Anyone who is the least bit familiar with my opinions and ideas about buying sewing machines knows how I feel about spending hard earned money on sewing machines at stores like Walmart or anywhere else where you do not have an opportunity to actually see the machine in action.

You can just imagine how appalled I was when I visited a friend in Detroit who proudly informed me that she purchased a sewing machine on sale for $50 at Walmart.

Sight unseen, I told her that she’d be shopping for another sewing machine in less than year, but to be fair, I asked her permission to check it out.

Mind you, she purchased this sewing machine with the intentions of learning how to sew after she retires and since she is still working, had not yet even unpacked it.

At A Glance

Brother LS 2400

The first thing that caught my eye was a huge red stop sign on the inside flap of the box that read in bold letters… “STOP … please do not return to store… WE CAN HELP”.

Huge red stop sign

What follows is a toll free telephone number for owners to call for support. Another red light for me was a notation on the box indicating that customer support would be available ‘for the life of the product’.

Dials to control needle position

Now that would be all well and good if the product’s life expectancy was more than a few months. Unsuspecting people, however, would think that this might be a good thing.

As one would expect, the Brother LS 2400 looks pretty much like most other portable sewing machines on the market today. It is a very basic machine with only the bare minimum of features… easy to follow thread guides; a front loading bobbin; on board accessory storage; free arm; dials to control needle position, stitch length and width and tension; a reverse stitch lever and seam guides on the needle plate.

Detailed instructions as to how to assemble and care for the bobbin housing

There is also a decal on the front of the bobbin cover that gives detailed instructions as to how to assemble and care for the bobbin housing in both English and Spanish.

Features

Three needle positions

If you were expecting to find a lot of features on the Brother LS 2400, you will be sorely disappointed. It comes with the essential features on would need to operate any sewing machine and very, very little more.

In fact, the only feature that one might consider ‘extra’ on this very basic sewing machine is the needle guide with seam guides etched onto it and the needle position feature. Standard features on the Brother LS 2400 are:

• Straight and zigzag stitches only
• Three needle positions
• Manual tension adjustment
• Adjustable stitch length and width
• Manual four step buttonhole
• On board seam guide
• On board accessory storage
• Free arm
• Twin needle capability

Working on the Brother LS 2400

The easy to follow guides make threading the Brother LS 2400 and winding the bobbin simple and easy enough for an eight year old to follow.

With just a few options – needle position, straight or zigzag stitch and the stitch length and width – selection a stitch is much less challenging than when using a sewing machine with dozens of different stitch options from which to choose.

Dials on the top of the machine are clearly marked

The dials on the top of the machine are clearly marked to indicate which one is to be used to set the stitch length and which one is to be used to adjust the length. Needle position is adjusted by adjusting a lever up or down.

Working on the Brother LS 2400 made me feel as though it would break at any moment. It feels very flimsy and unstable. As I turned the dials, I had the feeling that they would either come off or break after a few uses.

It runs a bit ‘rough’, with a slow start and is loud. It also vibrates more than I feel any brand new sewing machine should.

The stitch quality was surprisingly very good… much, much better in fact than I expected from a machine that has the excessive number of structural flaws that I observed. Don’t forget, however, that when I worked on this machine for this review, it was the very first time it has been out of the carton. I sampled straight and zigzag stitches using various length and width settings.

Stitch quality was surprisingly very good

Each stitch was well defined, sturdy and secure. There have been other machines that I reviewed fresh out of the carton as well which did not produce stitch quality as well as those produced by the Brother LS 2400.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Accessories

Although I didn’t expect much, I was surprised to discover that the standard accessories included with the Brother LS 2400 did not even include a seam ripper or lint brush. The accessories that were encased in the on board accessories case were:

• Sap on zipper foot (stand multi-functional foot was on the machine when I unpacked it)
• Two extra bobbins (one on the machine for a total of three)
• Two extra needles
• A feed dog cover to accommodate the use of freehand sewing, sewing on buttons and bar tacking
• Instructional DVD
• Owner’s manual
• Quick reference guides – one of which tells you ‘do not return this product to the dealer’

Anyone who purchases the Brother LS 2400 has ability to purchase a number of optional accessories, including:

• Hard carrying case
• Extra bobbins
• All of the snap on presser feet that fit other machines in the Brother sewing machine line

Manual and DvD

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

I have so many issues with the Brother LS 2400 that I don’t where to start. In addition to everything discussed above, it has incorporated one of my pet peeves… a time wasting front loading bobbin that requires the user to remove the accessories case every time the bobbin needs to be changed.

Front loading bobbin

My friend said she purchased this sewing machine because she wants to learn how to sew all over again when she retires… and it was on sale. Knowing her as I do, she’ll be looking for a replacement within three to six months after she starts working on it if not sooner.

Like many of us, she took a sewing class in school many, many years ago and wants to return to the art of home sewing when she has more time to devote to making small home décor items and simple garments and accessories.

There is no significant investment of funds involved with the purchase of a Brother LS 2400. It might be a good sewing machine for a child to start with because if they decide they really don’t want to sew, there is no real loss. However, an adult in my friend’s position deserves a much better, more reliable sewing machine.

When you consider the fact that this review was the very first time this particular sewing machine had ever been used, I am inclined to believe that given the issues with noise, vibration and overall poor structure, the superior stitch quality that I observed will not be the case for long.

I was talking with an authorized Brother sewing machine service representative who told me that when a machine that is still under warranty comes to him for repair, Brother pays him almost as much as my friend paid for her machine, plus the cost of parts.

With this in mind, I cannot help but wonder how the manufacturer manages to make a profit producing and selling sewing machines of such poor quality.

It is very interesting that the manufacturer took the time and to actually add a bold red warning on the carton advising the purchaser to call them rather than take it back to the store.

Obviously, they knew in advance that the Brother LS 2400 was a machine that would not provide many years of satisfactory service. It’s even possible that the folks at the big box stores that carry these throw away machines are growing tired of all the returns and are perhaps grumbling about discontinuing the line.

If you ask me… and nobody really has … I think Brother should get out of the throw away sewing machine business altogether. It diminishes the company’s reputation for making the reliable sewing machines that it has become known for.

When compared with the top of the line Dream Machine, for example, one cannot help but wonder what they would do with their resources if they were not wasting time and energy producing something like the LS 2400.

If you want to look at it in a different way, I guess Brother should be commended for producing a line of machines that even the most restricted home budget can afford.

With this in mind, I believe they should put a lot more quality in their basic bottom tier machines in order to encourage people who purchase the low end machines to stick with the brand as their circumstances improve and they are able to make a more substantial investment in higher quality sewing machines.

In my honest opinion, there is a very real possibility that anyone who purchases the Brother LS 2400 could very well decide that they never want to touch another Brother sewing machine again. By putting out such an inferior product, the people at Brother are running the very real risk of losing a potential life-long customer.

The post Brother LS 2400 Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

I dropped by Eve and Dave’s Sewing Center in Ft. Lauderdale and was pleased to be able to review the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420, a compact portable computerized sewing machine in the very popular Project Runway line of sewing machines and sergers.

At A Glance

Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420

When I first saw the Brother Project Runway PC 420, it was inside the hard plastic case with only the foot pedal and knee lift visible.

Hard plastic case

Function buttons that are used in the stitch selection process

When the cover was removed, a compact computerized sewing machine was revealed with a small LCD screen and a series of strategically located stitch selection and function buttons.

Directly beneath the LCD screen, are function buttons that are used in the stitch selection process, including buttons used to adjust the stitch length and width.

There are also function buttons above the needle: start/stop; needle up/down; tie off; and reverse stitch. A variable speed control slider is situated just above the work area, between the column and the needle.

A ruler decal is situated on the front of the removable accessories case

There is a seam guide on the needle plate and a ruler decal is situated on the front of the removable accessories case. When the accessories case is not in place, the free arm is exposed. The drop feed control is located on the back of the free arm.

Features

• 294 utility and decorative stitch options
  • 3 alphanumeric fonts
  • 10 one-step buttonholes
• Twin needle function
• Drop feed
• On board advanced needle threader
• On board thread cutter
• On board seam guide
• Free arm
• On board accessory storage
• Variable speed control slider
• Knee lift
• Function control buttons
  • Start/stop
  • Automatic tie off
  • Adjustable stitch length and width
  • Stitch menu selection
  • Needle up/down
  • Reverse stitch
• My Custom Stitch
• On board threading and bobbin winding guides
• Capacity to hold up to five stitch combinations in memory

Free arm

Working on the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420

The easy to follow guides make winding the bobbin on the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420 as easy as possible.

There is also a guide adjacent to the see through bobbin cover which guides the user through the steps required to properly insert the drop in bobbin.

Winding the bobbin

After the machine is threaded and the bobbin in place, selecting from the 294 stitch options starts by depressing the menu button on the left side of the LCD screen.

There are three major stitch categories – utility stitches, decorative stitches and alphanumeric fonts. In each category, the user has several choices. In the utility stitch menu, there are eleven different stitches from which to choose, including ten one-step buttonholes.

LCD screen

The greatest number of stitches can be found in the four different categories in the decorative stitch menu, which includes heirloom and cross stitch patterns.

The stitch quality on the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420 is surprisingly sharp. Each stitch I sampled was perfectly formed, sturdy and secure.

Perfectly formed, sturdy and secure stitches

This machine is quiet and at the highest speed setting, lightning fast. The good news is there was no more vibration at the higher speeds than at the lowest setting, which I have noticed with some larger, more costly machines.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

• 11 Snap on presser feet
• Hard cover
• Owner’s manual
• Lint brush/seam ripper
• Scissors
• Screwdriver
• Bobbins
• Extra needles

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420 is one of the best machines in its class that I have seen to date. The sturdy construction, superior stitch quality and ease of operation were pleasant surprises.

Somehow, I was expecting it to perform far less efficiently than it did. Perhaps it was the compact size and light weight that led me to believe that this would not be a good review.

The only thing is could honestly find to complain about was the placement of the drop feed control. Engineers, even engineers who design sewing machines, are not the ones who use the end product on a regular basis.

I will never understand why anyone thought it was a good idea to put the drop feed control on the back of the machine. I have seen it on several different brands and have complained about it many, many times.

You cannot get to the drop feed control without first removing the entire accessories case. At least with the PC 420, it is not necessary to remove the accessories case, but having the drop feed control on the rear of the machine is highly inefficient nonetheless.

This is the one and only inefficient design detail that I found on the PS 420. All of the other function controls are ergonomically designed and easy to access. Hopefully, the designers will realize their mistake in the placement of the drop feed control and correct this one and only drawback in the very near future.

Function controls are ergonomically designed

It is easy to navigate guides and function keys make this machine an ideal choice for anyone who has never before used a computerized sewing machine, even though they may have been sewing for many decades.

It is also a great sewing machine for someone who has been away from sewing for many years while raising a family and/or focusing on a career.

For someone who already knows their way around a sewing machine, the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420 is the perfect bridge from working on a mechanical sewing machine to computerized home sewing.

I like the idea of children beyond the elementary school level learning to sew on this machine. It is even possible for younger children who are mechanically inclined to be able to master use of the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420 as well.

It is built in such a way that the green light indicating that it is ready to go does not come on until all of the stitch selection functions are properly set and the presser foot is in the down position. While this is a feature that is found on most computerized sewing machines, it seems to be more pronounced on this particular model.

One of the most interesting things I have observed about sewing machines and sergers bearing the Project Runway logo and label is that you can find Project Runway branding on machines at every price point.

I have seen the Brother Project Runway label on throw away machines in Walmart, on machines sold via the internet and on high end machines available exclusively at authorized Brother Inno-vis dealers.

The PC 420 is available at authorized Brother Inno-vis dealers as well as online. I understand that the online price is in most cases substantially lower than the price at a brick and mortar store. However, as I have stated in the past… there is nothing like the personal touch.

You cannot develop a relationship with a computer… at least not the kind of relationship that will be of help if you have a question about using your new sewing machine or the kind of relationship that will give you free lessons with the purchase of a new machine.

This is the kind of service that is available only through independent authorized sewing machine dealers. They say you get what you pay for, and in the case of the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420, this is definitely the case.

In addition, there is no way to get a hands on demonstration if you shop online. Even though I sing the praises of this and a few other sewing machines that may be available from an online vendor; when you shop online, you lose the advantage of having the benefit of knowing what to expect when you get your machine home.

I am a very strong proponent of the brick and mortar sewing machine dealer. Don’t get me wrong. I love the internet and do plenty of online shopping myself.

I have purchased many sewing supplies and even a few sewing machine accessories online. I would never, however, purchase a sewing machine this way.

Your independent sewing machine dealer is a very special person, one with whom you really need to establish and build a genuine face to face relationship. Your sewing machine is in some cases more important than your automobile.

You need to be able to reach out to your independent sewing machine dealer with questions, to troubleshoot any problems that may arise with your sewing machine and to get hands-on instructions in the proper use and care of your new acquisition.

If you decide to add the PC 420 to your sewing room inventory, the final decision as to where you purchase it and how much your pay for it is entirely up to you.

I am here to help you decide and to give you the benefit of my expertise as someone who has been sewing most of their life and has a passion for all things related to the operation of sewing machines of all kings.

The post Brother Project Runway Limited Edition PC 420 Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

One of the machines in the new BERNINA 7 series is the 710, a brand new sewing and quilting machine that I had an opportunity to review on a visit to Once Upon a Quilt in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

At A Glance

BERNINA 710

The first things you notice on the BERNINA 710 are the shiny white and silver front and the large full color LCD screen. Among other things, the touch screen is used to select stitches, access the on board tutorial and adjust the stitch length and width.

The BERNINA 710 has a start/stop button, needle up and down, reverse stitch, variable speed control slider, stop stitch button, an automatic thread cutter and an extra large free arm.

Features

BERNINA Stitch Regulator

The BERNINA 710 comes with the following standard features:

• 680 total decorative and utility stitches
• 29 utility stitches
• 11 one step buttonholes
• 2 darning programs
• 200 decorative stitches
• 23 quilting stitches
• 21 cross stitch programs
• 5 alphanumeric sewing fonts
• B9 hook – bobbin holds 80 percent more thread
• Upper and lower thread sensors
• On screen assistance
• On board tutorial
• BERINA creative consultant
• USB port
• Ability to change stitches while sewing

Working on the BERNINA 710

Threading BERNINA sewing machines and winding the bobbins are two of the easiest tasks associated with the 710.

This fully computerized machine has a stitch selection process that is easy when you get the hang of it, but in my opinion, a challenge for the technologically challenged or beginners.

Fully computerized machine

Utility, decorative, quilting and alphanumeric stitches are stored in files. In order to access stitches, you must first go into the menu and select the type of stitch you want then select the desired stitch.

Graphics will then appear on the screen telling you which presser foot to use and giving you the default stitch length and width settings. Stitch length and width are adjusted on screen as well.

The stitch quality is in a word – excellent. For this review, I decided to do something a little different and toy with the freehand quilting function.

Excellent stitch quality

I must say, with the BERNINA Stitch Regulator [BSR] in place, the BERNINA 710 did an incredible job. The stitch regulator, however is not a standard accessory, and must be purchased separately.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

The accessories that come with the BERNINA 710 include:

• 4 presser feet
  • Reverse pattern
  • Buttonhole
  • Blind stitch
  • Zipper
• Lint brush/seam ripper
• Screwdriver
• Owner’s manual
• Bobbins
• Needles
• Spool pin
• Spool caps

In addition, BERNINA offers a long list of optional accessories available for separate purchase.

They include dozens of additional presser feet, sewing notions and attachments specifically designed for use with the BERNINA 710, including the BERNINA Stitch Regulator, which makes working with extra thick layers of fabric a breeze.

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The BERNINA 710 is a very good sewing and quilting machine. I wonder, however, why a machine that is promoted as being BERNINA’s latest and greatest sewing and quilting machine does not include the BSR as a standard accessory.

In my opinion, if I’m going to spend more than $4,000 for a quilting machine, everything I need to quilt successfully should be included.

One thing I really like about this machine is the on board tutorial. I also like the fact that you cannot make a mistake and use the wrong presser foot for a specific stitch. The correct presser foot identification is right there when you make your stitch selection.

The BERNINA 710 is not for beginners… not even technologically savvy beginners. Although I am sure some people will disagree with me, I feel that when someone is learning to sew, they should not have to also be burdened with learning the intricacies of a highly developed computerized sewing machine.

BERNINA 710 is not for beginners

There is so much to remember to do with this machine, I could easily see someone making the investment and then leaving it packed away in a closet somewhere because it is too complicated.

In truth, it isn’t all that complicated, but it’s too much for a beginner to keep up with. On the other hand, someone who has mastered the basics of sewing machine operation and is ready to move up to a machine with more capabilities would probably do very well with the BERNINA 710.

