Brother LS14S Metal Chassis Sewing Machine

Product Information

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 The path for threading the machine to the thread take-up lever is the same as for normally threading the machine (for a single needle). Refer to How do I thread my machine? A simple and easy to use sewing machine. The Brother LS14s sewing machine has 14 stitches and a 4-step buttonhole. 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. With that being said, for the price, this is a brilliant quality machine. Our verdict: should you buy a Brother LS14s sewing machine?

Sewing all the stitches on 2 layers of cotton was fine. I didn’t have any problems, and I think the stitches look good. 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 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. If a needle and thread appropriate for the fabric are not being used, the thread tension will not be adjusted correctly, causing wrinkles in the fabric or skipped stitches.

Overall, this is my favorite machine if you’re on a tight budget, but it’s not my favorite one for beginners who love sewing (go here to see my best sewing machine for beginners review). The Ls14s is good enough for occasional use and everyday projects. I think you’ll love how simple it is to use. There is a hole for an additional spool holder but no extra spool holder is included. It’s rare that you would need two spools at the same time though, this would only be useful if you wanted to use a twin needle. 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 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 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).

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. 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 We have designed your machine so you can sew with this needle and two top threads. You can use the same color or two different colors of thread for making decorative stitches. It’s simple to use and excellent quality, making it a great option for beginners to buy. If you’re a more experienced sewer looking for a second machine to take to sewing classes then this also a good choice. 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?

The twin needle should only be used with the Straight Stitch (Center Needle Position) and the Zigzag Stitch (1.5 mm (1/16 inch) width). Do not use the twin needle with any other stitches.

There’s nothing wrong with the blind hem stitch itself, but in practice, it’s really hard to use without a blind hem foot. The path for threading the machine to the needle bar thread guide is the same as for normally threading the machine (for a single needle). Refer to How do I thread my machine?

It has the most important stitches: straight, zig zag, blind hem, rectangle buttonhole, and a few extras. You can sew most things with these. There’s no automatic foot release button, you’ll need to use a screwdriver, while this might be a bit of a faff, for the price point this isn’t really to be expected.

It’s very small compared to other machines. You can fit all the accessories the machine came with though. There are five stitch length options (for straight stitch), plus left needle position, six zig zig stitch widths and lengths a four-step buttonhole option, blind hem stitch, stretch blind hem stitch and a three step zig zag stitch for attaching elastic. A great selection for an entry-level machine. In comparison to some higher-end machines the options are limited but really these 14 options are all that you need – the only missing stitches would be edge finishing stitches (which you can use zig zag stitch for), eyelets (not really an essential!) and decorative stitches. I don’t think you’ll notice this issue if you’re sewing with matching thread. But if you’re topstitching with a contrasting thread, it will stand out and look messy. Put the extra spool pin in the hole on the top of the machine. Put the second spool of thread onto the extra spool pin.

And the blind hem stitch is really hard to use without a blind hem foot. I couldn’t sew perfectly straight with the standard foot, so many of my blind hem stitches didn’t catch the hem! 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. I also had problems with the top layer shifting. To be fair, all the other beginner machines had this issue too. 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. There’s a good distinction between the instructions for winding the bobbin and threading the top half, so you don’t get them confused.