Baby Lock Sewing Machine: Everything You Need to Know

Not all sewing machines are created equal, and in the modern era, the innovations seen with sewing machinery have made the process much easier than years ago. Of all the various models released over the years, Baby Lock sewing machines are some of the most popular and well-reviewed. A Baby Lock sewing machine combines superior technological quality with sewing at affordable prices.

Baby Lock is known for its excellence and top-quality sewing machines that are reliable and outstanding in terms of stitching and embroidery work. For quilting or any type of sewing with thick fabrics, the ease of tension and innovative technology of a Baby Lock sewing machine cannot be matched.

Are you looking for information on what makes a Baby Lock sewing machine stand out? If so, this guide is for you. We will explore all of the details of Baby Lock machines to find out what makes this brand so popular. Additionally, we will also take a look at a wide variety of Baby Lock models to gain a better understanding of what each model adds to the sewing experience. Read on to find out everything there is to know about Baby Lock sewing machines.

What Is a Babylock Sewing Machine?

Since releasing the world’s first household compact overlock sewing machine in 1968, Baby Lock has been focusing on developing functions to make their machines more convenient and enjoyable to use, such as Revolution Air threading, Automatic Thread Delivery System, and Wave Lock technologies.

Simply put, a Baby Lock sewing machine performs beautifully and is very versatile. Any Baby Lock machine is going to be easy to use and feature in or around 190 built-in stitches and a hands-free presser foot lift. Some additional features of a Baby Lock include an automatic advanced needle threader, a wide array of programmable stitch functions, and 850 stitches per minute.

Who Makes Babylock Sewing Machines?

Baby Lock sewing machines are manufactured in Yamagata, Japan by Suzuki Machinery. The company started out by only producing overlock machines and eventually started producing sewing machines as well as crossover models. Baby Lock has about 50 models today, and they make machines for sewing, embroidery, quilting, and serging.

What Is The Best Babylock Sewing Machine For Beginners?

Any Baby Lock Machine is great for a beginner, and this is thanks to the ease of use and accessibility of virtually any Baby Lock model. But the Baby Lock Joy sewing machine is the unofficial standard for any sewing beginner that wants to use a Baby Lock machine. 

The Baby Lock Joy is the perfect choice for beginning sewers looking to add to their crafting opportunities or make small sewing projects around the house. The name of the machine is meant to imply that you’ve just discovered the genuine joy of sewing. The Baby Lock Joy sewing machine's top features include:

• 19 built-in stitches including 1 four-step buttonhole
• Built-in needle threader
• Convenient thread cutter
• Quick-set, drop-in bobbin
• Free-arm sewing
• Adjustable stitch length and width

The Baby Lock Joy can be said to stand as an all-purpose and general sewing machine within the many models that make up the Baby Lock line.

Babylock Sewing Machine Prices and Models

As mentioned, there are numerous models of sewing machines within the Baby Lock line. Some machines are specifically designed for embroidery work, whereas others are manufactured to handle ultra-thick and durable fabrics only, specifically for quilting. The prices of a Baby Lock machine can also vary depending on the model you are looking for.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular Baby Lock models.

Grace Babylock Sewing Machine

If you're an ambitious sewer, Baby Lock Grace can help you get to the head of the class when it comes to your sewing projects. This versatile machine is equipped to keep up with your creativity with project-enhancing features such as 40 built-in stitches and 7 accessory feet.

Baby Lock Grace has thought of everything you need to make challenging projects a breeze, like a drop-in bobbin and a built-in needle threader. From timeless, classic fashions to modern crafts and décor, Grace will always be there to lend a hand.

Rachel Babylock Sewing Machine

Ready to take your sewing to the next level? Baby Lock Rachel's the star of any sewing class, and she's here to help you. This computerized sewing machine is equipped with push-button features to make every project easier. Best of all, Rachel's not only smart; she's fun to work with, too. With numerous decorative stitches, you can also embellish all types of projects.

Anna Babylock Sewing Machine

No matter what you're sewing, Baby Lock Anna can keep up. With a drop-in bobbin and 15 built-in stitches, Baby Lock Anna is the supportive friend who's always ready to boost your confidence and cheer you on. With several convenient features such as a 4-step buttonhole, free arm, and side thread cutter, this machine is a perfect match for beginning sewers. Turn to Anna for mending, hemming, and even crafting projects.

