Are you searching for the best Brother sewing machine? If the answer is yes, then, you have come to the right place.
Whether you want to start learning how to sew or you are already a professional, choosing the right sewing machine doesn’t come easy.
It doesn’t still make it easier even if you narrow it down to a particular brand like the Brother Industries, a Japanese company that has been in the business of manufacturing sewing machines since 1908. This is because there are dozens of machines to choose from.
If you are looking for a sewing machine for quilting, embroidery, sewing or seams tasks, Brother sewing machines have got you covered.
We are here to help you out if you are finding it difficult to choose a Brother sewing machine. After conducting our in-house research and speaking with many industry experts, we have selected the 7 best Brother sewing machines for your informed choice. Our picks are based on functionality, durability, stability and sturdiness.
Check out the chart below for a summary of all the machines up for review
Table of Contents
Brother CS7000X
The construction of the machine is solid. It is made with a metal frame to make it sturdy and stable to tackle any project. When it comes to speed, the machine can sew at 800 stitches per minute (SPM). There is an adjustable speed controller that can be used to adjust the speed either upward or downward. You will find a fixed needle bar that helps you to create cleaner stitches with even lines. With the drop feed system, you are sure of free-flow stitching and quilting.
The machine is extremely user-friendly for both kids and beginners generally. With the bright LED lights, you won’t have any issues when working on dark fabrics. It includes accessories such as zigzag foot, zipper foot, monogramming foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, walking and quilting foot, quilt guide, ballpoint needle, spool pin, screwdriver, cleaning brush, L-driver, wide table, blind stitch foot, 3 bobbins, seam ripper, eyelet punch and a hard protective case. It is backed with a 25 years limited warranty.
- 70 built-in stitches
- 10 presser feet
- 800 SPM sewing speed
- Adjustable speed control
- Improved automatic needle threader
- Easy to operate
- Strong and durable construction
- No automatic thread cutter
- No automatic reverse sewing
Brother PQ1500SL
With the built-in knee lever, you are allowed to do hands-free lifting and lowering of the presser foot. This makes it easy for you to reposition or remove your fabric with the utmost ease. It includes an extended table of 12 inches by 18 inches. The table provides you with ample workspace to easily complete larger projects. With the LED light, sewing dark fabric will longer be a problem.
If you are a quilter that loves free motion quilting, you will find the feed dog height adjustment very useful. It has four heights to accommodate any of your projects. Thread tension control is easy with the touch of a dial. This helps you to control the tension level of the thread. Accessories include seam guide, cleaning brush, power cord, spool cap, foot control, 5 metal bobbins, ballpoint needle and screwdrivers. Others are rolled hem foot, adjustable zipper foot, straight stitch sewing foot, spring action sewing foot, invisible zipper foot, walking foot and quarter-inch foot.
- High speed of 1,500 SPM
- Plenty of workspace for quilting
- Automatic needle threading and thread trimming
- Able to sew multiple layers of thicker fabrics
- Strong construction
- Thread tension control
- Quick bobbin threading
- No speed controller
- Bobbin casing not transparent
- It is just a straight stitch. No buttonholes, zigzag, overcasting, decorative and utility stitches
- A bit heavy at 30 pounds
- Expensive
Brother XM2701
The Brother XM2701 is a very versatile sewing machine with a built-in free arm that helps you to handle a variety of everyday sewing projects like the handling of cuffs, sleeves and pant legs. It has a good sewing speed at 800 stitches per minute. This is a decent speed for both beginners and advanced users. If you do a lot of hemming, this machine will help you accomplish the task since it comes with a twin-needle capability. This is an excellent feature for beginners. The stitch options can be selected with just a dial.
The package comes with many accessories such as 6 sewing feet, a screwdriver and 3 bobbins. Others are a darning plate, extra spool pin, three-piece needle set, instructional DVD and an operational manual written in both English and Spanish. It comes with a 25 years limited warranty.
- Easy threading with the automatic needle threader
- Extremely lightweight
- Very versatile with 27 built-in stitches
- Perfect for beginners
- Reasonable priced
- One-step buttonhole to quickly make buttonholes
- Ease of stitch selection
- No automatic thread cuter
- LED light is not bright
- The machine has no medium speed
Brother HC1850
There is an LED screen that allows you to view whatever stitch you have selected so you are sure of using the right stitch. If you handle large projects all the time, the wide table will be a plus. Other features are adjustable sewing speed which is perfect for beginners, a detachable foot controller and a feed system that is perfect for the sewing of any type of fabric. The LED light brightens the work area making it super easy for you to work with dark fabrics. You can make use of the start and stop button if you don’t find the foot controller convenient. The thread tension can also be easily adjusted to eliminate thread bunching.
