Brother LX 3125 Sewing Machine Review
The Brother LX 3125 sewing machine is an excellent choice for beginners who want a basic, reliable machine for mending and household projects.
It’s lightweight, is extremely easy to operate and offers great value.
This is also a wonderful sewing machine to buy for kids because of the nice sized levers and simple controls.
Read the rest of our sewing machine review below:
Table of Contents (jump ahead!)
Stitch Count Presser Feet Functionality
Accessories Customer Reviews Pros, Cons & Manual
Stitch Count
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The Brother LX3125 comes with 14 built-in stitches including a 4-step buttonholer:
- 4-step Bartack Buttonhole
- 3 Zigzag stitch styles
- Zigzag Satin Stitch
- 5 style of Straight Stitch
- Straight Stitch (needle in the left position)
- Stretch Blind Hem
- Shell Tuck
- Elastic Stitch
Stitch length is adjustable up to 4mm and stitch width adjustable up to 5mm.
Stitches are selected by rotating the dial on the machine front to the desired pattern.
Presser Feet
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The Brother LX3125 comes with four snap-on presser feet. The presser foot lever has 3 height settings – regular down position, up, and an extra high up for thicker fabrics.
- Zigzag/General Purpose Foot
- Buttonhole Foot
- Zipper Foot
- Button Sewing Foot (for 2 and 4 hole buttons)
Functionality
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The Brother LX3125 sewing machine has some neat, little features considering the price. For example it has a pretty fast max speed of 900 stitches per minute, an automatic bobbin winding system, twin needle capability and a darning plate.
You can even remove the presser foot and presser foot holder to do some free motion sewing with an embroidery hoop.
Other features include:
- Free-arm sewing
- Adjustable thread tension dial
- Buttonhole adjusting screw to ensure even stitch width on both sides of the buttonhole
- Bobbin case tension adjustment dial
- Vertical top thread delivery
- Front-loading bobbin case
- Built in carry handle
- Work light
Requires the use of SA156 or SFB: XA5339-151 bobbins.
May need to use stabilizer material under thin fabrics to keep fabric in line while working.
Dimensions: L 17.7″ x W 14.2” x D 7.5″
Weight: 15 pounds
Accessories
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Built-in accessory storage in the extension arm houses these sewing accessories:
- Darning Plate
- 1 bobbin
- 1 needle
- Screwdriver
Want to save a few bucks and get even more for your money? Buy the Brother LX 3125 sewing machine with Fashion Faces at Walmart. It’s the exact same sewing machine but with three additional, decorative skins you can use to personalize the front.
There’s the pink floral pattern, the traditional Brother blue detail, a zebra pattern, or a bright, bold floral pattern.
At under $80, this version makes a great gift if you are buying for someone else.
Customer Reviews
“I am a VERY beginner seamstress and was able to use this machine quite quickly out of the box! Threading it was a snap and it is very quiet. Plus I love the fact that you do not…(read more: Reviews)” – Kathryn Callahan
“For me, the speed is easy to control, it takes corners really well, and I love the reverse sewing. You don’t have to do anything except flip the switch…(read more: Reviews)” – Poodle Mama
Average Amazon Rating: 4.1
Pros, Cons & Manual
Pros: Twin needle capable. Darning plate included. Sturdy, solid utility stitching.
Cons: Presser foot pressure is not adjustable. No drop feed-dog functionality. Twin needle capable but additional spool pin and twin needle must be purchased separately.
Manual available online here: Brother LX3125 Manual
Manufacturer’s Warranty: As of this date, Brother offers a 1 year warranty on parts and labor, a two year warranty on electronic pattern control and selection components (parts only), and a 25 year warranty on shafts and rods on the machine head.
For current pricing information, follow this link:
Features Summary Review:
Tagged with: Brother • Brother LX3125 • electric • free motion embroidery • free-arm • light-weight • portable • sewing machines • sewing machines for beginners • under $100
Filed under: Reviews
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I cannot get the face plate off of my machine. Can someone help me?
Judy – Did the manual help you at all? The link to the manual is up above but let me know if that wasn’t sufficient and I may be able to find another set of instructions for you. I assume you are referring to the Brother LX3125?
