Baby Lock sewing machines are manufactured by Suzuki machinery Co., Ltd. based in Yamagata, Japan. Since 1968, the company has been selling Baby Lock sewing machines to sewers in Japan and abroad. They produce premium quality sewing machines and have become a household name in more than 100 countries. They strive to create better products and bring improvements to their existing products.
How Does Baby Lock Consistently Create High-Quality Sewing Machines?
The company assigns a tester to one sewing machine. The tester inspects the sewing machine, spending about 20 minutes on each one and testing sewing on more than 30 seams. They adjust the loopers below 1 mm by hand.
The company designs all the parts of the sewing machine in the Suzuki factory. Three main components that ensure the machine operates smoothly are the ExtraordinAir™, needle threading system, and automatic thread delivery.
The company, which has been around for more than 50 years, has an impressive history in designing extraordinary sewing machines.
The Sewing Machines the Company Has Designed Over the Years
Here is a list of sewing machines they have designed in the past, including their latest Baby Lock sewing machine:
- Model EF205 (1967 to 1969)
- 1 needle and 2 threads
- Overlock
- The first mass-produced baby lock overlock sewing machine
- Model EA605 (1970 to 1979)
- 2 needles and 4 threads
- Combined sewing machine
- Overlock and double chain needles to use interchangeably or at the same time to make a safety stitch
- The first baby lock combined sewing machine
- Model BL3-407 (1970 to 1979)
- 1 needle and 3 threads
- Overlock sewing machine
- 4-way stitch adjustment (2.5 mm to 5 mm)
- Can sew fabric, from organdy to denim, easily
- Model BL3-418 (1980 to 1989)
- 1 needle and 3 threads
- Overlock
- Features a built-in rolled hem and built-in lamp hem
- First overlock sewing machine to feature a color-coded tension dial
- Model BL4-436DF (1980 to 1989)
- 2 needles and 4 threads
- Overlock
- Features a small lighting system and differential feed
- Model BL101 (1990 to 1999)
- 1 needle and 1 thread
- Blind stitch
- Straight needle and blind stitch sewing machine
- In 1994, the sewing machine won the Good Design Prize of the Year award in Japan
- Model BL4-838DF (1990 to 1999)
- 2 needles and 4 threads
- Overlock
- New design
- Features the Quick Threading System (QTS) and knee lifter
- Model BLE1 (1990 to 1999)
- Eclipse
- 2 needles and 4 threads
- Overlock
- New design
- Features the Jet-Air Thread System and the Automatic Thread Delivery(ATD) system
- The sewing machine won the Invention Grand Prix award in Japan
- Model BLE1AT (1990 to 1999)
- Imagine
- 2 needle and 4 thread
- Overlock
- Features the Automatic Thread Delivery (ATD) system and the Jet Air Threading System
- Model BLE8 (1990 to 1999)
- Evolve
- 5 needles and 8 threads
- Combined machine
- Features 8 threads, 5 needles, and 3 loopers
- First overlock sewing machine to perform overlocking, chain stitching, and cover stitching at the same time
- Model BLE8W-2 (2000 to 2010)
- Ovation
- 5 needles and 8 threads
- Combined sewing machine
- Features the Electronic ExtraordinAir Threading System on Evolve
- Model BLQK (2000 to 2010)
- Sashiko
- 1 needle and 1 bobbin thread
- The first sewing machine to perform a traditional hand stitch
- Model BLES8 (2011 -)
- Ovation
- 5 needles and 8 threads
- Combined sewing machine
- Features a large working space on Evolution
Baby Lock sewing machines have made a place in the hearts of sewers due to the 14 wonderful features the company has made a part of the sewing machine.
14 Features of the Baby Lock Sewing Machines
Here is a list of the 14 features included in the Baby Lock sewing machines:
- ExtraordinAir™ Threading
The ExtraorinAir™ Threading takes the thread through every looper automatically. This allows you to thread the loopers quickly and easily.
- Automatic Thread Delivery System
The Automatic Thread Delivery System allows you to set the type of stitch and serge you want in the Evolution and Ovation. This allows the Evolution and Ovation to deliver a balanced stitch on every type of fabric using different types of thread. You can stitch two different fabrics at the same time and the sewing machine will do it seamlessly without skipping.
- Tubular Loopers
Tubular Loopers on the Baby Lock Evolution and Ovation allow you to thread and sew the fabric in any order. Just set the Evolution and Ovation to the type of stitch you want to perform and serge.