My only other reservation with the BERNINA 710 is the MSRP. I think if you’re going to charge this much for a sewing machine, it should not only sew and quilt, but also give you some embroidery choices as well. Of the three machines in the BERNINA 7 series, the 710 is the least costly one and the only one that offers absolutely NO embroidery features whatsoever.

No doubt, if you are seriously interested in purchasing a BERNINA 710, your local BERNINA dealer will be willing to negotiate the price. Special pricing and discounts are also available from time to time.

If machine quilting is your forte, and you are in the market for a new sewing and quilting machine, I think you owe it to your self to visit your local BERNINA dealer for a demonstration.

The post BERNINA 710 Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

One day, while visiting Eve and Dave’s Sewing Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, I came across the Singer 5932, an electronic sewing machine that was made sometime in the 1980s.

At A Glance

Singer 5932

The first thing you notice on the Singer 5932 is the graphic display of all the stitch options across the head and the levers which control the stitch width as well as a lever to adjust the tension settings.

The stitch selectin dial is on the column and directly beneath that is a lever which is used to adjust the stitch length with the reverse stitch button right next to it.

There is a seam guide etched onto the needle plate, a drop in bobbin and a removable work space that gives the user access to the convenient free arm.

Removable work space

The power switch is conveniently located on the front of the machine as well, directly under the reverse stitch button.

Features

The BERNINA 710 comes with the following standard features:

• 21 on board decorative and utility stitch options
  • One 4-step buttonhole
• Adjustable stitch length and width
• Reverse stitch
• Lift off work space
• Drop in bobbin
• Semi-automatic tension adjustment
• Free arm

Working on the Singer 5932

Easy to follow on board threading guides made threading the Singer 5932 easy enough for a child of seven or eight to accomplish.

Graphic depiction of the desired stitch

The bobbin winding mechanism is engaged by simply depressing an indentation on the inside section of the balance wheel, which in a lot of cases is simpler than the bobbin winding system on older and newer sewing machines.

Once the machine is threaded and the drop in bobbin is securely nested in its place, selecting a stitch option is as easy as turning the dial on the column until the green light is illuminated beneath the graphic depiction of the desired stitch.

After the stitch is identified, the stitch length and width can be adjusted by moving levers to the left or right. The quality of the stitches produced by the Singer 5932 is adequate.

The utility stitches came out perfectly. I did, however have a slight issue with the density of the decorative stitches, particularly the scallop stitch.

Perfect stitch quality

Getting them to come out with the density that I would find acceptable took a bit of manipulation of both the stitch length and width settings, before I achieved something that I considered to be passable.

The machine, when operating at maximum speed – with the foot pedal fully engaged – is relatively quiet but there was a more vibration than I would like.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 4 snap on presser feet:
  • General purpose foot
  • Special purpose foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Buttonhole foot
• Needles
• Lint brush
• Spool holder
• Blind hem guide
• Multi-purpose needle plate with seam guides
• Plate cover in lieu of drop feed [for bar tacking, attaching buttons and freehand sewing]

Optional accessories:

• Straight stitch needle plate
• Seam ripper
• Twin needle and additional spool pin
• Seam guide
• Needle threader
• Optional presser feet
  • Straight stitch foot
  • Overedge foot
  • Even feed foot
  • Darning and embroidery foot
  • Button foot
  • Blind stitch foot
  • Narrow hemmer foot

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

When I first saw this particular sewing machine, I was reminded of the Singer that purchased in the early 1990s and sold at a yard sale around 2001 or 2002 because it was so disappointing.

The machine I had was a different model. Unfortunately, I do not remember the exact model number. I do remember, however that the bobbin winding mechanism, stitch selection process and power switch placement were identical. My machine, as I recall, had only 12 – 15 stitch options.

Stitch length and width adjustment controls

The 5932 that I reviewed had just been refurbished and therefore worked the same way mine did when I first purchased it. Rather than dwell upon my disappointments with my old sewing machine, let’s focus on this one instead.

Let’s start with that I liked. I like the ease with which the stitch length and width adjustment controls are moved and the placement is ideal.

At first, I was a bit concerned that the lever that controls the width is at the top of the machine and the length adjustment lever is at the bottom, but when I was working with them, I had no difficulty whatsoever.

The location of the power switch is great. There is no fumbling around trying to find it on the side or bending over to locate it.

The bobbin winding mechanism is one that I really liked when I first got my machine that resembled this one. However, over time, that became a huge problem. I usually sew at super high speeds.

After several years of high speed sewing on my portable Singer, I was forced to slow down. You see, the problem I had with this machine was the fact that when sewing at maximum speed, the balance wheel would literally fly off.

Plate cover

It snapped back into place quite easily, but after several trips to the repair shop, I eventually decided to simply release the machine. I honestly cannot say whether my problem was caused by the design of the bobbin winding mechanism, but I do know that this system is no longer in use on newer sewing machines.

The stitch selection process is as simple as can be. All you have to do is turn the dial on the column. There is a tiny green light that shines through a small opening underneath each stitch option.

To be honest, as easy as this step is, seeing this green light can be a challenge in a brightly lit space. The green light could very well have been very bright at one time and lost its brilliance over time, but and who sews in a dimly lit room? This never became a problem for me with the machine that I sold.

The stitch quality is adequate, but there was a challenge with the density of the scallop stitch option. After toying with the length and width settings, however, I have seen better quality on many other sewing machines.

The plate which covers the feed dogs is a bit of an inconvenience if you ask me. In my opinion, having the ability to actually lower the feed dogs makes for smoother sewing and much better results.

When I had that machine, I did use it for freehand sewing and quilting, but only once or twice. I found it much easier to darn, and perform other tasks that called for the feed dogs to be out of the way on a different machine.

It wasn’t long before I only used the plate cover to attach buttons on my portable Singer. Besides, if you are the kind of person who has a problem keeping up with your sewing machine accessories, it is entirely possible that you could lose this small plastic gizmo and therefore lose the capability of performing any task that required covering the feed dogs.

When it is all said and done, I think the Singer 5932 is a good machine for teaching a child the art of sewing. I do not recommend it for use by anyone who is at or beyond the intermediate level.

This machine is lightweight and easy to carry to class or on vacation. As I recall, however, it does not come with a cover, and a dust cover was not listed in the manual as an accessory.

I like to keep my sewing machines set up at all times and clearly remember having to purchase a soft dust cover for my own portable Singer. In my opinion, a dust cover, hard or soft, is a mandatory accessory.

Whether you like to keep your machines set up and ready for action like I do or if you stow it away when it is not in use, you absolutely need something to protect it from dust and dirt.

The original carton that it comes in is in my opinion, not a good substitute because once you break the seal and take it out of the box, it loses its integrity. Every time you take it out of the box, you weaken it and you are almost never able to put it back the way it was originally packed.

I think anyone who purchases the Singer 5932 should be prepared to deal with sewing at lower speeds, and to take it in for servicing more often than you might have to take other sewing machines in its same class.

I really enjoyed sewing on my Singer portable for a few years and used it quite a bit. However, when the problems started, they continued. I sold that sewing machine more than 10 years ago and although I liked it when it worked properly, I have not regretted getting rid of it.

It is not a bad machine for students. In fact, I sat my four year old granddaughter on my lap and helped her make her very first clothing item… an elastic waist skirt made with Tweety Bird fabric.

But as her skills improved, I moved her to a sturdier mechanical sewing machine that is older than her dad that I use to this day. I liked having access to a wider range of stitches, but the inconvenience of having to sew at a much slower speed was not worth the hassle.

During this review, I tested the performance of the Singer 5932 at maximum speed. Although it vibrated more than I thought it should, the balance wheel stayed in place.

Then again… it had just been refurbished. I did not ask what had to be done to it before it was ready for the sales floor. I only know that it had been completely serviced and refurbished.

This is a case where I must say ‘buyer beware’. Dave at Eve and Dave’s Sewing Center is a wonderful technician and if it is at all possible for a machine to be put in tip top shape, he can do it.

By the way… I was living in a different part of the state when I got rid of my own portable Singer sewing machine. Perhaps if I had taken it to a service provider as competent as my friends at Eve and Dave’s Sewing Center, I might still have it.

I believe that anyone who acquires the Singer 5932 could be very happy with it if they do not expect too much out of it. If you want a machine for mending and occasional use, you could be very happy with this machine. If, however, you are looking for a workhorse, my recommendation is that you continue your search.

The post Singer 5932 Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

Words simply cannot express how delighted I was to finally be able to review a Necchi sewing machine. I had been reading about the Necchi brand and looking high and low for new Necchi sewing machines for years.

I finally came upon a Necchi 4825 on display one day while visiting Ace Sewing and Vacuum in Pompano Beach, Florida.

At A Glance

Necchi 4825

Large stitch selection panel on the column

One of the first things that caught my eye on the Necchi 4825 was the bright red, white and blue motif, followed by the large stitch selection panel on the column and the very large, easy to see stitch display window.

The Necchi 4825 also has a brightly lit workspace, a free arm and a needle plate with seam guides etched onto it. There is also a very large reverse stitch button on the front of the column, below the stitch selection display.

The stitch selection dial is on the right of the column, just beneath the balance wheel. Below the stitch selection dial is the button hole stitch width control dial.

A see through cover and seam guides on the needle plate

Dials on the top of the head above the workspace control the stitch width and length adjustment. Also on the top of the machine head are dials to control the tension and presser foot pressure. Both of these dials are located above the needle.

The Necchi 4825 also has an automatic needle threader and a drop in bobbin with a see through cover and seam guides on the needle plate. When the on board accessory case is removed, a convenient free arm is revealed.

Features

• 29 decorative and utility stitch options
  • One four step buttonhole
• Drop in bobbin
• Adjustable stitch length and width
• Manual tension adjustment
• Buttonhole stitch width adjustment
• On board thread cutter
• Free arm
• Dial up stitch selection
• Stitch display window
• Needle plate with seam guides
• On board accessory storage

Working on the Necchi 4825

On board guides make threading the Necchi 4825 and winding the bobbin kids’ play. I have no doubt a child in elementary school will be able to master these tasks in no time at all and be able to perform with the minimum of adult supervision after just one or two attempts.

The stitch selection process is just as easy. All that is required is to simply turn the dial until the desired stitch appears in the magnifying window on the column.

On board accessory case

The stitch quality, however, is poor. The machine is noisy and it vibrates. Neither the noise nor the vibration is so bad that I would call them major distractions. The problem is the stitch quality.

Poor stitch quality

I sampled more than half the stitch options and in my opinion, only the straight and zigzag stitches were acceptable. Even after several attempts to adjust the tension, stitch length and width, all of the other stitches I sampled were poorly formed and weak.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 5 snap on presser feet
  • All purpose foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Buttonhole foot
  • Button attachment foot
  • Overlock cutter foot
• 2 screwdrivers (1 large/1 small)
• Seam ripper/lint brush
• Extra needles
• Bobbins
• Seam guide
• 2 spool holders (1 large/1 small)
• Extra spool pin with felt

Extra needles

Optional accessories:

• Twin needle
• Additional presser feet
  • Satin stitch foot
  • Overcasting foot
  • Hemmer foot
  • Cording foot
  • Blind hem foot
  • Darning foot
  • Quilting foot
  • Gathering foot
  • Walking foot

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

I like the large stitch display window for senior citizens who want to sew, but have challenges with eye strain. This and the easy threading process are probably the only favorable things I have to say about the Necchi 4825.

After waiting so long to review a Necchi, I was sorely disappointed with this sewing machine to say the least. In my opinion, the Necchi 4825 is only good for teaching a young child to sew.

If you do purchase one of these machines for a youngster, my advice is that you not pay more than $100 for it and that you be prepared to replace it as soon as the child’s sewing skills begin to develop to the point where he or she can make and wear garments for themselves and others.

If the quality of the stitches produced by the Necchi 4825 and if there was a little less noise and vibration, I might be inclined to recommend the Necchi 4825 for use by people who want to use it for mending and occasional use. I cannot in good conscious recommend this machine for anyone who is the least bit serious about sewing.

In addition to the aforementioned problems I have with the Necchi 4825, there is one other thing with which I am uncomfortable as well.

Owner’s manual

Although the Necchi 4825 comes with two screwdrivers, the owner’s manual instructions say that a coin must be used when manipulating the presser foot adjustment and buttonhole stitch width adjustment dials.

In my humble opinion, everything needed to operate the basic functions of any sewing machine should be included as part of the standard accessory package.

It would have been a simple maneuver to include one of those screwdriver-like tools that has three or four different edges, each of which is a different length and width.

This, I believe would have alleviated the need to keep a coin in the sewing room just to adjust the width of your buttonhole stitches and change the presser foot pressure when you need to.

When you consider the fact that the Necchi brand had such a wonderful reputation in its heyday, it is truly disappointing to think that some of the new sewing machines bearing the Necchi name have fallen into such a sad state. After all, Necchi sewing machines were at one time revered the world over.

Sophia Loren and other Italian celebrities even endorsed the brand at one time. In addition, Necchi sewing machines were on permanent display at New York’s Museum of Modern Art for their innovative design, quality and workmanship.

When I reviewed the Necchi Pro Lock PL 1020, I found it encouraging and left with the feeling that the brand had maintained its long-standing reputation for sewing machine innovation and excellence. Unfortunately, we have witnessed the demise of other venerable sewing machine brands through corporate buy outs and outsourcing.

The most glaring example of the decline of a sewing machine brand is the recent history of the Singer sewing machines and sergers. Anyone who has been around sewing machines for more than 20 years can attest to the fact that Singer was the trendsetter for all home sewing machines.

The brand was cloned and copied for more than a century. I own a Singer clone that has been used heavily for more than 40 years and is still going strong.

A sewing buddy of mine still uses a Singer sewing machine that she inherited from her grandmother more than 50 years ago… and her grandmother had inherited it many years before that.

I sincerely hope that the Necchi 4825 is an anomaly and that other newer model Necchi sewing machines are better than this one. Hope springs eternal, and I continue to look forward to getting an opportunity to review many more late model Necchis in the future.

The post Necchi 4825 Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

While making my rounds to different sewing machine stores, I have been noticing a new type of sewing and quilting accessory, but had no real idea what it was all about.

On a recent visit to Ace Sewing and Vacuum in Pompano Beach, this odd looking box happened to catch my eye once more. When I asked the sales associate about it, I learned that it was an Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter.

She was extremely animated as she explained that it is a quilter’s dream come true. The Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter is used to cut multiple quilting blocks and patterns with the mere touch of a button.

At A Glance

Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter

When closed, the Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter looks like a cross between a portable sewing machine in its case and a utensil salesman’s display case.

There is a built in handle that is designed to give the Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter portability. It snaps open at the top and the hinges on the bottom allow it to lie open on your work table, exposing the power button, a spacious work table, and an opening that houses the cutting mechanism.

A portable sewing machine

Features

• Cuts up to 6 layers of fabric
• Compatible with all Accuquilt dies

Pros

• Cut multiple layers of fabric simultaneously
• Fast, easy cutting of quilting and applique shapes

Cons

• Unit comes with only one die as a standard accessoryv

Working on the Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter

Cut up to six pieces of fabric with one pass.

Although I had seen mechanized fabric cutters on display, this was my very first attempt at ever using one of these new cutting machines for home use. The Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter is possibly as simple as any mechanical cutting machine could be.

When the machine is closed in its carrying position, the handle is obviously at the top and the cutting mechanism at the bottom.

When you open the machine and lay it flat, the cutting mechanism is at one end and the rest forms a work table, large enough for the user to lay out their fabric choices and assemble them onto the dye. The really good news is you can cut up to six pieces of fabric with one pass.

The dies are designed in such a way that they are compatible with all types of fabrics. According to the sales associate at Ace Sewing and Vacuum and the Accuquilt website, the number of fabric layers the machine can cut accurately depends entirely upon the type of fabric you use.

I found this convenient table the Accuquilt website. It is very helpful in helping users determine exactly what their limits are when using the Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter.

I watched in awe as the sales associate sorted out various batik swatches and laid them atop the butterfly die and covered the stack of fabric with a cutting sheet.

Butterfly die

The purpose of the cutting sheet is to keep the fabric stable while moving through the cutter. She then slid the die into place and pushed the button. The die then moved smoothly through the cuter.

When it came out the other end, we had enough perfectly formed, evenly matched butterfly wings and bodies to make four appliques with fusible stabilizer already in place. The next step was to determine which color combinations to use with an assortment of pre-cut background pieces.

Evenly matched butterfly wings and bodies

When the butterfly applique pieces were assembled, they were finished by using a decorative stitch on the sewing machine to add the antennae.

