The Brother LS14 is a really great place to start if you’re a novice sewer or wishing to start a new hobby with a beginner’s machine. This model was introduced to Brother’s range in 2011 it’s small and relatively lightweight with easy to use instructions and a simple threading system. The Brother LS14 is a sewing machine designed for home use. It is known for its user-friendly features and versatile functionality. With its mechanical design, the LS14 offers reliable performance for various sewing projects. 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.

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. 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. Stitch types on the Brother LS14 include: Straight Stitch, Buttonhole, Decorative, Zigzag. The buttonhole process is a 4 Step Buttonhole. 4 step buttonholes are created in stages and are a more manual process than 1 step buttonholes. Included in the box apart from the machine itself are a foot pedal, power leads, spare needles and bobbins, attached is the zigzag/straight stitch foot plus an additional zipper and buttonhole foot, so no need to buy any extras. To support the threading, an LED light is provided. As this is an LED light, there is no yellow light to distort the colour or your thread so there are no unexpected surprises once you have finished your project.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. We class the Brother LS14 as a Full-Size machine. Standard or full-size machines are the most versatile machine size as they work for a range of sewing applications. Full-size machines are usually wider than compact machines and this gives you slightly more space to manoeuvre the fabric around the needle area. 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! The width / length / height dimensions of the Brother LS14 are 44.5cm x 19cm x 35.5cm. Or in inches 18” x 8” x 14“.

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 warrantyThe accessories included with this sewing machine are the standard ones that you get with most machines. However, there is a darning plate. Due to you not being able to drop the feed dogs on the Brother AE1700 sewing machine you can’t do free motion sewing. The inclusion of the darning plate gives you the option of free motion sewing adding even more versatility to this already very versatile machine. 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. 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 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. 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.

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 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.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.