Brother JX2517 Review - Sewing Machine Review

Brother JX2517 is not a great beginners machine. Better alternatives from Brother are available at lower prices.

Brother JX2517 Sewing Machine Features

17 built-in stitches
Automatic 4-step buttonhole
Free arm
Drop-in bobbin system

Brother JX2517 Review

Sewing Machine Reviews Recommendation Level : LOW

Brother JX2517 is a beginners sewing machine. This sewing machine belongs to the low cost category. It comes with 17 built-in utility and decorative stitches. The buttonhole is automatic but it is 4-step, which is kind of a difficulty for beginners. 1-step buttonhole is always better for beginners. It features a top drop-in bobbin. The work area is illuminated by LED bulbs. This machine is free arm capable, so you can easily sew cuffs and sleeves. There is an automatic bobbin winding system as well.

Stitch selection on Brother JX2517 is done using a dial, as it is a mechanical sewing machine. This machine can sew at a maximum speed of 900 stitches/minute. You will get 4 standard presser feet and a variety of accessories along with this machine. You can do free motion on this machine. It comes with 25 year limited warranty, which is pretty much the standard for all sewing machines sold in United States.

Usability

Brother JX2517 is a beautiful machine with all those decorations on the front. But beauty is not really something that we will look for, we want quality in a machine. Let us see whether it lives up to the quality that Brother sewing machines generally have.

In general, Brother JX2517 doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of a high end beginner machine. I have mixed feelings about this machine. Even though it has good features for a beginner, the ease of use is not of high standard. There has been some issues with the fabric getting stuck while sewing. I can’t completely say that all the machines of this particular model can have such issues, but the one I tested certainly had such an issue.

Limitations

In addition to the above said issue, some users have reported bobbin and thread breaking issues. Being lightweight, the machine becomes unstable when sewing with thick fabrics like denim.

Pros

Lightweight
Inexpensive

Cons

Thread jamming
Bobbin issues
Struggles with fabrics like denim

Verdict

Here, I am not trying to convince you to buy this machine, my duty is to give you an impartial and honest review on a sewing machine. To this date, I have been performing this job with all honesty and integrity. So, my verdict on Brother JX2517 is, not great. It is not a poor machine, but it is not good either.

If you are on a budget, I think you will be better of going with Brother XL2600I which has more number of built-in stitches and features a 1-step buttonhole. The highlight of this machine is that it costs lesser than Brother JX2517. It ranks 2nd in the list of “Best Sewing Machines Under $200′ published by Sewing Machine Reviews.

If you want a real good beginners machine and you have few more dollars to spend, you will be better of buying Brother CS6000i. It is one of the best beginners machine you can get. It ranks 1st in the list of “Best Sewing Machines Under $200′.