Brother ST371HD vs Singer 4411

It’s the battle of the best heavy duty sewing machine!

Brother ST371HD vs Singer 4411

Some sewing requires more muscle than others.

Sewing thick fabrics or lots of layers can be tough on a regular machine which is probably not up to the job.

This is when heavy duty sewing machines come into their own. They are sturdier and more powerful than the average sewing machine, and can cope with just about anything you want to sew.

Two of the best heavy duty sewing machines are the Brother ST371HD and Singer 4411.

In this review we put these two mean machines through their paces to discover which one ultimately comes out on top…

Let’s take it away…

Key Features Compared

Let’s kick this review off with a look at the most essential features of the Brother ST371HD and Singer 4411 to see how they compare against each other…

Heavy Duty Sewing

The strong and tough Brother ST371HD punches effectively through thick fabrics thanks to 2 heavyweight needles including #16 for heavyweight fabrics and #14 for multiple layers.

The metal needle plate ensures the fabric feeds smoothly without getting rucked up, and helps alignment with the handy engraved measurement guide.

The metal thread hook is sturdy and the spring action zigzag foot enables you to glide effortlessly over thick seams and multiple layers.

It also has a nonstick foot for sewing tricky non woven fabrics like suede, that can otherwise be problematic.

Let’s take a look at this bad boy in action:

The mighty 60% stronger motor of the Singer 4411 powers through even the heaviest of fabrics such as leather and denim, and the stainless steel bed plate keeps any type of fabric feeding smoothly through even when using thick multiple layers (such as for quilting projects).

The internal metal frame construction stays stable even when sewing through heavy weight materials, and the adjustable pressure foot control makes changing from lightweight to heavyweight fabrics seamless.

Stitches

With a capacity of 37 built-in stitches including decorative stitches, zigzag stitches, blind hem, and stretch stitches plus an automatic one-step buttonhole, the Brother ST371HD offers a lot more choice than the Singer 4411 which only has 11 built-in stitches (6 Basic Stitches and 4 Decorative Stitches) plus a four step buttonhole.

Both machines offer adjustable stitch length and width, however we would judge stitch quality to be slightly better using the Singer.

Needle Threading

Needle threading is a breeze with the Brother ST371HD thanks to its awesome automatic needle threader which takes all the hassle out of threading the needle by hand.

The Singer 4411 however, falls a little short in this category as needle threading is manual.

It’s not as difficult as it sounds though — check out this video for guidance:

Bobbin Winding

Bobbin winding with the Brother ST371HD is very simple and makes switching between different threads easy, but can occasionally can result in the wound bobbin being uneven.

The Singer 4411 requires a pretty much identical setup to wind bobbins, but tends to give a slightly more regular distribution of thread on the bobbin.

Stitching Speed

The mammoth motor inside the Singer 4411 is a real powerhouse and this baby can blast out an impressive 1,100 stitches a minute.

The Brother ST371HD has a very respectable maximum sewing speed of 800, but when compared with that of the Singer, the Singer wins hands down.

Accessories

So what extra goodies come with these two heavy duty sewing machines? Let’s take a look…

Brother ST371HD

• 6 presser feet: blind stitch, buttonhole, button sewing, non stick, spring action zigzag and zipper
• Foot controller
• 3 piece needle set: #11, #14 and #16
• Twin needle
• Spool pin
• 4 bobbins
• Power cord
• Operational manual
• Instructional DVD

Singer 4411

• 4 presser feet: all-purpose, buttonhole, zipper and button sewing
• Seam ripper/lint brush
• Quilting guide
• Needles
• Bobbins
• Screwdriver
• Auxiliary spool pin
• Spool pin felt
• Soft-sided dust cover
• Power cord and foot control
• Instruction manual

As you can see, an extra 2 presser feet are included with the Brother ST371HD — which includes the excellent spring action zigzag presser foot and non-stick presser foot. It also comes with a better selection of needles than the Singer 4411.

The Singer however has a convenient quilting guide, and comes with a soft dust cover to keep it protected when not in use.

Singer vs Brother Sewing Machines

Big brands Brother and Singer are both well known for producing top notch sewing machines.

