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Baby Lock Aurora Sewing & Embroidery Machine
Baby Lock Aurora Sewing & Embroidery 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
Summer Savings: buy the Aurora now and we will send you a $120 Quilted Joy gift card to spend on fabric, thread, stabilizer or a class. Limited time.
The first machine that embroiders, and still sews
The Aurora is where Baby Lock's combination line starts. There is nothing below it: every machine that costs less either sews or embroiders, not both. At $1,199 and 15.5 pounds it is the machine for someone who has wanted to try embroidery for a while and does not want to spend three thousand dollars finding out whether they like it. It has 303 built-in designs, 191 sewing stitches, sends designs over your wifi, and comes with an 18 by 11 inch extension table.
Angela Huffman, host of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting PBS show and founder/owner of Quilted Joy.
We would rather you buy the right machine than the cheapest one. If what you actually want to do is monogram towels and the backs of jackets, the Aurora's 4 by 4 inch hoop will frustrate you and you should look at the Bloom. If you want to put a small motif on a bag, a name on a onesie or a label on a quilt, the Aurora does that all day. Call (502) 718-7148 or send us an email and tell us what you want to make.
★★★★★ 4.9 stars on Google and a 98% recommend rate on Facebook
“Angela seems like a friend and not just a teacher. I really appreciate all the wonderful people who work there and share what they have with others.”
Jerry K., Facebook recommendation
What four inches by four actually means
This is the number to understand before you buy anything else on the page. The Aurora embroiders inside a 4 by 4 inch square, and one 4 by 4 hoop comes in the box. That is plenty for a quilt label, a pocket motif, a name on a bib, a monogram on a napkin or a small design on a tote. It is not enough for a jacket back or a full-width towel border, and the Aurora cannot split a design across two hoopings. If those are the projects you have in mind, the Bloom above it goes to 5 by 7 with a 5 by 12 multi-position hoop.
Baby Lock's own walkthrough
Designs come over your wifi
The Aurora is wifi enabled for Design Database Transfer, so a design you buy or digitize on your computer goes to the machine wirelessly. No walking a USB stick across the house, though there is a USB port if you prefer it. It reads .pes, .dst and .phc files, so the design collections most quilt shops sell will load. The machine also tells you when a firmware update is available rather than making you go looking.
191 stitches, and a table that comes with it
On the sewing side there are 191 built-in stitches, from the utility stitches that build a garment to decorative ones for edges and embellishment. The bobbin is a Quick-Set drop-in, so you drop it in and go without drawing the thread up. The Advanced Needle Threader takes the needle for you, the thread cutter is a button, and the feed dogs drop for free-motion work. Eight snap-on feet come with it, and so does an 18 1/4 by 11 inch extension table, which on a machine this small is what makes a quilt block manageable.
It weighs 15.5 pounds
Machine only, the Aurora is 15.5 pounds with a built-in handle, which is genuinely light enough to carry to a class or a retreat and set on a kitchen table. With the embroidery unit attached Baby Lock lists it at 30 pounds, so the two travel differently. If you take a machine somewhere every month, this is the one in the combination line that makes that easy.
Where the Aurora sits in the line
Nothing sits below it. The Aurora is the entry point of Baby Lock's combination range, and anything cheaper is a sewing-only machine. Above it is the Bloom at about $2,699, and what the extra money buys is the embroidery experience rather than the stitch count: the field goes from 4 by 4 to 5 by 7 with a 5 by 12 multi-position hoop, two hoops instead of one, embroidery speed goes from 400 stitches a minute to 650, and the Bloom adds a hands-free knee lift, on-screen design editing and automatic jump-stitch trimming. That last one is not a small thing: on the Aurora you clip the jump threads yourself on every design.
Specifications
| At a glance |
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| Embroidery |
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| Sewing |
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| Connectivity |
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| What it does not do |
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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, and on a first embroidery machine those classes are the difference between a hobby that sticks and a machine in a closet.
Additional Information
| Product type | Sewing & Embroidery Machine |
| Brand | Baby Lock |
| Manufacturer | Baby Lock |
Easy for Everyone
Buying a machine is a big decision. The Quilt Fairies make every step of it simple.
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Your current machine can help pay for your next one. Ask us for a trade-in quote.
Talk to a Sewist
Not sure which machine fits? The Quilt Fairies stitch on these machines every day. Call (502) 718-7148.
Flexible Financing
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 Aurora Sewing & Embroidery Machine — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Baby Lock Aurora?
The Aurora is a compact machine that both sews and embroiders. It has 303 built-in embroidery designs, 13 embroidery fonts, 191 sewing stitches, a 4 by 4 inch embroidery field and wifi design transfer. At 15.5 pounds with a built-in handle, it is the lightest machine in Baby Lock's combination line.
How big is the embroidery area, and is that enough?
The embroidery field is 4 by 4 inches, which is 100 by 100mm, and one 4 by 4 hoop comes in the box. That covers quilt labels, pocket motifs, a name on a bib, a monogram on a napkin or a small design on a tote. It is not enough for a jacket back or a full towel border, and the Aurora cannot split a design across two hoopings. If those are the projects you have in mind, look at the Bloom, which goes to 5 by 7 with a 5 by 12 multi-position hoop.
Is the Aurora a good first embroidery machine?
Yes, and that is exactly who it is for. Nothing sits below it in Baby Lock's combination line, so it is the least expensive way into Baby Lock embroidery without giving up a sewing machine. It is also the one people actually carry to class. Every machine we sell comes with owner classes, which on a first embroidery machine matters more than any spec on this page.
How do I get my own designs onto the Aurora?
Two ways. The Aurora is wifi enabled for Design Database Transfer, so designs go from your computer to the machine wirelessly, and there is also a USB Type A port if you would rather use a stick. It reads .pes, .dst and .phc files.
How is the Aurora different from the Bloom above it?
The Bloom is about $1,500 more and what it buys is the embroidery experience rather than the stitch count. The field goes from 4 by 4 to 5 by 7 with a 5 by 12 multi-position hoop, you get two hoops instead of one, embroidery speed goes from 400 stitches a minute to 650, and the Bloom adds a hands-free knee lift, on-screen design editing and automatic jump-stitch trimming. On the Aurora you clip the jump threads yourself.
Does the Aurora trim jump stitches automatically?
No. Jump stitches between parts of a design need clipping by hand. It is a few minutes per design rather than a problem, but it is worth knowing before you buy, and it is one of the real reasons to consider the Bloom.
Does the Aurora have a knee lift?
Baby Lock does not list a knee lift for the Aurora, so plan on not having one. The Bloom above it includes a hands-free knee lift. Call us at (502) 718-7148 if that matters for the way you sew and we will talk it through.
Can I quilt on the Aurora?
For blocks and smaller projects, yes. The feed dogs drop for free-motion work and an 18 and a quarter by 11 inch extension table comes with the machine, which is what makes a block manageable on a machine this size. It has no stitch regulator, so free-motion stitch length is down to your hands. For quilting full-size tops you want a machine with a bigger harp.
Can I pay for the Aurora over time?
Yes. Shop Pay Installments is available at checkout, so you can split the purchase into payments. You will see the option and the estimated payment on the checkout page, and you are always welcome to call us at (502) 718-7148.
What warranty comes with the Aurora?
Baby Lock covers the Aurora with a 25 year limited manufacturer's warranty, 10 years on parts, 5 years on the circuit board, 5 years on electrical components and 1 year of labor. Warranty service is done here in Louisville by our own factory-certified technicians, and any Baby Lock dealer in the country can service it under warranty if you live elsewhere.
