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. 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. For more tips on buying a sewing machine, read our best sewing machines guide. Brother LS14s sewing machine stitch options 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

Do not turn on the machine while pressing down the foot controller. The machine may start unexpectedly and cause personal injury or damage to the machine. If the bobbin thread was incorrectly threaded, the upper thread may be too tight. In this case, refer to “ How do I install the bobbin wound with thread?”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.

In a matching thread you wouldn’t notice this, but if you use a contrasting thread it would look messy. For comparison, all of the budget machines I tested had this issue. 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. 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.It’s very small, but manageable. You need to keep your accessories in the plastic bag provided, or they’ll fall out every time you open the cover. I prefer the buttonholes that computerized machines make. They look neater, they have more styles, and the machines automatically “tie-off” the ends to stop them unraveling. There’s a simple drop in bobbin, so there’s no fiddly bobbin case to load up and insert. There’s a handy thread cutter on the side of the machine, saves you constantly reaching for your snips too! In the box

It has the most important stitches: straight, zig zag, blind hem, rectangle buttonhole, and a few extras. You can sew most things with these. 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 If the upper thread was incorrectly threaded, the upper thread may be too loose. In this case, refer to “ How do I thread my machine?” The machine doesn’t come with a cover of any sort only a thin plastic wrapper (which you could use for the meantime until you sew your own!) Find out how to make a sewing machine cover. How much is the Brother LS14s sewing machine? 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.Use only twin needles that have been made for this machine (part code: X57521-021:2.0/75 with a 2 mm width). Other needles could break and damage the machine. The manual is quite brief, however there are good basic instructions for the features of the machine as well as an instructional DVD.

A simple and easy to use sewing machine. The Brother LS14s sewing machine has 14 stitches and a 4-step buttonhole. I would buy this as a first sewing machine for kids too, but again it wouldn’t be my first choice, it’s my budget choice. It doesn’t have speed control, or the ability to sew without the foot pedal (using the start/stop button). The machine has a small harp space (the central gap) so isn’t great for larger projects such as quilts or bulky clothing, but fine for alterations, making lighter weight garments and small-medium sized homewares. You can’t disable the dog teeth, which means you couldn’t free motion quilt on this machine. The Ls14s could sew this, surprisingly. I just went really slowly and it got through all the layers. However, I don’t think this test has any real-world use. You’ll probably never sew 8 flat layers of denim, but you will sew 6 layer seam allowance humps, and that’s when machines often struggle. Denim hemHaving problems with your sewing machine? Try our troubleshooting guides and machine manuals below, which offer solutions to the most common issues. Expand the work area of your sewing machine with an easy to attach, wide extension table that is perfect for larger sewing projects.