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Brother CS5055 Review

Great machine for a beginning sewer, but lacking a few helpful computerized features
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Brother CS5055 Review (The CS5055 is a pretty solid machine that does all the basics decently for an affordable price.)
The CS5055 is a pretty solid machine that does all the basics decently for an affordable price.
Credit: Laura Casner
Price:  $150 List
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Manufacturer:   Brother
By Austin Palmer and Ruth Bruckbauer  ⋅  Jun 12, 2023
72
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 15
  • Sewing - 45% 6.8
  • Ease of use - 35% 8.0
  • Buttonholes - 20% 6.8

Our Verdict

The Brother CS5055 is one of the best and most affordable sewing machines for beginners. The stitch set-up is very easy and straightforward, with the average tension settings highlighted. On top of that, it has a handy label telling you which presser foot to use with the stitch selected. With a top-loading bobbin, you can always see what you are doing and how much thread is left on the bobbin, and the automatic needle-threader can be a lifesaver. Even the buttonhole set-up is easy, and best of all, the machine stops sewing when the end of the buttonhole is reached.
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent straight stitching on cotton jersey
Very easy to get stitches set up
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks a needle up/down button
No presser foot lock
Trouble with bottom strap of average zipper

Compare to Similar Products

 
brother cs5055
This Product
Brother CS5055
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Sewing Machine for Most People
   
Price $150 List
$149.70 at Amazon
$260 List
$259.99 at Amazon
$240 List
$239.99 at Amazon
$230 List
$229.99 at Amazon
$130 List
$119.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A beginner would really like this machine since it's easy-to-use and inexpensiveA simple to use option with lots of stitches, an excellent screen, and an affordable price, but isn't the cleanest buttonhole makerA user-friendly model that works well on all the basics except for buttonholes, and comes at an affordable priceAn inexpensive, easy-to-use sewing machine that provides consistent sewing but has some trouble with buttonholes and winding the bobbinSimple and solid, this non-computerized sewing machine has many good qualities and some not-so-good ones
Rating Categories Brother CS5055 Brother HC1850 Brother CS7000X Brother XR9550 Brother GX37
Sewing (45%)
6.8
7.8
7.4
7.4
6.8
Ease of use (35%)
8.0
9.3
9.2
8.9
6.8
Buttonholes (20%)
6.8
5.6
4.8
4.8
4.8
Specs Brother CS5055 Brother HC1850 Brother CS7000X Brother XR9550 Brother GX37
# of Built-in Stitches 60 185 70 165 37
# of Buttonhole Styles 7 8 7 8 1
Automatic Bobbin Winder Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Manufacturer Stated Maximum Sewing Speed (stitches per minute) 750 850 750 850 850
Computerized? Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Buttonhole Sewing (number of steps) 1-Step 1-Step 1-Step 1-Step 1-Step
Maximum Stitch Width 7mm 7mm 7mm 7mm 7mm
Maximum Stitch Length 5mm 5mm 5mm 5mm 5mm
Thread Cutter Built-in Built-in Built-in Built-in Built-in
Cover No No Hard Hard Soft
Free Arm Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Measured Weight 10.8 lbs 10.5 lbs 10.4 lbs 12.1 Ibs 12.5 lbs

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Brother CS5055, with its 60 built-in stitches and 7 buttonhole stitches, has enough variety for an experienced seamstress or tailor but still has an easy set-up and use that is good for a beginner. This machine is high value and won an award for its many qualities, ease of use, and low price tag.

Performance Comparison


brother cs5055 - easy to use and set up, this sewing machine earned our prestigious...
Easy to use and set up, this sewing machine earned our prestigious Best Buy award.
Credit: Laura Casner

Sewing


Scoring above average in our sewing tests, this Brother CS5055 showed great results on most fabrics using the straight, zig-zag, and blind hem stitches. The top stitches looked nice, but sometimes the lower tension was funky, which we'll get into in a bit. We were particularly impressed with how easily this machine sewed through thicker test swatches, like quilting and multi-layer denim, particularly the quilting. Denim didn't score quite as high, though that score was still above average and even outscored far more expensive sewing machines in our lineup.


