Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II Review

One day I received a request from a site visitor that I review the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold. Luckily, I was able to find an Ellisimo Gold II at Cynthia’s Fine Fabrics in Tamarac, Florida.

Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II

It’s not always possible for me to fulfill requests for reviews of specific machines so quickly, so I want to express my sincere thanks to Cynthia and her staff for helping make this possible.

At A Glance

It’s been a long, long time since I came across a sewing machine that has as many standard and optional features and accessories as the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II… so many, in fact, that it’s hard to even decide where to start.

Three USB ports on the right hand side

In addition to the on board function buttons that you would expect to find on an advanced sewing, embroidery and quilting machine: start/stop; reverse; thread cut; presser foot up/down; needle up/down; and a variable speed slider, there is an oversized full color touch screen, an on board stylus and three USB ports on the right hand side, a large embroidery unit that allows you to sew with it in place; and a see through bobbin cover along with a sensor that lets you know when your bobbin thread is low.

The easy to follow threading guide is a major advantage as well as the automatic needle threading system and the bright LED lighting that illuminates your work without creating shadows.

This is not a small sewing machine. Its footprint is larger than most machines of this type, and that’s a good thing.

The Ellisimo Gold II has one of the largest work areas available on a home sewing machine. This is especially helpful when working on large sewing projects, especially those big quilting or embroidery jobs.

Features

Among the almost countless advanced features available on the Ellisimo Gold II are the downloadable software; on board Nancy Zieman embroidery designs; oversized alphanumeric characters; and print and stitch capabilities.

Sewing Features

• 683 On board utility and decorative stitches
  • 149 utility stitches
  • 15 automatic one-step buttonholes
  • 1 four-step manual buttonhole
  • 355 decorative stitches
  • 79 Decorative satin
  • 20 Satin
  • 17 Cross
  • 63 Combinable Utility stitches
  • 4 On board alphanumeric fonts
  • 29 Quilting stitches
• 57 needle positions
• Adjustable stitch length up to 30mm
• Stitch width up to 7mm
• Utility stitch editing capabilities
• 5 memory settings for each utility stitch
• Decorative stitch editing
• Ability to edit and combine character and decorative stitches
• 20 memory pockets
• Ability to sew with embroidery unit attached
• Automatic drop feed
• Mirror-image
• Stitch lock key
• Lateral and diagonal feeding
• Variable needle positions
• Built-in darning
• Twin needle settings
• Large workspace – 50 square inches
• Function buttons
  • Start/Stop
  • Reverse stitch
  • Needle up/down
  • Thread cutter
  • Automatic presser foot lift
  • Automatic needle threading
• Speed control slider
• 3-position adjustable knee lift
• Extra high presser foot lift
• Programmable 3-step needle up/down
• Needle plate with seam guide in inches and centimeters
• Multi-Function Foot control
• Free arm
• Two accessory storage compartments (one on board and one separate accessories box)
• On board operation guide includes 11 instructional videos
• On board application guide
• On board help menu
• (SCS) Embroidery Stitch Count System
• Ability to save on screen images
• Downloadable Software via USB connection

Embroidery Features

• On board embroidery design library
• 617 on board embroidery designs:
  • 302 Baby Lock exclusive designs including
  • 39 Nancy Zieman designs
  • 14 bobbin work embroidery designs
  • 15 Buttonhole embroidery designs in 3 sizes
  • 15 Buttonhole embroidery frame designs
• 120 Frame combinations
• 21 Font styles including:
  • Extra large striped alphabet and characters
  • Extra large block alphabet and characters
  • Script alphabet and characters
  • Large floral alphabet
  • Greek alphabet
• Embroidery field up to 8” x 12” (200mm x 300mm)
• Memory capacity 2MB
• Embroidery design capacity up to 500,000 stitches per design
• Touch screen measurements displayed in inches or centimeters
• Color separation
• Thread color indicator
• On screen hoop size indicator
• Low bobbin thread indicator
• 300 Color names
• Customizable screen saver
• Thumbnail images up to 150% of the normal size
• 8-Point trial check points
• Starting point key for instant alignment of characters or patterns
• Resume feature
• On screen grid
• Ability to combine embroidery designs
• Rotate patterns at 1°, 10°, and 90°
• Enlarge designs up to 200% and reduce to 60%
• Automatic appliqué
• Automatic basting
• Mirror imaging
• Print and stitch capabilities

Technology Features:

• TruView™ ASV® LCD Color Touch Screen measures 8.5” diagonally
• NeedleCam™ digital camera assures the user of perfect embroidery and sewing positioning
• Needle laser beam for precise alignment
• OnScreen™ designer
• SketchPad™ tablet and electronic pen
• Enhanced LED Stadium Lighting
• 3 USB drives
• NeverMiss™ automatic threading system
• advanced pivoting feature
• Automatic fabric sensor system
• Automatic thread cutter (with on/off capability)
• Quick-set, top-loading bobbin with sensor
• Quick-set independent bobbin winding system with variable speed
• Automatic upper and lower thread sensors on/off
• On screen hoop sensor recommends best hoop size for your selected project
• Embroidery and sewing speeds up to 1,000 stitches per minute

Working on the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II

Before ever attempting to work on the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II you get the feeling that working on this machine is going to be a pleasure. When you first turn it on, you have the option of choosing the sewing, quilting or embroidery mode.

600 stitch options

Regardless of the mode you select, following the on board threading and bobbin winding guides are only the first steps in what for me turned out to be a very enjoyable experience.