We had lots of fun playing around with butterflies. However, the butterfly die must be purchased separately. According to the Accuquilt website, the die that is included with the Go Big Fabric Cutter is the Flying Geese die.

Flower Die

The next die I played around with was not the flying geese, but the Orange Peel. It is possibly one of the most versatile dies in the entire Accuquilt collection. It can be used to create leaves on a stem, a flower, or one of many designs that you can dream up with own imagination.

Orange Peel

Accessories

• One dye

Conclusion

The carrying handle on the Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter is convenient when it is necessary to move it about, but if you ask me, it might too heavy for some people to move about too often.

Optional dies

It only weighs 23 pounds, and that is not what anyone would call an especially heavy machine, but any machine that weighs more than about 15 pounds can create a strain on shoulders and wrists that may be challenged by arthritis or one of those other conditions that pop up after we pass a certain age.

I thoroughly enjoyed working on the Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter and am impressed by the number of optional dies that can be used with it. With the very large cutting area, it is even possible to use two dies at once.

Since this is the very first cutting machine of this type that I have ever had an opportunity to review, I cannot in good consciousness give it a rating. I can, however, say that the Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter is fun to work with.

I am not a quilter, but I do like to make my own appliques from time to time. I was particularly impressed by the number of optional cutting dies that are available.

Great variety of Optional dies

The people at Accuquilt recognize that just one die is not enough and have even come up with a storage rack to hold all of the dies that you purchase. In addition there are loads of other accessories which can be found at local dealers who sell Accuquilt products or through the Accuquilt website.
Accuquilt also makes other cutters in order to fulfill everyone’s specific cutting needs.

• The Accuquilt Go Baby is designed to handle small dies only. It comes with two dyes, is operated by a crank handle and weighs only 8 ½ pounds. The work surface is 17 x 12 ½.
• The Accuquilt Go Fabric Cutter Starter Set is also operated manually, comes with just one dye, is compatible with all Accuquilt dyes, has a work area of 30 ½ x 17 and weighs 15 pounds.
• The Accuquilt Studio 2 Fabric Cutter is designed for commercial use or for the person who spends nearly all of their time in the sewing room on quilting projects. The work surface is 30 ¼ x 24 ¾. It weighs 32 pounds and is the only machine in the Accuquilt Fabric Cutter family that is not portable. It is also the only fabric cutter in the Accuquilt line that has a warranty of more than one year. Anyone who purchases the Accuquilt Studio 2 Fabric Cutter has the advantage of a three year warranty instead.

In my opinion, the Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter is not just for quilters. Although I have never considered myself to be a quilter, I do occasionally make my own appliques.

Fabric Cutter

With a machine like one of the fabric cutters in the Accuquilt line, I just might think about making appliques a little more frequently. Watching this machine at work and looking over the many different die options, it makes one think long and hard about the notion of adding appliques to more and more sewing projects.

It’s easy to see great appliques embellishing your home on accent décor items like throw pillows; accessories like scarves and bags; and all sorts of clothing items from blouses to jackets, coats, skirts, dresses and even casual pants.

Children of all ages love appliques. With a fabric cutter in your sewing room, you could decorate their toys, blankets, clothes and even their school bags.

The Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter is not for everyone but if you enjoy creating your own appliques, or if you are interested in machine quilting, this little machine could be a welcome addition to your sewing room.

Regardless of whether you go for the Accuquilt Go Baby or the Accuquit Studio 2, you will be sure to find one within your budget. Depending upon the model you choose, you can bring an Accuquilt fabric cutter home for as little as $130 or as much as $595.

Dies may be purchased separately or in bundles. The most costly bundle will cost you about $400. Don’t let that scare you, though. Bundles cost as little as $66. You can also purchase a single die for as little as $19.99.

If you have any reservations, I suggest you do what I did. Go to your local Accuquilt dealer and ask for a demonstration of the Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter as well as the other fabric cutters in the Accuquilt line.

You just might come across one that is a perfect fit for your specific needs. After looking at all of the options and considering the possibilities, I think many of the new fabric cutters on the market will be finding homes in sewing rooms around the world – even lots of sewing rooms where there is absolutely no machine quilting taking place.

The post Accuquilt Go Big Fabric Cutter Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

While visiting Sunshine Sewing and Quilting in Margate, Florida, I had an opportunity to review the new Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX.

Faye Nicholl, Sunshine owner and manager points out that “this machine is only for people who know what they want to do with it”. In order words, the Cover Pro 2000 CPX is a highly specialized single purpose machine.

At A Glance

Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX

Looper tension switching lever

The Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX looks very much like the Cover Pro 1000 CPX with one very distinct difference.

The 2000 CPX has a looper tension switching lever to the left of the looper tension disc. More on this brand new feature as we discuss working on this machine. It also has a free arm.

Dials on the right side, beneath the balance wheel give the user control of the adjustable stitch length, and differential feed.

Dials on the right side

Inside the looper door are two decals… one showing the proper threading pattern for the needles and the second with complete threading instructions.

Both decals are color coded, making the threading process as uncomplicated as possible.

Features

• Work with up to three needles and four threads
• Single needle chain stitch
• Adjustable stitch width and length
• Work area – 4” x 5 ½”
• Differential feed
• STS – Seam tightening system
• TLC – Tension level control (looper tension switching lever)
• LED lighting
• Adjustable foot pressure
• On board treading guide inside looper door

Working on the Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX

The on board threading guides make setting the Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX for work child’s play. No matter if you are using three threads or just one, threading this machine is simple and uncomplicated.

The new tension switching lever makes it possible for the user to effortlessly change the tension level from tight to loose with the mere touch of a fingertip.

This added feature is the single most outstanding innovation on the Cover Pro 2000 CPX, and one that will no doubt make working with different fabric textures and thicknesses much more user friendly.

On board threading guides

When you are working with a single purpose machine, you are entitled to expect that it operate flawlessly and this is certainly the case with the Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX.

The quality of the stitches is superb. I found it interesting that the manual for this single purpose machine mentioned the capability to produce ‘decorative stitches’.

Quality of the stitches is superb

When I asked about this statement, I was told that the ‘decorative stitches’ were in essence, the underside of the chain stitched fabric.

It was then that I discovered that as the stitch length and width was adjusted, there was, indeed, a sort of decorative border stitch on the underside of the fabric.

In my opinion, this ‘decorative’ stitch could realistically be used to embellish a border or a blouse front. It would take some imagination and creativity, but there are some very definite possibilities with this unusual idea of creating decorative stitches when using a cover stitch only machine.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• Quick reference guide
• Dust cover
• 4 cones of thread
• 4 spool nets
• 4 spool caps
• Lint brush
• Seam ripper
• Extra needles
• 2 Screwdrivers (1 large/1 small)
• Tweezers
• Needle threader
• Owner’s manual

Optional accessories:

• Adjustable seam guide
• Hem guide
• Elastic gathering attachment
• Center guide foot (for use with 3 needles)
• Clear view cover stitch foot
• Extension table
• Tape binder (for use with 3 needles)

Accessories

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX is a very good machine for anyone who is ready to add a single purpose chain stitch machine to their sewing room.

The excellent stitch quality and ease of operation makes this an ideal choice for the home sewer who has never before used a cover stitch machine as well as the seasoned home sewer with lots of experience with a machine such as this.

Owner’s manual

The on board diagrams showing the different threading patterns for the various stitch options are easy to understand and follow. I believe that after just a few passes, anyone will be able to master this step with no hesitation whatsoever.

The quick reference guide is an excellent tool to have on hand just in case there may be some question about adjusting the tension, length, width or when and how to use the differential feed.

According to Faye Nicholl, Sunshine owner and manager, the only real difference between the 2000 CPX and the Janome 1000 CPX is the addition of the new looper tension switching lever which is situated next to the looper tension disc on the front of the machine.

I was really impressed by the ease with which the tension was tightened and loosened to accommodate varying thicknesses and types of fabric.

This little addition is a wonderful idea, and an idea whose time has definitely come. This innovation has made using a cover stitch machine designed for home use almost as flexible and powerful as one made for use in factories and professional studios.

When I look back at my review of the Cover Pro 1000 CPX, I see what she means. Like the 2000 CPX, that machine also performed at a very high level.

I thought it was a bit funny that even though I didn’t really discuss the ‘decorative stitch’ capability of the 1000 CPX, I did feature it in the photos in that review.

One other thing that I noticed in the review of the 2000 CPX that was only touched upon in the review of the 1000 CPX is the access to the free arm.

If you do not really look for it, it is very easy to mistakenly assume that there is no free arm on either of these machines. There is a very small piece that is removed to give the user access to the free arm.

Free arm

In my opinion, this simply does not give you enough space to work on a larger pant cuff, a multiple layers or a thicker fabric. If you ask me, this is the only thing that I would change on the Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX.

Ideally, I would like to see a free arm clearance of at least two inches. The free arm clearance on both the Janome Cover Pro 1000 CPX and the 2000 CPX is no more than an inch if that much.

There is no doubt that the Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX cannot do all that a sewing machine can do. Nor can it perform the functions of a serger.

If, however, you are in the market for a single purpose chain stitch machine that produces professional results, you are certainly a candidate for the 2000 CPX.

I recommend this machine for anyone who is seriously considering a chain stitch machine. It is well built, runs smoothly, is quiet and has virtually no vibration whatsoever, even when operating at the highest speed.

The Cover Pro 2000 CPX is available only at authorized Janome dealers, where you can get a hands on demonstration before making your purchase; and after taking the Cover Pro 2000 CPX home, new owners will have access to training and personalized customer service as they learn and adjust to using their new cover stitch machine.

The post Janome Cover Pro 2000 CPX Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

The Janome Memory Craft 6500 P is a sewing and quilting machine that has definitely stood the test of time. If you are like me, you often wonder what people who own sewing machine stores use for their own personal use.

I got an answer one day… at least from one store owner… while talking with Faye Nicholl, owner and manager of Sunshine Sewing and Quilting in Margate, Florida. Her machine of choice for the last 12 years has been and continues to be the Janome Memory Craft 6500 P.

Faye likes this machine so much, she has two that she uses in the store when making quilts for customers, making display items and working on any other sewing other project that requires her attention during the work day.

At A Glance

Janome Memory Craft 6500 P

A series of function and control buttons

You know there is something special about the Janome Memory Craft 6500 P by its construction. You could immediately tell that both of the machines in the store were special by the slightly worn paint on the metal work surface.

Any sewing machine that is used so much that the paint begins to wear off is one that is used quite a bit.

The Janome Memory Craft 6500 P has an on board needle threader, a retractable chrome thread guide, a monochromatic LCD screen, on board seam guides etched onto the needle plate, adjustable stitch length and width controls and a series of function and control buttons, including edit and memory buttons, stitch selection buttons and a series of function buttons above the needle: start/stop; needle up/down; reverse/lock stitch; and tie off/thread cut.

Stitch selection buttons

There is also a presser foot adjustment control with a window which allows the user to see the precise setting at a glance, a variable speed control slider and a knee lift. The drop feed control lever is located on the very front of the Memory Craft 6500 P, on the lower right hand side.

Features

• 135 decorative and utility stitch options
  • 7 One-step buttonholes
  • 4 Alphanumeric fonts (block or script – with or without European accents)
• Automatic thread tension control
• On board needle threader
• Needle up/down
• 5 Piece feed dog
• Drop feed
• Automatic thread cutter
• Start/stop button
• Locking stitch button
• Reverse button
• Twin needle guard
• Variable speed control slider
• 5 Memory banks
• Individual and combination stitch editing
• Last stitch recall
• Knee lift
• Auto declutch bobbin winding
• Extra high presser foot lift
• Monochromatic LCD screen
• Presser foot pressure adjustment
• Horizontal full rotary hook bobbin system
• Adjustable stitch length and width
• Vertical thread delivery system with dual thread guide bar
• On board cone thread guides
• On board stitch selection guide
• On board help

Needle up/down

Working on the Janome Memory Craft 6500 P

While it might at first appear as though threading the Janome Memory Craft 6500 P might be a challenge, the on board thread guides simplify the process for you.

In addition, the owner’s manual does a very good job of giving a detailed written description of each step. There are also guides which take you through the steps necessary to winding the bobbin and its proper insertion as well.

On board stitch selection guide

Once the machine is threaded and the bobbin is in place, the steps involved in selecting the desired stitch starts with referring to the on board stitch selection guide and identifying the mode or the menu where the desired stitch is located.

There are four different modes: 1) frequently used utility stitches; 2) patchwork and quilting stitches; 3) buttonholes and additional utility stitches; 4) alphanumeric fonts.

Spectacular results

For this review, I sampled several of the utility and decorative stitches in the quilt mode, simulating a real quilting situation with quilt batting sandwiched between two layers of fabric.

I even toyed with one of the applique stitch options to attach an applique. The results were spectacular. It didn’t matter which stitch option I sampled, every one of them came out with precision. The Janome Memory Craft 6500 P is solid, quiet and does no vibrate at all.

Applique

Although I didn’t use it during this review, I was genuinely impressed by the fact that the drop feed control is on front of the machine, right at your fingertips.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 13 Snap on presser feet
  • Zigzag foot
  • Overedge foot
  • Rolled hem foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Satin stitch foot
  • Blind hem foot
  • Cording foot
  • Overcasting foot
  • Automatic buttonhole foot
  • Basting/darning foot
  • ¼ ” Seam foot
  • Even feed foot
  • Open toe satin stitch foot
• Flathead screwdriver
• 4 Sided screwdriver tool
• Extra needles
• Lint brush
• Seam ripper
• 2 Spool holders (1 large/1 small)
• Extra bobbins
• Standard quilting bar
• Quilting bar for even feed foot
• Cloth guide with screw
• Owner’s manual
• Accessory storage case with presser foot storage compartment
• Knee lifter

Optional accessories:

• Ruffler
• Ribbon sewing guide
• Quilting attachment kit
• Pintucking cord guide
• Horizontal spool holder
• Extra-large foot controller
• Buttonhole stabilizer plate
• Optional Presser Feet
• Piping foot
• 3-way cording foot
• Applique foot
• Beading foot
• Binder foot
• Adjustable blind hem foot
• Blind hem foot
• Border guide foot
• Button sewing foot
• Invisible zipper foot
• Edge guide foot
• Fringing foot
• Gathering foot
• Set of hemmer feet
• Pintucking foot
• Ribbon/sequin foot
• Roller foot
• Rotary even foot
• Satin stitch foot
• Sliding buttonhole foot
• Sliding guide foot
• Straight stitch foot
• Ultraglide foot
• Screw on zipper foot
• Open toe satin stitch foot
• Low shank free motion quilting foot
• Ditch quilting foot
• Open toe satin stitch foot
• Low shank open toe darning foot
• Open toe foot with attached quilting guide

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

It was very easy for me to understand why the Janome Memory Craft 6500 P is a favorite of this sewing machine store owner. The P stands for ‘Professional’.

Some might mistakenly believe it is made for industrial use only. While the Janome Memory Craft 6500 P feels like an industrial machine and is excellent for use in a tailor shop or for professional alterations, it is designed for home use.

This sewing and quilting workhorse reminds me of the sewing machines made before the middle to late 1980s… the ones that were handed down from generation to generation.

The Janome Memory Craft 6500 P has just enough features to make sewing a major source of enjoyment and pleasure for anyone who appreciates a well-built sewing machine.

It does not have a free arm, but since it is designated as a quilting machine, a free arm is really not all that necessary. Besides, if you want to use it as a straight sewing machine, there are ways to achieve all of the tasks one performs with a free arm with just a few minor adjustments in technique.

A well-built sewing machine

I recommend the Janome Memory Craft 6500 P for anyone above the age of 10 years of age who sews. With this in mind, I concede that some, but not all children younger than 10 will be able to use this machine as well.

However, because of the extra steps required to make a stitch selection, I think younger children would get bored or frustrated.

The Janome Memory Craft 6500 P is so easy to work with, so sturdy and such a reliable sewing and quilting machine, I do not hesitate in recommending it for anyone who wants a machine that can do just about anything and is not concerned that it is not ‘the latest model’.

I have often said that the true test of a sewing machine is not how it operates when it is brand spanking new, but how it stands up after several years of constant heavy use.

The mere fact that for 21 years it has served the owner of a sewing machine store and she continues to be a dedicated user is enough testimony to convince me that the Janome Memory Craft 6500 P stands heads and shoulders above all other sewing and quilting machines in its class.

This is no lightweight or portable sewing machine. While it is not made with all metal parts, every one of the critical components are made of metal, not plastic.

Like all other sewing machines with computerized components, the Memory Craft 6500 P requires servicing by an authorized Janome service and repair specialist at least once a year – more often if it is used heavily.

No doubt, because it works so great, you might be tempted to forego the annual visit to the shop, but this is the only way to assure that all of the components work at optimum capacity for the life of the machine.

