Brother XR3774 Review – Features, Comparisons, Pros & Cons
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The Brother XR3774 full-featured sewing and quilting machine is a great, affordable Brother sewing machine. It has enough options to get any beginner started sewing almost immediately and enough accessories to grow with most sewing enthusiasts.
The automated needle threading coupled with an easy bobbin winding system and a quick-set, top drop-in bobbin cuts down on set-up frustration felt by beginner and more advanced sewers alike.
Since the Brother XR3774 sewing machine is not computerized like the Brother CS6000i or HC1850, this full-size sewing machine comes in at a much lower price point and is a lot of bang for your buck!
Read on for my full Brother XR3774 sewing machine review!
Brother XR3774 Review of 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 Comes 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
Which Presser Feet Are Included With the Brother XR3774?
There are a total of 8 sewing feet included, which is an impressive number for a sewing 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 – also used to facilitate quilting
- 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. At times, an overcasting presser foot or 1/4″ quilting foot may come in handy!
Do I Need Any Other Accessories Before Getting Started?
With countless accessories, all that is really required is thread and fabric.
I 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 will have to remove the wide quilting table, but the machine will fit into any universal Brother sewing machine case.
If you’re looking to stock your sewing room even further, check out my post about what supplies are in my sewing box.
The Buttons and Dials On The Machine
Manual Features: Dials and Buttons
On top of the machine, there are three dials that change the tension, stitch length, and stitch width manually. This is also where the bobbin is wound and the spool of thread is 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 manually move the needle up and down.
A lever on the front of the machine provides the reverse function.
A manual thread cutter is on the left side of the machine.
The very back of the machine has a handle molded in the plastic to allow for easy lifting and transporting.
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 that I made as a novice sewer could have easily been prevented had I sat down and taken the time to get to know 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!
Watch a Brother XR3774 video to see it in action:
Now, here’s my Brother XR3774 sewing machine review!
Now, a little more about my thoughts regarding this machine.
Automatic Features of the Brother XR3774 Sewing Machine Are Awesome
The machine comes with an automatic needle threader and bobbin winding system. This is nice for beginners and experienced users alike. No one likes to waste time setting up the machine when we’d much rather be sewing!
I’m not in love with my automatic needle threader and find it takes patience to learn. It’s a nice option to have, though.
What is a Quick-Set Bobbin?
The Brother XR3774 features a quick-set, top drop-in bobbin.
What quick-set means is that 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.
My very first sewing machine ever had a front-load bobbin that was very much jam-friendly. 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 keep an eye on 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 winding it again until the next sewing adventure.
Can You Quilt with The XR3774 Sewing Machine?
While this machine is only for basic quilting (rather than hardcore quilting), it still offers a ton of quilting-friendly features at its price point.
It comes with a detachable wide table that allows for a larger workspace and also a quilting foot, walking foot, and quilt guide.
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.
As a note, the feed dogs don’t drop on this machine. 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 might be annoying if you frequently switch between quilting and regular sewing projects.
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.
Can the Brother XR3774 Do Embroidery or Monogramming?
This sewing machine is strictly a sewing and quilting machine, so this answer is no. You are limited by the 37 stitches shown on the machine’s side only. You can attempt to do free-motion embroidery though!
If you’re looking for a machine with basic monogramming capabilities, I recommend the Brother HC1850 sewing machine. (Read: HC1850 review.) And if you’re looking for a sewing and embroidery combination machine, check out the Brother SE600 instead (see: SE600 sewing machine review.)
Will There Be Enough Light?
An LED light lights the workspace for this sewing machine to help those of us who have poor near vision or who just need a little extra help seeing up close.
Some Brother XR3774 reviews will mention this is not bright enough, but I have found the light adequate. 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 years old.
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.
What Fabrics Can This Brother XR3774 Machine Sew? Can It Sew Denim or Leather?
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 also fair game if you use the correct accessories.
What is Covered in the 25-Year Limited Warranty?
The warranty for the Brother International XR3774 is a 1/2/25 year warranty, meaning that only the chassis, or body of the machine, is covered for 25 years. T
he more technical components are only covered for either one or two years, depending on the part.
The warranty is also only valid with the original receipt.
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 and bobbin winding
Main Disadvantages
- You can’t drop the feed dogs. This makes quilting a little bit more of a pain in the rear end to have 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 Compared
The biggest 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 though at the time I’m writing this Brother XR3774 review. It’s up to you what you think you will be doing 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 Compared
Both Brother machines are beginner-friendly and portable. Neither machine is computerized.
Overall, the XR3774 just comes with more stitches, more presser, feet, and more 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!
Brother XR3774 Review – Conclusion
This is a lightweight, affordable Brother sewing machine that caters to beginners. Its automated features are nice to have, and the large number of presser feet included gives great room for beginners to grow in their sewing ability.
It’s not meant to be a quilting machine, but it will work well for those who plan to just dabble in quilting.
Overall, as you can see with this Brother XR3774 review, it will be a great machine that will help you, too, to love to sew. Just remember to read the instruction manual before starting!