Some of the accessories include 8 presser feet, a wide table, instructional DVD, manual, 5 bobbins, cleaning brush, seam ripper, 3 spool caps, ballpoint needle, twin needle, disk-shaped screwdriver and more. There is peace of mind with a 25-year limited warranty.
- 185 built-in stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- Adjustable sewing speed
- Very bright work area
- LCD screen for viewing stitch selection
- Thread tension adjustment
- Start and stop push button
- No automatic thread cutter
- The monogramming feature is limited
- The machine is too light for some sewers
Brother CS5055PRW
To reduce eye strains that come with manual threading, the sewing machine comes with an automatic needle threader. When it comes to weight, the machine is very light and portable. As a beginner who is learning how to sew, you can take the machine to your class without experiencing any shoulder fatigue. The sewing speed is nice at 850 stitches per minute. With the adjustable speed controller, beginners can sew at a speed that is right for them. There is also a foot controller for speed control if you find it convenient.
Working on difficult areas like the pant legs, sleeves and cuffs are easy with the built-in free arm. There are enough accessories to make your sewing experience worthwhile. Some of them include 7 sewing feet, twin needles and 3-piece needles. Others are cleaning brush, seam ripper, bobbins, screwdriver, instructional manual, accessory storage and spool caps of three different sizes. The machine comes with a built-in carry handle for easy movement. There is a 25-year limited warranty.
- 50 built-in stitches
- 850 sewing speed
- Adjustable thread tension
- Lightweight and mobile
- Comes with a storage compartment
- Quick and easy loading of bobbin
- One-touch reverse stitching
- Mostly made with plastics
- LED light is too dim
- Small storage compartment
- No automatic thread cutter
Brother XR3774
You would want to know if the LED light is bright enough. Yes, it is. Even if you are working in a dark room, the light can improve visibility so you can work without any issues. The quilting table is large enough to give you a lot of room to handle bigger projects. You can get larger projects done pretty quickly because of the 800 stitches per minute sewing speed.
Accessories included in the package are 8 presser feet, wide table, instructional DVD, screwdriver, bobbins, needles, darning plate, extra spool pin, built-in storage for accessories and a manual written in English and Spanish. There is a limited warranty of 25 years to give you peace of mind.
- Very versatile with 37 built-in stitches
- Bright LED light to perfectly illuminate the work area
- Automatic needle threader
- Stitch selection using a dial
- 800 SPM sewing speed
- It is competitively priced
- Comes with a wide table for easy quilting
- No automatic thread cutter
- It doesn’t have a foot pressure adjustment
Brother XR9550PRW
No more stress and frustration when it comes to needle threading. The automatic needle threader gets the job done with the utmost ease. The same ease extends to the jam-resistant drop-in top bobbin. When it comes to lighting, the machine is well-lit. With the thread tension adjustment, you can easily stop fabric bunching. If you have a large project and need to finish up in time, the 850 stitches per minute sewing speed will help you complete your tasks quickly.
The package has some accessories such as 8 sewing feet including buttonhole, zigzag, button sewing, zipper, overcasting, monogramming, blind stitch and quilting feet. Others are wide table, hard case, 4 bobbins, seam ripper, eyelet punch, cleaning brush, 3 spool caps, extra spool pin, power cord with a pedal, needle set, ballpoint needle, twin needle, accessory pouch, owner’s manual and DVD instructional guide. It is backed with a 25-year limited warranty.
- Great versatility with 165 built-in stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- Convenient top-loading drop-in bobbin
- LED screen display with thread tension adjustment
- Touch button speed adjustment
- Extended table for ease of quilting
- Strong and durable construction
- The monogramming is too basic
- No automatic thread cutter
- A bit pricey
Buyer’s Guide
Purchasing a Brother sewing machine is not like picking a book of the shelf. Generally speaking, one has to be extremely careful when choosing a sewing machine. There are different considerations involved. Here are some of the features and considerations you must have at the back of your mind before choosing a Brother sewing machine.
