news

Meet the New Brother BX1 & BX1e: Premium Sewing and Embroidery Machines Built for Creative Adventures

Brother has raised the bar once again with the introduction of the Innov-ís BX1 Expedition and Innov-ís BX1e Expedition. Designed for makers who demand precision, innovation, and creative freedom, these new flagship machines combine advanced technology with intuitive features that make every project more enjoyable.

Whether you’re an experienced quilter, garment maker, embroidery enthusiast, or creative entrepreneur, the BX1 series offers tools that help turn ambitious ideas into beautifully finished projects.

Brother BX1: The Ultimate Sewing & Embroidery Combination

Brother BX1, Brother sewing and embroidery machine

The Brother BX1 is a premium combination sewing and embroidery machine that delivers exceptional versatility. With a generous 10-inch workspace and a maximum 8″ x 14″ embroidery area, it provides plenty of room for quilts, jackets, home décor, and oversized embroidery projects.

Some of the standout features include:

754 built-in sewing stitches for decorative, utility, quilting, and heirloom sewing.
774 built-in embroidery designs, including exclusive Brother motifs, appliqué designs, quilting patterns, and decorative lettering.
23 built-in embroidery fonts for monograms and personalized projects.
Wireless connectivity with the Artspira app, making it easy to send designs directly to your machine.
Automatic features such as advanced needle threading, pivot function, knee lift, and automatic height adjustment to streamline your workflow.
Compact Digital Dual Feed Foot for improved feeding of thick, slippery, or layered fabrics.
An industry-first Curve Sewing feature that helps guide fabric smoothly around curves with greater control.
An External Laser Guideline Marker for more accurate straight stitching and decorative sewing.

The BX1 is ideal for sewists who want one machine capable of handling everything from precision garment construction to intricate embroidery.

Brother BX1e: Dedicated Embroidery Without Compromise

Brother BX1e, Brother embroidery machine

If embroidery is your primary passion, the Brother BX1e focuses exclusively on delivering professional-level embroidery performance.

With the same spacious 8″ x 14″ embroidery field, the BX1e includes:

774 built-in embroidery designs
23 embroidery fonts
140 decorative frame variations
Wireless Artspira compatibility
MY Stitch Monitor compatibility, allowing you to monitor embroidery progress from your smartphone.
2-Point Positioning with LED Pointer, making precise placement easier—even if your fabric isn’t hooped perfectly straight.
Matrix Copy, which quickly duplicates designs for patches and production runs.
Yarn Couching capability for dimensional embroidery and textured decorative effects.

These advanced embroidery tools help eliminate guesswork while giving makers greater creative flexibility.

Smart Technology That Inspires Creativity

Both machines feature Brother’s latest wireless ecosystem, making it easier than ever to manage embroidery designs.

With the Artspira app, users can:

Create custom embroidery designs
Access exclusive Brother projects
Transfer designs wirelessly
Personalize artwork directly from a mobile device

This seamless connection reduces setup time and helps keep creativity flowing from inspiration to finished project.

Which Machine Is Right for You?

Choose the Brother BX1 if you want:

Advanced sewing and embroidery in one machine
Premium quilting features
Decorative sewing capabilities
Maximum versatility for every type of project

Choose the Brother BX1e if you:

Already own a sewing machine
Primarily create embroidery projects
Want maximum embroidery performance and efficiency
Produce monograms, patches, gifts, or embroidery for small business use

A New Generation of Brother Innovation

The BX1 and BX1e represent Brother’s newest generation of premium creative machines. From intelligent sewing technology and laser-guided precision to wireless design transfers and expansive embroidery capabilities, these models are built to support today’s makers at every skill level.

Whether you’re stitching heirloom quilts, personalizing gifts, creating custom apparel, or growing an embroidery business, the Brother BX1 and BX1e are designed to help every creative journey begin with confidence.

With All Joann Stores Closing, Allbrands is Here for Sewers, Embroiderers, and Quilters

As the retail landscape continues to shift and evolve, Joann’s closing marks the end of an era for many shoppers who have relied on its vast selection and friendly service. While it’s always difficult to say goodbye to a well-loved retailer, there is a silver lining for consumers looking to continue their crafting journeys. Allbrands.com is stepping up to meet the needs of customers in the crafting, sewing, and home appliance space. Allbrands.com is a premier online destination for a wide range of sewing machines, sergers, quilting machines, embroidery machines, and the tools and accessories that go along with them. If you’ve been searching for a reliable alternative to Joann’s, Allbrands.com is here to offer a wealth of options.