The particular machine that I reviewed has been in use for 12 years. I have no doubt that 24 years from now and beyond, the Janome Memory Craft 6500 will still be in service, providing many hours of flawless sewing and quilting.

Its performance and handling actually remind me of the sewing machines of days gone by. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Faye’s grandchildren inherit these Memory Craft 6500 P’s and when they do, they will still be in perfect working condition.

The good news is you can purchase a brand new Janome Memory Craft 6500 P from your local authorized Janome dealer for a very reasonable financial investment.

If you are in the market for a reliable sewing and quilting machine that has a proven track record for being an excellent addition to any sewing room, you owe it to yourself to take a long hard look at the Janome Memory Craft 6500 P.

The post Janome Memory Craft 6500 P Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

The long awaited Pfaff Creative 1.5 is a basic sewing and embroidery machine that was designed with the person who is adept at sewing but new to machine embroidery in mind.

I first saw the Pfaff Creative 1.5 while visiting Cynthia’s Fine Fabrics in Tamarac, Florida and saw it again when I drove to Jensen Beach, Florida to check out the newly re-designed Stuart Sew and Vac.

At A Glance

The Pfaff Creative 1.5 is smaller than most sewing and embroidery machines, but large enough to handle nearly all sewing and embroidery tasks with ease.

Pfaff Creative 1.5

At a Glance

There is a monochromatic LCD screen, a series of numerical buttons which are used to dial up stitches, an on board stitch selection guide is located beneath the lid; and there is a large dial on the left side of the machine which controls the presser foot pressure.

Stitch length and width are adjusted by buttons next to the LCD screen and sewing speed is regulated by a slider that is located on the column.

The large needle plate has seam guides all around and the user friendly see through bobbin cover makes it easy to determine when it is time to replace the bobbin.

On the right side of the machine is a USB port where the user inserts the flash drive that comes with the machine.

Features

• 150 on board utility and decorative stitches
  • 2 on board alphanumeric fonts
  • 101 built in embroidery designs
  • 2 on board embroidery fonts
• On board stitch selection guide
• Free arm
• On board threading guides
• Adjustable stitch length and width up to 7mm wide
• Embroidery area up to 240mm x 150mm
• Start/stop button
• Monochromatic LCD screen
• LED lighting
• Adjustable presser foot pressure
• Needle up/down
• Adjustable needle position
• Integrated on board needle threader
• Exclusive Pfaff IDT feed
• Free embroidery software
• Free motion sewing
• Personal stitch settings
• On board thread snips
• Updatable software
• Mirror image
• Drop feed
• Stitch sequencing/sequence memory
• Automatic thread tension
• Info button/help function

Monochromatic LCD screen

Working on the Pfaff Creative 1.5

The easy to follow on board guides make the Pfaff Creative 1.5 very easy to thread, wind the bobbin and properly insert it. In the sewing mode, the stitch selection process is equally as easy.

On board stitch selection guide

All that is necessary is to simply refer to the on board stitch selection guide and dial up the desired stitch.

When adjusting the stitch width, it is important to remember that unlike most sewing and embroidery machines that have a 9mm maximum stitch width, the maximum width available on the Pfaff Creative 1.5 is 7mm.

Maximum stitch width

Although the stitch width is smaller than nearly every other sewing and embroidery machine I have reviewed, the quality of the decorative and utility stitches produced by the Pfaff Creative 1.5 is excellent.

Excellent quality of the decorative and utility stitches

During my visit at Stuart Sew and Vac, owners Randy and Dolly showed me how the standard memory stick can be inserted to give the user access to the on library of on board embroidery stitches.

Randy also pointed out that with the Pfaff Creative 1.5, users have access to the standard embroidery designs that come with the machine. The most interesting thing about this machine is the fact that the machine itself is the dongle.

Standard embroidery designs

Everyone who purchases a Pfaff Creative 1.5 is given a special key code which allows them access to all of the software and the 200 preloaded embroidery designs and an almost unlimited number of alphanumeric fonts.

According to Randy, the software package includes all of the Microsoft fonts, giving you access to all of the fonts available on the Microsoft Word menu.

The really good news is that although the workspace and stitch width dimensions are a bit smaller than other sewing and embroidery machines, the quality of the stitches produced by the Pfaff Creative 1.5 are perfect in every way and there is almost no noise at all.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

• 8 Snap on presser feet
  • Standard foot
  • Fancy foot for IDT
  • Fancy stitch foot
  • Blindhem foot for IDT
  • Zipper foot
  • One step buttonhole foot
  • Manual buttonhole foot
  • Embroidery/free motion foot
• Embroidery Intro PC Software
• Thread net
• Edge guide
• 2 Felt pads
• Screwdriver
• Auxiliary spool pin
• Seam ripper
• Lint brush
• 5 Bobbins
• Screwdriver for needle plate
• 2 Spool caps (1 small/1 large)
• Embroidery unit
• USB embroidery stick with embroidery designs
• PFAFF® creative™ 1.5 embroidery collection booklet
• Multi-purpose tool
• Embroidery hoop 240mm x 150mm
• Owner’s manual
• Hard cover

Accessories

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

I like the way sewing on the Pfaff Creative 1.5 feels. It runs smoothly and is quiet. While in the sewing mode, the first Pfaff Creative 1.5 that I reviewed at Cynthia’s Fine Fabrics seemed to have a little bit of vibration, but not enough to make a difference in the machine’s performance.

However, when I sampled decorative and utility stitches on an identical machine at Stuart Sew and Vac, the vibration was imperceptible.

I suspect that the vibration was due to the fact that the first machine was resting directly on a table and the second one was on a quilted mat no more than ¼ to ½ inch thick.

I never thought about it, but the addition of a mat beneath the sewing machine really made a big difference, not only in the level of vibration, but the noise level as well.

This is definitely something to keep in mind when working with a portable sewing machine in an actual sewing room.

The Pfaff Creative 1.5 is the first Pfaff embroidery machine that comes with a larger bobbin, making it possible to sew for longer periods of time without having to stop for bobbin changes or to rewind a bobbin.

Extra Accessories

It also has a seven point feed dog, Pfaff’s exclusive IDT system which guarantees even feeding of fabric from the top and bottom and a brand new cutter system that finishes seams and embroidery designs more cleanly than before.

The needle to column distance is only eight inches – two inches less than most other machines of its type and the largest stitch width setting is 7mm as opposed to 9mm on full size sewing and embroidery machines.

This difference is significant only for those who are already accustomed to working on large sewing and embroidery projects. The Pfaff Creative 1.5 is the fastest sewing and embroidery machine in its class.

It was designed for those individuals who have never worked on a sewing and embroidery machine, or for those whose machine embroidery experience is limited and are in the market for a brand new sewing and embroidery machine that they use to expand their expertise to the next level and develop their machine embroidery skills.

The fact that each machine is assigned a separate key code eliminates the need for a dongle altogether. Therefore, the possibility of losing, damaging or misplacing a dongle is a major advantage over every other machine of this type.

Until now, every Pfaff sewing and embroidery machine that was manufactured in recent years required a dongle in order to access the manufacturer’s software, designs and upgrades.

Without the hassle of needing a separate flash drive, updates to the Pfaff Creative 1.5 are automatic, requiring no real actions or effort on the part of the user.

This one feature is a major advantage for anyone who decides to purchase the Pfaff Creative 1.5. In fact, I could easily recommend this machine, not only for the person who is beginning to explore the world of machine embroidery, but the seasoned machine embroidery enthusiast as well.

The Pfaff Creative 1.5 is smaller, but also easier to transport and therefore, more accessible for the sewing and machine embroidery enthusiast who likes to travel.

It is larger than most portable sewing machines, but not so large that it is cumbersome. In fact, the convenient hard cover is an excellent accessory for transporting the machine to and from sewing class, to the college dormitory or to accompany you on vacation or an extended trip away from home.

Convenient hard cover

The Pfaff Creative 1.5 is designed for people who are new to machine embroidery. I also feel comfortable recommending it for individuals who are new to sewing altogether. It is easy to thread.

Winding the bobbin is equally simple. In the sewing mode, the stitch selection process is as uncomplicated as I could possibly be.

It is not possible to sew with the embroidery unit in place, but when in the embroidery mode, the Pfaff Creative 1.5 offers more than almost any machine embroidery enthusiast, regardless of skill level, could possibly ask for.

I am somewhat concerned with the type of plastic used for the shell and I am very unhappy with the placement of the drop feed control. It is impossible to bar tack or sew on a flat button without lowering the feed dogs.

In addition, if you like free motion sewing, it is necessary to remove the accessories case which doubles as the work surface in order to get to the drop feed control lever.

This is a design flaw that I have complained about for a long, long time and will continue to complain about until sewing machine manufacturers realize that the drop feed control level or button really needs to be easily accessible on every sewing machine that comes off the assembly line.

The issue with the material used for the shell is a concern because it is made with a very hard type of plastic that could easily crack after years of normal use.

The type of plastic used on the outside of the Pfaff Creative 1.5 reminds me of the same type of material used to make certain toys.

It may actually be more durable than I suspect, but this is one of those questions that will only be answered after several years of use. No doubt, the lower quality exterior materials were used to keep the Pfaff Creative 1.5 within the budgets of more people.

Aside from the fact that the machine is smaller and the fact that it has a smaller maximum stitch width I could not detect any other cost saving shortcuts on this machine.

Randy, who services all brands of sewing machines, but especially the sewing machines he sells, is very excited about the fact that the folks at Pfaff are beginning to pay more attention to what goes inside their new sewing machines, resulting in a line of better quality sewing machines and sergers than Pfaff produced in the recent past.

It handles like a larger, more costly machine and the stitch quality is comparable to that of a far more expensive sewing and embroidery machine.

If I were in the market for a new, low cost, efficient sewing and embroidery machine, I would definitely give the Pfaff Creative 1.5 lots of very serious consideration.

The post Pfaff Creative 1.5 Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

Not long ago, I took a trip to Stuart Sew and Vac in Jensen Beach, Florida to see the newly re-designed store. While there, I had an opportunity to review the Juki HZL 355 ZW-A.

At A Glance

Juki HZL 355 ZW-A

When I first saw the Juki HZL 355 ZW-A, I instantly thought that it would be a good choice for children to learn the art of sewing.

The warm pink color, the easy to understand stitch selection guide, the large window that displays the stitch setting and the oversized reverse button are not only kid friendly, but user friendly for anyone with a challenge with arthritis or some other sort of mobility challenge.

At a Glance

The drop in bobbin, on board needle threader and large dials that control the thread tension and stitch length and width settings are also designed to make the sewing experience an enjoyable one for children as well as home sewers who like to keep things simple and uncomplicated.

There is also an on board seam guide and a thread cutter on the left side of the machine. The stitch selection dial and buttonhole balance control dial are situated on the right column beneath the balance wheel.

Features

• 26 Utility and decorative stitch options
• One 1-step buttonhole
• Manual thread tension adjustment
• Adjustable presser foot pressure
• On board thread cutter
• One step buttonhole
• Buttonhole balance control dial
• Automatic needle threader
• On board accessory storage
• Adjustable stitch length and width
• Large stitch display window
• Reverse stitch lever
• Patten selector dial
• Drop feed

Working on the Juki HZL 355 ZW-A

Easy to following guides on top of the Juki HZL 355 ZW-A make the processes of winding the bobbin and threading easy enough for a child in elementary school to master.

Once those tasks are complete, the stitch selection process is equally as easy. All it takes is a turn of the dial on the right side of the machine. The selected stitch appears in the large magnifier window on the column.

While sewing on the Juki HZL 355 ZW-A, I found it to be stable, sturdy and quiet with no noticeable vibration at all. The stitches produced by this machine are well defined, sturdy and secure.

Well defined, sturdy and secure stitches

There are not as many stitch options as one would find on a machine with more features; but the stitch options that are available on the Juki HZL 355 ZW-A are all that are needed for basic clothing construction, sewing accessories or for making home décor items such as throw pillows, curtains and table accessories like napkins, table runners, placemats and tablecloths.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 4 Snap on presser feet
  • Standard foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Buttonhole foot
  • Button sewing foot
• 2 Screwdrivers (1 large/1 small)
• Spool pin felt
• Seam ripper/lint brush
• Extra needles
• 4 Bobbins
• Quilt guide
• Spool cap
• Auxiliary spool pin
• Hard case

Accessories

Optional accessories:

• 9 Snap on presser feet
  • Decorate stitch foot
  • Overcasting foot
  • Rolled hemming foot
  • Cording foot
  • Blind stitch foot
  • Quilt foot
  • Straight stitch foot
  • Gathering foot
  • Walking foot
• Twin needle

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

I like the look and feel of the Juki HZL 355 ZW-A. My one and only complaint about the design of this machine is the placement of the drop feed control lever.

It is impossible to gain access to the drop feed control lever without first removing the accessories case – which is necessary workspace unless you are using the free arm.

Anyone who has taken the time to read the reviews on this site know that this is my pet peeve with many of the newer sewing machines on the market.

Nice look and feel

Making it necessary to stop and remove the work table in order to gain access to the drop feed control lever is a design flaw that could only be installed by someone who knows sewing machines, but has no idea about their actual use.

In my opinion, anyone who uses a sewing machine in a real sewing room would know that the drop feed control absolutely MUST be easily accessible.

Having to stop working to remove the accessories case/work table and put it back in order to successfully accomplish a free motion sewing task is not only time consuming, it is highly inefficient and just plain impractical.

While it is true that going through the process of taking off the accessories case and putting it back to perform a free motion sewing task and putting it back only takes a few seconds, but those few seconds add up when time is of the essence.

Work table

Everyone has obligations outside the sewing room and the more efficient a sewing machine is, the more we can accomplish with our limited time in the sewing room. I like the easy to use stitch length and width adjustment dials and the presser foot adjustment control.

The placement of the tension adjustment and buttonhole balance control dials is not only user friendly, but ergonomic and efficient. My only wish is that one day I will be able to say the same thing about the drop feed control lever.

My other concern about the Juki HZL 355 ZW-A is the fact that I could not find it on the Juki website. I did, however, find the manual online. The interesting thing is that the primary language in the manual is Japanese.

After scrolling through several pages, I did find English translations of the Japanese language pages in manual. While I have encountered this phenomenon with other machines in the past, I must say that the English translation in this manual was superior to others I have seen.

Lots of different stitch options

It was obvious that this translation was written by someone who truly knows and understands the English language. The grammar, spelling and sentence structure are perfectly written, easy to read and understand.

The Juki HZL 355 ZW-A is an ideal sewing machine for youngsters who are learning how to sew. It is also an excellent choice for use in the dormitory room, for carrying to and from sewing class and for senior citizens who are more comfortable with simple sewing machines that do not have lots of features or options that they might find intimidating.

I would not recommend the Juki HZL 355 ZW-A for anyone who is in the market for a sewing machine that can offer lots of different stitch options.

I also hesitate to recommend its use for very large jobs that require working with lots of heavy fabrics or large quilting jobs.

Even though the HZL 355 ZW-A has a presser foot adjustment feature, I believe this lightweight machine would be able to provide longer periods of uninterrupted service if the use of fabrics heavier then jeans weight denim was limited.

Using it to work on very heavy fabric over a prolonged period of time could have an effect on the machine’s ability to perform over time, possibly requiring more frequent service calls.

In my opinion, a better choice for working on those large sewing and quilting jobs and working with heavy fabrics would be one of the machines in the Juki HZL Exceed series.

These machines are built to handle quilts and heavy fabrics with ease. In my opinion, the HZL 355 ZW-A is better used for light to medium weight fabrics.

The Juki HZL 355 ZW-A is a no frills sewing machine that one that just might be a perfect fit for your personal style and your very own sewing room. If you are in the market for a good basic sewing machine that is best used for working with light to medium weight fabrics, you owe it to yourself and your sewing room to take the time to visit your local Juki dealer.

Ask for a demonstration of the HZL 355 ZW-A and compare it to several other machines in its class. No doubt you will come to the same conclusion I did… HZL 355 ZW-A is a very good basic sewing machine. It’s not perfect, but it gets very high marks where it really matters.

The post Juki HZL 355 ZW-A Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

While visiting the newly rearranged Stuart Sew and Vac in Jensen Beach, Florida, I came across the Juki HZL K85, a computerized sewing and quilting machine.

The HZL K 85 is part of the Juki K series, which includes the HZL K65, a slightly smaller machine with many of the same features, but fewer stitch options.

At A Glance

Juki HZL K85

Large navy blue and silver stitch selection guide

The first thing I noticed on the Juki HZL K85 was the large navy blue and silver stitch selection guide on the right column along with a backlit LCD screen and a series of function control buttons and levers.

