Whether you are having trouble threading your machine, can’t work out how to change the stitch settings or just want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your sewing machine it is always best to have a copy of the manual on hand. Its throat space is big enough to make large quilts. I could easily fit my 100″ king-size quilt inside, which was a happy surprise!

I Bought the Brother Ls14s Sewing Machine (6 Month Review)

We believe the Brother LS14 is compatible with presser feet that are Press On / Low Shank. If you already have presser feet that are compatible with this type of shank from a previous sewing machine, then in many cases you will be able to use the same presser feet on this model as well.It sewed the denim hem OK, but there were a few issues. It struggled to feed the fabric when going over the seam allowance humps. It did manage it, but the stitches got smaller. It has the most important stitches: straight, zig zag, blind hem, rectangle buttonhole, and a few extras. You can sew most things with these.

Manuals | LS14 | United Kingdom | Brother

I think it’s best for beginners who need a cheap sewing machine for occasional use. It suits everyday projects and light/medium weight fabrics. It’s one of the simplest sewing machines on the market. There are only a few important stitches to choose from, and the stitch length and width settings are pre-set. So there’s less for you to learn. However, this also means you have very little control over the stitches, so a hobby sewist would find it limiting. I like that it has a top-loading bobbin. It’s more reliable than front-loading bobbins which jam a lot. I think it sews jersey OK, it’s presser foot doesn’t stretch out the fabric thankfully.

Another handy feature for beginners are the thread guides, these are arrows on the machine which basically guide you on how to thread the upper thread. More expensive machines have a better feeding system which solves this, like my Brother innov-is a150. It doesn’t matter how much you change the speed during a line of stitching, the stitches are consistent. Very little control over stitch settings Although not really suitable for heavy fabrics such as denim or leather, it copes quite well with upholstery fabrics for curtains or cushions providing you use the right needle and stitch. Expect the stitch length to become small and uneven over the humps. To be fair, all the beginner machines I tested did this too. As long as your thread matches the fabric, you won’t be able to tell. Inconsistent stitch length The stitch length is affected by how fast or slow you sew. So if you start fast and then slow down, your stitches will be different lengths. For comparison, all of the beginner machines I tested also have this problem.

Brother LS14 user manual (English - 4 pages) Brother LS14 user manual (English - 4 pages)

As like most of Brother's sewing machines, the LS14S features a traditional metal chassis sewing machine. This not only gives the machine the ability to support all of its internal mechanisms with ease, but the rigid metal frame provides stability to prevent accidents. You need to store all your accessories in the plastic bag provided. You can’t leave your accessories in there loose or they’ll fall out every time you remove the front cover. Yes, I think the Brother Ls14s is good enough for basic quilting. Its throat space is big enough for large quilts and quilting feet are available to buy separately. It can quilt straight lines OK, but the machine does wander slightly to the left/right, so it’s hard to sew perfectly straight. You can’t drop the feed dogs for free-motion quilting, and it doesn’t come with a “darning plate” to cover the feed dogs either. You’ll need to buy that separately.It weighs 4.7kg with accessories inside. I found sewing machines under 6kg easy to hold in one hand, so this was one of those easy machines. Brother has been a well established business for over one hundred years and has been invested in the sewing industry for half that time. While they are now mostly known for their technological solutions in office supplies, they have transferred that technical knowledge over to their sewing machines. Weighing in at 6.2 Kg the Brother LS14 sewing machine can easily be taken pretty much anywhere you want to take it. With beginners in mind, the portability of this model is great if you are new to sewing. Having a sewing machine that can easily be taken to sewing classes or a friend’s home has its obvious benefits. Included Accessories It did join the fabric together strongly, but the Ls14s hated sewing this. It sounded very loud and thumpy. It also slowed down when going over the seam allowance humps. This created uneven stitch lengths and a skipped stitch. The motor isn’t powerful enough for this fabric. Faux leather & cotton canvas zipper pouch

Best Sewing Machine Brands For 2023 - Which? Best Sewing Machine Brands For 2023 - Which?

It would be hard to find a sewing machine that is as easy to use as the Brother LS14. Due to it been a budget sewing machine and therefore rather limited in terms of features, it is obviously going to be far easier to use than a computerised sewing machine. It is however, the limitations of the Brother LS14 that make it a good model for both beginners and kids. To select a stitch all that has to be done is to simply turn the dial to the required stitch, it couldn’t be easier. For more information on how to operate the LS14, see the official manual from Brother. Stitches and Buttonholes The Ls14s also struggled to sew perfectly straight, even when I drew straight lines on the fabric. The foot doesn’t grip the fabric enough when you’re sewing multiple layers, so it does wander slightly to the left or right by 1/8″ (3mm). You can’t adjust the foot pressure to improve this. If you don’t care about sewing really precisely, then it’s not a big deal.

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While there is a detachable front section on the machine, it can not be used for storage due to the compact design. While this does not really affect the machine, it can be a little inconvenient and is kind of a pointless feature. See here for other ways to store your sewing equipment. All of the stitches provide for you are easily interchangeable via the clearly marked jog dial located on the front of the machine. What Accessories Are Included With This Model? I prefer it over the other mechanical machines I’ve tested. It’s really simple to use. But I recommend computerized machines for hobby sewists, they have more features that you can grow with. Here’s my blog post where I compared lots of beginner sewing machines, including mechanical and computerized ones. Needle threading is done manually with the Brother LS14 as there is no built-in needle threader. Freehand Stitching There’s nothing wrong with the blind hem stitch itself, but in practice, it’s really hard to use without a blind hem foot.