Brother XR3774 Review – Pros, Cons, & Comparisons
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While not the snazziest sewing machine out there, the Brother XR3774 is an affordable Brother sewing machine with enough features to get beginners sewing immediately.
It even has enough accessories and functions that more advanced sewing enthusiasts can enjoy. For example, the automated needle threading, easy bobbin winding system, and quick-set, top drop-in bobbin increase ease of use and hair pulling by sewing newbies.
And what’s even better is since the Brother XR3774 sewing machine is not computerized like the Brother CS6000i or HC1850, it comes in at a lower price point and is a lot of bang for your buck.
Read on for my full Brother XR3774 sewing machine review!
Brother XR3774 Features
| Feature | Specs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.0" Width x 5.8" Diameter x 15.3" Height |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs |
| Stitch Length and Width | 5 mm x 7 mm |
| Maximum Sewing Speed | 800 stitches per min (spm) |
| Stitches | 37 stitches (1 automatic one-step buttonhole) |
| Sewing Feet | 8 |
| UL/CSA Listed Voltage | 110V |
| Feed dogs | 6 (must be covered by darning plate for free-motion quilting) |
| Warranty | 25-year limited warranty |
What’s In the Box
Here’s what you’ll find included with the Brother XR3774 if you decide it’s the right sewing machine for you.
- The Brother XR3774 37-stitch sewing machine unit, power cord, and foot controller
- Wide table (great for larger projects such as quilts)
- Accessory pouch including 3-piece needle set, one twin needle, 4 bobbins, extra spool pin, quilting guide, darning plate, and screwdriver
- 8 presser feet
- Soft machine cover
- Instructional DVD and operation manual in both English and Spanish
Included Presser Feet
There are 8 sewing feet included, which is not too shabby for a machine at this price point.
- Zigzag Foot – everyday sewing foot
- Buttonhole Foot – sew the hole for a button
- Button Sewing Foot – attach the button itself
- Walking Foot – feeds top and bottom project layers at the same rate, which is helpful for quilting
- Zipper Foot – sew in a zipper
- Blind Stitch Foot – sew an invisible hem, for instance
- Quilting Foot – works well for free-motion quilting or free-motion embroidery
- Narrow Hemmer Foot – folds a fabric edge over and stitches it flat
If you want additional presser feet, you can purchase universal low-shank presser feet that will be compatible with your machine. I’ve found an overcasting presser foot and 1/4″ quilting foot handy.
Additional Things You Need to Get Started
The machine does not include thread or fabric, so you must purchase your own.
I also hate not having a whole army of pre-threaded bobbins, so I purchased several extra packs.
This machine uses Class 15 type bobbins, specifically SA156. Purchasing Brother brand bobbins is worth it as they are a better fit and quality than third-party universal bobbins.
The soft case will protect your sewing machine from dust or similar items, but you may want to purchase a hard, protective case.You must remove the wide quilting table for storage, but the machine will fit into any universal Brother sewing machine case.
Lastly, if you’re looking to stock your sewing room even further, check out my post about what supplies are in my sewing box.
Buttons and Dials On The Machine: What Do They Do
On top of the machine, three dials manually change the tension, stitch length, and stitch width. This is also where the bobbin is wound and the spool of thread placed.- The right of the machine has the stitches and their corresponding numbers displayed. Stitches can be selected with a dial. Also, on the far right of the machine is the handwheel to move the needle up and down manually.
- A lever on the front of the machine provides the reverse function, which is how you lock stitches at the beginning and end of a line.
- A manual thread cutter is on the left side of the machine; this machine does NOT have an automatic thread cutting function.
- The very back of the machine has a handle molded in plastic to allow for easy lifting and transporting.
On top of the machine, three dials manually How to Get Started on the XR3774 Sewing Machine
While you can start sewing almost immediately, I highly recommend watching the instructional DVD and/or reading the user manual. Many of the mistakes I made as a novice sewer could have easily been prevented had I sat down and learned my machine before diving in.
To see in-depth pictures of how to set up the Brother XR3774 sewing machine, check out my tutorial on how to thread a Brother sewing machine!
More Features Explained
The Automatic Features of the Brother XR3774 Sewing Machine Are Awesome
The machine comes with an automatic needle threader. I’m not in love with my automatic needle threader and find it takes patience to learn. It’s an excellent option to have, though.
What is a Quick-Set Bobbin?
The Brother XR3774 features a quick-set, top drop-in bobbin. Quick-set means you don’t have to worry about drawing up the bobbin thread by hand–the machine does that immediately when it starts sewing.
Brother bobbins are also jam-resistant, which is much easier for beginners. Just note that this doesn’t mean jam-free. It’s still possible–believe me!
Now, my very first sewing machine ever had a front-load bobbin that was very much jam-friendly (pictured above for comparison). I will always buy a jam-resistant, top-drop bobbin from now on.