Thanks,
Erica
Do you mean the decorative skins for the face plate? My machine came with a “skin holder” for those, which contains some helpful instructions and tips. It suggests: “If it is difficult to peel off the corner of the Fashion Faces(TM) decorative skin, affix a piece of tape to the lower-right corner of the skin, and then pull the tape to lift off the corner of the skin so the skin can be peeled off.”
I bought a refurbished one a few months ago. It worked like a dream until it didn’t. Brother won’t help me (gave me a non working number to call!). I deduce that a belt is broken–i’d like to try and replace it myself, but I can’t find a dealer. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Lisa
Lisa – That’s miserable on two levels. For it to work and then stop is no fun but then I can’t stand service departments with inefficient support! Makes me want to tear my hair out! Sorry you’re having such trouble.
I have a couple of ideas for you:
1. Go to the troubleshooting section of your manual and make sure there isn’t something there that will help fix the problem. If you don’t have the manual, go to the online version referenced above in this post. You can just click the link to the manual to bring it up online. At the top of the troubleshooting section in the manual is the link to Brother’s Solution Center, too, which might have some information to help you identify the true nature of the problem.
2. Follow this link to a sewing machine parts store online: a1sewingmachine. They’ve been in business for quite some time and specialize in finding parts for all brands of sewing machines. You can email them or leave them a voicemail. They may be able to help identify and locate the part number you need.
3. Maybe give me some more information about what happens when you try to sew and I’ll continue searching for some solutions. For instance, does the machine turn on? Does it try to sew but the needle doesn’t do anything? Does it sew, just not the stitches you expect? Is the bobbin thread not coming up? I might be able to zero in on some more specific answers for you that way.
Let me know how any of these options turn out or if you need anything else. Good luck!
Erin
i cannot seem to get the buttonhole foot to work properly. The manual’s picture is not clear or big enough for me to see how to put it on properly. do i take the pressure foot off or does the buttonhole go over it?
Robin – buttonhole feet are funny looking, aren’t they? And tricky.
You do want to take off whatever other presser foot is attached. The buttonhole foot is also snap-on, so you should see a small pin running across the center. Place that pin so that when you lower the presser foot, the shank lines up with that little pin and the two should click together just as you would attach the other presser feet. This link might help: Brother Solutions Buttonholes. I’ll look for one with a better picture, too. Let me know if this works!
Erin
i have a LX-3125. it is just over a year old. recently, my machine ‘skips’ stitches. there is a jumping sound and when i take the fabric off the machine, there is a bunch of thread all bunched up underneath.
also, the thread from the top spool often falls under the spool and gets all tangled causing the thread to break (if i dont notice in time to fix it).
i sew quite frequently, mostly little repairs and childrens clothing. i got this machine after my other brother machine broke irreparably (well, it would have cost more to fix it than to buy this comparable machine) after 10 years of use.
i am baffled as to why this problem has risen and would be appreciative of any information you may know of to correct it.
Tascha – Try this to see if it helps:
1. Follow the instructions in your manual to clean the bobbin race. Dust can collect in there pretty easily and it’s amazing what even a little build up can do to get in the way of your machine working smoothly.
2. Grab a test scrap of fabric and replace your needle with a brand new needle that will work with that your test fabric based on the guide in your manual.
3. Use a new bobbin compatible with your machine and load it with the recommended thread from the fabric/needle/thread chart.
4. Rethread the top thread.
5. Test sewing a number of different stitches on the test fabric.
If you continue to see problems, clean the race again and load a new bobbin with a different brand of thread. One roll of something like Sulky or Coats & Clark just to test out your machine can sometimes help you spot contributing problems. If it has problems after you go through steps 1-5 but then doesn’t have a problem when you change thread it doesn’t mean you’re only going to have to sew with expensive thread but it might mean the LX 3125 doesn’t like whatever thread you’ve been using.
If none of that works, you might have to take it in for servicing. I’m hoping that’s not the case for you, though! Let me know how it goes!
Erin
I happen to have the same problem! I did some research and apparently we’re not the only ones! It seems quite a few people have the very same issue with their LX-3125.
