Brother XM2701: Lightweight Machine, 27 Stitches: Full Review

The Brother XM2701 is an affordable, lightweight sewing machine aimed at beginners and hobbyists. This versatile machine offers a variety of features that make sewing projects accessible for all skill levels.

The XM2701 has 27 built-in stitches including decorative stitches and an auto-size buttonhole function. It comes with 6 different sewing feet to handle projects like hemming, zippers, buttonholes, and more. The machine has a top drop-in bobbin for quick and easy threading.

At under 15 pounds, this Brother model is easy to transport and store. The XM2701 can handle a range of fabrics from lightweight to medium weight. It's a great starter machine for learning to sew or tackling simple alterations, crafts, home decor projects, and more.

Specs & Features

The Brother XM2701 is a lightweight and portable sewing machine that weighs only 12.1 pounds. This makes it easy to transport and store, or even take to sewing classes. Despite its lightweight design, the XM2701 doesn't compromise on features.

The XM2701 has 27 built-in stitches including decorative, quilting, and stretch stitches. It has 6 quick-change sewing feet included for versatility when working on different projects and materials. An automatic needle threader makes threading the needle hassle-free.

Other convenient features include a one-step auto-size buttonhole, jam resistant drop-in top bobbin, free arm, and built-in threading guide. The XM2701 can handle sewing on multiple fabric types including canvas, stretch fabrics, denim, and more.

Additionally, the Brother: 37 Built-in Stitches sewing machine offers even more versatility with its wide array of stitch options. Perfect for both beginners and experienced sewers, this machine includes various decorative, heirloom, and utility stitches. With its user-friendly interface and lightweight design, it's ideal for on-the-go projects and small sewing spaces. A built-in LED light provides clarity for those delicate projects, ensuring precision and accuracy with every stitch.

Stitch Options

The Brother XM2701 comes with 27 built-in stitches, including 6 essential sewing stitches. This gives you flexibility to work on a variety of sewing projects, from basic hemming to more decorative stitching.

It includes the following stitch options:

• 6 Basic Stitches - These include straight stitch, zigzag stitch, blind hem stitch, buttonhole stitch, and 4-step buttonhole stitch. These allow you to handle all your basic sewing, hemming and mending tasks.

• 7 Stretch Stitches - Ideal for sewing on knit fabrics and preventing seams from popping. The options include zigzag stretch stitch, blind hem stretch stitch, tricot stitch and rick rack stitch.

• 14 Decorative Stitches - For embellishing projects with decorative accents. Choose from options like scallop stitch, smocking stitch, feather stitch, pin stitch and more.

The variety of built-in stitches makes the XM2701 a versatile machine for both utility sewing and creative projects. You can tackle projects like clothing construction, crafts, home decor items and everyday mending tasks.

For more advanced sewing needs, check out the Brother: 60 Built-in Stitches. This model expands your creative options with an impressive array of stitches, perfect for complex designs and intricate sewing tasks. Explore its enriched functionalities to elevate your sewing experience, whether you are doing home decor, garment construction, or quilt making.

Included Accessories

The Brother XM2701 comes with a variety of accessories to get you started sewing right out of the box.

Sewing Feet

The machine includes 6 different presser feet for various techniques:

• Zigzag Foot - For sewing zigzag stitches and decorative stitches
• Buttonhole Foot - For making buttonholes
• Zipper Foot - For inserting zippers
• Button Sewing Foot - For attaching buttons
• Blind Stitch Foot - For invisible hems
• Narrow Hemmer Foot - For making narrow rolled hems

Having multiple feet allows you to tackle different projects without having to purchase additional accessories. The feet snap on and off easily for quick changes.

Needles

Several needles are included in various sizes (11/75, 14/90, 16/100). Using the proper needle size prevents skipped stitches, thread breaks, or damage to fabrics.

Bobbins

The XM2701 comes with 3 plastic bobbins so you can wind multiple colors of thread for sewing. The horizontal rotary hook bobbin system makes changing bobbins fast and easy.

Other Accessories

Some other handy accessories provided include a darning plate for free motion quilting, a spool pin felt, seam ripper, screw driver, extra spool pin, 3 piece needle set, twin needle, and 3 bobbins. An instructional DVD is also included to help you learn how to use the machine.

Having all these useful accessories packed in the box makes this an attractive option for beginners who want everything they need to start sewing and experimenting with various techniques.

Ease of Use

The Brother XM2701 is designed with beginners in mind, making it very user-friendly for those new to sewing. Its lightweight and compact size allows it to be easily transported and stored. The top drop-in bobbin is simple to insert and the see-through cover makes monitoring thread levels a breeze.

Threading the machine is straightforward with easy-to-follow guides printed right on the machine. There is an automatic needle threader that does the tricky work of threading the eye of the needle for you. The XM2701 has just one dial that controls stitch length and width in one easy turn.

The instructions that come with the machine clearly explain how to thread the machine, wind the bobbin, select a stitch and start sewing. For those who need a little extra help, there are instructional videos available on the Brother website that walk you through the steps visually. The machine comes with a 25-year limited warranty, so you can feel confident that assistance will be there if any issues come up.

