BROTHER RH137
A mechanical sewing machine with 37 stitches, an automatic 1-step buttonhole and separate stitch length and width dials. The machine has a needle threader, and the bobbin is loaded from the top.
The Brother RH137 is made for everyday sewing: mending clothes, buttonholes, sewing on buttons, zips, hems, gathering, appliqués and joining fabric. Besides the usual stitches, it has elastic, edge-finishing and decorative stitches. According to the Brother manual, the machine is intended for household use.
Features
37 stitches from one dial
You choose a stitch by turning a single dial in either direction. There are 37 stitches including a buttonhole: straight stitches, zigzags, elastic stitches, stitches for joining fabric and finishing edges, and decorative stitches.
You set the stitch length and width with two separate dials. You will find the recommended length and width of each stitch in the table below.
Turn the stitch selection dial only when the needle is raised: turn the handwheel towards you until the mark on it points up. If you turn the dial while the needle is down, the needle, presser foot or fabric may be damaged.
Stitch length and width dials
The numbers on the stitch length dial are the stitch length in millimetres: the higher the number, the longer the stitch. At the “0” setting the fabric is not fed. The “F”–“1” range is for a close zigzag (satin stitch), which is used for buttonholes and decorative stitches. The exact position depends on the fabric and thread, so test it on a scrap of fabric.
When you set the stitch length dial to “SS”, the selected stitch becomes a stretch stitch. In the table, stitches 20–37 are marked “SS”, and their length is fixed at 2.5 mm.
Turn the stitch width dial only when the needle is raised. With the straight stitch and the triple stretch stitch, the width dial changes the needle position: “5” is the left position, “0” is the right position and 2.5 is the centre. After changing the width, slowly turn the handwheel towards you and check that the needle does not touch the presser foot.
If the stitches bunch together, increase the stitch length. Do not keep sewing without increasing the length: the needle may break and cause injury.
Automatic 1-step buttonhole
The buttonhole is sewn in one automatic step with buttonhole foot “A” and the buttonhole lever, which changes the sewing direction automatically. Set the stitch length in the “F”–“1.5” range and the width to 3–5 mm. Mark the position and length of the buttonhole on the fabric with tailor’s chalk, open the button holder on the foot and insert the button. If the button does not fit, add together its diameter and thickness and set the button holder to the calculated length (the scale marks are 5 mm apart): for example, for a button 15 mm in diameter and 10 mm thick, set the button holder to 25 mm.
Pass the upper thread down through the hole in the presser foot. Lower the presser foot so that the marks on the foot line up with the mark on the fabric (the front bar tack is sewn first), lower the buttonhole lever and push it back slightly. Hold the upper thread gently and start sewing; stop when the buttonhole is finished. Raise the needle and the presser foot lever, remove the fabric, cut the threads and return the buttonhole lever to its original position. Insert a pin at the end of the buttonhole so that you do not cut the stitching, and use a seam ripper to cut towards the pin and open the buttonhole. Keep your hands out of the cutting path of the seam ripper.
Try the buttonhole on a scrap of fabric before sewing it on a garment, and place a stabiliser under soft fabrics. When you sew other stitches, do not lower, touch or move the buttonhole lever: the stitching may become misaligned or be sewn incorrectly. If buttonhole sewing was interrupted, sew one or two trial stitches on a scrap before you continue. If thick seams do not feed, sew with a longer stitch.
On stretch fabrics the buttonhole is sewn over a gimp thread: hook the gimp thread onto the back end of the buttonhole foot, bring both ends to the front of the foot, insert them into the grooves and tie them there temporarily, and set the stitch width to match the diameter of the gimp thread. After sewing, gently pull the gimp thread to remove any slack and trim off the excess.
