Like the Brother XM1010, the ST371HD is an electric sewing machine meant for everyday mending and stitching. However, it is enhanced with a stronger body, which makes it stronger and more stringent than the XM1010, but it also means that it requires more dexterity to operate.
The good thing about it is that it is affordable and comes with 37 built-in stitches, which is pretty decent for an electric machine.
This Brother ST371HD sewing machine review takes a closer look at this unit’s features and shows what makes it stronger and tougher.
Features of the Brother ST371HD Sewing Machine
Versatile
This unit is convenient in terms of the types of fabrics that it can work on. If most of your sewing projects are centered on heavy-duty fabrics, this machine is up to the task. Therefore, whether you are into stitching denim, leather, or canvas, you can comfortably use this machine to finish the task.
Similarly, it can handle lighter fabrics such as silk, making it very practical for a person who prefers using a single machine for everything.
This versatility is made possible by its powerful motor and versatile needle set. Its motor gives it a top speed of 800 stitches per minute, which shows that it also has the power to drive needles through tough fabrics with ease.
The machine’s needle set varies from #11 needles, which are ideal for lightweight fabrics, #14 needles for sewing layers of fabric, and #16 needles, which are good for punching through denim, leather, and other tough fabrics.
Heavy-duty construction
If this sewing machine can handle tough fabrics, it should also be tough itself, and luckily, this is true. The unit has a strong metal frame designed to hold every component in place for skip-free sewing.
It also has a metallic needle plate that protects the threading mechanism on the lower end (from the bobbin) from damage and ensures that the thread pickup speed is maintained even as the machine ages.
Easy to use
It may look tough and act tough, but this machine is easy to use. All of its 37 stitches are printed on the front right panel of the unit to serve as a reference guide for starters.
The machine has a stitch selector dial, which scrolls through the stitch numbers as they are displayed live through a small window above the stitch drawings. This setup makes it very easy to select a specific stitch, which could have been otherwise tough with a dial alone.
PROS
- Affordable.
- Very versatile.
- Heavy-duty construction.
- Easy to use.
- Drop feed for free-motion sewing.
- Quick-set top drop-in bobbin with a transparent case.
- Free arm.
- Built-in handle for easy carrying.
CONS
- No string tensioning feature.
- Work area lights are not very bright.
Final Verdict
If you are the jack of all trades in sewing and mending any fabric, this machine is probably the best you can get. Versatility is its biggest strength, and it is also what makes it stand out from the rest.
This is supported by its heavy-duty frame, making it capable of holding itself together when the tough fabrics come along.