The function control buttons and sliders on the column include stitch selection; stitch width and length adjustment; two separate lock stitch control buttons; needle up/down; buttons to store and clear stitch memory; and a shift key which enables users to shift between stitches on the upper and lower rows depicted on the graphic display.

There is also a variable speed control slider; a see through bobbin cover; an on board needle threader; on board threading guides; reverse button; and a needle plate with seam guides on both sides of the needle and a tension adjustment dial which is used only on very rare occasions. In most cases, when set in the ‘auto’ position, the tension setting adjusts itself automatically.

See through bobbin cover

Features

• 150 decorative and utility stitch options
  • 1 alphanumeric font
  • 8 automatic one step buttonholes
  • 12 utility stitches
  • 129 decorative stitch patterns
• LED lighting
• 2 lock stitch settings
• Needle up/down
• 15 needle positions
• Automatic tension adjustment
• Automatic needle threader
• Color coded start/stop button displays status of machine
• Ability to combine letters and one point stitches
• Free arm
• On board stitch combination memory
• Monochromatic LCD screen
• Drop in bobbin
• Drop feed
• On board accessory storage
• Variable speed control slider
• Reverse stitch

Working on the Juki HZL K85

The clearly marked, easy to read threading guides and guides for winding the bobbin and inserting it are so simple that following them could almost be interpreted as child’s play.

When choosing a stitch, simply press the up/down arrows until the desired stitch number appears in the window. Once the stitch number is visible, simply press the start/stop or the foot pedal.

If you want to select a stitch number higher than 30, you are first required to depress the shift key. When switching back to stitches assigned to numbers below 30 it is necessary to press the shift key once again.

For this review, I sampled several decorative and utility stitches and found that the stitch selection process is only a little bit cumbersome.

It is necessary to toggle the up and down arrows from one through 9 in the unit position, which can tend to be a bit tedious. For instance, if I choose stitch number 8, I would have to dial the arrow in the left position to 0 and the arrow in the right position to 5.

If I choose to go from there to stitch number 20, I must push the arrow on the left until the 2 appears and the button on the right until I get to 0.

The tedium of the stitch selection process, however, is a minor inconvenience when you consider the fact that the quality of the stitches produced by the Juki HZL K85 is excellent.

Excellent stitches produced

Each of the stitches I sampled turned out to be perfectly formed, secure and stable in every way.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

• Snap on presser feet
• Standard foot
• Automatic buttonhole foot
• Manual buttonhole foot
• Zipper foot
• Overcasting foot
• Quilting foot
• Blind hem foot
• Oil dispenser
• Spool pin
• T-shaped screwdriver
• Quilt guide
• Seam ripper/lint brush
• 3 Bobbins
• 3 Spool caps (1small/1 medium/1 large)
• Extra needles
• Hard cover

Accessories

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

For the most part, the Juki HZL K65 is a great sewing machine – especially where it counts. The quality of the stitches is superb. I’m not exactly thrilled about the quality of the stitches; nor am I pleased with the placement of the drop feed control lever.

It is impossible to reach it without first removing the accessory case, exposing the free arm. Having the drop feed control in this position may be convenient when attaching buttons, especially to sleeve cuffs; but when working with large free motion sewing projects where the maximum amount of work space is essential, this could be a major inconvenience.

Some might argue that it takes only a few seconds to remove the accessory case and slip it back into place.

My feeling, however, is that time in the sewing room is valuable and should be used as efficiently as possible. Anything that consumes even a few seconds unnecessarily is a waste of one of the most valuable resources in any sewing room… time to be productive.

My only other complaint about the Juki HZL K85 is the stitch selection process, and for the very same reason I don’t care for the placement of the drop feed control mechanism.

When you have to stop repeatedly press buttons in order to do something as simple as changing a stitch selection from one setting to another, you can waste a whole lot of valuable time each time you sit down to use this machine. The primary redeeming quality of the Juki HZL K85 is the superior stitch quality.

Other attributes include the solid construction, the quiet operation and the fact that there is virtually no vibration whatsoever when the machine is running, even when sewing at the highest speed setting.

When I stop to consider these very important qualities, I must admit that even though there are two things that I am not particularly fond of on this machine, the good far outweighs the bad.

For this reason, I think the Juki HZL K85 is, indeed a sewing and quilting machine worth adding to certain sewing rooms. I sincerely believe this is a very good machine, one that is capable of providing many years of great service.

With this in mind, I do not recommend the Juki HZL K85 for anyone who has an extremely busy lifestyle and therefore, is constantly under the gun to get in and out of the sewing room as quickly as possible.

It is, however, a great choice for the person who has the luxury of being able to spend countless hours in the sewing room with very little else to do with their day.

I think the Juki HZL K85 is good to use for children who are learning how to sew, but anyone above the age of 12 or 13 would be able to benefit from its use.

The Juki HZL K85 is easy to learn to use, although I think the extra steps involved with shifting to gain access to stitch options in the upper range is yet one more unnecessary step.

When it’s all said and done, the Juki HZL K85 is a machine that needs to be seen before a final decision to purchase is made. I like it, but not for myself.

I truly believe that there are millions of people who would be absolutely thrilled to have this machine in their own sewing rooms.

I strongly urge anyone who might be the slightest bit interested in this excellent sewing and quilting machine to take the time to visit an authorized Juki dealer in their local area to see it for themselves.

Buy on Amazon.com

Ask for a demonstration and play around with it for a little while. Get accustomed to working with the stitch selection buttons and play around with the many different stitch options.

See for yourself if this is the machine for you and make your own decision as to whether or not it would be a good fit for you and your own personal style.

The post Juki HZL K85 Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

A little while ago, I wrote a review of the machines in the Juki Exceed series. At the time, I actually did a hands on assessment of just one machine in the series – the HZL F400.

Now, three years later, I came across the updated Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special while visiting Stuart Sew and Vac in Jensen Beach, Florida. Since writing that first review, the Exceed series has proved to be one of the most popular sewing machine lines that Juki has produced for home use.

At A Glance

Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt

On the surface, all of the machines in the Juki Exceed Series look exactly the same. If you do not take time to actually read the label, you truly cannot tell one machine from another.

Each machine has a series of function buttons that give the user immediate access to start/stop; needle up/down; thread tie off and cut; variable speed control slider; numerical keypad for stitch selection; on board stitch selection guide; LED lighting, bright back-lit monochromatic LCD screen with adjustable lighting levels; and stitch memory.

Monochromatic LCD screen

Each machine is also equipped with a knee lift; seam guides on both sides of the needle; on board accessory storage and ruler; free arm; drop feed; threading and bobbin winding guides; automatic needle threader; adjustable stitch length and width; reverse stitch; and a foot pedal that can also cut thread.

For the most part, the differences are all ‘under the hood’. The most obvious difference between the machines reviewed three years ago and the machine that I reviewed recently is the number of stitch options available to those who purchase the HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special.

Of all the machines in the Juki HZL Exceed series, the F600 is the only one with a light between the needle and column, giving the user the maximum amount of light on the work surface.

Although, the difference appears to be slight, the assembly beneath the needle is also somewhat different for the F600.

Features

• 625 decorative and utility stitch options
  • 16 One step electronic buttonholes
  • 4 Alphanumeric fonts
• Direct pattern selection
• Adjustable presser foot pressure
• Independent bobbin winder [wind bobbins while sewing]
• Advanced thread trimmer on foot pedal
• Automatic/manual tension adjustment
• 7 Point feed dog system
• Memory – store up to 70 stitch combinations in up to 10 on board folders
• Variable needle positioning

Working on the Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special

Using the on board guides greatly simplify both the threading and bobbin winding processes. The independent bobbin winding motor makes it possible to wind bobbins while sewing, making the Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special one of the most time efficient home sewing and quilting machines on the market.

However, that benefit is somewhat offset by the fact that the drop feed control button is under the accessory case. If there as anything good about this, it is the fact that it is on the front of the machine and not the back. In my opinion, however, this is still a waste of valuable time and energy.

Stitch selection guide

The on board stitch selection guide simplifies the stitch selection process and the easy to use numerical keypad is just an added benefit for fast and efficient stitch selection.

When choosing a stitch, it is first necessary to use the menu button to identify the section in which the stitch is located, then dialup the stitch number on the keypad.

Once the stitch is selected, it appears on the LCD screen where adjustments to the length and width can be made before starting to sew. The quality of the stitches made on the Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special remain true to the name.

Each one of the stitches I sampled were professional in every way… well formed, secure, balanced and stable. The Juki HZL Exceed F600 is extremely quiet, very well built and even when sewing at high speeds, there is no vibration whatsoever.

Professional stitch quality

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

• 11 Snap on presser feet
  • Standard
  • Automatic buttonhole
  • Manual buttonhole
  • Zipper
  • Blind stitch
  • Walking foot
  • Patchwork foot
  • Open toe foot
  • Edge sewing foot
  • Quilting foot
  • Smooth foot

Accessories

• Lint brush
• Seam ripper
• 3 Bobbins
• 3 Spool caps (1 small/1 medium/1 large)
• Quilt guide
• Auxiliary spool pin
• Eyelet punch
• Twin needle
• Package of extra needles
• Hard carrying case
• Owner’s manual
• Knee lifter
• Extra-large extension table

Accessories

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

For the most part, Juki sewing machines designed for home use have all of the same high standards and workmanship that Juki industrial sewing machines and sergers are known for.

The Exceed series is a clear example of the Juki reputation and high standards of excellence. It is well built, quiet and ergonomically sound.

In my opinion, there are only two truly effective ways to save time and energy when choosing a stitch… a numerical key pad which simply requires that the user touches a few buttons the same way you would dial a telephone number to gain access to a desired stitch option as with all of the sewing machines in the Juki HZL Exceed series, or a basic rotary dial which is found most often on mechanical sewing machines.

Stitch selection process

I clearly understand how and why some people prefer to use a stitch selection process that requires users to use a stitch menu button to identify a section where the desired stitch might be located and then toggle through the menu until the desired stitch appears on the LCD screen.

The Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special is a wonderful choice for the intermediate to advanced home sewer. I hesitate to recommend it for beginners, solely because it has so many features.

There are, however, people – even some youngsters – who are capable of working on a sewing and quilting machine as advanced as this with ease.

This is definitely not a sewing machine that should be used by children in elementary school. With all of its benefits and features, this is not a sewing machine that I would consider to be kid friendly at all.

High standards of excellence

The Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special is best appreciated by someone who has been sewing long enough to be able to truly appreciate the workmanship that went into making it.

The user friendly features and design are ideal for individuals who have been sewing for many decades and are in the market for an updated sewing and quilting machine.

The extra-large extension table is ideal for working on very large, cumbersome sewing projects like quilts, coats, and slipcovers. It is strong enough to handle those heavy duty jobs, yet capable of handling those delicate tasks like lingerie, dainty blouses and baby clothes with equal results.

In addition, with more than 600 stitch options, there is no possibility of getting bored or tired of using the same stitch sequences and/or decorative stitches over and over.

Embellishing and monogramming sewing projects on the Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special is as simple as using the memory/sequencing function and pressing the start/stop button.

My only real complaint about this machine is the placement of the drop feed control… but then, I am one of those old line people who insists upon having every control function at my fingertips.

Drop feed control

Having to remove the accessory case in order to get to any function control is in my opinion a design flaw.

Even with this in mind, I must admit that the Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special is one of the best sewing and quilting machines I have reviewed.

I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it for anyone who might be in the market for a new machine to add to their sewing room.

I encourage anyone who may be shopping around for a new sewing and quilting machine to visit their local Juki dealer and ask for a demonstration of all of the machines in the Juki HZL Exceed series, including the F600 Quilt & Pro Special.

The post Juki HZL Exceed F600 Quilt & Pro Special Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

For quite a while, I had been reading about the new line of Baby Lock sewing machines. I finally had an opportunity to review a couple of them when I visited Laura’s Sew and Vac in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

In fact, Laura’s husband and business partner, said they had just unpacked the Baby Lock Soprano BLMSP machine the day before I arrived. The Soprano is one of three long anticipated sewing, quilting and embroidery machines… the Soprano, Lyric and Katherine.

The Katherine is a basic computerized sewing machine with 190 on board stitch options; the Lyric is Baby Lock’s newest sewing and quilting machine, with 250 on board utility and decorative stitches; and the Soprano is Baby Lock’s latest offering in affordable embroidery machines for the home, offering a total of 300 stitches from which to choose.

At A Glance

Baby Lock Soprano BLMSP

At first glance, all three of the machines in the brand new Baby Lock line look exactly alike.

They all have an advanced needle threader; start/stop button; needle up/down; thread tie off and cut; adjustable stitch length and width; automatic needle threader; two bright LED lights – one above the needle and another over the work space; knee lift; drop feed; free arm; on board accessory storage; memory keys; and on board seam guides on both the needle plate and bobbin cover.

The ergonomic design of the monochromatic LCD screen and function buttons are great for people who are challenged with carpal tunnel syndrome or issues with changing vision requirements.

Features

• Monochromatic LCD Screen
• 300 On board decorative and utility stitches
  • 99 Utility with 10 one-step buttonholes
  • 94 Decorative stitches
  • 17 Satin stitches
  • 18 Decorative satin stitches
  • 14 Cross stitches
  • 58 Combinable utility stitches
  • 5 Alphanumeric fonts
• Adjustable stitch length and width [maximum stitch width 7mm]
• Automatic presser foot pressure adjustment
• Automatic tension adjustment
• Advanced needle threader
• Automatic thread cutter
• Quick-Set, top-loading bobbin
• Advanced Pivoting Feature
• Bright LED lighting
• Knee lift
• Drop feed
• Utility stitch editing
• Capability to store personal stitch settings for each utility stitch
• Reset key
• Decorative stitch editing capabilities
• Back to the beginning key [returns to the beginning of a decorative stitch pattern]
• Edit and combine Character/ Decorative stitches
• 15 Memory pockets
• Mirror-image
• Variable needle positions
• Needle up/down button
• Start/stop button
• Lateral and diagonal feeding
• Automatic built-in darning
• Twin needle settings
• Automatic presser foot lift
• Reinforcement/stitch lock key
• Quick set bobbin winder
• On board seam guides on the needle plate and bobbin cover in inches and centimeters
• Free arm
• Two on board accessory storage compartments
• On board tutorial
• On board threading and bobbin winding guides
• Pivoting
• Automatic fabric sensor

Working on the Baby Lock Soprano BLMSP

When I sat down to review the Baby Lock Soprano BLMSP, I knew it had just been uncrated, but I was not aware that I was the very first person to work on it.

I saw the word ‘English’ on the LCD screen, but ignored it. I followed the threading and bobbin winding guides to set up the machine, and set the straight stitch to start the review.

However, when I attempted to press the ‘start/stop’ button, it did nothing. It wasn’t until then that I realized I had to first press ‘OK’ to alert the machine that English was the language in which I would be working. With that done, everything went smoothly.

The stitch selection process involved first identifying the desired stitch and then finding out which menu category it is stored in.

With that done, the next step is to first depress the button assigned to that menu category and then toggle through the stitch patterns until the desired stitch appears on the LCD screen. Each stitch that I sampled was perfectly formed, secure and excellent in every way.

Excellent stitch quality

While working on the Baby Lock Soprano, I discovered that the machine is one of the most solidly built sewing machines that I have worked on in quite a while. It is whisper quiet.

Having a conversation while sewing was no challenge at all. It was not necessary to raise or voices even a little bit. It goes without saying that working on a machine this quiet also means that there is absolutely no vibration whatsoever.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 16 Snap-on feet
  • Buttonhole foot
  • Overcasting foot
  • Monogramming foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Zig zag foot
  • Blind stitch foot
  • Button fitting
  • Free-motion quilting foot
  • Free-motion open toe quilting foot
  • Free-motion echo quilting foot
  • Walking foot
  • Stitch guide foot
  • Open toe foot
  • Teflon foot
  • Adjustable zipper/piping foot
  • 1/4″ Quilting foot with a guide
• Knee lift
• Extension table
• Quilting guide
• Soft cover
• Extra bobbins
• Seam ripper
• Twin needle

Accessories

Optional accessories:

• Straight stitch needle plate and presser foot
• Double spool thread stand

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

For a little while, I was wondering if the merger between Baby Lock and Brother was a good idea. Everybody knows that Brother not only sells machines through authorized dealers, they also sell online and in big box stores.

Those sewing machines and sergers are generally of far lesser quality and what many in the sewing machine industry refer to as ‘throw away’ machines.

I am pleased to say that my observations so far have been that the Baby Lock quality and workmanship has not suffered one bit. The Baby Lock Soprano is an excellent sewing machine that I believe almost any home sewer would be proud to say that they own one of these machines.