At first, I was a bit concerned that with more than 600 stitch options from which to choose making a selection might be a challenge without a stitch selection guide inside the top lid.

As it turned out, however, the full color touch screen makes navigating through the stitch selection process seem like child’s play. There are two major stitch modes – utility and character/decorative.

For this review, I sampled several utility and decorative stitches. Just for the fun of it, I also toyed around with the alphanumeric fonts and decided to program the machine to write my name out in one of the large script fonts.

Whether using the programmable design function or sewing decorative and utility stitches one at a time or in a programmed sequence, I found that the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II is solid, silent and produced great stitches no matter which option I chose.

With some sewing machines, it is necessary to raise the volume level if you are listening to music or watching television while sewing. Not so with the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II.

Great stitch quality

This fully computerized sewing, quilting and embroidery machine is so quiet, it is entirely possible that you could hold a telephone conversation while sewing and the party on the other end of the call would never even suspect that a machine was running in the background.

Fabrics

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

Accessories

Standard accessories

Standard accessories

• 18 snap on presser feet
  • Zigzag
  • Monogram
  • Buttonhole
  • Embroidery (with needle beam)
  • Narrow hemmer
  • Cording
  • Blind stitch
  • Vertical stitch alignment
  • Blind stitch
  • Walking
  • Side cutter
  • Straight stitch
  • Free motion quilting
  • Free motion echo quilting
  • Free motion open toe
  • Cording
  • Blind hem
  • Overcasting
• Eyelet punch
• Screwdrivers
• 3 Spool caps (1 large/1 medium/1 small)
• Alternate bobbin case for pre-wound bobbins
• USB tablet
• Cordless pen
• Adjustable 3 position knee lifter
• Digital USB mouse
• Stylus
• Microfiber cleaning cloth
• USB cable
• Case for storing presser feet
• Multi-Function Foot Control
• Soft canvas cover with 3 storage pockets
• Embroidery unit carrying case
• Cone thread stand
• Straight stitch needle plate
• Bobbin case and cover for embroidery and bobbin work
• Bobbin case for pre-wound bobbins
• Bobbin center pin
• Embroidery bobbin thread
• Bobbins
• Needles
• Scissors
• Lint brush
• Cord guide bobbin cover
• Seam ripper
• Twin needle
• 4 Embroidery hoops
  • 8” x 12” (200mm x 300mm)
  • 8” x 8” (200mm x 200mm)
  • 4” x 4” (100mm x 100mm)
  • 1” x 2 ½ ” (20mm x 60mm)
• Ability to work in 12 different languages
• Owner’s manual and reference guides

Owner’s manual and reference guides

Optional Accessories

• Embroidery hoops
  • 6 ¼ ” x 10 ¼ ” (160mm x 260mm)
  • 5” x 7” (130mm x 180mm)
  • Continuous border (100mm X 180mm)
• 1GB Flash Drive
• 10 Spool thread stand
• 16” x 23 ¾ ” Extension table and grip
• Embroidery card reader
• TruStitch quilting stitch regulator
• Stabilizers
• Instructional DVD

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The Baby lock Ellisimo Gold II is certainly one of the most well-appointed sewing, quilting and embroidery machines I have reviewed to date. It is user friendly – which is major advantage over many other machines in its class – and it is easy to learn to operate.

The on board tutorials and guides are ideal for those home sewers who are not as familiar with basic sewing techniques and functions as I believe they should be before taking on such an awesome machine.

If you are familiar with my reviews, you already know that I firmly believe beginners should not take on too much at the onset of their sewing experience.

I do, however, recognize that lots of people with little or no sewing experience purchase machines far above their skill levels and then try to learn everything at once.

This may work for some people. However, the majority of them are so overwhelmed they end up either selling the machine and giving up on sewing altogether or leaving them to rot in the bottom of a closet.

In my opinion, it is best for beginners, no matter how young or old, to start with a basic machine and then moving up to more complicated machines, capable of rendering hundreds of stitches and loaded with top of the line optional features and accessories.

The Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II might be an exception to that rule. A beginner who invests in this machine must, however, not only be dedicated to learning sewing techniques, they must also be willing to make a solid commitment to themselves to stick with their new hobby in the process.

Excellent sewing, quilting and embroidery machine

Anyone who purchases a Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II from an authorized dealer is entitled to free classes. In order to get the best out of the Ellisimo Gold II, I recommend these classes for everybody who makes an investment in this machine. It’s the only way to be certain that you will be able to benefit from everything it has to offer.

The good news is the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II is an excellent sewing, quilting and embroidery machine. The stitch quality is excellent. It is extremely user friendly and the standard and optional features and accessories are mind boggling.

The bad news is this machine will be discontinued in April 2014. That, too, however, could be very good news because authorized local Baby lock dealers will be looking to sell off their current stock in order to make room for the new models to be released later this summer.

With the pending discontinuation of the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II, there will be lots of sales and opportunities for people to get a great deal on this great machine.

If you are one of those people, I suggest you contact the nearest authorized Baby Lock dealer and ask for a demonstration. Do not attempt to purchase this or any other Baby Lock sewing machine on the internet.

Baby Lock does not authorize the online sale of any of its machines. If you acquire a Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold II through any source other than an authorized Baby Lock dealer, you forfeit all rights to warranties, factory service if it ever becomes necessary and all other benefits offered by the manufacturer.