If the two sides of the buttonhole are sewn unevenly, set the stitch length dial between “F” and “1.5” and sew a trial buttonhole on a scrap, watching how the fabric feeds. If the right side is too sparse or too dense, adjust it with the stitch length dial. When the right side is right, sew the buttonhole again; if the left side is too sparse compared with the right side, turn the buttonhole fine-adjustment screw with a large screwdriver in the “–” direction, and if it is too dense, in the “+” direction.
Needle threader
You can thread the needle with the built-in needle threader. First complete steps 1 to 8 of the upper threading as described in the manual, lower the presser foot lever and turn the handwheel so that the mark on it points up. While lowering the needle threader lever, hook the thread onto the guide, then pull the lever down as far as it goes and turn it towards the back of the machine: the hook must pass through the eye of the needle and grab the thread. Holding the thread lightly, turn the lever towards you: the hook pulls the thread through the eye. Raise the lever and pull the loop of thread towards the back of the machine, without pulling on the thread with force, because the needle may bend. If the thread does not pass through the eye, repeat the steps starting from lowering the presser foot lever.
The needle threader works with 75/11 to 100/16 home sewing needles. It cannot be used with a 65/9 needle, transparent nylon or metallic thread, thread of 130/120 or thicker, or a wing needle or twin needle. In those cases thread the needle by hand from front to back, leaving a thread tail of about 5 cm.
Top-loading bobbin
The lower-thread bobbin is loaded from the top: slide the bobbin cover and lift it off towards you, put the bobbin in so that the thread comes out in the direction of the arrow, press it down and pass the thread through the slit, then put the cover back.
Use only the bobbin supplied with the machine or bobbins of the same type (Brother code SFB: XA5539-151). The bobbin height is 11.5 mm. According to the manual, if you use bobbins from other models the machine will not work properly, and using other bobbins may damage the machine.
Free arm and accessory compartment
Slide the flat bed attachment to the left and remove it to get a free arm. It makes it easier to sew cuffs, trouser legs and other hard-to-reach areas: slide the part you want to sew onto the arm and sew from the top. If the item is too small to slide onto the arm, or too short, the fabric will not feed properly and you may not get the result you want.
You can keep accessories in the compartment inside the removable flat bed attachment. When you have finished free-arm sewing, put the flat bed attachment back in its original position.
More features
Reverse sewing
- To secure the start or end of a seam, push the reverse sewing lever in as far as it goes and hold it while you lightly press the foot controller.
- When you release the lever, the machine sews forward again.
- According to the Brother basic operation manual, the length of reverse stitches is fixed at 2 mm.
Sewing speed
- You control the sewing speed with the foot controller: press it lightly and the machine runs slowly, press harder and the speed increases, and when you take your foot off it the machine stops.
Thread tension
- You adjust the upper thread tension with a dial.
- If loops appear on the surface of the fabric, the tension is too tight: turn the dial to a lower number.
- If loops appear on the back of the fabric, the tension is too loose: turn the dial to a higher number.
- If the loops do not go away, check that the lower thread (loops on the surface) or the upper thread (loops on the back) is threaded correctly.
- Test the stitching on a scrap of fabric before you start; you may need to adjust the tension again when you change fabric or thread.
Bobbin winding and thread cutter
- You can wind the lower-thread bobbin on the machine itself.
- You can cut the threads with the cutter built into the machine: pull the fabric to the left and pass the threads through the cutter.
LED light
- An LED lamp lights the sewing area.
- One switch turns on both the machine and the lamp.
Changing the presser foot
- To remove the presser foot, press the black button at the back of the presser foot holder.
- Fit the other foot and lock it in place by lowering the presser foot lever.
- Change the presser foot only when the machine is switched off, and always use the correct foot for the chosen stitch.
Sewing thick and thin fabrics
- If thick fabric does not fit under the presser foot, raise the presser foot lever even higher.
- If you sew fabric more than 6 mm thick or push the fabric with too much force, the needle may bend or break.
- When sewing thin fabrics, the stitching may become misaligned or the fabric may not feed correctly: in that case place thin paper or stabiliser under the fabric, sew them together and tear off the excess when you have finished.
