Brother XR3774 Review In Detail

Brother XR3774 is a mechanical beginners sewing machine. It comes with 37 built-in stitches which includes one 1-step buttonhole. A total of 74 stitch functions are available on this machine. Now you know where the model number comes from (37 built-in stitches and 74 stitch functions, so it becomes XR '37' '74'). The stitch selection is done by turning the dial. The machine features an automatic needle threader, which is a blessing for beginners. The drop-in bobbin with a clear cover is something that beginners will always love (With clear cover, you can always keep an eye on the bobbin thread supply). The maximum stitch width is 5mm and length is 4mm. You can use XR3774 for free motion quilting as well (but with darning plate). A free motion quilting foot is also provided.

Brother XR3774 has free arm for sewing cylindrical areas. You can easily remove the flat bed attachment containing the storage compartment, to access free arm. The thread tension can be adjusted easily by dial. A manual thread cutter is provided on the left hand side of the machine. The reverse sewing lever is of decent size and it is easy to engage.

Brother XR3774 is a lightweight sewing machine. It just weighs 12.3 lbs. So if you have plans to take this to sewing classes, it will be easy to carry. A sewing light is provided for working in the dark. It illuminates the work space quite well. The motor which is capable of delivering 800 stitches/min is more than enough for a beginner. The machine comes with an extra wide quilting table as well. The wide table is a huge blessing while working with large projects. The extra space is always welcome. The accessory package that comes with this machine is pretty impressive as well. The package includes 8 sewing feet. The machine comes with 25 year limited warranty. It comes with a dust cover as well.

Ease of Use

Even though XR3774 is a beginners machine, it comes with enough features so that you can grow your creativity to a certain extent. There are some good looking decorative stitches on offer. Setting up is pretty easy, even if you haven't used a sewing machine before. The quick start guide will get you rolling. You will also get an instructional DVD which is really helpful. There is nothing confusing about this machine. The machine is easy to sew, you don't need to adjust the tension every now and then and the stitch quality remains consistent throughout. However you are recommended to fine tune the tension, when you switch between fabrics of different thickness.

I have sewn 4 layers of denim on this machine and the stitches were consistent and good looking. Even though it is a lightweight machine, the build quality is quite good. Most of the external parts are made of plastic but the internal parts are all metal. Brother XR3774 is relatively quiet when compared to other machines in the same category. One commendable thing about this machine is the quality of its foot pedal. It is responsive and it is effortless to control the sewing speed. It seems to have the right amount of tension, so that you get a feeling that you are in control all the time. 

Drawbacks

There is no option to drop feed dogs. So if you want to do free-motion works, you will have to use a darning plate (included) that covers the feed dogs.

Pros

•    Lightweight
•    Variety of features
•    Easy to use
•    Free arm

Cons

•    No drop feed dog option

Review Verdict

Brother XR3774 has got all the basics covered, as far as a beginner is concerned. It has good variety of stitches, good features and it has good stitch quality. This is a machine that you can use every day with consistent results.