The only feature on the Soprano that I am not pleased with is the placement of the drop feed control. I have said over and over again that every single feature control, regardless of how seldom or often it is used, should be within easy reach.

An excellent sewing machine

Having to remove the accessory case to do anything more than replace a bobbin is, in my opinion, a highly inefficient use of time and energy.

If and when the folks who design and manufacture sewing machines ever have to use one in a real sewing room situation, the drop feed control will be moved to a more accessible position and never again tampered with.

I know enough about actual mechanics to understand why the drop feed control is not on the column with most of the other controls, but it seems to me that there should be a way to put it someplace near the needle plate or on front of the machine. As my granddaughter says… “I’m just saying”.

The only other feature I observed that was not really a minus for me, but could understandably be a negative for some people is the shorter distance between the needle and column.

It isn’t a real big difference, but an extra inch or two could make a difference for those who prefer working on larger sewing and machine quilting projects on a regular basis.

While taking those two relatively minor disadvantages into consideration, I believe that the Baby Lock Soprano BLMSP is a strong contender for being one of this year’s top ten sewing machines.

It is a great machine for anyone who has already mastered the basics of sewing machine operation and an excellent option for the advanced home sewer who is in the market for a new machine.

The bright LED lighting, solid construction, quiet operation and ergonomic design make it an ideal choice for anyone who has the slightest concern for comfort and ease of operation.

I hesitate to recommend this machine for a beginner because learning to use all of the features might be a bit intimidating for anyone who is the least bit challenged or frustrated by being required to make a lot of choices and decisions while still in the learning phase.

There are, however, many people who welcome such a challenge and could excel in making their very first sewing projects on the Baby Lock Soprano.

This is definitely not a machine for use by children younger than 13 or 14 years of age, however… even those who many consider to be advanced.

I watched a few episodes of the kids’ version of Project Runway, and still maintain that even those youngsters were not ready for a machine as sophisticated as the Baby Lock Soprano.

Although I have not yet had an opportunity to review it, I am inclined to believe that the Baby Lock Katherine is better suited for the younger set.

Of course, the final decision should be made by the actual user. If you or someone in your household are in the market for a new sewing and quilting machine, I urge you to visit the nearest authorized Baby Lock dealer and ask for a demonstration of this brand new machine before deciding to take one home.

The post Baby Lock Soprano BLMSP Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

Baby Lock has a new line of sewing, quilting and embroidery machines that I have been reading about for several months. The embroidery only machine in this brand new line is called the Flourish.

One day, while visiting Laura’s Sew and Vac in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, I had an opportunity to review this addition to the Baby Lock family of embroidery machines.

At A Glance

Baby Lock Flourish

The Baby Lock Flourish is a little smaller than most of the other embroidery only machines that I have reviewed. The largest hoop area is 6 ¼” x 10 ¼”, large enough to handle most machine embroidery tasks with ease.

There is a color LCD touch screen; automatic tension control; an automatic needle threader and clearly marked on board threading and bobbin winding guides.

A little smaller

Upper and lower thread sensors make it possible for users to complete machine embroidery projects with fewer interruptions to change thread because there wasn’t enough when starting out.

Function keys… start/stop, needle up/down, presser foot up/down and thread tie off and cut… are conveniently situated on the machine head.

Other function keys… previous/next screen keys; help key; a key to manage preset functions; embroidery key; and the presser foot/needle exchange key which must be engaged prior to changing the presser foot or needle.

The Baby Lock Flourish also has a USB port on the right side of the machine, a see through bobbin cover, and a removable embroidery unit.

Features

• Updateable software
• 114 On board embroidery designs
• 13 On board embroidery fonts
• On screen editing
• Automatic needle threader
• Automatic thread tie off
• USB port
• Start/stop
• Needle up/down
• Quick-Set, top loading bobbin
• Quick-Set bobbin winder
• Automatic thread sensors
• Ability to combine embroidery designs on screen
• Font editing
• Size and select letters individually
• Ability to split text
• Multi-color text
• Multiple fonts
• Multi-line text
• Character/Text array function
• Character spacing
• Horizontal and vertical options on Japanese fonts
• 1°, 10°, and 90° Pattern rotation
• Design enlargement and reduction (up to 20% down to 10%)
• Mirror imaging
• Design color selections
• 1MB memory storage for embroidery
• Reads embroidery designs with a stitch capacity of up to 200,000 stitches per design
• Color LCD Touch Screen
• Estimated embroidery time display and stitch count
• Needle position placement (1, 10, or 100 stitch increments)
• Measurements displayed in inches or millimeters (mm)
• Thread color indicator
• On-screen hoop size indicator
• Low bobbin thread indicator
• 300 color names
• 9-point trial check points
• Conversion to 18 different languages

Working on the Baby Lock Flourish

The people at Baby Lock made sure that the threading and bobbin winding process on the new Baby Lock Flourish would be as easy and uncomplicated as possible. The on board guides are clearly indicated and easy enough for a child at the elementary school level to follow.

Easy to use

Finding an embroidery design or programming a sequence is equally as easy. I managed to figure it all out within a matter of a few seconds by merely touching a few buttons.

The first thing I did was go to the menu selection tab. There I had a choice of selecting a design, a frame or an alphanumeric font. For this particular review, I selected the design menu.

From there, I had several options from which to choose. Like most people, I like flowers, so I went into the floral menu and selected one that piqued my interest.

For the sake of time efficiency and simplicity, I decided to select a single color embroidery design to sample for this review. After all, I was in a place of business and wanted to review more than one machine.

The entire process took less than five minutes. I first went into the design menu then scrolled through until I came upon one that required the use of only a single color embroidery design that appealed to me.

Creating a multi-color embroidery design would have been a bit more time consuming, albeit very good for promoting the machine itself.

Once the design was chosen, I snapped the fabric and stabilizer into the hoop, slid it into place on the embroidery unit, and then using the nine points check feature, I did a quick test to make sure my design was in the right position and the right size by simply by touching a button that outlines the perimeter of my design.

Perfect Design

If it is too large or too small, all that is necessary to make a correction is to touch another button to change the size.

After everything was checked and confirmed to be the correct proportion and in the right position, there was nothing left for me to do but to touch the start/stop button and let the machine do its job… and it did it flawlessly.

I literally took a few steps away from the machine and engaged in a conversation with Laura, the store owner, for a few moments.

The Baby Lock Flourish is so quiet, if I hadn’t actually looked at it stitching, I would not have known it was doing anything at all. My design was completed in only a few short minutes and was perfect in every way.

I touched the thread tie off/cut button and slid the hoop off the unit just as easily as I put it into place. Lifted the inner hoop off the fabric and stabilizer and voila – my design was completely finished and ready to go.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• Embroidery presser foot
• Lint brush
• Seam ripper
• Extra needles
• 4 Bobbins
• Bobbin center pin and instruction sheet
• 2 Screwdrivers (1large/1 small)
• Disc shaped screwdriver
• L shaped screwdriver
• 3 Spool caps (1 large/1 medium/1 small)
• Scissors
• Thread spool insert
• Spool net
• 1 Spool of embroidery bobbin thread
• 2 Embroidery hoops
  • Extra-large – 6 ¼”x 10 ¼”
  • Large – 5 x 7
• Accessory bag
• Soft cover
• Owner’s manual
• Quick reference guide
• Embroidery design guide

Optional accessories:

• Double jumbo spool thread stand
• Embroidery hoops
  • Medium – 4 x 4
  • Small – 1 x 2 ½”
  • Border frame – 7 x 4
  • Quilt embroidery frame – 6 x 6

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The Baby Lock Flourish is by far one of the most user friendly embroidery only machines I have reviewed to date. It is so easy to operate that I am tempted to say that a child could learn to use it. I do not recommend it for use by a child younger than 10 or 12 years of age, however.

I especially like the ease with which the fabric is inserted in the hoops and the hoops are attached to the machine. When I began sewing, we used the old wooden embroidery hoops and did all of our embroidery by hand.

In fact, I still have two which I still use on very rare occasions. Even when I started using a sewing machine to create embroidered designs, I used those wooden hoops, and continue to use them on my old mechanical sewing machines. It’s time consuming. It’s not easy. It’s not a lot of fun. But it gets the job done.

Without an embroidery machine, it is necessary to first transfer the design onto tracing paper or water soluble stabilizer which goes on top of the fabric, then place the fabric atop a layer of tear off stabilizer.

To maintain true stability, I often baste the top stabilizer or paper on which I drew or traced my design to my fabric and then lock all three layers into the embroidery hoop, making sure everything is taut.

The next challenge is getting the hoop beneath the needle. Thank goodness the machine I use for embroidery has a presser foot release that allows me to get plenty of extra clearance when necessary.

I then lower the presser foot, drop the feed dogs and very carefully trace the drawing using free motion sewing. Is there any wonder that I do very little machine embroidery? After reviewing the Baby Lock Fusion, however, I am beginning to seriously rethink the possibilities.

Lightweight and user friendly

This affordable embroidery only machine does not have a footprint that is as large as many of the other embroidery machines I have reviewed. However, this means that the embroidery field isn’t as large either.

The largest hoop that works with this machine is 6 ¼” x 10 ¼”, which is large enough for nearly every conceivable machine embroidery task for an article of clothing, with the exception of a single design that runs the length of a pants leg or a sleeve or a design that covers the entire front or back of a shirt, blouse, coat or jacket.

I do have one question however. Since the Baby Lock Fusion is an embroidery only machine, why is the embroidery unit not permanently attached to the machine? It seems to me that a machine that does nothing but embroidery should not have a detachable embroidery unit.

In my very humble opinion, I believe that if the embroidery unit were permanently attached, it would eliminate the possibility of damage caused by unnecessary handling of the unit.

The Baby Lock Fusion is reasonably priced, lightweight, user friendly and relatively compact when compared with other machines of its type.

If your sewing room allows for space to accommodate a single purpose machine in addition to your sewing machine and serger, and if you are seriously interested in embellishing your sewing projects with embroidered designs, frames and monograms, you just might want to consider a visit to your local authorized Baby Lock dealer to see this machine for yourself.

The post Baby Lock Flourish Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

I had been reading about the new line of Baby Lock sewing, embroidery and quilting machines for several months. Finally, on a visit to Laura’s Sew and Vac in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, I had an opportunity to review the Baby Lock Aventura, an affordable, user friendly sewing and embroidery machine.

At A Glance

Baby Lock Aventura

When I first saw the Aventura, I thought it looked very much like the other machines in the new Baby Lock line, the Flourish, which is an embroidery only machine and the Soprano, a sewing and quilting machine. All three machines are white with gold accents.

On board stitch selection guide

a USB port

The Aventura has a detachable embroidery unit and a USB port on the side which can be used to store one embroidery designs and to download software updates. There is also a full color LCD touch screen; an advanced on board automatic needle threader; a knee lift; a drop in bobbin; an on board stitch selection guide; on board threading and bobbin winding guides; and seam guides on the needle plate.

In addition to all these features, the Baby Lock Aventura also comes with a series of function buttons that control start/stop; needle up/down; thread tie off and cut; automatic presser lift; design stop; reverse/lock stitch and a variable speed slider.

Features

• 300 Built-in stitches utility and decorative stitches
  • 99 Utility stitches
  • 10 one-step buttonholes
  • 94 Decorative stitches
  • 17 Satin stitches
  • 18 Decorative satin stitches
  • 14 Cross stitches
  • 58 Combinable Utility stitches
• Embroidery Designs
  • 141 on board embroidery designs
  • 90 Baby Lock exclusive designs
  • 140 Frame combinations
  • 13 font styles including one exclusive script
  • 5 Built-in alphanumeric fonts
• Adjustable stitch length and width up to 7mm
• Store personal stitch settings
• Reset key
• Decorative stitch editing capabilities
  • Back to the Beginning key, returns to the beginning of a decorative stitch pattern
  • Edit and combine Character/ Decorative stitches
  • 15 Memory Pockets for Character/ Decorative stitches
  • Step Stitch Pattern
• Mirror-image
• Variable needle positions
• Programmable needle up/down
• Lateral and diagonal feeding
• Automatic Fabric Sensor System
• Fully automatic built-in darning
• Twin needle settings
• 8.3″ Workspace to the right of the needle
• 2 LED Enhanced lights that illuminate the needle and work area
• Up to 6-1/4″ x 10-1/4″ (160mm x 260mm) embroidery field
• 1MB memory storage for embroidery
• Reads embroidery designs with a stitch capacity of up to 200,000 stitches per design
• Color LCD Touch Screen shows:
  • Estimated embroidery time display and stitch count
  • Needle position placement (1,10, or 100 stitch increments)
  • Measurements displayed in inches or millimeters (mm)
  • Thread color indicator
  • On-screen hoop size indicator
  • Low bobbin thread indicator o 300 color names
• Embroidery speed up to 850 stitches per minute
• 9-point trial check points
• Color LCD touch screen (3 3⁄4″ X 2 1⁄4″)
• Advanced needle threading system
• Automatic thread tension control
• Automatic thread cutter
• Quick-Set, top loading bobbin
• Automatic Fabric Sensor System
• Advanced pivoting feature
• Quick-Set bobbin winder
• Automatic sensors
  • Upper and lower thread sensors
  • On-screen hoop sensor
• Combine embroidery designs on screen
• Multi-line text capabilities
• Font editing
• Size and select letters individually
• Ability to split text
• Multi-color text
• Multiple fonts
• Character/Text array function
• Character spacing
• Horizontal and vertical options on Japanese fonts
• 1°, 10°, and 90° Pattern rotation
• Design enlargement and reduction (up to 20% down to 10%)
• Mirror imaging
• Design color selections
• One-touch function buttons
  • Start/Stop
  • Reverse sewing
  • Needle up/down
  • Reinforcement key
  • Thread cutter
• Automatic presser foot lift
• Ergonomic hands-free presser foot lift
• Low bobbin thread indicator
• Needle plate with scale in inches and centimeters
• Electronic foot control
• Free arm with drop feed lever
• Hard cover carrying case with storage
• Two on board accessory storage compartments
• Programmable needle up/down
• Quick-Set bobbin winder
• On board help messages
• On board animated operational guide
• Ability to convert to 18 different languages

Working on the Baby Lock Aventura

The extremely user friendly on board threading and bobbin winding guides are easy to understand and follow, so much so that I believe a child as young as ten years of age can follow them with ease.

Once the machine is threaded and the bobbin in place, the next step is to determine whether you want to use the Aventura in sewing or embroidery mode.

The main thing to remember is that the Aventura will not operate in the sewing mode if the embroidery unit is attached. To use the sewing mode, it is first necessary to turn the machine off before removing the embroidery unit.

Selecting a stitch option starts with using the menu selection feature, located on the bottom row on the column. After the menu category is selected, use the left and right arrows to move through the stitch options until the stitch you want appears on the screen. Then press ‘OK’.

When a stitch is selected, an image of the stitch appears in the screen along with information about the correct presser foot to use and the default settings for the stitch length, width and tension.

If you find it necessary to adjust the stitch length, width or tension, it is necessary to first touch the icon at the upper right corner of the screen.

This will open a menu that will allow you to make any adjustments to the default settings that you need to in order to achieve any customized stitches you want. Once these settings are adjusted, you can save them for future use.

The Baby Lock Aventura is solidly built and runs smoothly, literally humming as it sews. The stitches produced are sharp, well defined and secure.

Sharp, well defined and secure stitches

Flawless end result

When operating in the embroidery mode, the process for selecting and adjusting designs is easier than I have seen in very long time. Again, I am tempted to say that a child in elementary school might be able to operate this machine with ease.

But this is not a toy, and therefore, should not be operated by a child without very close adult supervision. For this review, I decided to combine two designs – a frame and a monogram.

I had never before used this machine and did not take the time to read the manual before attempting to create this design. The easy to use on board tools made the process so uncomplicated, I felt completely at ease. The end result was flawless.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 13 Snap-on presser feet
  • Buttonhole foot
  • Overcasting foot
  • Embroidery foot
  • Monogramming foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Zigzag foot
  • Blind stitch foot
  • Button foot
  • Open toe foot
  • Teflon foot
  • Stitch guide foot
  • Adjustable zipper/piping foot
  • Free-motion open toe
• Knee lift
• Hard cover
• Embroidery bobbin thread
• Extra bobbins
• Seam ripper
• Twin needle
• Embroidery hoops and grids
  • 6-1/4″ x 10-1/4″ (160mm x 260mm)
  • 5″ x 7″ (130mm x 180mm)
• Owner’s manual
• Quick reference guide

Optional accessories:

• Embroidery hoops
  • 6″ x 6″ (150mm x 150mm)
  • 4″ x 4″ (100mm x 100mm)
  • 1″ x 2-1/2″ (20mm x 60mm)
• Extension table
• Stylus

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The Baby Lock Aventura is the first of its kind – at least as far as I am concerned. I have reviewed high end sewing and embroidery machines that do not feel as though they are built as well as this one.

