Brother XR1300 is a sturdy sewing machine. But new machines are out of stock in most stores. Refurbished ones are not really recommended.

Brother XR1300 Computerized Sewing Machine Features

• 130 built-in stitches
• Automatic needle threader and thread cutter
• Speed control slider
• Programmable needle up/down
• Quilting table

Brother XR1300 Review

Sewing Machine Reviews Recommendation Level : MODERATE

Only buy this machine if new ones are available. I am not a big fan of refurbished sewing machines (I am very picky in that regard), even though you can get them for discounted prices. There has to be a reason for the machine to go back to the factory and the same issue may pop up once again, so I am not so comfortable with refurbished sewing machines. Now let us have a closer look at Brother XR1300.

This is a computerized sewing machine. It has 130 built-in stitches which include utility, decorative, quilting, heirloom and 8 one-step buttonhole stitches. Being a computerized machine, you will always expect user-friendly features. For the ease of use, Brother XR1300 has an automatic needle threader, top drop-in bobbin and large backlit LCD screen. Stitch selection can be done with push buttons. The optimal stitch settings can be overridden using the buttons. The maximum stitch width is 7mm and length is 5mm. This machine has a motor that can deliver 850 stitches/min. The motor is pretty much of the standard you get in most computerized sewing machines.

One feature that you normally won’t see on all machines is the automatic thread cutter. Brother XR1300 has an automatic thread cutter. So you don’t need to reach out for the scissors after stitching. LED lighting illuminates the work space for you. You can use this machine without the foot controller (all computerized machines can be). The start/stop button and speed control slider lets you do that. The slow speed setting on the speed control slider sews really slow (trust me), it will be a handy feature if you are teaching your kid. Since Brother projects this as a quilting machine, it should have a programmable needle up/down option. You can program the needle to stay up/down with just the push of a button.

Drop feed option on Brother XR1300 lets you do free motion quilting. Quilters can use it for making free hand designs. But the free motion quilting foot needs to be bought separately. The box comes with a Spring action quilting foot though. Included feet are Buttonhole foot, Overcasting foot, Monogramming foot, Zipper foot, Zigzag foot, Blind stitch foot, Button fitting foot and Spring action quilting foot. You can store all these accessories in a built-in storage compartment (don’t expect it to be huge, just good enough to store most of your accessories).

Even with all these features, Brother XR1300 is very lightweight. It weighs just 13.2 lbs. The machine comes with 25 year limited warranty. You will also get an extra wide table.

Usability

Buttonhole stitching is a breeze on Brother XR1300. There is a safety mechanism on the machine which prevents sewing if the foot is not lowered. The quality of this machine is such that it sews through denim like a breeze. It can sew through 8 layers of denim with ease. The machine operates quite smoothly, there is no vibration or anything like that. One thing I am really impressed with XR1300 is the ease with which it sews through heavy fabrics. The factory set tension is perfect and you don’t need to adjust it at all.

The feeding mechanism on this machine is excellent. It ensures consistent stitch quality throughout the project. The machine will always recommend the presser foot to use for a particular stitch (which is also another useful feature). The extra wide table that comes with this machine is really useful for large quilting projects.

Limitations

The sewing light is very very dim. Brother ! Fix it !

New machines are out of stock in most stores.

Pros

• Great machine for quilting
• Works exceptionally well on heavy duty fabrics
• User friendly
• Wide table
• Lightweight

Cons

• Dim worklight
• New machines are not available

Is It Worth Buying ?

Brother XR1300 won’t stall on thick fabrics, which gives you some idea about the quality that it can offer. The machine operates quietly and smoothly on both thin and thick fabrics. It is an easy to use sewing machine.

If new machines are not available you can consider Brother XR9500PRW as an alternative. This machine has similar specs and even has a sewing font for monogramming. The price is similar as well. It has also been voted as ‘Best Sewing Machine For The Money – Under $200’ by Sewing Machine Reviews.