Brother ST371HD: 37 Built-in Stitches: Full Review

The Brother ST371HD is an affordable, feature-packed sewing machine that's suitable for beginners and experienced sewers alike. This versatile machine offers 37 built-in stitches, a one-step auto-size buttonhole, and 6 included presser feet to handle a wide range of sewing projects.

With a heavy-duty metal interior frame and powerful motor, the Brother ST371HD can sew through multiple layers of fabric with ease. It has an automatic needle threader, top drop-in bobbin, and adjustable sewing speed to simplify set up and operation. The free arm allows sewing cylindrical pieces like pant legs and sleeves.

Overall, the Brother ST371HD combines user-friendly features, excellent stitch quality, and durable construction into a high-value sewing machine for the money. This review will take a deeper look at the key features and performance to help you decide if it's the right choice for your needs.

Design & Build Quality

The Brother ST371HD is a very solidly built sewing machine made of durable plastic housing. The machine weighs about 15 pounds, giving it a sturdy feel that stays put on your sewing table without vibrating or moving around.

The plastic used for the body and parts feels thick and sturdy. There are no flimsy parts that bend or flex. Everything fits together tightly with no gaps or spaces, giving an overall impression of good manufacturing quality.

The metal interior framework adds strength and durability to the machine. The interior metal parts all have a nicely finished chrome coating that gives them a quality appearance.

Overall, the Brother ST371HD has excellent build quality with high-grade plastics and metals that should hold up well under regular home sewing use. The construction inspires confidence in the machine's longevity.

Another great option from Brother is the Brother XR3774: 37 Built-in Stitches. This model features 37 built-in stitches, providing a wide range of options for various sewing projects. It is praised for its user-friendly design and versatility, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced sewers. With its robust construction and an array of accessories, the Brother XR3774 is a reliable choice for anyone looking to enhance their sewing experience.

Stitches & Sewing Features

The Brother ST371HD comes with 37 built-in stitches, including 6 one-step auto-size buttonhole styles and a one-step auto-size button fitting foot to help you get perfect buttonholes easily.

It has stitches for basic sewing like straight stitch, zigzag, and blind hem. It also includes decorative stitches like scallop, smocking, shell tuck, heirloom, and drawnwork.

The 6 included sewing feet provide the ability to do a wide variety of techniques. You get a zipper foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, blind stitch foot, zigzag foot, and overcasting foot right in the box.

Some key features include:

• Variable speed control for setting the maximum sewing speed
• Drop feed for free-motion quilting and embroidery
• Adjustable presser foot pressure for different fabric types
• Built-in thread cutter for quick trimming

Overall, the stitch selection provides versatility for sewing, quilting, crafts, home decor, clothing construction, and more.

For more advanced users and additional functionality, consider the Brother: 70 Built-in Stitches model. This model includes 70 built-in stitches, providing even greater versatility and options for creative projects. Its extra features make it an excellent choice for those who want to tackle more intricate and diverse sewing tasks.

Included Accessories

The Brother ST371HD comes with several handy accessories right in the box, so you can start sewing projects right away.

It includes 6 different presser feet for various techniques: - Zigzag foot - Zipper foot - Buttonhole foot - Button sewing foot
- Blind stitch foot - Overcasting foot

Having multiple presser feet allows you to sew many types of projects without needing to purchase additional accessories. The zipper, buttonhole, and button feet in particular are essential for sewing clothing, while the zigzag and overcasting feet are great for decorative stitching.

In addition to the presser feet, the machine comes with a pack of needles, 4 bobbins, a seam ripper, screwdriver, spool caps, and more. The screwdriver is useful for changing the presser feet quickly. The spool caps hold threads in place on the spool pins. And the seam ripper helps remove stitching mistakes.

With its included accessories, the ST371HD has everything you need to start sewing right out of the box. The assortment of presser feet covers basic sewing techniques, while the needles, bobbins, and other tools help set up the machine. Having these handy accessories included is a major perk of this model.

Ease of Use

The Brother ST371HD sewing machine is designed to be user-friendly for both beginner and experienced sewers. It has a simple control panel with large dial knobs for stitch selection and stitch length/width adjustment. The LCD display screen is easy to read and shows your selected stitch number, stitch width/length setting, and basic operation icons.

The machine comes with 37 built-in stitches including all the basics like straight, zigzag, and decorative stitches. Switching between stitches is as easy as turning the stitch selection dial. There are no complicated menus or functions to learn. The stitch length and width dials allow you to easily customize your stitches.

Threading the machine is straightforward with easy to follow guides printed right on the machine. There is a one-step auto-size buttonhole function that takes care of sizing buttonholes for you. An automatic needle threader is also included to assist with threading the needle.

The free arm allows for easy sewing of cuffs, sleeves, and pant hems. Overall, the ST371HD is designed for simplicity and ease of use even for those new to sewing. The limited functions mean you can start sewing faster without having to navigate through lots of complicated settings.