Stretch fabrics and the ball point needle
- Baste stretch fabrics first and sew them without stretching the fabric.
- Use a ball point needle for stretch fabrics and for fabrics where skipped stitches easily occur: the manufacturer-recommended needle is the HG-4BR (Organ), and a Schmetz “JERSEY BALL POINT” 130/705H SUK 90/14 may be used as a substitute.
Twin needle (optional accessory)
- The 2.0/75 twin needle (X57521-021, 2 mm width) and the extra spool pin XE2241-001 are available separately.
- Use only the twin needle made for this machine, and only with zigzag foot “J”: otherwise the needle may break or the machine may be damaged.
- The flat side of the needle must face the back.
- Put the extra spool pin onto the end of the bobbin winder shaft and place the second thread spool on it.
- Thread each needle separately: the thread of the left needle passes through the needle bar thread guide, and the thread of the right needle passes in front of the guide.
- Do not use the needle threader for the twin needle, because it may damage the machine: thread it by hand from front to back.
- The stitch width must not be set above 2.5, otherwise the needle may hit the needle plate and break.
- After selecting a stitch, slowly turn the handwheel towards you and check that the needle does not touch the presser foot.
- If the stitches bunch together, increase the stitch length.
Maintenance
- The user must not oil the machine: it was lubricated at the factory with the right amount of oil, so periodic oiling is not needed.
- Unplug the machine before cleaning; clean the bobbin case area with the brush and do not oil it.
Stitches
Stitch length and width
| No. | Stitch | Recommended length, mm | Recommended width, mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automatic 1-step buttonhole | F–1.5 | 3–5 |
| 2 | Straight stitch | 1–4 | 0–5 (changes the needle position) |
| 3 | Zigzag | F–4 | 0–5 |
| 4 | Blind hem stitch | F–2 | 3–5 |
| 5 | Shell tuck stitch | F–3 | 3–5 |
| 6 | Elastic stitch | F–2.5 | 3–5 |
| 7 | Stretch blind hem stitch | F–1.5 | 3–5 |
| 8 | Scallop stitch | F–1.5 | 3–5 |
| 9 | Double action stitch | F–3 | 3–5 |
| 10 | Bridging stitch | F–3 | 3–5 |
| 11 | Rampart stitch | F–3 | 3–5 |
| 12 | Elastic shell tuck stitch | F–3 | 3–5 |
| 13 | Bead stitch | F–1.5 | 3–5 |
| 14 | Arrowhead stitch | F–1.5 | 3–5 |
| 15 | Parallelogram stitch | F–1.5 | 3–5 |
| 16 | Scallop stitch | F–1.5 | 3–5 |
| 17 | Lightning stitch | F–1.5 | 5 |
| 18 | Square stitch | F–1.5 | 5 |
| 19 | Decorative stitch | F–1.5 | 5 |
| 20 | Triple stretch stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 0–5 (changes the needle position) |
| 21 | Triple zigzag stretch stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 22 | Elastic overlock stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 23 | Elastic overlock stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 24 | Feather stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 25 | Comb stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 26 | Decorative stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 27 | Fagoting stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 28 | Decorative stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 29 | Decorative hem stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 30 | Decorative stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 5 |
| 31 | Decorative stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 5 |
| 32 | Decorative stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 5 |
| 33 | Decorative stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 5 |
| 34 | Decorative stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 5 |
| 35 | Link stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 5 |
| 36 | Decorative stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 3–5 |
| 37 | Decorative stitch | SS (fixed 2.5) | 5 |
Fabrics, threads and needles
| Fabric or use | Thread | Needle |
|---|---|---|
| Medium-weight fabrics (broadcloth, taffeta, flannel, gabardine) | Cotton and synthetic: No. 60–90. Silk: No. 50 | 75/11–90/14 |
| Thin fabrics (lawn, georgette, challis, satin) | Cotton and synthetic: No. 60–90. Silk: No. 50 | 65/9–75/11 |
| Thick fabrics (denim, corduroy, tweed) | Cotton: No. 30 | 100/16 |
| Thick fabrics (denim, corduroy, tweed) | Cotton: No. 50. Synthetic and silk: No. 50–60 | 90/14–100/16 |
| Stretch fabrics (jersey, tricot) | Thread for knits: No. 50–60 | 75/11–90/14, ball point needle (gold-coloured) |
| Fabrics that fray easily | Cotton and synthetic: No. 50–90. Silk: No. 50 | 65/9–90/14 |
| Topstitching | Synthetic and silk: No. 30 | 100/16 |
| Topstitching | Synthetic and silk: No. 50–60 | 75/11–90/14 |
| Any fabric | Transparent nylon thread | 90/14–100/16 |
What you can sew
Based on the Brother user manual.
