The Brother SE-400 has 67 built in stitches for various types of sewing, including 10 styles of 1-step buttonholes. The stitches include several styles of Straight, Zigzag, Overcasting, BlindHem, Applique, Stretch, Patchwork, Quilting, Eyelet, Smocking, Decorative, Heirloom stitches and Side Cutter stitches. Side Cutter stitches, using an optional side cutter foot, finish seams by overcasting and cutting off the extra seam allowance similar to what a serger does.
The stitch length is adjustable up to 5mm and the stitch width up to 7mm for some stitch patterns. Stitch attributes include: Mirror, twin, multi-directional, side cutter, satin stitch regulator.
To select a stitch, use the arrow keys on the LCD touch screen to move through the stitch icons on the screen, select the stitch and choose the stitch settings.
Here are the utility and decorative stitches built into the Brother SE400:
| Number | Stitch Name | Application |
| 1 | Straight stitch | Basic stitching, sewing gathers or pintucks, etc. |
| 2 | Straight stitch | Basic stitching and sewing gathers or pintucks |
| 3 | Straight stitch | Attaching zippers, basic stitching, sewing gathers or pintucks, etc. |
| 4 | Triple stretch stitch | Attaching sleeves, sewing inseams, sewing stretch fabrics and decorative stitching |
| 5 | Stretch stitch | Sewing stretch fabrics and decorative stitching |
| 6 | Basting stitch | Temporarily securing |
| 7, 8 | Zigzag stitch (left and right) | Overcasting and attaching appliqués |
| 9 | 2-point zigzag stitch | Overcasting on mediumweight or stretch fabrics, attaching elastic, darning, etc. |
| 10 | 3-point zigzag stitch | Overcasting on mediumweight or stretch fabrics, attaching elastic, darning, etc. |
| 11 | Overcasting stitch | Overcasting on thin or mediumweight fabrics |
| 12 | Overcasting stitch | Overcasting on thick fabrics |
| 13 | Overcasting stitch | Overcasting on thick fabrics and decorative stitching |
| 14 | Overcasting stitch | Overcasting on stretch fabrics |
| 15 | Overcasting stitch | Overcasting on thick or stretch fabrics |
| 16 | Overcasting stitch | Overcasting on stretch fabrics and decorative stitching |
| 17 | Blind hem stitch | Blind hem stitching on mediumweight fabrics |
| 18 | Blind hem stitch | Blind hem stitching on stretch fabrics |
| 19 | Appliqué stitch | Appliqué stitching |
| 20 | Shell tuck stitch | Shell tuck stitching |
| 21, 22 | Piecing straight stitch | Piecing straight stitching (right and left) |
| 23 | Straight stitch that looks hand-sewn (for quilting) | Straight stitch quilting that looks hand-sewn |
| 24 | Zigzag stitch (for quilting) | Appliqué quilting, free-motion quilting, satin stitching |
| 25 | Appliqué stitch (for quilting) | Attaching appliqués and binding |
| 26 | Quilting stitch (for stippling) | Quilting background stitching (stippling) |
| 27 | Satin scallop stitch | Scallop stitching |
| 28 | Joining stitch | Patchwork stitching and decorative stitching |
| 29 | Joining stitch | Patchwork stitching, decorative stitching and sewing overcasting on both pieces of fabric, such as with tricot |
| 30 | Joining stitch | Patchwork stitching and decorative stitching |
| 31 | Smocking stitch | Smocking stitching and decorative stitching |
| 32, 33 | Fagoting stitch | Fagoting and decorative stitching |
| 34 | Elastic-attaching stitch | Attaching elastic to stretch fabrics |
| 35, 36, 37 | Decorative stitch | Decorative stitching |
| 38 | Decorative stitch | Decorative stitching and elastic-attaching |
| 39 | Decorative stitch | Lace sewing, decorative hemming, heirloom stitching, etc. |
| 40 | Decorative stitch | Decorative hemming, heirloom stitching, etc. |
| 41 | Decorative stitch | Decorative hemming on thin, mediumweight and plain weave fabrics, heirloom stitching, etc. |
| 42 | Decorative stitch | Decorative hemming on thin, mediumweight and plain weave fabrics, heirloom stitching, etc. |
| 43 | Decorative stitch | Decorative hemming on thin, mediumweight and plain weave fabrics, heirloom stitching, etc. |
| 44 | Decorative stitch | Decorative hemming on thin, mediumweight and plain weave fabrics, heirloom stitching, etc. |
| 45 | Decorative stitch | Decorative hemming, ribbon threading, heirloom stitching, etc. |
| 46 | Decorative stitch | Decorative stitching, smocking stitching, heirloom stitching, etc. |
| 47 | Decorative stitch | Decorative stitching, smocking stitching, heirloom stitching, etc. |