- Looper Drive System
Looper Drive System ensures the loopers stay aligned, thus ensuring the loopers remain undamaged. The system protects the sewing machine from requiring repairs and allows you to serge without worrying about causing to your sewing machine.
- Advanced Knife Driving and One-Way Clutch System
Advanced Knife Driving and One-Way Clutch System have a larger cutting bite. This allows the sewing machine to cut thicker fabrics with easy and offers you more visibility.
- Full-Featured and Single Unit Differential Feed
Full-Featured and Single Unit Differential Feed adds a one-unit feed dog device to the sewing machine, thus providing you with stronger feeding and a consistent gathering on all types of fabrics each time.
- Dial Adjustable Stitch Length and Automatic Rolled Hem
Dial Adjustable Stitch Length and Automatic Rolled Hem allow adjusting the length of the stitch on the Baby Lock sewing machine’s serger by changing the dial. The dial features an Automatic Rolled Hem setting that retracts the built-in stitch width finger to perform a rolled hem finish.
- Fabric Support System
Fabric Support Systems comes with the Baby Lock’s ExtraordinAir™ sergers, which ensure the stitches remain flat and balances, regardless of the speed, fabric type, or stitch type. The built-in stitch fingers move along with the knife blade and adjust the seam repeatedly with the cutting width.
- Vertical Needle Penetration
Vertical Needle Penetration does not use slanted needles, like most sewing machines, but uses vertical needles. Slanted needles push and damage material while vertical needles sew directly up and down.
- Chain and Cover Tension Disks
Chain and Cover Tension Disks, included in the Evolution, performs a cover stitch. The feature can perform chain stitches, triple cover stitches, and cover stitches. A single tension dial controls the three cover needles, thus saving you time because you do not have to use a different dial to adjust each cover needle.
- 8/7/6 Thread Stitch Capacity
8/7/6 Thread Stitch Capacity, included in the Ovation and Evolution, are the only sergers to feature 8 threads. This allows you to perform more than one stitch combination. You can perform a total of 87 stitch combinations. They can also sew through heavier and thicker material better than most sewing machines for cover stitches.
- Cover Stitch Chaining Off
Cover Stitch Chaining Off allows you to start or stop cover-stitching with ease. You can begin or pause cover-stitching easily by automatically chaining off the cover stitch.
- Thread Delivery Unit for the Wave Stitch
Thread Delivery Unit for the Wave Stitch can create the Wave Stitch. The Baby Lock sewing machine creates even Wave Stitches using a thread delivery unit.
- Needle Threading System
Needle Threading System makes threading a needle quick and easy.
The company also uses cutting edge technology to create its Baby Lock sewing machines.
The Technology the Company Used to Create Their Baby Lock Sewing Machines
Here is a list of some of the technology the company uses to design their Baby Lock sewing machines:
- Chain-off Forming Device– Used for cover-stitching.
- Cover Stitch Forming Device – Adjusts needle threading tension during cover stitch and chain stitch sewing.
- Gas Carry Threading Device– Increased pneumatic tubular threading system using a motor-operated pumping system with better clutch for threading and sewing.
- Gas Carry Threading Device 2– Pneumatic tubular threading system uses a motor-driven pumping system, featuring a cylinder.
- Looper Drive Device for Sewing Machine– Grooved cam driving system.
- Needle Clamp Device for Sewing Machine– It holes the screw in place when they become loose during replacement.
- Needle Threading Device– A two-step threading system for needle.
- Presser Foot Lifter Device of Sewing Machine– Increases ease of use with the lifter mechanism operated using a knee lifter level.
- Stitching Mode Changer – Used for overlock sewing machines, it adjusts between basic overlock stitching and rolled hem with one touch.
- Storage Device for Power Code of Sewing Machine– Kept at the bottom of the sewing machine and pulls out in front of the sewing machine.
- Technique and Sewing Machine for Creating a Single Thread Locked Hand Stitch –Sashiko stitch forming system.
- Thread Feeding Device for Sewing Machine– Thread delivery system.
- Thread Feeding Device for Decorative Stitch Sewing – Creates a wave stitch using the thread delivery system.
Our Final Thoughts
Certain sewing machine models feature these technologies, so you can select a sewing machine with the features and technology you are looking for. So far, this is one of the most reliable brands to buy Baby Lock sewing machines from.