This machine is affordable, solid, quiet and extremely user friendly. From threading the machine and winding the bobbin to selecting and executing the stitches, the Baby Lock Aventura is quite possibly the most user friendly affordably priced sewing and embroidery machine.

Although it is definitely easy enough for a child to learn to master, and despite the reasonable price tag, I do not believe a child should be allowed to use this machine without constant close adult supervision.

There are many things about this machine that would attract the imaginative child and tempt him or her to play with the many embroidery designs.

Like any other computerized sewing machine, however, I feel very strongly that children should not be allowed to operate this machine before first mastering all of the basics of sewing machine operation and care.

With this in mind, I think the Baby Lock Aventura is a good machine for the teen, young adult and adult student. It is designed to be user friendly, which is a major pre-requisite for any beginner.

My only hesitation if you will, is the fact that adjusting the stitch length and width involves that extra step of first going into a separate menu.

This, however, is a minor inconvenience, especially when taken into consideration with all of the other major advantages associated with working on the Aventura.

I thoroughly enjoyed working on the Baby Lock Aventura… not only because it is so user friendly, but also because it is so well built. Just by listening to it while it is running, you can tell that this machine is extremely well built and built to last a long, long time.

If a new combination sewing and embroidery machine is in your future, you owe it to yourself to visit your local Baby Lock dealer and ask for a demonstration of the Aventura.

Try it out for yourself and compare it to other sewing and embroidery machines before making a final decision as to which one you will take home.

The post Baby Lock Aventura Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

I happened to be at Laura’s Sewing and Vacuum Palm Beach Gardens store when they uncrated a brand new Brother Persona PR 100 single needle industrial embroidery machine in order to give a demonstration to a potential buyer, a business owner who was in the market for a new machine to be used to personalize caps, t-shirts and other items for her clients.

Since I was there to review new sewing machines, I decided to stop what I was doing in order to watch Dave, Laura’s husband and the store manager as he showed his client all of the machine’s features and taught her how to use it on her own.

At A Glance

Brother Persona PRS 100

Vertical bobbin case

The Brother Persona PR 100 looks very much like every other industrial embroidery machine that I have review so far.

It has a bobbin winding pin on the left side, a vertical bobbin case beneath the needle, a large opens space beneath the needle where the hoop is attached, an easy to follow threading guide and a large full color LCD touch screen.

The most significant difference, however between this machine and other industrial embroidery machines that I have had the honor of reviewing is the fact that the Brother Persona PR 100 has only one needle, making it necessary to rethread the machine every time there is a need for a color change.

Features

Advanced needle threading system

• 405 on board embroidery designs
  • 6 Monograming fonts
  • 20 Embroidery fonts
  • 140 Frame designs
  • 8 Quilt patterns
• Updatable software
• Advanced needle threading system
• Dual USB ports
• Drop light positioning marker
• Enhanced on screen editing
• Multiple line text input and editing
• Ability to combine designs
• Automatic tie off and cut jump stitches
• 1 Touch frame adjustment
• Switch designs from multi-color to monochromatic with one touch
• Vertical bobbin
• 7” LCD touch screen
• Ability to successfully embroider hard to reach areas on finished items [e.g. sleeves, pants legs, tags, etc.]

Working on the Brother Persona PRS 100

After watching the demonstration and subsequent sale of the Brother Persona PR 100, I decided to give it a try myself. When it was uncrated, Dave popped the pre-wound bobbin into place, so winding a brand new bobbin was not necessary.

Easy embroidery pattern selection

However, the on board bobbin winding guide is so clearly detailed, I doubt actually winding a bobbin would be any challenge at all. The on board threading guide is quite easy to follow as well.

Selecting an embroidery pattern was as easy as it is on smaller embroidery machines manufactured by Brother specifically for use in the home. Simply touch the menu icon and toggle through design options until you arrive at the one that you want.

To simplify the process, people who invest in the Brother Persona PRS 100 have the option of using the stitch reference guide to help streamline the stitch selection process, but I chose to take my time and look at the designs on the well-lit screen.

Normally, when reviewing embroidery machines, I select a design that does not require a thread change. For this particular review, however, I decided to use a two thread quilt block design.

The Brother Persona PR 100 is solidly built, runs smoothly and is very quiet when compared with other machines of its type.

When the first color was finished, the machine stopped and sounded a very pleasant chime. While loading the second thread color, I overlooked one small step in the threading process, which resulted in the machine stopping after just a couple of stiches.

Once my error was discovered and corrected, the machine picked up exactly where it stopped and my design was finished with perfection. I looked over the finished design very closely and could not detect where it had stopped and restarted.

Perfect design finish

The Brother Persona PR 100 is so solid that even while sitting atop the crate it was shipped in, there was very little vibration. I could just imagine that if it were operating while sitting atop an actual workstation or table designed specifically for a machine of this type, there would be no vibration whatsoever.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 4 Spool thread stand
• Cap frame and driver set
• Embroidery hoops:
  • 8” x 8”
  • 4” x 4”
  • 2” x 2”
  • 1.5” x 1.75”

Optional accessories:

• Wide table
• Machine stand
• Optional embroidery hoops:
  • 8” x 8” flat frame to handle thick fabrics [e.g. jackets, coats, leather, suede, fur]
  • 4” x 7” border frame
  • Round frame kit:
    • 4”
    • 5”
    • 6”
  • Center shoe clamp frame

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

Since beginning to write reviews of sewing machines of all types, I have reviewed several table top single purpose embroidery machines.

Up until a visit to Laura’s Sewing and Vacuum, I have always observed these massive machines in operation because of the rather significant amount of training that is required before actually operating without running the risk of causing damage to the machine.

The Brother Persona, however, is quite different. This is the very first machine of its type that I have observed to be user friendly in every way… so much so that I was quite comfortable operating it after just observing a demonstration for a customer.

This is by far the most user friendly industrial embroidery machine that I have seen thus far. It is compact, easy to learn, easy to operate and easy to maintain. This is largely due to the actual design of the Brother Persona PR 100.

While on first glance, it appears to be identical in every way to those high tech, complicated industrial embroidery machines, the Brother Persona PR 100 has been designed to bring commercial grade embroidery to the home as well as to simplify the work of those individuals in the professional embroidery industry.

It is a wonderful piece of equipment for working on small private and commercial embroidery tasks, but with an embroidery field that is no larger than 8” x 8”, the options for larger commercial embroidery jobs are limited.

With this in mind, I do not believe the Brother Persona PR 100 is a good fit for any setting where large embroidery projects like banners and other very large projects are the norm.

However, if smaller embroidery jobs, like ball caps, shirts, jackets, cuffs and children’s clothes are the order of the day, this is an ideal addition to any private or commercial sewing room.

With an 18” footprint, the Brother Persona PR 100 takes much less table space than most other embroidery machines designed strictly for home use.

This single fact makes this machine a viable option for anyone who wants to add an embroidery machine to their home sewing room, but is concerned about space limitations.

In my opinion, the most endearing feature about this machine is the ease with which I was able to learn to operate it. There are no complicated measurements or scales to master.

I especially like the fact that the on screen editing process is practically identical to the same process on all of the other Brother embroidery or sewing and embroidery machines currently available… which is one of the most user friendly systems I have had the pleasure of working with.

Anyone who has any experience working on a Brother embroidery machine of any type would have absolutely no problem whatsoever transferring those skills to the high powered, faster Brother Persona PR 100 which offers many, many more design options as well as the advantage of computer connectivity and all that comes with it.

By having the ability to connect the Brother Persona PR 100 to a home computer, users have an almost infinite number of options and choices for embroidery designs that they can create.

In the final analysis, my feeling is that the Brother Persona PR 100 is possibly the most user friendly industrial embroidery machine available at this point in time.

It is not only user friendly, it produces spectacular designs with quiet speed and precision that I have thus far only seen on much larger, heavier machines.

If you are in the market for a single needle high speed industrial powered embroidery machine for your home sewing room or professional embroidery studio, take the time to visit an authorized Brother sewing machine dealer in your local area and ask for a demonstration of the Brother Persona PR 100.

The post Brother Persona PRS 100 Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

Not long ago, I spent an entire day at Laura’s Sewing and Vacuum Palm Beach Gardens store reviewing Brother’s line of Q sewing, quilting and embroidery machines. The first machine that I got my hands on was the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E, one of the most user friendly embroidery only machines I have ever seen.

At A Glance

Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E

The Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E has all of the essential features that anyone would need to make a machine embroidery experience as pleasant and user friendly as possible.

Four function buttons

Under the lid, you will find very easy to follow threading and bobbin winding guides. Beneath the needle is a bright LED light along with Brother’s quick set bobbin and see through bobbin cover.

A USB port

There are only four function buttons… start/stop, thread tie and cut, needle up/down and presser foot up/down. In all honesty, these four buttons are all that’s necessary do to anything that you could possibly think of.

On the column, there is a full color LCD screen and a series of menu buttons that help you navigate through the 138 on board embroidery designs, adjust the design size and placement, a pivot foot control, on board tutorial and help menu.

A USB port on the right side of the machine allows you to use your own stored embroidery designs, and to download additional free and purchased designs from the web and updates from the manufacturer when necessary.

Features

• On-screen editing includes:
  • Letter editing
  • Enhanced zoom
  • Resizing
  • Rotating
  • Repositioning
  • Ability to combine designs
• Advanced needle threading system
• Automatic thread tension
• More than 5,000 optional designs available through iBroidery.com
• Upper and lower thread sensors
• 2 LED lights [one above the needle and one between the needle and column]
• Quick set bobbin
• On board memory
• Trial position/layout feature
• Rotate pattern 1 o, 10 o or 90o

Working on the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E

Although I would never advise anyone to do this, I actually sat down and went to work on this user friendly machine without referring to the user’s manual or asking a single question about its functions and operation.

This embroidery only machine is actually so user friendly that anyone who is familiar with the workings of a sewing machine can do the exact same thing.

Design options on the screen

After threading the machine and inserting the pre-wound bobbin, I attached the 6” x 10” embroidery hoop by simply sliding it into place and closing the clamp on the embroidery unit.

When the hoop was securely in place, I then touched the icons on the screen to scroll through design options until I settled on a single color sailboat.

Finished product

When I touched the design I wanted, the image appeared on the screen inside a box that represented the size of my embroidery hoop.

The original design was a bit smaller than I wanted, so I touched the ‘size’ button and a window appeared which allowed me to change my design in a number of ways.

I could have made it larger, smaller, taller, shorter, wide or narrow. I elected to keep the default proportions and just make the image larger.

That was as easy as merely tapping the icon until I was satisfied with the size on the screen. I then shifted the design up a little until it was positioned where I wanted it to be.

I then touched the ‘set’ button and an image appeared on the screen letting me know the number of stitches would be required to finish my design and the approximate time from start to finish.

The whole process took only a few short minutes. The only thing left for me to do was to lower the presser foot and touch the start/stop button, then just step back and let the machine do what it was built to do.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• Needle set
• 4 Bobbins
• Seam ripper
• Scissors
• Lint brush
• Two screwdrivers (1large/1 small
• L-shaped screwdriver
• Disc-shaped screwdriver
• 4 Spool caps (1 large/2 medium/1 small)
• Thread spool insert
• Spool net
• White pre-wound embroidery bobbin thread (60 weight)
• Accessory bag
• Dust cover
• Operation manual
• Quick reference guide
• Embroidery design guide
• Bobbin center pin and instruction sheet
• Alternate bobbin case
• Embroidery hoop-6” x 10”

Optional accessories:

• Embroidery hoops
  • 5” x 7”
  • 4” x 4”
  • 2” x 2”

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

While running, the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E is so quiet I barely noticed it while I was talking with customers who were observing me put this machine through its paces about just how easy the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E is to operate.

As easy as operating the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E is, I would never recommend it for use by anyone who is not first familiar with the operation of a sewing machine.

With that in mind, I think this is an excellent machine for someone whose sewing skills are at the intermediate or ‘advanced beginner’ level.

Anyone who is a capable home sewer and ready to expand their skills to include machine embroidery would do well to invest in this machine.

An excellent machine

There is such a small learning curve on this machine, I believe anyone who decides to add the Brother Innov-is to their sewing room will be able to produce an infinite number of embroidered projects within a few hours after getting it home.

This is not a machine for children, however – no matter how well they can perform basic sewing functions. No doubt, a child who already knows the basics of sewing machine operation will want to play around with the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E, creating their own customized embroidery designs.

But this is NOT a toy. The Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E is affordable, but it still costs enough that very few home sewers would be comfortable in allowing a youngster to operate it.

My recommendation is that no child younger than 16 years of age should not be allowed to use this machine – even with adult supervision. Of course, there exceptions to every rule.

I have seen youngsters as young as 12 or 14 who would sincerely appreciate being able to work on the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E. Therefore, the final decision as to when to allow the budding designer in your household to work on this machine is entirely up to the person who makes the investment.

Older teens, young adults and people who have been sewing for many years would appreciate the ease with which they can move from a traditional sewing machine to the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E.

The transition to this embroidery only machine is remarkably seamless. The on board tutorials and easy to follow guides are probably the most essential factors in making this such a user friendly machine.

Although I have been sewing for most of my life, my experience with machine embroidery has been limited to the freehand embroidery designs that I created on my old machines from the 1960s.

Until very recently, I was quite content with performing machine embroidery tasks the old fashioned way… tracing my designs onto water soluble or tear away stabilizer, then hooping my fabric, dropping the feed dogs and then sitting there, guiding the machine through each and every stitch. This machine, however, has me thinking about doing something different.

Before making a final decision to invest in the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E and adding one to your personal sewing space, I urge you to visit an independent Brother Innov-is dealer in your local area and take a few moments to see this machine in operation.

Ask for a hands on demonstration and see for yourself just how easy it is to create customized embroidery designs in just a little bit of time with a minimum of instruction or guidance from a sales associate.

The post Brother Innov-is NQ 1400E Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

One of the machines in the Brother Q series is the Innov-is NQ 3500D, a sewing, quilting and embroidery machine that offers 35 embroidery designs featuring Disney characters.

I had an opportunity to review this very user friendly combination machine while visiting Laura’s Sewing and Vacuum in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

At A Glance

Brother Innovis NQ 3500D

The familiar Mickey Mouse silouhette on the column is a dead giveaway that the Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D is in some way tied to Disney characters.

Familiar Mickey Mouse silouhette

The particular machine I reviewed also had a removable Mickey Mouse decal on the workspace surface. There is an LCD touchscreen with a touchpad beneath containing a series of function control buttons.

Function buttons above the needle and workspace include start/stop; needle up/down; design stop; thread tie off and cut; presser foot up/down; and a variable speed slider.

Above the needle, you will also find Brother’s advanced needle threader and beneath the needle is a see through bobbin cover and a needle plate with clearly defined seam guides.

There is also an on board stitch selection guide beneath the lid and a double sided accessory case that doubles as work space when the machine is used in the sewing mode and a ruler along with a slot for the knee lift to be inserted on front.

The free arm is accessible when the case is not attached. The Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D also has an embroidery unit which is attached when it is time to create embroidery designs.

Features

• 290 on board utility and decorative stitches including:
  • 58 combinable stitches
  • 10 one-step auto-size buttonholes
  • 5 sewing lettering fonts
• 173 built-in embroidery designs
  • 35 designs featuring Disney characters
  • 140 frame pattern combinations
  • 11 embroidery lettering fonts
• More than 5,000 designs available for purchase through iBroidery.com
• Embroidery area 6″x10″
• Upper and lower thread sensors
• Adjustable presser foot pressure[ Automatic Height Adjuster™ … AHA®]
• Pivot Function
• Enhanced My Custom Stitch™ allows users to combine and edit custom and built-in sample stitches
• Embroidery mode on-screen editing enables:
  • letter editing
  • enhanced zoom
  • resizing
  • rotating
  • repositioning
  • combining designs

Working on the Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D

The most difficult part of setting up the Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D for use is deciding whether you want to sew, quilt or embroider.

Easy to understand threading and bobbin winding guides

Directional arrows to adjust the length and/or width

Regardless of the mode you finally settle upon, the process of threading the Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D is the same. All that is necessary is to follow the easy to understand threading and bobbin winding guides.

The embroidery unit and accessories slide into place and can be removed with ease. It is important to remember, however, to turn the machine off before removing the embroidery unit.

When in the sewing or embroidery mode, the Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D can be operated with the accessory case attached, making for a functional useful work surface, or with the accessory case removed, exposing the convenient free arm.