- Plain seams: straight stitch no. 2. It is recommended to sew a straight reinforcing stitch at the beginning and end of zigzag stitching
- Topstitching and lightweight fabrics: straight stitch; for stretch fabrics – triple stretch stitch no. 20
- Zigzag: stitch no. 3 (width 0–5 mm); with the length set in the “F”–“1” range you get a close zigzag (satin) stitch for buttonholes and decorative stitches
- Buttonholes: automatic 1-step buttonhole no. 1, buttonhole foot “A” (see the section “Features”)
- Zip insertion: zip foot “I”, straight stitch no. 2, width 2.5 (centre needle position), length 2–3 mm; the zip foot can be fitted to the right or left of the needle
- Sewing on buttons: button sewing foot “M” and darning plate, zigzag stitch no. 3; set the width to match the distance between the holes in the button. Before sewing, check that the needle enters the holes without hitting the button, sew about 10 stitches slowly, and at the end pull the upper thread to the wrong side of the fabric and tie it with the bobbin thread
- Gathering: straight stitch, length 4 mm; loosen the upper thread tension, sew one or more rows and pull the lower threads
- Darning: darning plate and a straight stitch of any length; remove the presser foot and its holder and lower the presser foot lever, put the area to be darned under the foot together with reinforcing fabric and sew, alternately drawing the work gently away from you and towards you until the area is filled with parallel lines of stitching; hold the fabric stretched
- Appliqués: zigzag stitch no. 3, length “F”–2, any width; baste the cut-out design to the fabric and carefully sew around its edge
- Hems: blind hem stitch no. 4 (non-stretch fabrics) and stretch blind hem stitch no. 7 (stretch fabrics); hems of skirts and trousers are easier to sew with the flat bed attachment removed (free arm). The optional blind stitch foot F018N can be used not only for blind hems but also for sewing fabric edges and seams
- Mending, sewing on elastic and joining fabric: elastic stitch no. 6; for joining fabric it is very effective on knitted fabrics, and with nylon thread the stitch is not visible
- Edges of lightweight fabrics: the shell tuck stitch no. 5 makes a picot (lacelike) edge; set the thread tension tighter than normal
- Joining pieces of fabric, for example for patchwork: double action stitch no. 9, bridging stitch no. 10, rampart stitch no. 11 and decorative hem stitch no. 29
- Joining pieces of fabric with a gap between their edges (fagoting): stitches no. 27 and 28; the stitch looks more decorative with thicker thread. Fold the edges with an iron, baste them about 2 mm apart onto thin paper or water-soluble stabiliser, draw a line down the middle of the paper, set the width to 5 and sew with the centre of the presser foot aligned along the middle of the two pieces of fabric; afterwards remove the paper and the basting
- Joining seams and finishing the edge in one operation (overedge stitching): elastic shell tuck stitch no. 12, elastic overlock stitches no. 22 and 23 (for stretch fabrics) and comb stitch no. 25; position the fabric so that the seamline is about 3 mm to the left of the centre of the presser foot, and if the seam allowance is wider than the stitch pattern, trim the excess after sewing; when sewing the elastic overlock stitch, keep the edge of the fabric to the left of the needle
- Sewing heavyweight stretch fabrics: triple zigzag stretch stitch no. 21 can be used wherever a zigzag stitch would be used; it can also be used as a decorative topstitch
- Decorative finish: feather stitch no. 24 (for example for embroidery and hems of curtains, tablecloths or blankets); place the fabric right side up, sew 1 cm from the edge and then trim close to the stitching, and the stitch will prevent the fabric from unravelling
- Decorative topstitching and smocking: scallop stitches no. 8 and 16, bead stitch no. 13, arrowhead stitch no. 14, parallelogram stitch no. 15, lightning stitch no. 17, square stitch no. 18, link stitch no. 35 and decorative stitches no. 19, 26, 30–34, 36 and 37
Video
This video was published by another author, not by Brother.