Performance

The Brother ST371HD performs quite well for a basic, entry-level sewing machine. It has decent sewing speed and adequate power to handle most common sewing projects.

The maximum sewing speed is 800 stitches per minute, which is on the slower side but sufficient for basic sewing. The motor provides enough power to sew through multiple layers of medium weight fabrics like cotton quilting fabrics and denim. It can handle lightweight and medium weight fabrics with no issues. However, very thick and heavy fabrics like canvas may be more challenging.

The machine sews smoothly through straight stitches and zigzag stitches. It provides good stitch quality on woven and knit fabrics. The feed dogs grip the fabric well for consistent stitch length.

Overall, the performance is quite good for basic sewing and mending on light to medium weight fabrics. The speed and power is limited compared to more advanced sewing machines. But it meets the needs of a beginning sewer learning the basics. More heavy duty projects on thick fabrics may require a more powerful machine.

Noise Level

The Brother ST371HD operates at a reasonable noise level, which is typical for a sewing machine in this class. The motor emits a low-pitched hum that is not irritating, even after prolonged sewing sessions. Some user reviews do mention the machine seems slightly louder than other Brother models, but overall the noise is not excessive.

While sewing, the main source of noise is the mechanical action of the needle and bobbin assembly. At high sewing speeds, there is an audible rhythmic clacking sound as the needle rapidly moves up and down. But this is common for most home sewing machines and not specific to Brother. The noise is only noticeable when sewing without fabric or thread loaded.

The machine does not have an overly loud beeping or buzzing sound when buttons are pressed or alerts activated. Any audible alerts are subtle and not jarring. The foot pedal control allows the machine to start up and vary speed gradually without sudden loud sounds.

Overall, the noise level of the Brother ST371HD is acceptable for home use. It should not disturb others in the same room. The operation sounds are typical for an entry-level computerized sewing machine in this price range. While not the quietest model available, the noise is reasonable and should not deter most users.

Warranty

Brother covers the ST371HD with a 25-year limited warranty. This is an excellent warranty that provides peace of mind for buyers.

The warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship for 25 years from the original purchase date. This covers the mechanical and electronic components, as well as printed circuit boards.

The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, improper use or maintenance, or damage from shipping. Users must provide proof of purchase and purchase date for any warranty claims.

Brother's 25-year warranty shows they stand behind the quality and reliability of this sewing machine. It's reassuring to know the ST371HD is built to last. Most users won't need to make use of the warranty, but it's good protection to have just in case an unlikely defect occurs down the road.

Overall, the extensive 25-year warranty provides confidence in the ST371HD as a worthwhile investment built to withstand years of sewing projects.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 37 built-in stitches including 6 auto-size buttonholes provide versatility for sewing most projects

• Automatic needle threader makes threading easy and frustration-free

• Drop-in top bobbin is simple to insert and monitor thread supply

• Adjustable sewing speed allows you to sew at a comfortable pace

• Free arm for sewing sleeves, pant legs and other cylindrical pieces

• Built-in thread cutter provides added convenience

• Easy-to-read LCD screen displays key settings like stitch type and length/width

• Lightweight and portable for taking to classes or sewing on the go

• 25-year limited warranty provides peace of mind

Cons

• No automatic thread tension or feed dog drop for maximum convenience

• Smaller work area compared to full-sized machines

• Lower maximum sewing speed of 800 stitches per minute

• Limited to 6 included presser feet versus more with other brands

• No knee lift lever to raise the presser foot hands-free

• LCD screen not backlit, making it harder to see in low light

• No extension table included to expand the work surface

Conclusion & Recommendation

Overall, the Brother ST371HD is a great mid-range sewing machine that strikes a nice balance between price and features. It has a sturdy metal interior frame and a variety of included accessories. The 37 built-in stitches provide versatility for both basic and more advanced projects. While not loaded with bells and whistles, it includes several convenient features like the automatic needle threader, top drop-in bobbin, and adjustable sewing speed.

The ST371HD is easy to set up and the controls are intuitive even for beginners. It sews smoothly and quietly on multiple fabric types at up to 850 stitches per minute. The automatic thread cutter is handy for efficiency. It's lightweight and has a free arm for sewing sleeves and cuffs.

In terms of drawbacks, there is no start/stop button and it lacks an extension table. The plastic exterior feels a bit flimsy. There are limited stitch editing capabilities, with only length and width adjustments.

Overall, this Brother sewing machine is a great choice for beginners and intermediate sewers looking for an affordable machine with versatility for sewing most project types. It's easy to use out of the box, sews smoothly, and has handy features not always found at this price point. I would recommend the ST371HD as a worthwhile mid-range sewing machine for home and light duty use. It delivers excellent value without breaking the bank.