Here’s why Allbrands.com is the go-to choice for consumers looking to keep their creativity alive:

Extensive Product Selection: Allbrands.com offers an impressive array of sewing machines, embroidery machines, sergers, and quilting machines from top brands like Brother, Singer, Bernina, and Janome. Whether you’re looking for a basic model or a more advanced machine, you’ll find the perfect fit for your needs.
Great Prices and Discounts: Allbrands.com offers competitive prices and frequent sales, ensuring that you’re getting great value for your money. If you’re looking to invest in a new sewing machine or some specialty crafting supplies, you can be sure you’ll find affordable options without compromising quality.
Wide Range of Crafting Supplies: From fabrics to threads to needles and accessories, Allbrands.com has everything you need to support your crafting projects. Whether you’re sewing, quilting, or embroidering, you can trust Allbrands.com to have the right tools for your needs.
Customer Service You Can Count On: One of the highlights of shopping at Allbrands.com is their commitment to customer satisfaction. They offer top-notch customer support, and their team of experts can help you choose the right products and answer any questions you may have. Plus, with free shipping on many items, you won’t have to worry about getting your supplies quickly.
Online Shopping Convenience: No need to venture out to a physical store – Allbrands.com brings the store directly to your doorstep. With easy-to-navigate online shopping and fast shipping, you can quickly find the tools and supplies you need and have them delivered to your home.
Eight Convenient Store Locations: Stop by one of our eight store fronts in Texas and Louisiana and see the latest in sewing, embroidery, and quilting technology from brands like Brother, Bernina, and Grace. Our helpful store associates will help you find the perfect notion for your project – or machine for your home!

As Joann’s closes its doors, Allbrands.com is here to fill the void and continue serving the crafting and sewing community. By offering a wide selection of high-quality machines, fabrics, accessories, and more, Allbrands.com is ready to support your passion for crafting. So, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, you can rely on Allbrands.com to provide everything you need to continue creating beautiful, handmade projects.

While it’s always tough to lose a cherished store like Joann’s, it’s reassuring to know that Allbrands.com is stepping up to fill the gap. With its extensive product offerings, top-tier customer service, and convenient online shopping experience, Allbrands.com is your new go-to resource for all things sewing, quilting, and crafting. Don’t let Joann’s closure stop you from pursuing your creative passion – visit Allbrands.com today and get everything you need to keep your crafting alive!

Giving Tuesday 2023: Causes you can sew for

As the days get colder and colder this holiday season, you may find yourself spending more time in your craft room. Whether you enjoy knitting, sewing, or quilting there are many wonderful charitable organizations that would appreciate receiving handmade items from your time and talents for those in need.

Here are several organizations that you can use your skills and expertise toward sewing for those in need in your community:

Quilts of Valor
The Sewing Machine Project®
Project Linus
Quilts for Kids | Making Quilts for Kids in Need
Ryan’s Case for Smiles
Days for Girls
Sew Powerful
Operation Christmas Child
L ittle Dresses for Africa/Britches for Boys
Firehouse Quilts
Emma and Evan Foundation
Little Angel Gowns
Operation Chemo Comfort

If you end up donating to any of these organizations, please share a photo in the comments. We’d love to see all of the work our Allbrands community is doing for others in their time of need!

Brother Donates Fifteen Sewing Machines to ricRACK

RicRACK, a sewing and textile recycling nonprofit in New Orleans, LA, is passionate about keeping textiles out of the landfill and teaching the people of New Orleans how to sew. Recently, Brother USA donated fifteen sewing machines to the cause, allowing even more people in the community the chance to learn to sew.

The Brother machines have already been put to good use at the rickRACK studio! We are so happy to have partnered with Brother, The Sewing Machine Project, and rickRACK for all their wonderful work around the communities of New Orleans, Louisiana.

AllBrands Donates Sewing Machine to LSU Fashion Show Winner

AllBrands donated a sewing machine to one winner of the Fashion Association at LSU’s fashion show. AllBrands is also proud to have sponsored the show.

The Junior Class winner, Bess Schuler, received a Brother Project Runway sewing machine.

One of Bess Schuler’s models with thje donated sewing machine, a winning design, and Kalli Champagne, AllBrands’ marketing manager.

