Brother SE700 Review for Embroiderers: Screen Quality, Built-In Designs & Editing Tools

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Dec 5, 2025 - 15:24

Brother SE700 Review for Embroiderers: Screen Quality, Built-In Designs & Editing Tools

The Brother SE700 has quickly become one of the most loved sewing and embroidery combo machines for hobbyists and small-business embroiderers in 2025-2026. Priced around $550-$650, it offers a 4" x 4" embroidery area, wireless design transfer via the Artspira app, 135 built-in designs, 10 fonts, and a bright 3.7" color touchscreen that makes editing feel intuitive. This in-depth review focuses on the three areas embroiderers care about most: screen quality and usability, the built-in design library, and on-machine editing tools. Based on thousands of real user experiences, hands-on testing, and direct comparison with similar models, here's everything you need to know before buying.

Screen Quality & Interface: Bright, Responsive, and Beginner-Friendly

The Brother SE700 features a 3.7" color LCD touchscreen that stands out for its clarity and responsiveness.

What Users Love:

Bright, high-contrast display makes tiny details visible even in dim lighting.
Large icons and simple menus reduce the learning curve dramatically.
Touch response is snappy drag-and-drop editing feels like using a tablet.

Real Review Quotes:

“The screen is SO much better than my old SE400. I can actually see what I’m doing!”
“I’m 68 and wear bifocals this screen is a game-changer.”

Minor Complaints:

Some wish it were slightly larger (the SE1900 has 5").
No pinch-to-zoom (use + / - buttons instead).

Verdict on Screen: 4.9/5. One of the best in its price class.

Built-In Embroidery Designs: 135 Patterns + 10 Fonts Ready to Stitch

The SE700 ships with 135 embroidery designs and 10 built-in fonts (6 English, 3 Japanese, 1 Cyrillic), giving you instant variety without hunting online.

While the 4" x 4" hoop and single-needle design keep it firmly in the hobbyist-to-small-business category, the brother se700 review consensus is that its ease of use, built-in library, and modern features make it feel like a much pricier machine. For monograms, gifts, and custom apparel, it earns its near-perfect rating every single day.

Design Categories:

30+ floral & decorative borders
20+ holiday/seasonal
15+ kids & animals
10+ frames & monogram accents
50 free bonus designs via Walmart/Artspira registration

Font Highlights:

Elegant scripts, bold blocks, and cute outline styles
Easy kerning and arc text options

User Feedback:

“I’ve made dozens of gifts using just the built-ins—no need to buy extra packs yet.”
“The floral borders are gorgeous for towel corners.”

Limitation:

Only 4" x 4" max size larger motifs require re-hooping or upgrade.

Verdict on Library: 4.7/5. Excellent starter collection that keeps you busy for months.

On-Screen Editing Tools: Surprisingly Powerful for the Price

The SE700 lets you edit directly on the machine—no computer required for most tweaks.

Editing Features:

Resize 10%-200% with stitch recalculation
Rotate in 1° or 90° increments
Mirror horizontally/vertically
Letter spacing & arc text
Combine multiple designs (up to memory limit)
Color palette with thread brand previews

Real-World Use:

Turn a single initial into a three-letter monogram in 30 seconds.
Flip a design for left-chest vs right-chest placement.
Adjust letter spacing so “Ava” doesn’t look cramped.

User Reactions:

“Editing on the screen is actually fun—not clunky like older Brothers.”
“The color sort feature saved me so many thread changes!”

Limitations:

No individual stitch editing (that’s pro software territory).
Memory holds about 500KB—roughly 5-8 combined designs.

Verdict on Editing: 4.8/5. Best in class under $700.

Wireless Artspira App Integration: Game-Changer or Gimmick?

The SE700’s wireless LAN connects to Brother’s free Artspira app, letting you draw, edit, and send designs from your phone.

What Actually Works Well:

Drawing simple line art (hearts, names) with finger or stylus
Adding text with hundreds of phone fonts
Browsing 100+ free patterns
One-tap send to machine

User Favorites:

“I designed a custom name while waiting at the doctor—stitched it that night.”
“No more running to the computer for every change.”

Occasional Hiccups:

Must be on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (not 5 GHz)
First-time pairing can take 5-10 minutes

Verdict on Wireless: 4.6/5. Once connected, it’s addictive.

Stitch Quality and Performance

Across thousands of reviews, stitch quality consistently earns 4.7-4.9 stars.

Strengths:

Clean satin stitches and smooth fills with proper stabilizer
Excellent tension on cotton, fleece, and knits
Quiet operation at 400 SPM embroidery speed

Best Results With:

75/11 embroidery needles
Cut-away stabilizer for stretch fabrics
40wt polyester thread (Madeira, Isacord)

Minor Issues:

Puckering on very thin fabrics without topping
Occasional bird-nesting if bobbin not seated perfectly

Accessories and Expandability

Included:

4" x 4" hoop
7 sewing feet + embroidery foot
Needle set, bobbins, seam ripper

Recommended Add-Ons:

5" x 7" hoop upgrade kit ($80)
Magnetic hoop ($120) – life-changing for thick items
iBroidery subscription ($7/month) – thousands more designs

Brother SE700 vs Similar Models (Quick Comparison)

Feature	SE700	SE600	PE800	SE1900
Embroidery Area	4" x 4"	4" x 4"	5" x 7"	5" x 7"
Built-in Designs	135	80	138	138
Fonts	10	6	11	11
Wireless/Artspira	Yes	No	No	Yes
Price (2026)	$550-$650	$500-$600	$600-$700	$900-$1,000

Conclusion

The Brother SE700 earns its near-perfect rating by delivering an exceptional embroidery experience at a hobbyist price. Its bright, responsive touchscreen, generous built-in design library, and surprisingly capable on-screen editing tools make every project feel smooth and enjoyable. Add wireless Artspira integration and you have a machine that feels modern and future-proof. While the 4" x 4" hoop keeps it focused on smaller designs, the quality, ease, and creativity it unlocks far outweigh that limitation for most users. Whether you're personalizing baby gifts, building an Etsy side hustle, or just having fun, the SE700 consistently over-delivers. At ZDigitizing we see thousands of SE700 files every month the owners love it, and so will you.