Although based in the US, Brother is actually a Japanese company, and so benefits from all that super innovative technology that the Japanese are so famous for whilst also providing the American convenience, safety and customer service that you want.

Established in 1851, Singer has the longest experience creating top quality sewing machines of any sewing machine brand, and is well known for pioneering sewing technology, including producing the first ever zig-zag machine and electronic machines.

With Singer’s outstanding (and long) track record it’s no wonder that millions of sewers trust their brand more than any other on the market.

Make no mistake — these are two of the biggest players in the sewing machine industry and it’s tough to choose between the two.

However both companies use their own slightly different tech, and both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Read on to find out more about the Singer vs Brother…

Build quality

Both brands manufacture sewing machines from basic to heavy duty.

Brother is typically considered the best choice for entry level machines offering quality, great features and good value for money.

Singer tends to put slightly more into their more expensive and heavy duty sewing machines to make them more robust and pack them with useful features, and is generally considered to be the better choice for this kind of machine.

That said, each model from both brands has a different spec, and some may be less durable than others, so each heavy duty sewing machine should be measured on its individual merits.

Customer support

Brother and Singer both have a very good customer service record.

You can contact customer support easily via their websites, and both brands are active on social media, as well as providing helpful ‘how to’ videos on YouTube and more.

Warranties

Singer operate a 30 day returns policy and a 25 year limited warranty on the sewing machine head.

Other parts of the Singer 4411 including motors, lights, wiring, switches, speed control and electronic components are protected by a 2 year limited warranty.

Adjustments, belts, rings, bulbs and attachments are covered by a 90 day limited warranty.

Brother also offer a 25 year limited warranty, which covers the chassis of the machine for 25 years, replacement of parts, labor, and accessories for 1 year, and electrical components for 2 years after purchase.

It’s clear to see that both manufacturers are very similar in what they offer.

Ultimately the decision you make should be founded on personal preference. Both Brother and Singer are excellent brands, so you need to make an informed choice based on budget and the features you need from your sewing machine.

Brother ST371HD vs Singer 4411: Pros and Cons

No sewing machine is perfect — they all have positive and negative features.

Both these machines have a ton of plus points, but there are also some less positive points too.

Read on to find out more about the pros and cons of the Brother ST371HD and Singer 4411…

>> Read our full review of the Brother ST371HD Strong and Tough

>> Read our full review of the Singer 4411 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine

Brother ST371HD Pros

• Great features for heavy duty sewing
• Easy to use, jam resistant top drop-in bobbin
• Automatic needle threader
• Comes with good accessories
• Straightforward stitch selection dial
• Good number of stitches for basic day to day sewing
• Adjustable stitch size
• Free arm for sewing sleeves and pant legs
• Suitable for beginners
• User friendly
• Affordable price

Brother ST371HD Cons

• Not computerized
• Only suitable for basic sewing and crafting projects
• No automatic tension
• No speed control
• Plastic parts mean this heavy duty sewing machine is less sturdy
• Not so good on multiple layers of heavyweight fabrics

Singer 4411 Pros

• Seriously heavy duty – can handle any fabric and multiple layers with ease
• Super powerful motor
• Amazingly fast maximum stitch speed
• Low price
• Easy and convenient to use
• Great, even stitch quality
• Adjustable stitch length and width
• 3 options for needle position
• Free arm for sewing tight spaces
• Simple top drop-in bobbin system
• Sturdy and durable metal chassis

Singer 4411 Cons

• Very small range of stitches
• No automatic needle threader
• Basic range of features — only suitable for simple sewing and crafting projects
• Needles could be stronger
• Can be loud when running at high speeds

Overall Verdict

We love both these heavy duty sewing machines, but there can only be one top dog, and for us it’s the Singer 4411.

(Be sure to check out Sewing Machines Plus for some excellent deals on it.)

Although the Singer has less features and less stitches than the Brother ST371HD, it is slightly more robust and durable with a considerably more powerful motor which means it can sew all day and get the job done quickly and efficiently.

In addition, although both the Brother and Singer are affordable, the Singer is a serious steal.

See more: our guide to the best sewing machines on the market today.

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Who do you think wins out in the battle of Singer 4411 vs Brother ST371HD?