Brother XM2701: Functional and Affordable Sewing Machine for Beginners
The Brother XM2701 is an entry-level model to learn dressmaking and sewing for creating and implementing home projects. The item is great for everyday use, being lightweight, easy to set up and adjust. It features mechanical construction and manual operation that newbies can easily understand and use.
Dimensions
The Brother XM2701 is a full-size model suitable for various applications. It measures 15.3 x 5.9 x 12.1 inches and weighs 12.6 pounds. It’s a bit wider than many compact models, providing more working space around the needle. At the same time, the item is small enough to take just a little desk space.
Features
The Brother sewing machine XM2701 is equipped with a standard set of features. It has a LED light to illuminate a working space, a typical foot pedal, a thread cutter, and a free arm to cope with the tube-shaped parts of clothing and other items. The dedicated lever allows making reverse stitches to secure the seams.
The needle is threaded automatically to make one of the 27 offered patterns and sew a button using the 1-step buttonhole holder. Generally, this unit is capable of 63 designs, considering the opportunity to change the stitches’ length and width. Those feeling it challenging to figure out the stitch designs’ applications can refer to the Brother XM2701 manual for detailed instructions. A DVD disk with the instruction video is also in the pack.
I’d like to note that this model provides many patterns for quilting and decorative craftwork to expand the range of available projects. This item’s speed is just 800 SPM, which can be not much for the professionals, but more than enough for the newbies.
The unit works seamlessly without jamming, making even seams. It features an easy start when a user presses the foot pedal. Of course, the buttonholes could be neater, but this is a common issue of the budget models.
The XM2701 works well on various fabrics, but it gets stuck on a couple of layers of jeans. Besides, the spool sometimes bounces on the spool pin when the item operates at full speed. I’d also recommend using a small rug or something like this to prevent the foot pedal from sliding on the floor.
Design
In my Brother XM2701 review, I can’t help but mention the unit’s creative and functional design. It looks attractive thanks to a decorative imitation of painting on the right side of the machine. The legible and self-explanatory markings made on the unit inform about the stitch patterns available. The handwheel underneath serves to choose the necessary stitch. Another handwheel on the side is designed to lift up and lower the needle that has 3 positions. The manual tension control, stitch width, and length regulation are carried out with three dials on the top. This item has a flatbed accessory with a compartment to store the petty stuff.
Conclusion
The Brother XM2701 sewing machine is designed for those with a beginner skill level. It requires manual adjustments that are good to learn how the unit works and how to operate it correctly. Experienced users focused on handmade may also appreciate this model for its affordability and portability. However, professionals will most likely feel the lack of speed and automatic features.