The stitch selection process is as uncomplicated as selecting a stitch design from the stitch selection guide to determine which category it falls into then using the menu buttons to go into that category and using the control buttons on the touchpad located beneath the touch screen to bring up the stitch you want.

Customizing stitches is easy

If you want to change the default stitch length and width settings, simply use your finger tip to touch the icon in the upper right hand corner of the touchscreen.

Directional arrows on the touchpad make it possible for you to adjust the length and/or width to accommodate your specific requirements for customizing stitches to suit your needs at the time.

You have the option of saving frequently used stitch adjustments for future use. For this review, I sampled several utility and decorative stitches.

Not only was each stitch perfectly formed, sturdy and well defined, the Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D is quite, you can tell from the feel of it that this machine is solid and very well built.

I also sampled the machine while in the embroidery mode. The embroidery unit very easily slides onto the machine and locks in place. The embroidery hoop slides onto the unit and is locked into place by a small lever.

Perfectly formed, sturdy and well defined stitches

The embroidery designs are easily accessible. Selecting a design starts by first going into the menu and then scrolling through to identify the desired. User friendly on board helps enable users to make adjustments to design size and placement is as easy as can be.

In fact, it was not necessary for me to refer to the owner’s manual during this review a single time. For this part of the review, I decided to combine a frame with a monogram.

Executing this design was as easy as positioning the frame first and then the initial, then touching the start/stop button. When the frame was done, the machine stopped and sounded a soft beep.

Perfectly done design

Although I could have changed thread colors, I opted to use the same color for both steps in the interest of time. I simply touched the start/stop button a second time and in less than ten minutes, the entire design was finished… and done perfectly.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 13 Snap on presser feet
  • Zigzag foot
  • Monogramming foot
  • Overcasting foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Blind stitch foot
  • Buttonhole foot
  • Button fitting foot
  • Embroidery foot
  • Open toe foot
  • Non-stick foot
  • Stitch guide foot
  • Adjustable zipper/piping foot
  • Free-motion quilting foot
• Needle set
• 4 Bobbins
• Bobbin center pin and instruction sheet
• Seam ripper
• Scissors
• Cleaning brush
• Eyelet punch,
• 4 Screwdrivers (1 large/1 small/l-shaped/disc-shaped)
• Horizontal spool pin
• 4 Spool caps (1 large/2 medium/1 small)
• Thread spool insert (mini king thread spool)
• Spool net
• Knee lifter
• Standard bobbin case
• Alternate bobbin case
• 2 Embroidery frames
  • 6” x 10”
  • 5” x 7”
• Embroidery bobbin thread (60 weight, white)
• Accessory bag, Hard case
• Grid sheet set
• Owner’s manual
• Quick reference guide
• Embroidery design guide,
• Disney, Registration sheet

Accessories

Optional accessories:

• Extension table
• Free motion guide
• Rolling bag set
• Pre-wound embroidery bobbins
• Snap on presser feet
  • ¼” Piecing foot with or without guide
  • 5 Piece embellishing pack:
    • Stitch in the ditch foot
    • Roller foot
    • Piping foot
    • Edge joining foot
    • Gathering foot

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D is an excellent sewing and embroidery machine. It is so easy to use, one might be tempted to use it to teach children the art of sewing and machine embroidery.

However, I strongly encourage budding home sewers younger than 12 or 13 years of age to use single function machines before venturing into the world of computerized combination machines like this one.

An excellent sewing and embroidery machine

It is, however, a good machine for beginners who are in high school, but only high school students who are focused enough to understand that it is necessary for them to first learn and master the basics of sewing machine operation before attempting anything fancy like machine embroidery.

Having said all of that, I think the Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D is one of the most user friendly combination machines I have seen to date.

I love the ease with which you can select stitches and embroidery designs then execute them using simplified on board aids that are easy to follow even without the use of an instruction manual.

I do not, however, recommend that anyone operate the Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D without first reading the manual and taking advantage of any and all classes in the machine’s use, operation and maintenance before working on it.

The Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D is more than just user friendly. It is solid, well built and does not vibrate at all. It is also affordably priced.

This is one of those sewing and embroidery machines that really needs to be seen to be believed. Very seldom do I come across a sewing machine that I cannot find a single thing to criticize or complain about, but this is one.

Anyone who might be interested in adding a combination sewing and embroidery machine to their sewing room should make it a priority to visit their local authorized Brother Innov-is dealer and ask for a demonstration.

The post Brother Innov-is NQ 3500D Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

One day while visiting Laura’s Sewing and Vacuum in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, I had an opportunity to review the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 900 PRW, a combination sewing and quilting machine that is not only affordable but user friendly.

At A Glance

Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 900 PRW

Monochromatic LCD screen

The Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 900 PRW can be operated with either an extension table or an on board double sided accessories case. When both of these items are removed, a convenient free arm is accessible.

There is also a monochromatic LCD screen, a series of numerical touchpads which are used for stitch selection and function keys that control the pivot function and automatic thread cut and tie off.

Above the needle and across the head is a series of buttons which are used to perform all of the essential sewing and embroidery tasks: start/stop; needle up/down; reverse stitch; design stop; thread tie off and cut and a variable speed slider. Beneath the needle is the advanced needle threader, a see through bobbin cover and a needle plate with seam guides.

A series of buttons above the needle

On the front of the machine you will find a ruler and a slot where the knee lift can be inserted.

Beneath the lid is a convenient stitch selection guide and easy to follow guides to facilitate winding the bobbin and threading the machine.

Working on the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 900 PRW

Easy to understand and follow on board guides beneath the lid and on the left column of the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 900 PRW make the threading and bobbin winding process easy enough for any beginner to master in little or no time at all.

After the machine is threaded and the bobbin in place, selecting stitches is as easy as finding the desired stitch option on the stitch selection guide inside the lid, selecting the appropriate menu category and then dialing up the stitch number on the numerical keypad beneath the LCD screen.

During this review, I sampled several decorative, quilting and utility stitches. In most cases, the default settings were perfect. A few of the decorative stitches, however, seemed to be less dense than I preferred.

On board guides

Making the adjustment to increase the density was easily accomplished by adjusting the stitch length and width using directional arrows on the touchpad. With that one exception, I observed the stitches to be well formed, sturdy and even.

Well formed, sturdy and even stitches

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 14 Snap on presser feet
  • Zigzag foot
  • Monogramming foot
  • Overcasting foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Blind stitch foot
  • Buttonhole foot
  • Button foot
  • Open toe foot
  • Non-stick foot
  • Stitch guide foot
  • Adjustable zipper/piping foot
  • Quilting foot
  • Walking foot
  • ¼” Quilting foot with guide
• Extra Needles
• Twin needle
• 4 Bobbins
• Quilting guide
• Seam ripper
• Lint brush
• Eyelet punch
• 4 Screwdrivers (3 large, L-shaped, Disc-shaped)
• Horizontal spool pin
• 4 Spool caps (1 large, 1 medium, 1 small, 1 mini-insert)
• Spool net
• Knee lifter
• Accessory bag
• Wide extension table
• Soft dust cover
• Grid sheet set
• Owner’s manual
• Quick reference guide
• Accessory leaflet [listing of included accessories]

Accessories

Optional accessories:

• Roller bag set
• Free motion guide
• 10 Spool thread stand
• Specialty presser feet, including
  • Braiding foot
  • Candlewicking foot
  • Clearview foot
  • Edge joining foot
  • Fringe foot
  • Gathering foot
  • Narrow hem foot
  • Pearls and sequins foot
  • Pin tuck foot [7 groove]
  • Roller groove
  • Side cutter foot
  • Stitch in the ditch foot
  • Vertical stitch alignment foot

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The long running clothing design and sewing competition program, Project Runway, is one of the most popular television programs among home sewers in the US.

Anyone who pays close attention to the workroom has seen the Brother logo on the sewing machines used by the competitors on that program.

When people see the Project Runway logo on a Brother sewing machine, they are almost instantly inclined to take a closer look. Some sewing machines and sergers with the Project Runway logo are quite good and others, not so much.

Of all the sewing machines that I have reviewed with the Project Runway logo, the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 9900 PRW is one of the best sewing and quilting machines in the PRW series.

The placement of the drop feed control is a long standing pet peeve of mine. Putting any machine control behind the accessories case, making it necessary to reach around the machine to gain access is in my opinion a time waster and a highly inefficient design detail.

I don’t know what it would take for sewing machine design engineers to realize this, but for now, I guess it is an inconvenience that we must live with. That does not, however, mean that I will stop complaining about it.

The only other issue I have with the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 900 PRW is the fact that it is necessary to adjust the stitch length and width settings in order to achieve professional looking density in some of the design stitch options.

This is a well built, solid machine that is quiet when it is running and there is virtually no vibration at all. As stated above, the issue with the stitch density is easily remedied. The placement of the drop feed control, however, is another matter altogether.

Given the significant number of advantages, the affordability and the user friendliness of the Brother NQ 900 PRW far outweigh the two things that raised red flags for me.

This is a great machine and one that I believe would be an excellent option for anyone who is older than 10 years of age and wants to learn to sew.

It is also a great choice for someone who has been sewing for any length of time, regardless of their skill level, because it is so well built and easy to operate.

Someone who learned to sew several years ago but set sewing aside in order to concentrate on career and family and is now ready to return to the sewing room would be pleased with the Brother NQ 900 PRW because it has all of the features and benefits that an experienced home sewer would be able to appreciate, yet is uncomplicated enough for a returning sewer to be comfortable with after a long break from sewing clothes, accessories and home décor accents.

The large extension table is not only ideal for machine quilting projects, it is also a good accessory to have on hand when working on large projects like coats, tote bags, long dresses, and the like.

When you consider the very reasonable manufacturer’s suggested retail price and the many benefits, features and advantages that come with the Brother Project Runway NQ 9900 PRW, you simply cannot walk past this machine if you are in the market for a new addition to your sewing room.

This is, in my opinion, one of the very few truly well-built, reliable, user friendly sewing and embroidery machines available on today’s market that is actually affordable.

The Brother Project Runway NQ 900 PRW is designed to fit practically every budget and lifestyle. It has a relatively small footprint, which means it can easily fit into every sewing area.

When the extension able is attached, the Brother NQ 900 PRW requires a little more table top space, but not so much that it is difficult to accommodate.

If you are inclined to believe that a new sewing and quilting machine is in your future, it would be to your advantage to visit your local authorized Brother Innov-is dealer and ask for a demonstration of the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 900 PRW. This machine is definitely well worth the time it takes to give it your very serious consideration.

The post Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 900 PRW Review appeared first on Sewing Insight.

During a visit to Laura’s Sewing and Vacuum in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, I came across the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 700 PRW, one more entry in the highly anticipated Brother Q line.

The NQ 700 PRW is a sewing and quilting machine that was designed for the beginner, but did not forget about the advanced home sewer who is in the market for a new sewing machine that is capable of satisfying the most demanding of tastes.

At A Glance

Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 700 PRW

Advanced needle threader

The Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 700 PRW has a monochromatic LCD screen, a series of control and function buttons that enable the user to take advantage of every singly sewing task with the touch of a finger.

Above the needle are the start/stop; needle up/down; reverse stitch; design stop and thread tie-off/cut buttons as well as the a variable speed slider.

The advanced needle threader is directly above the needle and on the left column. Below the needle is a see through bobbin cover and a needle plate with seam guides.

On the right column is the LCD screen and a touch pad with a series of control buttons that not only control the stitch length and width, memory, mirror image and pivot functions among other things, menu buttons on this touch pad are also used in the stitch selection process.

Monochromatic LCD screen

A quick reference stitch selection guide and easy to follow threading and bobbin winding guides are beneath the lid along with the manual tension adjustment dial. Across the front is an 18 inch ruler and on the front right side is a place where the knee lifter is inserted.

Features

• 180 built-in stitches including
• 40 combinable stitches
• 10 one-step auto-size buttonhole styles
• 5 Fonts
  • 3 Alphanumeric fonts
  • 1 Cyrillic
  • 1 Japanese
• My Custom Stitch™
• Advanced needle threading system
• Quick-Set™ drop-in top bobbin
• Function buttons
  • Start/stop
  • Thread tie off and cut
  • Design stop
  • Reverse stitch
  • Needle up/down
• Variable speed slider
• Manual tension adjustment
• Stitch memory
• Mirror image
• Pivot function

Working on the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 700 PRW

On board guides simplify the process of threading the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 700 PRW and winding the bobbin. There is even a guide to help with inserting the drop in bobbin and guiding the thread through so that it is easily picked up by the needle.

On board guides

The hardest thing about using this machine is deciding which stitch to use first. The actual stitch selection process is not at all complicated.

All that is necessary is to identify the menu category in which the stitch is located, select the menu icon on the column then scroll through the menu until the desired stitch appears on the LCD screen and sew.

Even when sewing at top speed, the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 700 PRW is whisper quiet and does not vibrate at all… a clear indication of a solid, well-built sewing machine.

The quality of the stitches is what I would call well above average. My only real concern about the stitches is the fact that some of the decorative stitches appeared to be less dense than I would like.

The situation, however, is easily remedied by adjusting the length and width until the desired density is achieved. Aside from that very small observation, I observed the stitches to be well formed, clearly defined and sturdy.

Well formed, clearly defined and sturdy stitches

For this review I used a piece of plain cotton fabric and sampled several different utility and decorative stitch options. The manual tension adjustment was not an issue during the review.

I suspect the only time a use may have to change the default tension setting is if they were working with extremely delicate or thick fabric.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 7 Snap on presser feet
  • Zigzag foot
  • Monogramming foot
  • Overcasting foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Blind stitch foot
  • Button fitting foot
  • Buttonhole foot
• Extra needles
• Twin needle
• 4 Bobbins
• Seam ripper
• Lint brush
• Eyelet punch
• Large screwdriver
• L shaped screwdriver
• Disc screwdriver
• Horizontal spool pin
• 4 Spool caps (1 large, 2 medium, 1 small)
• Thread spool insert
• Spool net
• Knee lifter
• Grid sheet set
• Owner’s manual
• Quick reference guide
• Accessories pouch
• Dust cover

Accessories

Optional accessories:

• Additional presser feet
  • Free motion echo quilting foot
  • Quilting foot
  • Free motion quilting foot
  • Walking foot
  • ¼” Quilting foot
  • Quilting guide
  • ¼” Quilting foot with guide
  • Open toe foot
  • Non-stick foot
  • Stitch guide foot
  • Adjustable zipper foot
  • Straight stitch foot/needle plate set
  • Pin tuck foot
  • Roller foot
  • Stitch in the ditch foot
  • Side cutter
• Extension table
• Q-series roller bag set
• Free motion guide
• Bobbin clips
• Bobbin Work kit – includes:
  • 20 free motion design templates
  • Specialty bobbin case
  • Small screwdriver
  • Instructional CD rom
  • Specialty thread bobbin cover

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

I like the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 700 PRW for use by older beginners… people 12 years of age and up.

It is not a good option for younger children because there are too many options to take into consideration for most youngsters to deal with while learning the basics of sewing and sewing machine operation.

This sewing machine is also a great choice for the advanced home sewer who is looking for an uncomplicated computerized sewing machine that has all of the essential features, but not a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles or requires a lot of extraneous steps in order to complete a simple task.

The Brother NQ 700 PRW has a memory function, which allows the user to create and store their own customized stitch settings.

This is a definite plus when it comes to adjusting the default settings on those design stitch options that are less dense than some might prefer.

With this feature, the adjusted stitch setting could be saved and automatically executed every tie that stitch is used, without the user having to once again make adjustments to the stitch length and/or width.

The omission of some of the features that are found on many of the other machines in the Brother Q series like the Brother Innov-is NQ 1400, the Brother Innov-is NQ 3500, or even the Brother Project Runway Liited Edition NQ 900 PRW stands out, but not so much so that the missing features are deterrents to the machine’s functionality and user friendliness.

The difference results only in a lower price tag, which is a definite plus for some budgets. When it’s all said and done, the final decision as to which machine in the Brother Q series could very well depend entirely upon the personal financial circumstances of the buyer.

I think all of the machine in the Brother Q series are excellent. The Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 700 PRW is definitely a winner. This machine feels, sounds and operates like a much more costly machine.

It is, in my opinion, durable and while only time will tell, I am inclined to believe that this is one of those sewing machines that will be around for quite a long time.

Beginners will be pleased with the Brother NQ 700 PRW because it is such an easy machine to learn to operate.

People who have bene sewing for many years will be able to appreciate this machine even more than beginners because they know beforehand what to expect.

Whether your sewing skills are at the beginner or advanced level or somewhere in between, I strongly urge you to visit your local Brother Innov-is dealer and take a long hard look at the Brother Project Runway Limited Edition NQ 700 PRW before making a final decision as to which sewing machine to add to your sewing room.

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