The Brother XM2701 is the best cheap sewing machine you can buy if you sew repairs, hems and simple clothes. It's also Amazon's top-selling sewing machine: 5,000 bought in the past month and a 4.6-star average from 19,262 ratings on October 3, 2026. Skip it if you plan to quilt anything bigger than a baby quilt or sew canvas and leather every week. For quilting, the CS7000X is worth the extra money.
This is a spec review. It's built from Brother's product page and operation manual, the included-accessories sheet and the Amazon listing, all read on October 3, 2026. We did not sew on an XM2701 for this review and we don't quote owners we can't link to. How we research.
The short version
| Buy it if | You want a first machine, a backup machine, or one for repairs, hems and simple garments |
|---|---|
| Skip it if | You'll quilt regularly, sew heavy layers often, or want satin stitches wider than 5 mm |
| Brother status | Current ("New" in Brother's product data, checked Oct 3, 2026) |
| Amazon | #1 in Sewing Machines on the listing; 5,000 bought last month; 4.6 stars from 19,262 ratings |
Brother XM2701
A mechanical, dial-controlled machine with the two conveniences that usually cost more: a lever needle threader and a buttonhole that sizes itself to the button. It has a free arm, a drop-in top bobbin with a clear cover and an LED work light. Brother backs it with a 25-year limited warranty and free technical support for the life of the machine, according to Brother's page and the listing.
- Stitches27 (63 stitch functions)
- Buttonhole1 one-step auto-size
- Threaderautomatic
- Max stitch length / width4 mm / 5 mm
- Max speed800 spm
- Feet6
- Warranty25-year limited
Why it stands out
- Automatic threader and one-step buttonhole at this price
- Separate stitch length and width dials
- Huge owner base, so tutorials and answers are easy to find
Think twice if
- You want a wide table or quilting feet in the box
- You need speed control or needle up/down
Verified specs
| Spec | XM2701 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in stitches | 27, including one one-step auto-size buttonhole (63 stitch functions) | Brother product page |
| Stitch length / width | Up to 4 mm / up to 5 mm, set with two dials | Brother product page; operation manual |
| Stitch selection | Dial | Brother product page |
| Max speed | 800 stitches per minute | Brother product page |
| Needle threader | Automatic (lever) | Brother product page |
| Bobbin | Drop-in top, SA156 (Class 15 type, 11.5 mm) | Manual; accessory sheet |
| Feed dogs | 6-point | Brother product page |
| Light | LED | Brother product page |
| Start/stop, speed slider, needle up/down | None | Brother product page |
| Size | 15.3 x 5.9 x 12.1 in | Brother product page |
| Feet in box | Zigzag "J", buttonhole "A", zipper "I", button sewing "M", blind stitch, narrow hemmer | Included-accessories sheet |
| Also in box | 4 bobbins, 3 needles (90/14), twin needle, darning plate, extra spool pin, screwdriver, foot controller | Included-accessories sheet |
| Warranty | 25-year limited | Brother product page |
What it does well
Threading and buttonholes, the two classic beginner snags
The automatic needle threader pushes thread through the needle eye with a lever, which saves squinting on every thread change. The buttonhole foot holds the button and the machine sews a buttonhole to fit in one pass, controlled by a buttonhole lever. Brother's cheaper LX3817 does both by hand; our XM2701 vs LX3817 comparison shows the difference. Threading it for the first time? Follow our Brother threading guide, built from the XM2701 manual.
Real dials for length and width
Stitch length goes to 4 mm and width to 5 mm on separate dials. That's enough to lengthen a straight stitch for topstitching and to set a zigzag that finishes raw seam edges. Turning the length dial into its stretch range changes the pattern to a stretch stitch, per the manual.
Free arm for sleeves and hems
Slide off the flat bed attachment (it doubles as the accessory compartment) and a sleeve or pant leg fits around the arm. Hemming jeans and kids' clothes is the kind of everyday job this machine gets bought for.
Its real limits
Every one of these comes from the spec sheet, not from guessing.
- No speed control. There's no start/stop button or speed slider, so the foot controller alone sets the pace. New sewers who are nervous about speed should practice slow, steady pressure.
- No needle up/down. You turn the handwheel toward you to park the needle in the fabric before pivoting at a corner.
- 5 mm maximum width. Satin stitches and decorative stitches stay narrow. The XM3700 and GX37 go to 7 mm.
- No wide table or quilting feet. It pieces quilt blocks fine. Quilting a large quilt on it is a struggle. The manual lists the SA107 walking foot as an optional accessory; see our walking foot guide.
- It isn't a heavy-duty machine. The manual's chart covers denim with a 90/14 to 100/16 needle and warns that thread of weight 20 or lower may cause a malfunction, which rules out heavy topstitching thread.
Common XM2701 problems and what the manual says
The XM2701 is mechanical and has no error codes. When something goes wrong, the manual's troubleshooting table almost always points to threading, the bobbin or the needle first. Here are the main ones in plain words:
| Symptom | First things the manual tells you to check |
|---|---|
| Machine doesn't run | Main power switch on; bobbin-winder shaft pushed back to the left; foot controller plugged in |
| Needle breaks | Needle installed correctly and the clamp screw tight; needle not bent or blunt; right needle for the fabric; not pulling the fabric |
| Upper thread breaks | Upper threading (spool fitted properly, thread in the guide above the needle); knots in the thread; tension too tight |
| Lower thread tangled or breaking | Bobbin wound and set properly; a bobbin designed for this machine; tangles cleaned out of the race |
| Wrong tension | Upper threading, bobbin setting, thread and needle combination, presser foot holder attached |
If the thread loops and bunches under the fabric, start with our bobbin thread bunching guide. If you also own a computerized Brother that shows E codes, our Brother error code guide covers those. The manual says to contact the retailer or an authorized service center for anything past these checks, such as a scratched bobbin case or needle plate.
Should you spend more?
| If you want… | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wider decorative stitches | Brother XM3700 | 37 stitches, 7 mm width per Brother |
| More buttonhole styles and an LCD | Brother CS5055 | 60 stitches, 7 one-step buttonhole styles |
| To quilt | Brother CS7000X | Walking foot, 1/4" foot and a wide table in the box |
| Something simpler | Brother LX3817 | Not worth it unless clearly cheaper; see our comparison |
The full range, including discontinued models like the CS6000i, is in our Brother sewing machine comparison chart. For a brand-neutral shortlist, see the best sewing machine for beginners, and to compare it with lighter machines, see portable sewing machines.
Worth adding to the cart
- Brother SA156 bobbins (10-pack), the bobbin the manual specifies. Four come in the box.
- Schmetz universal needles, size 80/12 for everyday cottons. The box only has three 90/14 needles.
- Ball point needles for knits. The manual recommends a ball point needle for stretch fabrics.
Our sewing machine accessories guide lists more extras that fit the XM2701, from SA156 bobbins to snap-on feet. If it will travel, note that the machine is about 12 inches tall; these sewing machine cases are measured against it.
Our take
For a first machine, or a second machine that lives out for quick repairs, the XM2701 is hard to beat on paper. You get the features that make sewing less fiddly, a 25-year limited warranty, and the largest owner community of any machine we track. The moment quilts or heavy fabrics become the main thing you sew, put the money toward a CS7000X instead.
Sources: Brother XM2701 product page; operation manual and included-accessories sheet on support.brother.com (the manual covers several related models); Amazon listing and search results. All checked October 3, 2026. How we research · Affiliate disclosure