The show consisted of three sections: styling, Junior Class collections, and Senior Class collections. The students honed their skills from their curriculum at LSU to create a wide variety of styles.

Due to social distancing guidelines, the 2021 fashion show was a video compilation of all the contestants’ designs modeled in LSU’s quad. View the entire show below!

Partnerships–The Sewing Machine Project and Allbrands

By Margaret Jankowski, Founder, The Sewing Machine Project

The Sewing Machine Project is a nonprofit organization that works with other groups across the country to donate sewing machines, sewing supplies, and sewing classes. Since 2005, The Sewing Machine Project has distributed over 3,000 sewing machines. Below is an article by founder Margaret Jankowski about their partnership with us over the years, as featured in the VDTA-SDTA News magazine’s January issue.

Our partnership with John Douthat and AllBrands in Baton Rouge, LA has stretched over many years. John found us and we’ve been collaborating for over a decade. And for every step we’ve been grateful.

Some photos from The Sewing Machine Project’s recent efforts in Houston after Hurricane Harvey and in Cuba for their Sew Cuba program.

We have shipped pallets of machines to different AllBrands locations, most often to the Metairie, LA store for our work in New Orleans. We ship the pallet or UPS set of machines shortly before we plan to work there and then fly in and pick them up on that end. The AllBrands staff members are amazing and so helpful.

AllBrands donated 100 Brother machines after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Partnering with a charitable group gathering supplies for a container in Mississippi, John shipped the machines to Mississippi and we shipped fabric and notions to the same site. The charitable group, hurrying to deliver supplies, gathered everything and sent it on to Haiti.

John arranged a partnership with LSU’s New Orleans campus and we shipped a pallet of machines to supply their theatre department as they recovered after Hurricane Katrina. We met John for a presentation of the machines in their newly renovated theatre.

It was John’s work that helped us partner with a company supplying small industrial machines for use on sailboats when we laughed our SeaHope project in 2010 following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. With SeaHope we gathered donated sails from sailors in Wisconsin and took them to Houma in Terrebonne Parish, LA, to make into messenger bags to sell as a fundraiser. John connected us with Sailrite out of Indiana and they donated 10 compact industrial machines for the project. Proceeds from the sale of messenger bags were donated to organizations working with those affected by the spill.

Sister Gisela, a volunteer for The Sewing Machine Project’s program in Cuba, holds up a new creation.

The Sewing Machine Project worked with AllBrands to ship machines and supplies to Cuba to begin sewing lessons there. AllBrands donated the machines and we asked our donors to offer fabric and supplies. Together we launched a sewing program in Cuba. Today AllBbrands collects donated sewing machines for our work in New Orleans. They are currently preparing a set of donated machines for a 4-H group helping kids learn the benefits of sewing and then will prepare a second set for a group of working teens creating a community center in the area. Partnership works. While the SMP clearly benefits from AllBrands’ generosity, AllBrands benefits as well being known as a leader in the community as well as putting their brand in front of new sewers who, when able to purchase their own machines in the future, will more likely then not, purchase through AllBrands. We are exponentially grateful for the kindness that AllBrands has shown us and continues to show the world.

Dress Up with Decorative Stitches – Joanne Banko

Dress Up with Decorative Stitches – Part Three of Easy Embellishments

by Joanne Banko

Let’s Get Started

Today I’d like to share some embellishment techniques I used for a group of dresses featured on the popular PBS TV show, It’s Sew Easy. This informative sewing show is produced by KS Productions Inc. and airs all over the country. Check local PBS listings for show times in your area. Designers and teachers involved in every aspect of the sewing and embroidery industry are featured on this show. It’s Sew Easy will help you enhance your sewing skills and have more fun in your own sewing space!

In addition to watching the PBS TV show, you can view segments on itsseweasytv.com. Each week a new episode is uploaded and remains online for a full week. Visit the site this Friday, May 16, 2014 you will see me demonstrate decorative techniques for dresses on Episode 608, titled Classic Use of Ribbons and Trims. Join the website and you’ll gain access to the entire archive of free project downloads, which includes valuable tips and a helpful supply list for the dresses seen on episode 608.

You’ll get lots of information and inspiration by watching the show but in this post I’d like to share some additional insider tips, techniques, and ideas with my Allbrands blog friends.

I love to sew garments and I had a lot of fun creating each of these dresses “from scratch.” Using a couple simply styled sundress patterns as my starting point, I added contrasting fabric bands in strategic places on four different dresses. Dress patterns are abundant right now so you’re sure to find something that suits your taste. Of course these same ideas will work for dresses with sleeves as well as many other garments.

