Unboxing my new sewing machine: Brother LB5000

[@grannysmithart]

forgot to say this, big thanks for an honest review of this machine!

[@LomisPlayground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Zanzapanda]

Ahhh! I can't wait to see all the fun stuff you're gonna make with it!! I just upgraded to a Brother HC1850 after having a mechanical Janome starter machine for the last ~10 years and I LOVE how quiet it is. I was so shocked! I'll be able to sew when my downstairs tenants are asleep now haha. Plus the lovely decorative stitching will be soooo nice for my doll clothes

[@LomisPlayground]

It's amazing how much quieter it is! And it doesn't shake my table lamp, which is also nice. I'll be doing a lot more late-night sewing, that's for sure.

[@MsSaudm]

Hi Lomi I have this machine and like you I went from a heavy metal mechanical machine to the plastic computerized Brother. the Brother machine is JUNK in my opinion. Plastic everything ! , slow , confusing digital controls poorly thought out etc the only saving grace is it does small embroidery . I eventually went out and got a used high end mechanical quilting machine just to be able to sew at a normal pace Anyway love your channel

[@LomisPlayground]

Yeah... I'm not crazy about the plastic machines at all, the problem I ran into is there just aren't other options for machines that allow you to create your own embroidery designs. That's why I figure once I get used to this one, I'll probably reserve it for embroidery and pretty stitching, and use my mechanical machines for all the grunt work. We'll see how it holds up. I had a lot of hesitations about the Brother machine, but since I'm only a few miles away from their headquarters, I can always go in there and be a pain if I have problems. :P

[@smallseams]

Congrats! I just got my first new machine this year, a computerized Juki. I've used a hand-me-down Singer fashion mate from the 70's for a long time. It's quite slow so I am actually impressed by the speed of my new machine. It took some time to get used to the computerized machine, and I'm still getting used to some stuff. I actually really like the speed slider, but maybe it works differently on different brands? Or maybe there is not much of a difference because the top speed isn't that fast? When I sew at 1/12 scale, going slow can really help. If the end of the stitch is going to be in a place no one will see, I just let it make a birds nest : D

[@LomisPlayground]

That's kinda what I've been doing--if it'll fall in the seam allowance, let it make a mess. I was honestly surprised it was so much slower than my mechanical machines, though! I honestly thought it would be faster. But you're right that different brands probably perform really differently, and this is very much the "middle of the road" option. Not a starter machine, but definitely not professional, and a higher-end one like the SE-1900 would probably have more to offer. Not in my budget, though!

[@msaptrta]

Yea! Your new sewing machine! 🥳

[@LomisPlayground]

Yes!! Lots to learn, but lots of options...

[@VelvetBunnyBJD]

Congrats on your new machine, I have the Brother SQ 9050 for years, and only recently (last month) I realized it had a Self-Threader, lol and I guess it will forever remain unused.

[@LomisPlayground]

Thank you! I will say I'm really happy to have an automatic threader on this one... my first machine (Singer 140Q) had one and as my hands malfunction more, it's soooo much easier on me to just pop it in the threader!

[@Shari_A._]

Thanks for this. I've been wanting a machine that does sewing and embroidery for a while now, but like you, I've only ever used older model machines, so I wasn't sure how I'd fair with the learning curve of newer technology, and well, I'm old.. What once was so easy for me to grasp and understand sometimes takes me a hot minute now. You make it at least look a little less scary.. heh I'm also wondering how it will do with making smaller items. If it's less likely to eat the material if I'm making an outfit for a 1/12 scale doll or something.. heh Of course, using stabilizer or tissue paper isn't a problem, but one less step is always nicer. Thanks again. Greatly appreciated. Look forward to seeing you use it more.

[@LomisPlayground]

I totally understand! And honestly, I am... technology-resistant, which is funny for someone who grew up with the internet. Or maybe that's not weird. I've been around to see all the ways technology can fail, and how it introduces more failure points. My husband works in IT support, so every single day is a new story of how something went wrong and wouldn't have, if it weren't for the constant push to use new tech. I got a lot of strange looks when I went to get a new stereo put in my car two years back and insisted on having one that had a CD player and a plug for an auxiliary cable, but feel incredibly justified every time the Bluetooth drops and my music gets disconnected. 😂 I guess we'll see how I like this machine long-term, but I already know I'm never getting rid of my older mechanicals.

