Baby Lock Zest Sewing Machine
Baby Lock Zest Sewing Machine
We can't wait to get you sewing!
Quilted Joy is the home of the world famous Quilt Fairies and is led by Angela Huffman, host of PBS' Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. Buy your machine from people who sew on these machines every day.
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Machine Information
The one that gets somebody started
The Zest is Baby Lock's simplest machine and there is nothing apologetic about that. Fifteen stitches on a dial, a four-step buttonhole, a free arm and 13 pounds of machine you can carry in one hand. No screen to learn, no menus to get lost in. It is what we hand a beginner, a teenager, or a sewist who wants something cheap and dependable to leave packed for classes, and it is built on the same 25 year casting warranty as machines ten times the price.
Take these with you
Download the Zest 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.
I will be straight with you about this one. The Zest has no needle threader and a front-loading bobbin, and if you are going to sew several times a week you will want the Joy or the Zeal instead. But if somebody just needs to learn on a machine that will not frustrate them or break, this is the honest answer. Call us at (502) 718-7148 or send us an email and we will help you decide.
★★★★★ 4.9 stars on Google and a 98% recommend rate on Facebook
“Knowledgeable, professional, great free resources via her YouTube and Facebook as well as excellent shopping options.”
Michelle P., Google review
Fifteen stitches on a dial
Straight, zigzag, blind hem, stretch, overcasting and decorative stitches, all chosen by turning a dial to a letter printed on the front of the machine. Stitch length adjusts from 0 to 4mm on a second dial. There is no screen and no menu, which means there is nothing to learn before your first seam and nothing to go wrong later. The four-step buttonhole is worked in four passes with the sliding buttonhole foot, which is slower than a one-step but perfectly capable.
Thirteen pounds, one hand
At 13 pounds and 15 1/2 inches wide, the Zest goes wherever you are going. A class, a dorm room, a kitchen table that has to be cleared before dinner, a spare room that only becomes a sewing room on Saturdays. It stores in a cupboard and comes out in seconds, which for a lot of people is the difference between sewing and meaning to.
Dials you can feel
Everything on the Zest is mechanical, and that is a real advantage when you are learning. You can see the stitch you chose and the length you set without reading anything, and you can change either one mid-seam by feel. Tension is a numbered dial too, which sounds old-fashioned until the first time you sew something unusual and want to know exactly what you changed.
A front-loading bobbin, and why we say so
The Zest takes a front-loading bobbin case rather than the drop-in bobbin on our other machines. It uses standard Class 15 bobbins, so refills are cheap and everywhere, but you do have to seat the case and it takes a few tries to get confident. We would rather you knew that now than discovered it on day two. If a drop-in bobbin matters to you, the Joy has one for ninety dollars more.
Free arm, and four feet in the box
Slide the flatbed off and the Zest becomes a free arm for hems, cuffs and sleeves in the round. Four snap-on feet come with it: general zigzag, zipper, blind hem and the sliding buttonhole foot, plus a darning plate that covers the feed dogs if you want to try free-motion work. Here is how to wind the bobbin, which is the first thing anybody needs to know.
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
| Weight | 13 lbs |
| Product type | Sewing Machine |
| Brand | Baby Lock |
| Manufacturer | Baby Lock |
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Talk to a Sewist
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Spread your purchase into monthly payments with Shop Pay Installments. See your estimated payment right on this page.
Trusted by Sewists from Coast to Coast
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 Zest Sewing Machine — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Baby Lock Zest?
The Zest is Baby Lock's entry level mechanical sewing machine. It has 15 built-in stitches chosen by dial, a four-step buttonhole, a free arm, a front-loading Class 15 bobbin and four snap-on presser feet, and it weighs 13 pounds. There is no screen and nothing to configure.
Does the Zest have a needle threader?
No. The Zest has no built-in needle threader, and it is the main thing people notice against the machines above it. If threading a needle by eye is difficult for you, the Joy at $299 adds a needle threader and a drop-in bobbin, and it is the one we would point you to.
Is the Zest good for quilting?
For piecing small projects, yes. For quilting a finished top, not really. There are 6 inches of sewing bed to the right of the needle and the feed dogs do not retract, though a darning plate is supplied to cover them for free-motion work. A large quilt needs more room than this machine has.
What bobbins does the Zest take?
Standard Class 15 bobbins, which are inexpensive and stocked everywhere. Note that the Zest uses a front-loading bobbin case rather than a drop-in bobbin, so you seat the case rather than dropping the bobbin in from the top.
Is the Zest a good first machine for a teenager?
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people buy it. It is light, it is mechanical so nothing gets lost in a menu, the stitch chart is printed on the front, and it carries Baby Lock's 25 year limited warranty. Call the shop at (502) 718-7148 if you want help deciding between this and the Joy.
Why buy the Zest 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. Even our least expensive machine comes with owner classes, warranty service from our own factory certified technicians, and the Quilt Fairy Godmother Program.
