You may be interested in Brother ST371HD vs Singer 4423 if you are currently looking for an affordable sewing machine for home uses or a hobby. In a glance, these two sewing machines may look quite similar. But they do come with different features, and one of them may satisfy you more than the other.
Continue reading below to find out more about:
– The dimensions of each sewing machine here
– The build quality and durability of each sewing machine
– The built-in features of Brother ST371HD and Singer 4423
– The performance of Brother ST371HD vs Singer 4423
– The included accessories and warranty of each model
– Which sewing machine that is generally better for the money
Size and Weight
Let’s start by taking a look at their dimensions. Ideally, a sewing machine should have enough weight to make it stable when working. However, it shouldn’t be too bulky and heavy, especially if you want to bring the unit to your sewing class. See also: Singer EM200 vs Brother PE770.
Brother ST371HD measures 12.21 inches x 16.10 inches x 7.87 inches. It has a weight of about 14.3 pounds. If you compare Brother ST371HD to Singer 4423, it is indeed bigger and bulkier. However, it is actually a little bit lighter, although not by much. The unit is not too heavy. It just has enough mass to keep a relatively solid footing during its operation.
Singer 4423 measures 12 inches x 15.5 inches x 6.25 inches. The weight is about 14.6 pounds. This model is more compact and more space-friendly. It doesn’t take as much space when placed or stored. It is just a tiny bit heavier. The sewing machine feels solid, sturdy, and stable.
Durability
In terms of durability, Brother ST371HD vs Singer 4423 are great. They both have metallic frames and sewing plates. With these features, they will certainly last for a long time.
Brother ST371HD comes in a beautifully designed housing. It is mostly white, but there are some black-colored parts as well. On the sides, there are checkered patterns which enhance the elegant design. The sturdy metal chassis helps to keep the unit grounded properly for consistent stitching at high sewing speeds. The control knobs feel solid and sturdy. This sewing machine also has a wide metal needle plate which not only protects the threading mechanism, but also increases the pickup speed.
Singer 4423 is colored mostly in gray. The control knobs are white. Just like Brother ST371HD, Singer 4423 also comes with a highly durable metal chassis, which effectively protects the internal mechanisms while also adding some weight to keep the unit from vibrating too much. It has a metallic needle plate, too.
Built-in Stitches
The next difference between Brother ST371HD vs Singer 4423 is the number of built-in stitches. If you only need a simple sewing machine for quick fixes on your clothing items, you probably don’t need many types of stitches. However, for dedicated hobbyists and professionals, having more types of stitches can be a great investment.
Brother ST371HD is better in this aspect because it comes with more built-in stitches. It has 37 stitches for various purposes, so it is really versatile. There are stitches for decoration, zigzag patterns, blind hems, reinforcement, and stretch stitches. It has a drop-feed mechanism for easy free-motion sewing.
However, Brother ST371HD only has one buttonhole style; some people who handle many kinds of tasks may need more buttonhole style options. On the more positive side, it is a one-step buttonhole, so it is quite simple and efficient to use.
Singer 4423, on the other hand, only has 23 built-in stitches. There are basic stitches, decorative stitches, and stretch stitches. The sewing machine also has a drop-feed mechanism to allow free-motion sewing.
Singer 4423 also comes with one buttonhole style. This is a one-step mechanism, so doing multiple buttons can be easy and fast. Although it does not have as many options, it is already versatile enough for quilts, crafts, fashions, and home decoration.
Other Features
Brother ST371HD has a mini display along with the icons of all of the stitches and their corresponding numbers. In order to select a stitch, you just need to turn the dial, which will change the number being displayed on the mini display. Turn it until the number of the stitch that you want to use shows up. A built-in light will keep your work visible and well-illuminated regardless of the environment condition.
Brother ST371HD is already equipped with an automatic needle threader, which is great. Thanks to this feature, you won’t need to spend time and strain your eyes for threading. It will push the thread right through the needle in an instant. The drop-in top bobbin has been designed to be jam-resistant, so the stitch quality is ensured to be consistent.
Singer 4423 does not have any display. It simply has control dials with the stitch icons printed on them. Nevertheless, in order to select a stitch, you just need to turn the dial to the desired position. The sewing machine also features an automatic needle threader, so it is really efficient and practical.
Singer 4423 has a transparent top drop-in bobbin which will enable you to monitor the thread supply without opening the cover. This is very useful for extended sewing sessions, in which you need to use plenty of threads. In addition, there is a built-in light which will illuminate your work, even when at the middle of the night.
Performance
Brother ST371HD only has mediocre sewing performance. To be fair, it is able to get the job done. It can make various stitches including long straight stitch, zigzag stitch, and scalloping stitch. However, it tends to make the fabric get bunched up, especially the thin ones. So, you need to be careful in controlling the fabric. It only works well on knit cotton.
The zigzag stitch is pretty good, but it is sometimes too tight. This defeats the point of making a stretch stitch. Furthermore, Brother ST371HD is not very intuitive to use. It does not mention the average stitch width and length, although it does label the direction for turning the thread tension knob.
Singer 4423 also has a mediocre sewing performance. The long straight stitch is not very consistent. It is sometimes a bit loose, and sometimes a bit tight. However, the zigzag stitch is good, with decent consistency; the tightness level is just about right for a stretch stitch. The good performance tends to drop when handling difficult fabrics like satin.
Another nice thing about Singer 4423 is that it can attach zippers with decent results. Overall, the sewing machine is really easy and intuitive to use. All the functions are clearly labeled. The stitch width and length are shown clearly.
Included Accessories
Brother ST371HD comes with several useful accessories. The box includes:
– Three needles (#11, #14, and #16)
– A twin needle
– Four bobbins
– A spool pin
– The foot controller
– A power cord
– An instructional DVD
– An operation manual
The included needles of Brother ST371HD are really nice because they are highly durable and they come in different sizes. You can use them for some of the thicker materials such as denim. You get some options, so you can choose the needle size that is best for the current project.
Singer 4423 also includes several items that can be really handy, depending on your purpose. The box includes:
– Six feet (all-purpose, buttonhole, zipper, button sewing, and seam ripper/lint brush)
– A quilting guide
– An auxiliary spool pin
– A spool pin felt
– Needles
– Bobbins
– A screwdriver
– A soft-sided dust cover
As you can see, there are several more items that come with Singer 4423. The feet are very helpful, and they greatly enhance the sewing machine’s versatility. The needles and bobbins are usable. The included screwdriver will allow easy troubleshooting for the more experienced users. The dust cover is really nice for keeping your sewing machine clean when not in use.
Warranty
Last yet equally important, we should check the warranty of Brother ST371HD vs Singer 4423. Whenever you are buying a new sewing machine, you must check the warranty to make sure that you have a good back-up if the product happens to be defective. A long warranty period is also an indication of the manufacturer’s confidence in their product quality.
Brother ST371HD comes with a 25-year limited warranty. It will repair or replace your sewing machine if there is a defect in the product. Obviously, it won’t cover any damage that is caused by abuse or improper use. Still, the warranty is very good.
Singer 4423, interestingly enough, also covers the product in a limited warranty for 25 years. It covers defects in parts or craftsmanship, but also won’t cover damage from abuse and improper use.
Brother ST371HD vs Singer 4423
Conclusion
In the end, Singer 4423 is the better sewing machine. It is more compact, while still having a highly durable metallic chassis. The overall sewing performance is notably better. The functions are clearly labeled, including the stitch width and length. It comes with better accessories.