Aria Babylock Sewing Machine

The Baby Lock Aria quilting and sewing machine is packed with features powered by IQ Technology for a hassle-free quilting experience. Want to tackle thicker quilts? Aria makes short work of even the thickest, most difficult fabric out there.

The Baby Lock Aria quilting and sewing machine features include:

• Never miss Automatic Needle Threader
• Color LCD Touch Screen
• 11.25″ Large Creative Space
• 573 Built-In Stitches
• Hands-Free Knee Lift
• Digital Dual-Feed System

Amelia Babylock Sewing Machine

If you're on the go as much as you sew, then Baby Lock Amelia is the perfect sewing machine for you. At just 11.2 pounds, this lightweight sewing machine is easy to carry. Bring Amelia to classes, on road trips, or to friends' houses. Amelia has 99 built-in stitches, push-button features, a drop-in bobbin, and plenty of accessories. She even comes with a convenient travel bag so she's always ready to go.

BL9 Babylock Sewing Machine

Reliable and durable, the BL9 has a variety of stitches and adjustable stitch lengths, plus a free arm to easily reach hard-to-sew areas.

Best Babylock Sewing Machine For Quilting

Baby Lock is highly regarded for manufacturing sewing machines that can master the art of quilting. But which Baby Lock machine is the absolute best for quilting?

Crescendo Babylock Sewing Machine

The Baby Lock Crescendo quilting and sewing machine come complete with a medley of features that help make every one of your quilts note-perfect. Plus, Baby Lock’s IQ Technology creates a smart and efficient creative process that brings it all together.

The Baby Lock Crescendo quilting and sewing Machine features include:

• Never miss Automatic Needle Threader
• LCD Color Touchscreen
• 11.25″ Large Workspace
• Sensor Pen for Sewing
• Guide Beam for Sewing
• 573 Built-In Stitches
• Digital Dual-Feed System

Parts For Babylock Sewing Machine

The best place to purchase additional parts for a Baby Lock sewing machine is to inquire with the manufacturer directly. Since Baby Lock chooses to sell its products to retailers upon request, you can also check your local sewing machine shops that carry Baby Lock products.

Some of the most common features you will need for any Baby lock machine include:

• Babylock Sewing Machine Case
• Circular Attachment For Babylock Sewing Machine
• Babylock Sewing Machine Bobbins
• Babylock Sewing Machine Needles
• Babylock Sewing Machine Feet
• Walking Foot For Babylock Sewing Machine
• Extension Table For Babylock Sewing Machine

You can also inquire about these products on the Baby Lock website’s accessory page found here.

How To Oil A Babylock Sewing Machine

Oiling your Baby Lock sewing machine is absolutely crucial, but there can be some confusion on exactly how this process is performed. Let’s take a look at how to properly oil your Baby Lock machine.

Begin by always using a sewing machine oil that is specific to your brand of Baby Lock. Some brands may call for a certain kind of oil, and you should always consult the manual to find out. You will need a brush and the oil for this process, and any applicable cleaning items we discussed above to remove any dust or lint that has accumulated.

Begin by detaching the presser foot and the needle and set those aside. Lightly oil the needle clamp since this is where the biggest action of metal pressing against metal at high speeds frequently occurs. Oil the area liberally, and make sure you wipe up any excess oil.

Detach the cover and pull out the bobbin case and the hook. All of these components and this area will need to be oiled. Dab some oil on a cloth and then spin the cloth inside of the wheel that holds the bobbin case components. Again, make sure you wipe away any excess oil as this could leak onto fabrics when you are sewing.

Reassemble this area once the oiling is complete, and you can then move on to cleaning and oiling the side case.

Remove the side cover and repeat the process above for removing any dust and lint. For all the metal components in this area, it is easiest to apply oil to a cloth and simply wipe down and coat all of the metal with oil. You can use a q-tip dipped in oil to apply the oil to hard-to-reach areas inside the side panel.

Once finished, wipe up any excess oil, replace all of the panels, and you have now successfully oiled your sewing machine. Consider oiling your machine at least once per week.

Always consult your user manual, and if you didn’t receive a manual or lost it, make sure you contact Baby Lock to request a copy.

