BROTHER LS14 Metal Chassis Sewing Machine

Product Information

I like the clear top-loading bobbin (also known as a drop-in bobbin). It lets you see when you’re almost out of thread. And most importantly, it doesn’t get jammed like front-loading systems do. But if you only sew occasionally, it will probably be a long time before your machine wears out. I wouldn’t worry about it then. Three bobbins, all plastic as metal bobbins will affect the stitch quality and in some cases could damage the machine which would invalidate the three year warranty

Unlike other big brand sewing machines, this model does not come with a carry case or a means to carry it around effortlessly. Instead, they provide a vinyl dust cover that, while keeping the machine dust free, does not protect the machine during travelling. Is This The Machine For Me?

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 There’s nothing wrong with the blind hem stitch itself, but in practice, it’s really hard to use without a blind hem foot. As the outstanding balance, plus the interest now form part of your payable balance they will attract interest 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.

The top thread tension can be adjusted easily via the tension dial directly above the needle bar. This gives you the ability to control the strength and the balance of your stitches as and when you need it. Simply put, this modern metal chassis beginner sewing machine is portable and lightweight enough for even a child to use. It comes with all the accessories needed with clear instructions to make it easy to use for first time sewing machine users. The first time I sewed buttonholes, the left and right bars were uneven. Brother obviously knows about this because they designed a “buttonhole screw” to fix it. It’s a bit of work the first time, but then you don’t need to do it again. 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.

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. The Brother LS14 has basic features such as a Free Arm with Removable Cover, Standard Foot Pedal, and an Inbuilt light for safe and easy sewing. Reverse stitches, used for securing the thread in the fabric at the beginning and end of a stitching line, are created with a Reverse Lever. A well thought out accessory is a DVD that not only works as a guide fo the machine but also offers basic help to beginners who are trying sewing for the first time. This runs through the stitches that the machines provide and what you are able to use them for. Is Brother A Good Brand To Buy? Basic stitches include a straight stitch which while the most elementary of stitches, is useful for securing the start and end of seams as well as sewing two pieces of fabric together.

A four step buttonhole stitch helps to create a precisely sewn buttonhole on your fabric of choice, simplifying projects that require such precision. This machine does not come with any quilting feet, but you can buy them separately. You’ll need the walking foot, quilting guide, 1/4″ foot, and free-motion foot.I couldn’t sew perfectly straight with the standard foot, so many of my blind hem stitches didn’t catch the hem! If you’re going to use this stitch, I highly recommend buying the blind hem foot too. Or get a different machine that includes it (here are my recommendations). Buttonholes We class the Brother LS14 as “Very Basic“, meaning that this machine has features that are suitable for a sewer working at a Very Basic skill level. In general, machines that are classed as "Very Basic" tend to have only the bare minimum of features needed for sewing and are best suited for those who only sew occasionally, or who are only just learning to sew and do not need more than the most essential features. A four-step button hole feature is easy to use although more complicated than a one-step buttonhole which is usually found on mostly medium range sewing machines and not on budget sewing machines. If you require a machine for this purpose the LS14 is not the machine for you! This machine provides a variety of zig zag stitches which can be used to close open edges of fabrics preventing it from fraying. This is a handy stitch to use during dressmaking or general clothes making projects. 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.

I think its slowest speed is manageable, but it’s still faster than computerized machines. If you want something that can go really slowly, here’s what I recommend instead. Slow speeds are useful for careful tasks like topstitching. The thread often jumps out of the needle when you’re about to sew. It’s so annoying. You need to make your thread tails really long to avoid this, which wastes a lot of thread. Yes, it’s lightweight and has a handle. You need to buy your own storage bag though because it doesn’t come with one. Most budget machines don’t. I also had problems with the top layer shifting. To be fair, all the other beginner machines had this issue too. 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’s very small compared to other machines. You can fit all the accessories the machine came with though. Freehand stitching is not available on this sewing machine as the feed dogs that grip your fabric underneath cannot be lowered allowing freedom in stitching. To help you achieve the best possible stitch quality across different fabrics the Brother LS14 adjusts the tension of the upper thread using an Adjustable / Manual Control. Adjustable upper thread tension gives you complete control over the tension of the upper thread and this tension can be manually adjusted to balance the tension of your stitches. This model appears to have no special features for presser foot adjustment, so if this feature is important to you, you may like to consider machines with manual / adjustable presser foot pressure. Needle threading is done manually with the Brother LS14 as there is no built-in needle threader. Freehand Stitching