Deciding where to add decorative dress bands is up to you. You may find dress patterns that already include a separate pattern for a band at the waist, hemline, etc. In addition, pocket tops, sundress straps, and bodice bands are perfect places for rows of decorative stitching. Feel free to add bands of fabric in other areas too! If you have a favorite pattern without a separate pattern piece, it’s easy to add a band by drawing a line, cutting the pattern, and adding seam allowance to each cut edge. When you sew the pieces back together you’ll end up with the same size piece you started with. You can cut apart most any pattern piece as long as you remember to add appropriate seam allowance. I like to trace the original pattern onto paper or tracing cloth, draw lines for placement of contrasting pieces, and then trace off new patterns to use for cutting my fabric. Consider inserting zippers for a fun and functional accent. I took a plain pocket piece and did just that for one of my sundresses.

In the show I talk about preparing your pattern and your fabric for the decorative stitching. In most cases I stitched multiple rows of decorative prior to constructing the garment. Ribbons add to the mix of dress embellishments. Decorative stitches combined with ribbons create a colorful, coordinated look. I used decorative stitches on ordinary ribbons in a recent blog for Allbrands. I invite you to CLICK HERE and read this post for a few additional basic ribbon stitching tips, including some needle, thread, and stabilizer guidelines.

To add ribbon to the sundress straps I placed my ribbon on top of the fabric piece and stitched through all the layers, anchoring the ribbon in place as I added the decorative stitches. Sundress straps become a focal point on the garment with a decorative ribbon stitched down the center. By repeating the technique on the bodice and the banded hem this dress gets a designer style touch that makes it unique. For the banded hem and the bodice I chose to stitch the ribbon separately on a base of stabilizer. Then I used a fine fusible webbing to attach the ribbon to the dress.

On another dress I selected a sheer ribbon and sewed a light weight decorative stitch down the center. To stitch on this soft sheer ribbon I opted for a light weight fibrous type of water soluble stabilizer, instead of my usual tear away stabilizer. I use this type whenever I need stabilizer to totally disappear when I’m finished. For added stability I layered a strip of stabilizer over the top and bottom of the ribbon. After washing out the stabilizer I used a narrow zig-zag stitch to attach the ribbon to the upper embellished band. I had a bit of leftover ribbon so I gathered the edge of two small pieces and formed little rosettes to decorate the straps. The resulting trim is subtle but pretty.

While creating the dresses I had fun playing with different decorative stitches. Some of the bands feature candlewick style stitches. You may have a stitch like this built in to your machine. Candlewick stitches are usually defined as a stitch that resembles a hand sewn French knot, or a little star like stitch that produces a heavy bump, almost like a bead. The dress in the photo above has alternating rows of the French knot style stitch, shown in turquoise thread. My zippered pocket shows an example of the star style candlewick stitch on the lime green accent piece. There are quite a few variations of this stitch found on different machines. It is likely you’ll need a Candlewicking presser foot to successfully sew these bulky stitches. This foot has a deep groove running the full length of the foot, gliding over the bumps formed by candlewick stitches.

If you have a Brother Model machine with the My Custom Stitch™ feature you can create candlewick stitches right on the screen of the machine. It’s a simple matter of plotting stitch points along a special gridline. These stitch points then serve as coordinates telling the machine how to form the stitch. There is an entire book aptly titled My Custom Stitch™ written to guide you in creating your own special stitches. CLICK HERE to research Brother Model machines that include the My Custom Stitch™ feature. On this same page you will find a link from Allbrands to the Brother Design Studio where you will discover many free My Custom Stitch™ design coordinates, including the French knot style candlewick stitch. Follow the path outlined below to locate this stitch, along with many more My Custom Stitch™ coordinates available from Brother.

These dresses are perfect for making use of the many decorative stitches available for your particular machine. To use decorative stitches to the fullest, I encourage you to consider making a sampler of the stitches built in to your machine. If you add a new My Custom Stitch™ to your repertoire you will want to stitch a sample of that stitch too. To make your sampler, select a firm woven fabric in a light color, adding medium weight fusible interfacing to the wrong side. Place an additional layer of tear away underneath. Use contrasting thread to sew out each stitch in your entire stitch menu, from beginning to end. I’m sure you’ll see many stitches that are far more beautiful in thread than they are on the screen of your machine or printed in the instruction manual. Keep your sampler handy and it will inspire you to use those pretty stitches more often. I hope these ideas empower you with motivation to make your own summer sundress or apply these decorative techniques to other garments and crafts.