Another plus is that the bobbin case is clear, so you can monitor how low the thread is getting. The procrastinator in me loves to watch my bobbin thread get dangerously low, at which point I decide I’m done sewing for the night and leave rewinding it until the next sewing adventure.
Quilting With the Brother XR3774
So, the name of this machine is the Brother XR3774 quilting and sewing machine. Does this mean you can quilt with it?
Wellll…this machine is only for basic quilting (rather than hardcore quilting), but it does offer many quilting-friendly features at its price point.
Here are two:
- It has an included detachable wide table for a larger workspace.
- Includes a quilting foot, walking foot, and quilt guide.
However, you’ll find that the throat space isn’t huge, so your project sizes will be limited.
Piecing huge quilts is mostly a non-issue, but adding quilting to a large quilt sandwich is almost impossible. Not to mention, most quilt rulers won’t fit in this space.
Lastly, the feed dogs don’t drop on this machine, and you must use the darning plate to cover them up if you free-motion quilt your own quilts. While this isn’t the end of the world, it can be annoying if you frequently switch between quilting and regular sewing projects.
All that to say, if you plan to be an avid quilter, I recommend buying a better quilting machine or at least a quilting and sewing machine with feed dogs that drop.
Will There Be Enough Light?
An LED light illuminates the workspace for this sewing machine to help those with poor near vision or who just need a little extra help seeing up close.
If you need more light, you can always get an auxiliary light.
As a plus, not having to thread the needle by yourself takes the need to have superhuman vision out of the equation for that aspect of sewing, at least. As an eye doctor, I hear difficulty threading a needle as one of the top 5 near complaints in patients over 40.
What About the Built-in Free Arm?
The built-in free arm appears when the front accessories compartment is removed. This is useful for sewing tubular items such as pants or sleeves. It’s standard on the majority of the most affordable Brother sewing machines. It’s reasonably sized, but if you’re trying to sew hems on doll jeans, it will not cut it.
Is the Foot Pedal Difficult to Use?
I learned to sew on a poor-quality sewing machine with the world’s most sensitive foot controller. It was horrible! I can reassure you the foot pedal for this machine is easier to use and will provide a more constant speed.
More advanced sewing machines like the Brother CS6000i or CS7000X have an optional foot pedal and can be run by pressing the start button and adjusting a slider to set speed. I love having this option on my other sewing machines.
This Is Not a Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
If you’re looking for a machine to sew denim, leather, or other thick fabrics daily, I recommend a heavy-duty sewing machine like the Brother ST150HDH instead.
This Brother XR3774 sewing machine just isn’t made for prolonged heavy-duty sewing, although it will sew through fabric up to 6mm thick if you pick the correct thread and needle and know how to work your machine.
Stretchy fabrics like knits are fair game if you use the correct accessories.
The Warranty Is Decent
The Brother International XR3774 has a 1/2/25-year warranty, meaning that only the chassis, or body of the machine, is covered for 25 years. Depending on the part, the more technical components are only covered for one or two years.
To note, though, Brother does offer phone technical support for the life of the sewing machine.
Main Advantages
- Very affordable Brother sewing machine with lots of presser feet and enough stitches to complete most projects
- Beginner-friendly Brother sewing machine, but still enough functions for more advanced sewers
- Automated functions such as needle threading
Main Disadvantages
- You can’t drop the feed dogs. This makes quilting a bit more of a pain in the rear end to put on the darning plate.
- The bobbin can still be a bit finicky even though it’s jam-resistant.
- The needle threader doesn’t always work. Sometimes, it’s just easier to thread by hand.
If you’re considering several Brother sewing machines and trying to pick the best Brother sewing machine for you, here are a few popular comparisons below.
Brother XR3774 vs. CS6000i
The most significant difference between these two Brother sewing machines is the CS6000i is computerized, whereas the XR3774 is not.
Also, compared to the 37 stitches of the XR3774, the CS6000i offers 60 stitches. It also offers 8 buttonhole stitches compared to just one for the XR3774. Both have ample presser feet options.
The XR3774 cost is about 2/3 the cost of the CS6000i at the time of writing. It’s up to you what you think you will do with your sewing machine to determine if those extra functions are worth the extra money.
Read my full Brother CS6000i sewing machine review to learn more!
Brother XR3774 vs. XM2701
Both Brother machines are beginner-friendly and portable. Neither machine is computerized. Overall, the XR3774 comes with more stitches, presser feet, and accessories. The chart below compares the XR3774 vs. XM2701 number to number:
| Brother XR3774 | Brother XM2701 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stitches | 37 | 27 |
| Presser Feet | 8 | 6 |
| Automatic features: buttonhole, needle threader, bobbin winding | Yes | Yes |
| Free arm | Yes | No |
| Wide table | Yes | No |
Read the in-depth Brother XM2701 review to learn more!
In conclusion: This is a lightweight, affordable Brother sewing machine that caters to beginners. Its automated features are nice, and the large number of presser feet allows beginners to grow their sewing ability. Just don’t forget to read your manual!