Technical specifications
| Number of stitches | 37, including a buttonhole |
|---|---|
| Buttonhole | Automatic, 1-step |
| Construction | Mechanical, stitch selected with a dial |
| Stitch length | Adjustable with a separate dial: recommended length from “F” to 4 mm (see the table); for the stitches no. 20–37 (“SS” setting) the length is fixed at 2.5 mm |
| Stitch width | Adjustable with a separate dial: 0–5 mm (see the table); with the straight stitch and the triple stretch stitch the width changes the needle position |
| Reverse | Lever; according to the Brother basic operation manual, the length of reverse stitches is fixed at 2 mm |
| Bobbin | Top-loading |
| Bobbin type | Brother code SFB: XA5539-151; bobbin height 11.5 mm |
| Bobbin case | Brother code XE9326-001 |
| Needles | Only needles for home sewing machines, from 65/9 to 100/16 (see the table “Fabrics, threads and needles”). Follow the combinations in the table: a wrong combination may bend or break the needle, and the seam may be uneven, the fabric may pucker or stitches may be skipped |
| Recommended threads | No. 30–90 (according to the manual's table), silk No. 30–60; thread of No. 20 or lower (heavier thread) must not be used |
| Needle threader | Yes; works with 75/11 to 100/16 needles, not with a 65/9 needle, transparent nylon or metallic thread, thread of 130/120 or thicker, or a wing needle or twin needle |
| Twin needle (optional accessory) | Only 2.0/75 (X57521-021), with zigzag foot “J”; stitch width no more than 2.5 |
| Free arm | Yes |
| Accessory compartment | Yes, in the removable flat bed attachment |
| Lighting | LED |
| Bobbin winder | Yes |
| Thread cutter | Yes |
| Foot controller | KD-2902 (according to the manual, for 220–240 V areas) |
| Country of origin | Vietnam |
| Intended use | Household use (according to the Brother manual) |
| Warranty | 3 years |
In the box
In the box according to the Brother operation manual; the manual notes that the included accessories may vary by model.
- Zigzag foot “J” (fitted to the machine)
- Buttonhole foot “A”
- Zip foot “I”
- Darning plate
- Button sewing foot “M”
- Bobbin (one is in the machine)
- Needle set (90/14 needles): 3 or 2 pieces, depending on the set
- Screwdriver
- Foot controller (with power cord)
Optional accessories
Depending on the set, some of these accessories may already be in the box. List compiled from the Brother operation manual and the Brother support page section 'Consumables & Options' for this model.
- Extra spool pin XE2241-001
- Twin needle 2.0/75 X57521-021
- Walking foot F034N
- Quilting foot F005N
- 1/4-inch patchwork foot F001N
- Narrow hemmer foot F003N
- Blind stitch foot F018N
- Quilting guide F016N
- Wide table WT9
- Patchwork kit FP03
Manuals
Any questions?
Call +370 685 85915 or email info@siuvimomanija.lt. We will help you check whether this sewing machine is right for your work.