[@Shari_A._]

@@LomisPlayground Haha.. kindred spirits. My husband is also IT support, same issues. He wanted to put XM in my car, because the stations where I live are terrible, and I also insisted on the cd player and auxiliary port, so when XM goes out in all the dead zones around me, I can just use my phone, or a cd. Doesn't even have bluetooth, so I didn't have to worry about that one. I never get rid of old machines. I have loaned one to my niece and I have my great grandmother's singer. Still in working condition. I think my mom still has her machine that had the push pedal under the case. It still works too. I love that thing. It'll go as fast as your little foot can push it. haha

[@Halfbloodprincesss8]

I’ve had a Husqvarna Viking for 5-6 years now and I’m so scared to get a non-HV embroidery machine. I just can’t justify the price tag though being that I’ve never actually used an embroidery machine before. This definitely calmed some of my fears of it being too cheap and clunky. 😄 My husband is gonna love me adding yet another machine to the craft room 😂

[@brobeckskazooremixes8703]

Dang. Mine didn't come with the accessories bag so I don't have the embroidery foot

[@ShihabudheenSachu-jz2wg]

Where is parchesing this meshin

[@grannysmithart]

at this point, you have me talked out of ever getting a computerized machine. it will be interesting to hear your opinions in, say, six months

[@LomisPlayground]

For sure. If there were mechanical options for embroidery, I'd be all over it, but there's just not!

[@rgiii5546]

Hi Lomi! Thanks for the video I was thinking of getting the SE 600 but ran into the Lb7000. What are the main differences I’m having a hard time figuring out why the Lb7000 is $200 more. Thanks for your time!

[@LomisPlayground]

Good question! From what I've been able to gather, the primary difference is what's included in the package--the LB7000 appears to come with more feet and includes a CD with additional embroidery designs, and those CDs tend to be rather expensive. As far as speed, built-in stitches, on-board features and embroidery field size, they're the same. :) Why they decided to brand it as a different model and not just label it a different bundle, I haven't been able to figure out.

[@rgiii5546]

Thank you so much for the quick reply! Looking forward to your next video!

[@DezoraeG2003]

does this machine have a usb port?

[@LomisPlayground]

Yes it does! I use a USB flash drive with it to utilize custom designs all the time.

[@dannicasaiz1260]

Can you use a bigger hoop on this machine?

[@LomisPlayground]

You can use a bigger hoop or a hoop of a different shape, but it won't stitch anything larger than the preprogrammed 4x4 inches regardless of how big a hoop you use.

[@SherilynLatham]

I would love to know your opinions on the softwares avaliable. I have the star wars version and think it's awesome

[@LomisPlayground]

They're interesting--there's ONE feature I can't get to work right on the program I'm experimenting with now, but I am intrigued to see how many are vector-based. Coming from a background in art, that makes them really easy to use and understand, but it means it would be really difficult for a newbie to pick up because they have to learn the rules of vectors AND how to use the stitch settings...

[@MyPotat]

I’m new to sewing and I thought maybe this machine would be a good start…can it handle bulk? Like bag making or a couple layers of cotton and fleece?

[@LomisPlayground]

I haven't used it for anything super heavy like denim or anything like that, but I haven't had any issues with 4+ layers of cotton. The needles it came with aren't the greatest so I did switch to harder, heavier gauge needles.

[@MyPotat]

@@LomisPlayground oh ok. I make all sorts of stuff and I have a vintage machine for bulky stuff but I would like to have a more modern machine for small crafts and hopefully one day costumes. This machine looks super fun though 😀

[@eyeonart6865]

Read your manual as you are wrong about so many things. Your speed control besides the foot petal is on the front of machine with the arrows as you push it forward it will go faster as you push it back it will go slower when you push the petal.

[@LomisPlayground]

Hey I did read the manual! I'm talking about how it actually functions when I use it, sorry if that wasn't clear enough to understand :) The arrows on the front of the machine control absolute maximums, yes, but there are definite break points in the speeds achieved with the foot pedal regardless of what the speed is set to with the arrow. It isn't a gradual speed increase like a mechanical machine, which feels like driving a car because it's based on how fast the gears move.

[@Uskall]

I hate all sewing machines with a passion, no matter what brand, how new or old they are, they ALWAYS make me angry. So I keep sewing all my doll clothes by hand. It may be slow as hell but at least I'm in control xD

[@betty_davis]

That's amazing! I hardly have the patience to sew buttons and snaps by hand, so props to you for doing it all by hand! 😱

[@LomisPlayground]

Absolutely incredible! I wish I could do more hand sewing, but my fingers are definitely not a fan.