Baby Lock Zeal Sewing Machine
Baby Lock Zeal Sewing Machine
We can't wait to get you sewing!
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Machine Information
Twenty-five stitches and a real one-step buttonhole
The Zeal is where Baby Lock's mechanical line stops being a starter machine. Twenty-five stitches, six presser feet, a built-in needle threader, a drop-in bobbin and feed dogs that lower for free-motion work, all on dials rather than a screen. The thing that actually separates it from the Joy and the Zest below it is the buttonhole: the Zeal sews a proper one-step buttonhole, sized to your button, in a single pass. Anyone who has worked a four-step buttonhole on a shirt with eight of them knows what that is worth.
Take these with you
Download the Zeal brochure
Download our beginner machine comparison chart
Angela Huffman, host of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting PBS show and founder/owner of Quilted Joy.
The Zeal is a mechanical machine, not a computerized one, and for a lot of people that is the point rather than a compromise. If you want to talk through whether it is enough for the sewing you do, or whether you should step up to the Jubilant or the Brilliant, call us at (502) 718-7148 or send us an email. The comparison chart above is the one we wrote ourselves.
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One-step buttonholes, sized to your button
Drop the button into the back of the buttonhole foot and the Zeal sews the whole buttonhole in one pass, sized to fit, and it sews the next one identically. A four-step buttonhole makes you turn a dial through four positions and judge each length by eye, which is fine for one and miserable for a row of them down a shirt front. This is the upgrade that changes what you are willing to make.
A needle threader you will use every single time
Pull the lever down, hook the thread, let it go, and the needle is threaded. It is a small mechanism and it is the one people mention first when they compare the Zeal to a cheaper machine, because threading a needle by eye is no fun at all. Stitch width adjusts from 0 to 5mm on a dial. Take a look at how easy it is to do in this video.
Drop the bobbin in and go
The Zeal takes a quick-set drop-in bobbin under a clear cover, so you can see how much thread is left without stopping, and there is no bobbin case to seat and no thread to bring up before you sew. It uses standard Class 15 bobbins, which are quite economical. After the buttonhole, this is the feature that most separates the Zeal from the Zest.
Free arm, drop feed, and twin needle work
Take the flatbed off and you have a free arm for hemming jeans, cuffs and sleeves in the round. Lower the feed dogs and you can free-motion quilt or darn, moving the fabric yourself instead of letting the teeth move it. The Zeal also sews with a twin needle, which is how you get the two parallel rows of a knit hem without a cover stitch machine.
Six feet in the box, and 14.9 pounds
Six snap-on feet come with it: automatic buttonhole, button fitting, overedge, zipper, blind hem and general purpose. That is most of garment sewing covered without a single extra purchase. At 14.9 pounds it still carries easily to a class, and there are 6 inches of bed to the right of the needle, which is enough for clothes and small quilts but not for wrestling a queen-size top.
Specifications
| At a glance |
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| Stitches |
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| Bobbin, feed and feet |
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| Also in the box |
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| What it does not have |
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| Dimensions |
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| Warranty |
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Warranty service is handled here in Louisville by our own factory-certified technicians, so your machine does not have to travel to a stranger when it needs attention. If you live outside of Louisville, any Baby Lock dealer in the country will service your machine under warranty. Every machine we sell also comes with owner classes, so you leave knowing how to thread it, how to change a stitch and how to keep it clean.
Additional Information
| Product type | Sewing Machine |
| Brand | Baby Lock |
| Manufacturer | Baby Lock |
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Their response time and shipping was so quick! I received my order three days early and I live on the other side of the country.Laura W. · Google review
My orders always arrive in 2 days, with nice notes that inspire me every time. They always have exactly what I need.Eleanor P. · Google review
No other online quilt shop or local shop compares with the enthusiasm, willingness to help and great resources offered at Quilted Joy.Deborah B. · Oklahoma
Even though I’m in Texas they made it very easy. They responded quickly by email and got me enrolled. I loved the class and learned so much. 10/10Leslie W. · Texas
This company is FANTASTIC. Not only does the online shop have fast shipping and exactly what I needed, but there’s so much helpful quilting information.Kathy V. · Google review
The “quilt fairies” truly are amazing. They have made me feel so welcome and have been incredibly patient with me every step of the way.Ella S. · Google review
Reviews
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Baby Lock Zeal Sewing Machine — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Baby Lock Zeal?
The Zeal is a mechanical sewing machine with 25 built-in stitches, a one-step buttonhole, a built-in needle threader, a Quick-Set drop-in Class 15 bobbin, retractable feed dogs and six snap-on presser feet. It weighs 14.9 pounds and is operated by dials rather than a screen.
Is the Zeal computerized?
No, and that is deliberate. The Zeal is mechanical: you turn a dial to pick a stitch and another to set the length. Nothing is buried in a menu and there is no screen to fail. If you want a computerized machine at a similar size, look at the Jubilant.
What is the difference between the Zeal and the Joy?
The biggest one is the buttonhole. The Zeal sews a true one-step buttonhole sized to your button in a single pass; the Joy uses a four-step buttonhole you work in four turns of a dial. The Zeal also has 25 stitches to the Joy's 19 and six presser feet to the Joy's four. If you sew garments with several buttonholes, the Zeal is worth the difference.
Can you free-motion quilt on the Zeal?
Yes. The feed dogs retract, which is real drop feed rather than a plate you snap over them, so you can move the fabric yourself for stippling and darning. There are 6 inches of sewing bed to the right of the needle, which suits small quilts and table runners rather than a queen-size top.
Does the Zeal sew with a twin needle?
Yes. Twin needle sewing gives you two parallel rows of stitching with a zigzag underneath, which is how you finish a knit hem so it still stretches, without owning a cover stitch machine.
Why buy the Zeal from Quilted Joy?
Quilted Joy is a family owned authorized Baby Lock dealer in Louisville, Kentucky, home of the Quilt Fairies and led by Angela Huffman, host of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting on PBS. Your machine comes with owner classes, warranty service from our own factory certified technicians, and the Quilt Fairy Godmother Program.