| 48 | Buttonhole stitch | Horizontal buttonholes on thin and mediumweight fabrics |
| 49 | Buttonhole stitch | Horizontal buttonholes on areas that are subject to strain |
| 50 | Buttonhole stitch | Horizontal buttonholes on thick fabrics |
| 51 | Buttonhole stitch | Secured buttonholes for fabrics that have backings |
| 52 | Buttonhole stitch | Buttonholes for stretch or knit fabrics |
| 53 | Buttonhole stitch | Buttonholes for stretch fabrics |
| 54 | Buttonhole stitch | Bound buttonholes |
| 55 | Buttonhole stitch | Keyhole buttonholes for thick or furry fabrics |
| 56 | Buttonhole stitch | Keyhole buttonholes for mediumweight and thick fabrics |
| 57 | Buttonhole stitch | Horizontal buttonholes for thick or furry fabrics |
| 58 | Darning stitch | Darning mediumweight fabrics |
| 59 | Darning stitch | Darning thick fabrics |
| 60 | Bar tack stitch | Reinforcing openings and areas where the seam easily comes loose |
| 61 | Button-sewing stitch | Button sewing |
| 62 | Eyelet stitch | Sewing eyelets, for example, on belts |
| 63 | Side cutter (requires optional side cutter foot) | Sewing straight stitches while cutting the fabric |
| 64 | Side cutter (requires optional side cutter foot) | Sewing zigzag stitches while cutting the fabric |
| 65 | Side cutter (requires optional side cutter foot) | Overcasting on thin and mediumweight fabrics while cutting the fabric |
| 66 | Side cutter (requires optional side cutter foot) | Overcasting on thick fabrics while cutting the fabric |
| 67 | Side cutter (requires optional side cutter foot) | Overcasting on mediumweight and thick fabrics while cutting the fabric |
Hello, I just got my machine to make cross stitching it on it and I’m having a hard time fiquring out how to do so ! Any advise ?
I want to use stitch Q to a quilt that is partially already quilted with hand stitching. I want to know if I should use invisible thread and a color to do this so it would look like hand stitching.
Hi Kamala, I have the SE400 machine and I absolutely LOVE IT! Wondering if you could explain the Stitch #26, Stipple. I’d like to use this on a quilt, but I cannot figure it out. What size should I make the stitch width and length? Do I need to hoop the quilt in order to do this stipple stitch? Or, do I use this stitch but do free motion quilting? I’ve searched and searched, but cannot find specific instructions. Hopefully, you can assist.
Although I have not tried this stitch yet myself I think that using stitch #26 is in a free hand useage. There are machine embroidery pattern designers that have stipple quilting design patterns on their web sites. Some which offered one or two as free desgins for free. Hope i help you a little.
Thanks Renee, I’m going to have to play around with this and see if I can figure it out. Appreciate your input.
What stitch do I use to embroider a satin stitch?
I want to be able to crochet around the edges of some flannel for burp rags for babies. Does the machine have a stitch that punches around the edge of fabric for this?
I have this machine and really want to try and use it for quilting. I can’t figure out where to find an all over quilting-stitch pattern to use. There are youtube videos of people doing it on this machine, but they never explain how they got the pattern onto the machine?? Ive been googling for hours and I feel like I’m going in circles. Also, with applique, where do I get the letter download?
My pattern calls for a double stitch seam. I have a brother se 400. I am sewing a knit. Do you know if I should baste first #6 and then use stitch #5 And leave the basting stitch in when I am done? or should I just use a twin needle. Thank you kindly.
what is the difference between the straight stitch 1 & 2 and the piecing stitch 21 & 22?
Hello and thanks for your helpful site! I’m considering this machine and was wondering which one of the numbered decorative stitches will replicate a pin stitch in heirloom sewing?
hi Kamala,
I have a SE 400 and i want to know how to “smock.” I can not find any info about smocking for a toddler dress/outfits using this machine ; and wonder if you have any knowledge. And if possible, can the smocked be embroidered afterwards.
Thank you very much,
anna
Hi Anna, Look at page 112 in your Operations Manual for Smocking instructions. I’m not sure how embroidering over the smocking would work because it’s rather thick and rough. And there are so many variables depending on the fabric. You’d have to try it.