How To Clean A Babylock Sewing Machine

Much like any type of sewing machine, keeping a Baby Lock machine cleaned is the key to ensuring its longevity. Baby Lock sewing machines are prone to collecting dust, debris particles, cloth fragments, and possible oxidation of the metal components of the motor and internal parts.

After each and every use, it is important to wipe down the sewing machine with a damp cloth that will collect and remove all of these particles. Dust and debris can clog the sewing machine motor, and you can also consider using a can of pressurized air to blow throughout the motor to remove all the dust and particles that have collected.

Since it can be difficult to clean every single internal component of the machine, it is important to consider having the machine fully serviced by a professional at least once per year. A maintenance professional can provide a deep, internal clean to the machine, and also calibrate all of the internal parts to ensure that timing and tension problems are smoothed out and removed.

Additionally, it is important to cover your Baby Lock machine when not in use. This can go a long way in ensuring that dust is not allowed to accumulate inside of the machine.

How To Thread A Babylock Sewing Machine

A great thing about Baby Lock’s, and indeed, one of the brand’s most popular selling points, is the ease of threading the machine. The threading process begins by taking your thread and placing it into the spool pin on top of the machine and the farthest to the back.

You will need to make sure that your thread rolls off of the pin in a counter-clockwise fashion–meaning that the thread should be rolling out towards the back of the machine, not the front.

Depending on your Baby Lock model, there may be numbers listed on the top, and these numbers guide you through how to thread the machine, so you can follow these in order with the thread winding through each step listed.

The first thing you should do with the thread is put it through the top loop (looks like a protruding hook) and then pull the thread down which will pull the thread through the tension disks which resemble a lined space leading to the needle plate.

Go down and back up with the thread until you reach the top again (near the hook) and then you need to put your thread around the screw that pulls the thread up and down. To make this piece appear, all you need to do is use the handwheel on the side of the machine and twist this wheel towards you, not away from you.

This is going to make your needle go up and down on the Baby Lock model, which will pull the lever up that you need at the top to finish threading. Make sure the lever is at its highest position and then pull the thread through it. Then, pull the thread back down and you will notice to the left of the needle there is a small hook–put your thread through this hook.

If you have a long tail leftover, you can just cut this off. The last step is to take the thread and put it through the eye (hole) of the needle. If you have an automatic machine, this process can be taken care of for you by pressing the lever to the left. Otherwise, ensure your thread end is straight and use a magnifying glass if needed to pull it through the needle eye the old-fashioned way.

To finish, place your thread underneath your presser foot. Always remember that the threading process of a Baby Lock is fairly universal across models, but consult the instruction manual first to see if there are additional requirements or fewer requirements needed for threading a particular Baby Lock.

How To Adjust The Tension On A Babylock Sewing Machine

Baby Locks are known for being largely tension-free sewing machines, but there are chances tension can occur. You always want to make sure that your thread is through these tension disks, which will change the tension when you are sewing.

So, it’s helpful if you hold the thread still at the spool pin because as you are pulling with your left hand and threading the machine, the spool at the top is going to move, which will leave you with a large tail of thread.

Additionally, always make sure your Baby Lock machine is threaded correctly. Make sure the thread is looping behind the machine and that all the thread is looped and bound to each component.

Most Baby Lock’s have a tension setting between 0-9, with 0 being the least amount of tension, and 9 being the maximum amount of tension. Adjusting the tension accordingly is similar to knowing when and when not to apply the brakes on a vehicle–you ease into and slow down accordingly, and speed up depending on the preferred tension that your fabric or project needs.

The higher you place your tension, the tighter and more forceful your bottom thread will become. The lower the tension, the looser it becomes.

It’s all about trial and error when it comes to tension, and the key is to try and find the right and equal balance between the upper and lower thread. Baby Lock’s make it easy, but it is still important to know what to do if tension occurs with your fabric.

How To Change A Needle On A Babylock Sewing Machine

Changing the needle on a Baby Lock machine is a breeze. When looking at the sewing machine needle, you will notice that there is a flat part of the needle that begins to round once it reaches the top of the needle. This helps to guide the needle in for your specific Baby Lock machine.

On the machine, locate the screw attached to the needle area and loosen it up enough to slide the needle in place.

In many Baby Lock machines, you can only insert the needle with the flat area facing the back. Keep turning the needle until it slides into place. Be sure to slide the needle up as far as it will go, and then tighten the screw.

Be sure to change your needle often to prevent skipped stitches.