The Best Sewing Machine for the Budget-minded
Brother sewing machines have always been known for their affordability, ease of use, and great quality relative to the price. That’s what made them one of the most respect and profitable sewing machine brands out there.
This machine, the Brother XM2701 exemplifies that ideal – it comes with a lot of great functions built-in, it works well, yet it costs next to nothing. If you’re looking for a sewing machine on an extremely limited budget, this might be the right one.
But, which features does the Brother XM2701 have? Is it any good?
If you want to find out about everything it has to offer, keep reading and find out about all its features as well as what’s good and bad in my full Brother XDM2701 review!
The Brother XM2701 at a Glance
If you want to take a quick look at how the Brother XM2701 sewing machine performs, look no further than this chart.
If you want to learn more about it, read on to get to my full Brother XM2701 review.
The Top Features of The Brother XM2701
Sewing machines these days are incredibly complicated and loaded with an unimaginable amount of features. To help you parse through them all, I’ll put a spotlight on the most important ones.
27 Unique Built-in Stitches
While this might not seem like a lot, the 27 built-in stitches provided with this machine are more than enough for most projects, and it includes all the basics. There are decorative, zigzag, stretch, quilting and blind hem stitches as well as others.
The machine also features 63 stitch functions, further enhancing its versatility and making it great for pros as well.
6 Quick-change Sewing Feet
This machine comes with 6 different sewing feet, which are easy to change and require no screws. The feet included are a button sewing foot, a buttonhole foot, a blind stitch foot, a zigzag foot, a zipper foot, and a narrow hem foot.
Built-in Easy Needle Threader
Threading the needle has never been easier – with this automatic system, you only need to push a lever on the side of the machine and the thread will be pushed through the needle.
1-step Auto-sized Buttonholes
The built-in buttonholer allows you to create buttonholes easier than ever as you only have to place it in the right spot and use it. Even your child can use it!
The Other Features of the Brother XM2701
This is not everything the Brother XM2701 sewing machine has to offer – here are some of its more underrated features:
- Free Arm
- Drop-in top bobbin
- LED light for the work area
- 25-year limited warranty
- Built-in storage compartment
- Foot pedal
My Full, Unabridged Brother XM2701 Review
The first thing that sticks out about the Brother XM2701 is definitely the price point. It’s incredibly affordable, and you’ll rarely find a fully-featured sewing machine at this price.
However, that can also raise some concerns with customers, and it sure did with me! Can it work as a real sewing machine? Is it just an overpriced toy? Will it break apart after a few days?
Luckily, none of that is true, and this machine surprised me quite a bit. Yes, it’s a real sewing machine with most of the features that you would expect it to have.
It has a total of 27 built-in stitches, including most of the favorites and it’s definitely enough for most basic sewing work and more than enough for beginners. There’s also plenty of stitch functions included, over 60.
Another surprise came from the strength of the machine. Sure, it’s not a heavy-duty sewing machine by any means, but for its price and size, it was incredibly capable. It’s even able to do quilting, which I didn’t expect. It’s quiet as well.
The only thing it can’t do is embroidery, but it doesn’t claim to be able to do it, and I didn’t expect it anyway.
It’s a relatively tiny machine, and it’s fairly light so it’s definitely easy to carry it around to sewing class or wherever else you might want to take it.
Sadly, it doesn’t come with a carrying case – or any other notable extras, like a cover or extra parts and so on. What’s fair is fair, that’s what you get for the basic, affordable price.
However, for a little bit extra you can get a version with a carrying case included, if that’s something you need to have.
Besides that, it also has a free arm, allowing you to work on many different projects and adding even more versatility to it. It easily tolerates common beginner mistakes as well.
There’s a built-in storage compartment too, but don’t expect it to hold too much since this is a small machine. At most, you can fit in a bobbin and a few needles in there, which is still good.
Since this is not a computerized sewing machine, you will need to use the foot pedal to operate it and manage the speed. This can be a bit difficult to do at first, but you’ll get the hang of it quickly.
This machine can reach incredible speeds too – up to 800 stitches per minute at maximum speed. That’s close to some commercial sewing machines, and it’s nothing to sniff at, especially since it has the strength to back it up.
The pedal is not the greatest though, and it tends to move around. You can fix it in place with something like double sided duct-tape, but that’s not the ideal solution.
Besides that, the only other major problem I found with this machine was the automatic needle threader. It’s supposed to make your life easier and allow you to thread the needle with just the press of one lever – great, right?
Well, it is – when it manages to hit the needle. Most of the time it will miss, and you’ll probably be able to thread it faster if you just did it by hand, even if you miss a few times. It’s just a shame.
