BROTHER LS14 Metal Chassis Sewing Machine

Product Information

With various stitches and an easy to follow instructional DVD, this machine is ideal for those who are new to the sewing world. Not only is this machine easy to set up and use, but it also allows you to learn and test a variety of skills that will allow you to grow as a sewer and craftsperson. I don’t love the buttonholes it makes, but they’re acceptable. The bottom 3 buttonholes have uneven left and right bars. The top buttonhole is even because I adjusted the ‘buttonhole screw’. A drop in bobbin system means that unlike other methods of loading a bobbin, this machine is jam proof. A clear view cover allows you to see how much of the bobbin is left during sewing, meaning you can plan your time accordingly.

It’s very small compared to other machines. You can fit all the accessories the machine came with though.

On the Brother LS14, the maximum stitch length is 4mm, and the maximum stitch width is 5mm. The stitch length on this model is adjusted By Stitch Selection Only. The stitch width on this machine has No Stitch Width Control. Note that the adjustable stitch width control on this model appears to be fairly limited, and may not affect all of the inbuilt stitches. The needle positions on this model also appear to be limited and may only be controlled using the inbuilt stitch presets.

The cons are: you have almost no control over the stitch length, width, and needle position. Its free arm is too big, so you’ll need to sew small tubes without it. And you don’t have many options for stretch, overcasting (= stops fraying), or embroidery stitches. 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. Needle threading is done manually with the Brother LS14 as there is no built-in needle threader. Freehand Stitching 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. With a top-loading bobbin system, the LS14 straight away has an advantage over other sewing machines in this budget range.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! 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. Brother is a trusted name in sewing with over 100 years’ experience, their products are well designed and easy to use, plus they have a good guarantee period for additional peace of mind.

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 hem 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.

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. 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. 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. I measured how loud the Ls14s was at slow, medium, and high speeds. I used the Sound Level Meter (Android) app. For comparison, I also measured how noisy my personal machine was, the computerized Brother a150. Speed 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.

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 ButtonholesA 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? 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. Sewing all the stitches on 2 layers of cotton was fine. I didn’t have any problems, and I think the stitches look good. 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.