Frame
A sewing machine can take a lot of space in your home. This is one of the most critical considerations. You have to first envision how you are going to use the sewing machine. Is it going to be in a sewing room, placed in a closet or you would want to travel with it for classes? Answering this question will give you an idea of the kind of frame your type of machine should have. If your machine will be stationed permanently in a sewing room or closet, then, you can go for a machine with a heavier metal frame. But if you will be taking classes with your machine, it makes sense to go for a lightweight machine that can be carried easily.
Choosing Between a Mechanical and Computerized Sewing Machine
It doesn’t matter the type of sewing machine you buy. What is sure is that there will always be a learning curve. A mechanical sewing machine costs less in comparison with a computerized version. This is because it operates with dials and manual levers. Mechanical sewing machines make you adjust everything manually. But a computerized sewing machine is pricier because it comes with many auto functions and advanced settings. The adjustments are usually with the touch of the button.
Construction
How is the machine constructed? This is what determines the stability, durability and sturdiness of a sewing machine. Most of the cheaper models are constructed with plastic; some are made with a combination of plastic and metal. Whatever it is, ensure that the inner part of the machine is made with a heavy-duty metal frame.
Stitch Variety
Stitch options are important features that many sewers always look out for. While basic stitches like the straight and zigzag are normal, you may also need decorative stitches to handle creative tasks. The more stitch options your machine has, the more expensive it becomes. As a beginner, a sewing machine with about 30 stitch options is perfect but if you are an advanced user, you can go for a machine with over 100 stitch options.
Stitch Selector and LCD Screen
This is a feature you will find in a computerized sewing machine. A stitch selector makes it easy for you to choose a particular stitch for your fabric with the touch of a button or by turning a dial. The LCD screen helps you to view your selected stitch.
Automatic Functions
Mechanical sewing machines don’t have any auto functions. You have to do the needle threading and buttonholes manually. You don’t have to worry about all of these if you have a computerized sewing machine. Needle threading, tension adjustments, buttonholes and thread cutting are all automatic. All of these auto functions will save you a lot of time and stress.
Sewing Speed
The sewing speed is not something you should overlook. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced sewer, you will want to complete your tasks pretty fast; this is why a good sewing speed is imperative. Sewing machine speed is measured in stitches per minute (SPM). Don’t go below 750 SPM if you want to complete larger projects in time.
LED Light
You don’t want to get stranded when working with a dark fabric or in the dark. A sewing machine with a LED light illuminates the work area for excellent visibility. Choose a machine with a very bright light. The light is useless if it is dim.
Accessories
Every new sewing machine comes with accessories. These accessories save you money and also make replacement easy. Some of the accessories that come with the package include sewing feet, set of needles, bobbins, scissors, screwdriver, dust cover, measuring tape and many more.
Price
Of course, the cost is an important consideration when choosing a sewing machine. The good thing is that Brother Industries has good sewing machines that cost less than $100. These machines have fewer features but if you are looking at a machine with an advanced feature, you have to go for one between the price range of $200 and $300. Advanced sewers and quilters may want something more advanced with a high number of stitches, touchscreens, software downloads and digitalized features. This kind of machine can cost between $300 and $500. Some models cost as much as $1,000.
back to menu ↑Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a combination sewing machine?
A combination sewing machine comes with extra features that make it perform two functions. You will find combination sewing machines that either do embroider and quilt or sew and embroider. Brother has them in different models. Such machines have plenty of stitch options to perform different tasks than basic sewing machines.
How should a sewing machine be maintained?
The two worst enemies of a sewing machine are lint and dust. Always ensure the machine is well covered when not in use. After every task, make sure you wipe it down and clean up stubborn lint hanging around the bobbin, holes and needle sections. Purchase a can of compressed air to blow off difficult-to-remove lint. Check the owner’s manual to find out how frequently the sewing machine should be oiled. Always use the right oil because it is clear and won’t stain your fabric.
back to menu ↑Conclusion
Choosing a Brother sewing machine can be a hard task if you are purchasing one for the first time. But you don’t have to worry because our recommendation will guide you right. If you are a beginner, you can start with a mechanical sewing machine like the Brother XM2701. Its 27 built-in stitches will expand your level of creativity. But if you are an intermediate or experienced sewer, we recommended the Brother XR9550PRW.
