Brother XL2230 31-Stitch Function Free-Arm Sewing Machine with 11 Built-In Stitches
by Brother
List Price:
Our Price: $147.90
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Category: Art and Craft Supply
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: BrotherBrand: Brother
Edition: Kitchen
Model: XL2230
Color: White
Publisher: Brother
Studio: Brother
Music Label: Brother
Product features:
- 31 stitch functions for straight; zigzag; satin; stretch; blind-hem; and elastic stitches
- Automatic 4-step buttonhole fast; exact holing
- Built-in needle threader eliminates squinting and eyestrain
- Drop-in bobbin for faster spooling and more productivity; lightweight and compact; built-in handle for easy portability
- 25-year limited warranty
- Brother Intl YELLOW TONER CARTRIDGE ( TN04Y )
- Brother Intl CYAN TONER CARTRIDGE ( TN04C )
- Brother Intl MAGENTA TONER CARTRIDGE ( TN04M )
- Universal 21200 500-Sheet Bulk Multipurpose Copy Paper (White)
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Brother XL2230 31-Stitch Function Free-Arm Sewing Machine with 11 Built-In Stitches
Customer Review: Small & robust but reports of thread tension problems are true
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm a novice sewist who only likes to do fast and easy (weekend) projects. So far, I've made a pair of sleep shorts with elastic; hemmed jeans; fitted baggy t-shirts; and essentially played around with the machine. My father also hemmed a bunch of draperies for my sister's condo and he seemed to like the machine quite a bit.
PROS
- good number of basic accessories, incl. zipper foot, narrow hem foot, blind hem foot, a few extra needles, one twin needle, three plastic bobbins, extra spool pin, plastic darning plate and screwdriver. Zig zag foot was already installed when I received the unit. All the feet are metal except for a clear plastic "button sewing foot."
- "free arm" feature is handy
- seems solid enough. I don't mind the plastic, keeps the price down and makes it easier to carry.
- also like that it doesn't need much space to store. I made a cover for it w/ approx. measurements 17"x13"x6" --can easily carry w/ one hand due to integrated handle.
- foot can be raised about 3/4"
- a coin instead of screw driver can be used to tighten needle holder. You could use your fingers, but the screw is small.
- handles denim relatively easily, even six layers at a folded hem. keep the back of the foot lifted with a piece of wadded cloth or tilt it carefully with your finger.
- robust feed dogs. In fact, I can't imagine using this for sheer cloth, might stretch apart
CONS
- louder than I expected from reviews
- no quilting feet are included (I don't mind, given you get a lot of other accessories, but some might)
- there isn't much space on the right side of the foot if you need to pass your project "through" the machine
- threader only seems to work for size 11 and 14 needles; it's okay, I keep a wire needle threader on the side for jeans needles
- selection dial feels fragile. Might break under heavy use
- no setting to have the needle automatically stay up or down when you stop sewing. You'll need to manually turn the (too small) handwheel. Might not be that great for people with arthritis
- foot pedal is best operated barefoot to get the most finesse. It has little middle range and likes to go at 80mph on the least provocation.
POTENTIAL THREAD TENSION PROBLEMS
This machine is indeed "tempramental," as another reviewer put it. If you have tension problems:
- metal class 15 bobbins seem to work a little better than plastic when dealing with finicky tension problems, but then you lose the advantage of being able to see your bobbin thread levels. The manual continually harps on using the correct bobbins though, so remember: do as the manual says and not as I do. :)
- the tension screw for the bobbin appears to be locked in place with a dab of green enamel paint, so you can't mess with it.
- be sure that the bobbin thread is properly threaded under and through a small metal tab under the plastic guide. If you take the bobbin case out, you'll see the metal tab.
- be sure you're threading with the presser foot up
- give the upper thread a gentle tug as you thread through point 2 (near the top of the machine) to make sure the thread "seats" itself between the tension discs
- rethread the upper all over again
Once the tension's been resolved, this machine sews beautifully...until it doesn't...but so far mostly good. I'm not very experienced, so it could be that I wasn't following proper threading procedure previously--but it does seem my grandmother's ancient White sewing machine was forgiving compared to this one.
OVERALL:
Buy if the machine is on sale for cheap; you expect to use a straight stitch most of the time, as the tensioning problems won't be as obvious if they happen; you don't need to sew sheer cloth; you're okay with troubleshooting potentially frequent thread tension problems; you want a light machine with a good number of accessories that can handle denim. I think it's a contender for around one hundred-ish dollars. (I got it for somewhat less than that during one of Amazon's Gold Box deals.) Best of luck to those who choose this machine--you may need it!
More Brother XL2230 31-Stitch Function Free-Arm Sewing Machine with 11 Built-In Stitches reviews:
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Description of Brother XL2230 31-Stitch Function Free-Arm Sewing Machine with 11 Built-In Stitches
Brother's XL2230 is a 31 stitch function free-arm sewing machine. The built in stitches include straight, zig-zag, satin, stretch stitches, blind hem stitch, and elastic stitch. This machine has an automatic 4 step buttonhole for great buttonholes every time. The XL2230 has an easy threading system with a built in needle threader and a drop in bobbin. The stitch length and width are automatically set for each stitch so all of the built-in stitches come out perfectly. The presser feet are also easy to change with Brother's snap on design. You can quickly and easily set up your machine for any of the built in stitches. The XL2230 is lightweight and compact with a built-in handle for portability. Manufacturer's note:
Accessories are housed in free arm of machine.
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