Last updated: August 21, 2026
The GX37 is the machine nobody argues about. It does not have a screen to debate, it does not carry a heavy duty badge to defend, and it does not turn up in dramatic reviews. It sits one small step above the cheapest Brother, adds ten stitches and a slightly more composed feel, and then quietly gets on with hems and cushion covers for years.
That makes it hard to review and easy to recommend. The interesting question is not whether it is good, because it plainly is for its tier. The question is whether the step up from the cheapest mechanical Brother is worth making, and where the machine stops being the right tool.
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Quick Answer
Is the Brother GX37 worth buying?
- Yes as a straightforward first machine: Brother lists 37 built in stitches on a dial, a one step buttonhole and six feet in the box.
- The stitches are printed on the front, so selecting one is turning a knob and reading a picture.
- There is no speed limiter, so you control speed entirely with the pedal.
- Brother states a maximum thickness the machine will stitch, which is a useful reality check before you buy it for repairs.
Bottom line: an easy, unfussy machine for hemming, mending and simple garments, with the same limits as every light mechanical model.
What Brother Lists for the GX37
Brother describes 37 built in utility and decorative stitches with the stitch patterns printed on the machine and selected by turning a dial, an automatic one step buttonhole with buttonhole foot, free arm sewing, six included feet and a dust cover. Brother also lists a maximum sewing speed of 850 stitches per minute for this model.
The six feet are the zigzag, buttonhole, zipper, button sewing, blind stitch and narrow hemmer. That set covers the ordinary jobs of a first year of sewing, and it means the machine is genuinely usable out of the box rather than being a starting point for a shopping list.
The Thickness Number Is the Useful Spec
Brother states that the GX37 can stitch materials of up to 6mm thickness, giving jeans, quilts and pillows as examples. That is a rare thing to find on a listing at this level, and it is far more informative than a stitch count, because thickness is what people actually run into.
What Six Millimeters Feels Like in Practice
It is a hem in ordinary jeans, a doubled quilt sandwich, a cushion cover with a zipper. It is not the point where a jeans side seam crosses the felled seam, and it is not a stack of canvas straps on a bag. Once you learn to recognize the difference you stop breaking needles.
When you do meet a bump, slow right down, turn the handwheel by hand over the thick part, and never pull the fabric through. Pulling is the single most common cause of a broken needle, and the reasons are set out in why your needle keeps breaking.
Why People Call It Quiet
Owners consistently describe the GX37 as smoother and less rattly than the cheapest models. That is a subjective judgement rather than a measured one, and it is what the small step up in price generally buys at this tier: less vibration on the table, less noise, a slightly steadier feel through a seam.
It is worth naming honestly, because that feel is the main difference between the entry models and the ones just above them, and no spec sheet captures it. If you already own a very cheap machine and are wondering why sewing feels like a fight, this is often the answer rather than anything you are doing wrong.
Where the GX37 Runs Out
Three places. Thick stacked material, because it is a light machine with a domestic motor. Knits, unless you fit the right needle, because a universal point skips stitches on jersey. And large quilts, because the work area to the right of the needle is small and there is no wide table in the box.
Two of Those Have Cheap Fixes
Knits are a needle problem, not a machine problem. A ballpoint or jersey needle in the right size solves nearly every case, which is the whole point of the needle and fabric chart. Thick fabric is partly a needle problem too, since a size 100/16 denim needle goes through what a universal 80/12 will not.
The third one is not fixable. If you want to quilt anything larger than a lap quilt, you want a machine with a wide table and drop feed, which is where the computerized models come in. That comparison is in the CS7000X review.
What to Buy Alongside It
Two things, and neither is exciting. A pack of needles in assorted sizes and points, so a dull needle is never the reason your stitching went bad. And spare bobbins, so you can leave a color wound and ready rather than unpicking your setup every time you change thread.
That is genuinely the whole list for the first few months. Everything else can wait until a project demands it, which is the approach we take in what to buy with your first machine rather than filling a basket on day one.
GX37 Against Its Neighbors
The step below and the step above, compared on what actually differs rather than on stitch counts.
| Model | Stitches listed | Speed limiter | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother GX37 | 37, dial | No | You want an unfussy, steady first machine |
| Brother XM2701 | 27, dial | No | You want the lowest entry point |
| Brother CS5055 | 60, screen | Yes | You want speed control and a metal frame |
| Brother ST371HD | 37, dial | No | Denim, canvas and repair work |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Brother GX37 good for beginners? Yes. The stitches are printed on the front, selection is a dial, and the six included feet cover the jobs a beginner meets in the first year. The only beginner feature it lacks is a speed limiter. See what actually matters in a beginner machine.
What is the difference between the GX37 and the XM2701? Ten more stitches, a slightly steadier feel, and a small price difference. Neither has a speed slider and both use the same drop in bobbin approach. If the smoother feel appeals, the GX37 is the better buy, as covered in the XM2701 review.
Can the GX37 sew leather? Not properly. Light faux leather or a single layer of thin garment leather with a leather needle and a nonstick foot is possible, but leather work needs feed and pressure a light domestic machine does not have. Read where home machines stop before you try.
Does the GX37 have an automatic needle threader? Brother includes a needle threading aid on machines across this tier, but the exact wording varies by generation and retailer, so check the current listing for your version. Either way, the threading path is printed on the machine, which is the part that matters most.
Is the GX37 loud? Owners generally describe it as quieter than the cheapest machines in the range. Any sudden new noise is worth investigating rather than ignoring, and the likely causes are covered in why a machine gets noisy.
The Bottom Line
The GX37 is the sensible middle of Brother’s mechanical range: enough stitches, a full set of feet, a stated thickness limit that tells you where it stops, and a steadier feel than the cheapest models. Buy it if you want a machine that gets out of the way. Look elsewhere if you need a speed limiter, a wide table or real thick fabric capability. Read next: the Brother lineup explained, and beginner picks for six situations.