Brother SM1400 Sewing Machine Review: Worth It? (November 2026)
The Brother SM1400 is a basic, lightweight machine for everyday sewing and mending, with 14 stitches, a 4-step buttonhole and four presser feet. It suits light repairs and simple projects on a budget, but the stitch range is small next to beginner machines with 27 or more.
On this page (8 sections)
The Brother SM1400 is a basic, lightweight machine for everyday sewing and mending, with 14 stitches and four presser feet. It's an honest budget choice if your sewing is mostly hems, zippers and buttons.
Anyone who wants decorative stitches, quilting or a faster buttonhole will find 14 stitches too short a list.
This review of the Brother SM1400 covers what the specs mean in daily use, how setup works, the real trade-offs and the alternatives worth comparing first. For the broader picture of beginner-friendly Brother models, see our roundup of the best Brother sewing machines for beginners.
The Brother SM1400 at a glance
The SM1400 is a full-sized machine built around simple controls. A single dial selects your stitch, and a tension dial and reverse lever sit at your fingertips.
Nothing about the layout asks you to learn a menu before you sew.
Brother SM1400: Best for everyday mending
- 14 built-in stitches
- 35 stitch functions
- 4-step auto-size buttonhole
- Four presser feet
- LED work area
A light full-sized machine for hems, zippers, buttons and basic mending. The 14 stitches cover everyday repairs without paying for decorative options you won't use.
Pros
- Easy needle threader and drop-in bobbin
- Free arm for cuffs and sleeves
- Four quick-change feet included
- Light enough to carry and store
Cons
- 14 stitches is a short list
- 4-step buttonhole takes more steps than a one-step
- Basic machine with no speed control
Brother positions it for everyday sewing and mending at an affordable price. The 14 stitches include blind hems, stretch stitches, buttonholes and zipper insertion.
It's a short list, but each stitch has a clear job.
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. For a first machine or a backup for repairs, the basics are covered.
For projects, the limits show up quickly.
Who should buy the Brother SM1400?
Buy it if your sewing is mostly repairs and simple seams. Hemming curtains, shortening trousers, mending a seam or sewing a basic tote are all within its range.
The free arm helps with cuffs, sleeves and pant legs.
It also suits a small home where the machine comes out for a job and goes back in a cupboard. At 12.8 pounds and just over 15 inches tall, it's easy to move and store.
Skip it if you want to try decorative stitches, quilting or garment sewing with lots of detail. Fourteen stitches won't stretch far once you move past straight seams and zigzag.
It's also a weak fit if buttonholes are a regular task. The 4-step type works, but a one-step buttonhole is quicker and easier to repeat evenly.
The specs that matter in daily use
The stitch count is the spec that shapes everything else. Fourteen built-in stitches give 35 stitch functions, which means some stitches adjust for width or length.
In practice you get straight, zigzag, blind hem, stretch and buttonhole options.
The four included feet cover most everyday jobs. Zigzag handles general seams, the zipper foot lets you stitch close to a zip, the buttonhole foot guides the 4-step buttonhole and the button sewing foot attaches buttons by machine.
Changing them is quick.
The LED work area is a real help when you sew in a dim corner. Bright light over the needle makes dark fabric and fine stitches easier to see, and it uses less power than an older bulb.
Threading is simpler than on many budget machines. The built-in needle threader pushes thread through the eye, and the Quick-Set top drop-in bobbin has a clear cover so you can watch the thread level.
The automatic bobbin winding system saves time when you fill bobbins.
The free arm is worth knowing about before you buy. Remove the accessory box and the arm is exposed, which makes it easier to sew cuffs, sleeves and narrow hems without fighting the fabric.
Setting up the Brother SM1400
Start by threading the machine with the presser foot up, because that opens the tension discs. Run the thread through the guides, use the needle threader and pull the thread toward the back.
Then wind a bobbin with the automatic winder and drop it into the top-loading case.
Set the stitch dial to straight stitch and the tension to its midpoint. Sew a test seam on a scrap of the fabric you plan to use.
Adjust the tension and stitch length until the stitches sit flat on both sides.
The manual covers the sequence step by step, and the instructional DVD walks through the basics if you prefer to watch. Keep the manual nearby for the stitch chart, since the dial uses numbers rather than names.
Fit the foot that matches your job before you start. A zipper foot for a zip, the buttonhole foot for a buttonhole and the zigzag foot for general seams will each give a cleaner result than forcing one foot to do everything.
Care and everyday maintenance
The biggest care job is keeping lint out of the bobbin area. Remove the bobbin cover and brush out fluff after a few projects, especially if you sew fleece or toweling.
Lint under the bobbin case causes skipped stitches and tension trouble.