Overall, I’d still call it a good machine, and for the price, it’s simply amazing. If you’re a beginner and you want something to start with, this is a great choice – affordable, fully featured, and reliable.
It even comes with good instructions, something that’s necessary for a sewing machine for beginners.
It’s also a great machine for those on a budget or those who want a smaller, more portable sewing machine. It will fit you well even if you’re more experienced.
The Pros and Cons of The Brother XM2701 Sewing Machine
If you want a quick overview of what I think about the Brother XM2701, here’s a quick summary:
Pros
- An extremely affordable price point
- Small and portable
- Easy to use
- Comes with a lot of built-in stitches
- Surprisingly strong for its size
- Works quietly
Cons
- It doesn’t come with any notable accessories
- The automatic needle threader is not easy to use
- The food pedal can slide around
The Conclusion
So, when all is said and done, what are my final thoughts on the Brother XM2701? Do I think it’s worth buying?
Well, this is just my opinion, but yes, I do think it’s worth the money – but you will have to take in all the info I provided and decide if it’s right for you.
As far as I’m concerned, its price-to-quality ratio is almost unequaled and if you need to get a machine on a budget, this is probably the best you’re going to get for this price.
It’s also a great machine for beginners – if you want to get a sewing machine for kids, this is a good choice.
Sure, it’s not perfect, but it’s the best sewing machine you can get for this price.
What do you think? Do you feel like the Brother XM2701 might be the sewing machine for you? Share your opinions in the comments below and ask me any questions you might have – I’ll answer as soon as possible.
I hope to see you again next time and, until then, sew some great stuff!
I am having trouble with this machine. When I try to sew just a straight line, the thread keeps bunching up under the material. I keep adjusting the tension and I have checked the bobbin and rethread the needle three times.
Dear Irene,
I’m so sorry you had a bad experience with Brother XM2701 but don’t worry. I have researched the issue and found out it’s pretty common.
Try:
I also found this video that might help you!
Have a wonderful day and stay safe.
Love, Mary.
Hi Mary, purchasing a budget friendly machine like the Singer 3337 or the Brother XM2701. I haven’t sewn in years. Looking to do clothing including denim and home projects, maybe even some leather.
The Singer looks simpler to use and advertises a metal frame for more durability and has a handle.
But the brother has more stitches, more accessories like 6 feet (like narrow hem) and twin needles but the LED light and needle threader are problems.
I remember having horrible issues with the tension, which ended my sewing hobby so trying to avoid that.
What is your opinion about which of these machines would be a better choice for me?
Dear Kathi,
Thank you for your comment and for asking for my opinion.
Both sewing machines make a great choice for beginners. Singer 3337 provides high-quality work, with a wide range of features at your disposal.
What I like most about this unit is the Sew East Foot. It is a dream-come-true for beginners.
If you want a budget-friendly sewing machine loaded with useful features, this model might be right for you. However, some buyers claim that it is not the most durable unit out there.
As you said yourself, Brother XM2701 has more stitches and more accessories. It is portable, easy to use, operates quietly, and surprisingly strong for its size.
It is also the most popular than the 3337 model. However, some buyers complain about poor design and dim light. If I were you, I would go with the Singer 3337 sewing machine.
I think that you won’t experience tension problems with this machine. Also, it comes with a handle and a metal frame for durability.
Hopefully, my brief review can help you make the right choice.
Love, Mary.
Wondering if this machine, Brother XM 2701, will be able to handle working on denim. I have several pairs of wrangler jeans that need fixing including stitching across the existing seams.
Dear Karen,
Thank you for your comment.
Yes, the XM 2701 will hem denim. However, use a larger needle to sew denim. Size 16 needle should work well when sewing thick fabric like denim.
Love, Mary.
Hi, Great review blog! Such a helpful heart…thank you! Helped me a lot to make a decision. Could you please also add to the notes for the benefit of beginners like me what other accessories would be good to buy along with a sewing machine or in general? Once again, A BIG thank you!
Dear Esther, I am so glad that my review helped you in your decision. This is a really good sewing machine for beginners. As for additional accessories, I would mention presser feet. They are a vital factor to sewing; a buttonhole foot, zipper foot, and hem foot will also be important if your plan is to make clothing, for example. Patchwork quilting will require a walking foot, and a freehand foot will be necessary for doing any embroidery. You will want to make sure an assortment is included with your machine, or that they can be purchased separately and at a decent price. If you plan to use an assortment of feet, also check if your machine includes Snap-On feet. These make switching back and forth between feet quick and easy. However, most of these accessories come with the Brother XM2701 sewing machine, so you do not have to spend extra money on buying accessories. However, if you want to complete complex projects in the future, you might need to purchase something extra.
Happy sewing, Mary!