The CS5055 did have some trouble with our zipper test, though. The presser foot felt like it barely held on and was lopsided, which we thought very odd. It had a lot of trouble making it over the bottom strap of the zipper and displayed uneven stitching and tension from one side to the other.

brother cs5055 - we had some problems with tension, but nothing that a little time...
We had some problems with tension, but nothing that a little time and patience couldn't fix.
Credit: Laura Casner

In fact, uneven tension was something we experienced quite a bit with this sewing machine. A particular problem area was the scallop stitch — we struggled no matter which fabric we were using. This and diamond-patterned stitches had the biggest problems with tensioning, with the bottom or bobbin tension consistently being tight. We actually had consistent tension trouble with most stitches on most fabrics. That said, we do not view this as a dealbreaker since it can be worked on and adjusted with some time and patience as you learn your machine.

brother cs5055 - we really like how this machine gave us even and consistent zig-zag...
We really like how this machine gave us even and consistent zig-zag and straight stitches.
Credit: Laura Casner

Ease of Use


Scoring very high in our stitch set-up test, the Brother CS5055 will make life simple for someone new to the craft. Since all the stitches are printed right on the machine, you simply look above the stitch you want for the number, then use the +/- buttons to move to that stitch. Making stitch adjustments is also super simple since you use the same +/- concept to get to your preferred width and length. Everything is clearly marked and very easy to read, and by using the +/- system, you get exactly what you want with no guessing. Best of all, the most common stitch lengths and widths have a circle around them in the panel — a huge plus, especially for beginners or for someone who hasn't sewn for a while.


Another great plus for the CS5055 is the ease of winding and loading the bobbin. Our test team always appreciates a top-loading bobbin since bending down to the table height to see if you're putting the bobbin in correctly is a pain in the neck. Literally. But this machine has a sticker for the bobbin with clear labeling for inserting and threading, which we consider a giant plus. Since the bobbin is usually out of sight in the sewing process, it can be somewhat mysterious, especially for a beginner. But this bobbin set-up is easy and clear.

brother cs5055 - it's easy to see and load the bobbin, and the top-load and clear...
It's easy to see and load the bobbin, and the top-load and clear bobbin make it easy to see how much thread is left.
Credit: Laura Casner

This machine also earned an above-average score for threading the needle with a semi-automatic needle threader. However, it didn't score as well with the needle stop position, which you have to find each time for yourself. This is not a dealbreaker but can be frustrating until you get used to it.

The light on the CS5055 is adequate, but our reviewers remarked that, though it's bright enough, the position of the light creates a shadow just where the needle enters the fabric. The light is bright on the right side, but there are dark shadows on the left which may be distracting for some.

brother cs5055 - though the light was bright enough, its position created a shadow on...
Though the light was bright enough, its position created a shadow on the left side of the presser foot.
Credit: Laura Casner

One of the other features that the Brother CS5055 has is a detachable free arm for sewing smaller things, like the hem of trousers or around a sleeve. This makes life much simpler since it cuts out a lot of awkward maneuvering to complete those smaller circumferences. Even if you won't sew clothing, the free arm is a great thing to have.


Buttonholes


Ah, buttonholes. Many an otherwise beautiful project has died at the feet of a poorly-executed buttonhole, speaks the voice of experience. The CS5055 scored okay overall, but our testers still found the buttonholes to be somewhat lacking.


The buttonhole process is simple to set up as it has the typical Brother colored lines on the presser foot, making it easy to line everything up. And, once it's all set and the fabric is in place, you just push down on the pedal and go. Adjusting the length of the buttonhole is also easy as the buttonhole attachment has a slider that opens — you put your button in place, and the machine does the rest. No need to worry about the machine not stopping at the end of the buttonhole, as the CS5055 stops automatically. But hang onto that top thread, for this is what caused us to lower the score for this metric. If you forget about holding tightly to the top thread, it will slip out of the needle, and you have to do everything all over again. It's frustrating until you can train yourself to hold on to the thread, but if this is your dedicated machine, you will soon get used to it.

brother cs5055 - you'll need to hang on to the top thread as you begin sewing your...
You'll need to hang on to the top thread as you begin sewing your buttonhole on the CS5055.
Credit: Laura Casner

Should You Buy the Brother CS5055?


The Brother CS5055 scored very well in our review, despite the small things we found that caused some problems. Overall, this machine is solid, dependable, easy to set up and use, and very affordable, making it a great choice for a beginner.

brother cs5055 - this brother machine has super-simple stitch selection and a free arm.
This Brother machine has super-simple stitch selection and a free arm.
Credit: Laura Casner

What Other Sewing Machines Should You Consider?


The lowest-priced of all the sewing machines we tested, our reviewers found the Brother CS5055 to be a very good product. With enough fun things like an automatic thread cutter, a semi-automatic needle threader, a great display of stitches, and an easy stitch selection to make life and sewing simpler, this is a very nice sewing machine. If you're a little more advanced in your sewing projects, the Brother HC1850 costs a bit more but has a lot of precision and added features that make it one of our all-time favorite models. The Brother CS7000X is another really excellent machine with above-average performance for not too much more than this one.

Austin Palmer and Ruth Bruckbauer