Change the needle when it dulls or after a heavy project. A bent or blunt needle snags fabric and pulls threads.
Match the needle size to the fabric, and keep a small stock so you aren't tempted to push a worn one further.
Wipe the exterior with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry it. Don't use harsh cleaners on the plastic body or let water into the machine.
A dust cover keeps lint off when the machine sits unused.
Oil only where the manual tells you to, and in the amounts it states. Many modern machines need very little oil, and too much attracts lint.
Follow Brother's instructions rather than adding oil at random.
Store it with the foot down and the cord loosely coiled. Avoid leaving it in a cold or damp space, since condensation can affect the metal parts.
The trade-offs to know before buying
The 14-stitch count is the clearest limit. Basic machines in the same price tier offer 27 stitches or more, which opens up decorative and quilting options the SM1400 doesn't have.
If you want room to grow, this isn't the machine for that.
The 4-step buttonhole is the second trade-off. You turn a dial through each stage of the buttonhole, so getting several identical buttonholes takes care and practice.
A one-step buttonhole does the same job in a single pass.
There's no speed control, so the machine sews at the pace your foot provides. That's fine for straight seams.
It's less helpful when you want slow, steady stitching around a curve or a delicate fabric.
It's a basic machine without the extras that more expensive models add. There's no needle up/down button, no start/stop control and no hard cover.
Those features cost more, and the SM1400 keeps the price down by leaving them out.
The 25-year limited manufacturer warranty covers the machine. Keep your receipt and check what the warranty includes before you buy.
Alternatives worth comparing
The best alternative depends on what the SM1400 lacks for you. More stitches, a one-step buttonhole or quilting features all point to different machines.
These three are worth a look before you decide.
Brother ST371HD
The Brother ST371HD is the pick if you want a heavier-duty machine for thicker fabrics. It's built as a strong, durable option for denim, canvas and other tough materials.
The SM1400 is lighter and aimed at everyday sewing rather than heavy work.
That's the Brother XM2701, the top-scoring machine in this comparison. It has 27 built-in stitches and an auto-size one-step buttonhole, plus six feet including a blind stitch foot and a narrow hemmer.
For a first machine that leaves room to grow, it's the clearer buy.
Brother XR3774
The Brother XR3774 suits sewing and quilting in one machine. If quilting is on your list, compare it before the SM1400.
The SM1400's 14 stitches and basic feet don't cover quilting the way a machine built for it does.
Brother XR9550
The Brother XR9550 is the step up for computerised features and a wider stitch range. It's the choice if you want more stitches and easier buttonholes than a dial machine offers.
The SM1400 stays the simpler, cheaper option for plain sewing.
Is the Brother SM1400 worth it?
The Brother SM1400 is worth buying for basic mending and light everyday sewing, not as a machine to grow into. The 14 stitches, four feet and simple dial controls cover hems, zips and buttons well.
The free arm and needle threader make it easy to live with.
Our verdict is a cautious buy for a first machine when the budget is tight. For a little more, the Brother XM2701 offers 27 stitches and a one-step buttonhole, which suits most beginners better.
Pick the SM1400 only if plain seams and repairs are all you need.
Skip it if you plan to quilt, sew garments with lots of detail or try decorative stitching. The stitch range and 4-step buttonhole will frustrate you before long, and the alternatives above do those jobs better.
These Brother SM1400 sewing machine reviews come down to one question: do you want a simple repair machine or a machine to learn on? For repairs, it's a fair choice.
For learning, look at the XM2701 or the XR9550 first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Brother SM1400 good for beginners?
Yes for plain seams and mending. It has an easy needle threader, a drop-in bobbin and a dial for choosing stitches, so there is little to set up.
A beginner who wants to try decorative stitches or quilting will outgrow 14 stitches quickly.
How many stitches does the Brother SM1400 have?
It has 14 built-in stitches with 35 stitch functions. The stitches cover straight sewing, zigzag, blind hems and stretch seams, plus a 4-step auto-size buttonhole.
That is a smaller range than many beginner machines offer.
Does the Brother SM1400 come with a buttonhole foot?
Yes. The four included feet are zigzag, zipper, buttonhole and button sewing.
The buttonhole is a 4-step type, so you turn a dial through each step rather than sewing the whole buttonhole in one pass.
How heavy is the Brother SM1400?
It weighs 12.8 pounds and measures 6 inches deep, 12.3 inches wide and 15.4 inches tall. Brother calls it lightweight yet full-sized.
That weight means you can move it to a table and put it away after use.
What comes in the box with the Brother SM1400?
The box includes a darning plate, a needle set, four bobbins, a foot controller, a power cord and an operation manual. An instructional DVD is also included to help you get started.