By the way, I cleaned it would still do it. Tried a new needle, now the upper thread tears, lol. I’ve used this type of thread for quite some time and it never did this.
I just bought this sewing machine from Walmart. After I took it out of the box, I noticed that the plastic pressure foot lever is quite loose and has some play. In my experience with previous machines of different models, this lever can be moved up and down, but is never loose all by itself. I would like to know whether this is how the lever is in this model, or is it a defect. If it appears to be a defect, I could return or exchange the machine before I start using it. Thanks.
Cathy – That doesn’t sound right at all. As I recall, the presser foot lever on that machine should feel like most machines – not a lot of play. I’m sure if you take it back to Walmart they’ll let you look at the exchange box before you take it home, just to make sure it’s fine.
Good luck!
Erin
How do I use the free-motion quilting and embroidery on this machine? Do I need a different foot?
Tara – The video in this post will show you how to do free motion quilting and embroidery using just an embroidery hoop and removing your presser foot. The embroidery hoop helps keep the fabric taut as you sew and can be used to guide your material.
If the video isn’t sufficient instruction, let me know as I think I saw another couple of videos somewhere that would be helpful and I could dig those up for you.
Sincerely,
Erin
I do not see any video included in this post and I am very interested in free motion quilting using this machine. Please direct me to where to find the video. Thank you very much.
~Heather
well i just got my lx 3125 sewing machine and i dont really get it! im so confused:0
Laura – Confused by which step exactly? And do you have the manual?
Sincerely,
Erin
For my daughter’s birthday, I bought her an LX3125 with the interchangeable face plates. The machine works, but it makes a horrible loud sound when it is running. I am used to my machine which runs quietly and smoothly. But the LX3125 vibrates horribly. Is this normal? Should I return it to Wal-Mart for a replacement?
Please help.
Thanks.
Tammy
Tammy – It shouldn’t sound horrible. It might not sound as quiet as some machines but it would just be a little louder and not scary loud. Try changing the needle and the bobbin and see if that makes a difference. If not, then you might want to exchange it after all.
Sincerely,
Erin
The needle and bobbin have been changed.(in the course of using it) Things will fall off the table the machine is sitting on, it vibrates so bad.
Tammy – I’d take it back. That doesn’t sound normal at all!
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Erin
I just got this machine off the craig’s list and it came with the wrong foot control so now I need to know where to get a replacement.
Angie
Angie – Take a look at the picture of the end plug on this generic foot pedal and see if it looks like a match to the outlet on the side of your machine: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038RGE9S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=hotocoaneyost-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B0038RGE9S. While the LX3125 is not listed in the description of compatible machines, most of the other Brother machines are listed including models that are nearly identical to yours. If it doesn’t look like a match, you might need to contact Brother to get the part model and ask them for ordering information for the replacement.
Sincerely,
Erin
I cannot get the machine to work at all. Any ideas other than the obvious?
i had a borther ls2125 for 3 years and it was great.
for a beginner like me.
then the motor went.
so i got the brother lx3125s i only had it a few months and it is awful . thread braking and bunching up under the lower layer. i have to keep rethreading constantly . i was sick of it.
so now i got the brother Lx2500 god i hope this one is better. but the construction of the machine seems very cheap. not like the LS2125.
were can i get the LS2125 model ???
tell me what you think of the LX2500, i have returned two of them because it wasn’t keeping the zig, zag stitch. It would go from this pattern to the pattern 12 on the dial, i needed like three days ago..if i could only find a repair shop close by i would so take it cause i love my LS2125…my top thread keeps breaking..maybe you have better luck with yours. My LX3125 is doing the same thing….i have a show this coming weekend and have a lot more sewing to do…this is just so frustrating.
Going on my third brother machine and this time i upgraded to a LX3125 have owned a LS2125 and loved it till it started breaking my thread. So i have returned two of the LX2500 because it was going from zig-zag to a different pattern while i was sewing. I talked to some from service twice on this machine and he couldn’t tell me why it was doing this. Well i get my upgraded machine up and thought running to find out it’s doing the same thing. Very frustrated in TEXAS!!
After reading all this, I really wish I would’ve bought the singer