Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is an excellent sewing machine for beginners. The reason I say this is because of the foot pedal. Usually, you don't get much resistance with a higher model, say a more expensive model from Bernina, but with the Brother there is more than enough tension that you feel as if you're in more control of the needle. I do love that about this machine, but if you have been sewing for many years, you might find this annoying and time consuming. The XR3774 is an extremely well crafted machine. It's pretty lightweight, under 15 pounds. And doesn't suffer from poor build quality. This machine also has beautiful stitch quality. I know, I know, I should've mentioned stitch quality sooner. The XR3774 excels in this area. It covers 37 different stitches. I have not tried them all, and honestly neither will the most advanced sewer just looking to make garments. But if you want to dip into more decorative stitching, such as for quilting, you have some great options here. I have tried the most commonly used from straight to zig-zag and they are just perfect without the need to constantly readjust tension. Nothing is more annoying than having to adjust tension when switching between fabrics on the same garment. The XR3774 handled moving from cotton to satin on a zig-zag stitch without an issue. I am especially pleased with this due to the fact that I was using a pretty worn needle (I'm not ashamed of that) and there was no snagging. The hitting that the machine provided is pretty dang good! The LED is great. I was able to sew in dim light and get a really good view of the nooks of a hidden zipper. Also, the bobbin didn't jam, happens often with cheaper models. Again, if you're buying your first sewing machine, I highly recommended this model. Heck, even if you're looking for a steady work horse, this is a solid choice. I wasn't too familiar with Brother in this category. I have been a Singer/Bernina girl for ages. But this machine has opened my eyes.