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.

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 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. 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. 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. 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.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.

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. 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. 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.

The Ls14s did not stretch out the fabric, which I was happy about. Many of the other budget machines I tested did. 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.

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! 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.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. 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“.

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. Cheap machines have more plastic parts inside and weaker metals are used. Quality control isn’t as strict, so manufacturers don’t mind if things don’t fit together tightly, or the metals don’t meet a certain standard. 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. 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. I do think a complete beginner would struggle the first time, but with the manual and a few practice attempts, I think you’ll be fine.There’s a good distinction between the instructions for winding the bobbin and threading the top half, so you don’t get them confused. 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. 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 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.