sewing machine upon purchase doesn't really have any clip on it.

http://www.rateitall.com/ another on-line site specializes in reviews, they gave the Brother CS 6000i a 5 out of 5 rating.

This would be an excellent choice for a sewing machine if it meets your needs either regular sewing, quilting or embroidery.