Overall, the intuitive design and included instructions make this sewing machine exceedingly beginner-friendly right out of the box. First-time users will be able to start sewing quickly thanks to its simplicity.

Performance

The Brother XM2701 sewing machine delivers solid performance for the price. It can handle most everyday sewing tasks for beginners and more experienced sewers alike.

The XM2701 has a maximum sewing speed of 800 stitches per minute, which is fairly standard for basic home sewing machines. The motor provides adequate power to sew through multiple layers of fabric. It handles lighter weight fabrics like cottons and linens without issue. The machine can also sew through denim, canvas, and other medium weight fabrics, though you may need to slow it down a bit. It likely won't have enough power for really heavy materials like leather.

Stitch quality is good, with even tension and stitch length. Straight stitches come out nice and straight, while zigzag and decorative stitches have a consistent look. The machine makes neat buttonholes as well. You can adjust stitch length and width settings to customize your stitches. Overall, the stitching capabilities are impressive for a budget-friendly machine.

The XM2701 can handle most general sewing tasks like hemming, mending, crafts, quilting, and simple garment construction. It may struggle a bit with thick seams or large-scale projects. But for typical at-home sewing needs, the XM2701 delivers reliable performance.

Price

The Brother XM2701 sewing machine offers excellent value for money given its features and capabilities. At around $100, it is very competitively priced compared to other entry-level sewing machines. Considering you get 27 built-in stitches, an automatic needle threader, drop-in bobbin, and 6 sewing feet included, this machine provides a lot of functionality for the price.

The lightweight, compact size also makes it a great portable and budget-friendly option. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive heavy duty or computerized sewing machines, the XM2701 delivers reliable performance and versatility. For beginners looking to learn sewing and take on simple projects, it has all the necessary features at a fraction of the cost of higher-end models. Even more experienced sewers find it a great affordable second machine option for travel or quick repairs.

Overall, reviewers and users praise the XM2701 as a great entry-level buy that offers great value without compromising on quality. For those wanting a basic mechanical sewing machine with useful features at a wallet-friendly price, it hits the sweet spot.

Customer Reviews

The Brother XM2701 lightweight sewing machine has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from customers. Many praise its versatility and ease of use, especially for beginners. Customers mention how it sews smoothly and consistently on a variety of fabrics from lightweight cottons to multiple layers of denim.

The variety of included accessories makes this a great value, allowing users to get started sewing many types of projects right away. Customers like that it comes with 6 different presser feet for basic sewing, buttonholes, zippers, blind stitch hems, and more.

Those new to sewing compliment the clear instruction manual and find the machine intuitive to thread and operate. They appreciate the automatic needle threader which makes setup simple. Many mention how quiet the machine runs compared to others.

Some users do note the machine feels lightweight and wish it had a bit more power. A handful of customers experienced issues with thread jamming. A few mentioned wishing it could sew thicker fabrics like leather.

Overall most agree the XM2701 delivers excellent performance for the price. It's a great entry level machine for learning to sew and working on everyday projects. Customers recommend it for home and light duty use. Most say they are very satisfied with their purchase.

Pros & Cons

The Brother XM2701 sewing machine has many excellent features but also some drawbacks compared to higher-end models.

Pros:

• Lightweight and portable at under 15 lbs
• Budget-friendly price point under $100
• 27 built-in stitches including decorative and stretch options
• Automatic needle threader for convenience
• Drop-in top bobbin for quick changing
• Free arm for sewing sleeves and cuffs
• 6 included presser feet for buttons, zippers, etc
• Easy to use and good for beginners
• 25-year limited warranty for peace of mind

Cons:

• May not handle thick fabrics as well as heavier machines
• Limited stitch width and length adjustments
• No automatic thread cutter
• Not computerized so adjustments are manual
• Smaller throat space than wider machines
• LED light but no backlighting for seeing work area
• Louder and more vibration than higher-end models
• Not suitable for heavy-duty or commercial use

Overall, the XM2701 offers outstanding value and versatility for basic sewing and garment construction. It's compact, user-friendly, and budget-friendly. Just be aware it lacks some features and capabilities of more expensive machines.

Conclusion

The Brother XM2701 sewing machine is an excellent choice for beginners and hobbyists looking for a lightweight, portable, and user-friendly machine. With 27 built-in stitches, an automatic needle threader, and 6 included sewing feet, it provides ample functionality without being overly complicated. The easy dial controls and drop-in bobbin make it straightforward to get started sewing quickly.

While it may lack some of the more advanced features of high-end machines, the XM2701 delivers reliable performance and versatility for basic sewing and mending needs. Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller spaces or for taking to sewing classes. The price point is also very affordable, especially for the quality and capabilities provided.

Overall, the Brother XM2701 is highly recommended as an entry-level sewing machine. For those wanting a machine to learn on or use for simple projects, it has everything needed to start sewing and develop skills without breaking the bank. More advanced sewers may want a machine with more stitch options, speed, and workspace, but the XM2701 is perfectly adept for beginners. With proper care and maintenance, it should provide many years of enjoyable sewing.