For those of you have been following this series you may recall that last time I said I would talk about embellishing ribbons with bobbin work decorative stitching. Bobbin Work stitchery isyet another of my all time favorite embellishment techniques. I promise to cover that subject next time as I finish up this series. Until then, happy sewing from your sewing friend,

About the author: Joanne Banko is a freelance sewing educator and a self proclaimed sewing cheerleader. You can see Joanne’s online teaching segments broadcast on the popular PBS TV show, It’s Sew Easy, and online at www.itsseweasytv.com. She is a frequent contributor to Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine and author of the book Wrapped in Embroidery. The book is available at AllBrands.com. CLICK HERE for a preview. Visit Joanne at http://www.letsgosew.com/.

Bonnie’s Fiber Arts Collection

Check out these photos of handcrafted items, made with love by Bonnie in our CSR department. You can visit her website to explore her creations and even purchase them as well.

Visit Site

Easy Embellishments with Ordinary Ribbons- Part One

About the author: Joanne Banko is a freelance sewing educator and a self proclaimed sewing cheerleader. She is a frequent contributor to Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine and author of the book Wrapped in Embroidery available at AllBrands.com. You can see Joanne’s online teaching segments broadcast on the popular PBS TV show, It’s Sew Easy, and online at www.itsseweasytv.com. Visit Joanne and read her blog posts at http://www.letsgosew.com/.

The sewing tools we have at our fingertips these days make it easy and effortless to create embellishments for garments, crafts, home decor, and more! From incredible machine features to fantastic presser feet and helpful accessories, there is so much to love about sewing these days! Beginning with this article I’d like to share a few of my favorite techniques for creating embellishments with ribbons.

Since this is my first article for the ALLBRANDS newsletter I’d thought I’d give you a bit of background. I believe I was born with sewing in my genes. You may say I inherited the “tendency” to sew but I view it as a gift from my Creator. My Grandmother and Mother were both accomplished seamstresses but ironically, I was not taught by either of them. I was the last of five children, with a long gap in between. By the time I arrived on the scene my Mom had stopped sewing. My first stitch was in a Junior High Home Economics class. I remember taking that very first stitch and was hooked from the beginning! My wonderful, wise Mother saw the spark that first stitch created and at the beginning of the following school year she offered me a choice between ready-made clothes or a new zig-zag sewing machine and fabric. I chose the machine and have been sewing ever since! Seeing my enthusiasm my Mom started to sew again herself. We had so much fun shopping for supplies and sewing together. She stitched in the living room on her machine, while I sewed on my very own machine in my bedroom. I zig-zagged my way through junior high and high school making almost all of my own clothes.

We’ve come a long way since the days when we thought an ordinary zig-zag stitch was a big deal. Now we can choose from literally hundreds of decorative stitches built-in to the sewing side of our machines. Beyond that, we can stitch multitudes of embroidery designs with “hoop” capability. Yes, sewing today is better than ever and I love to do it all… sew, embroider, quilt, and craft! In this article I’d like to share a simple technique for creating decorative ribbon using your serger and your sewing machine. Are you ready? Let’s go sew!

Here are the supplies you will need:

Serger with rolled hem capability.
Sewing machine with decorative stitch capability. Recommended presser feet for this project include a clear foot for decorative stitching and an adjustable blind hem foot for stitching the ribbon on your chosen item.
Ordinary grosgrain ribbon measuring approximately 1-inch wide. Note: Cut a length of ribbon measuring twice the amount needed for your finished project so you have enough to test your rolled hem stitching and your decorative stitching.
Serger Thread to contrast with your ribbon.
Embroidery Thread to match your serger thread.
Size 11 embroidery needle.
Strips of stabilizer – Use tear away stabilizer if you don’t need reversible ribbon. Use water soluble mesh stabilizer for reversible ribbon.
Seam sealant to treat ribbon ends.

Here is how to decorate your ribbon:

Set up your Serger for a two or three thread rolled hem.

Disengage the cutting blade and serge along each finished edge of the grosgrain ribbon. Note: You are not actually rolling the edge of the ribbon. You are simply using the rolled hem stitch to accent the edge of the ribbon. When stitching, be sure to guide the ribbon evenly so that the rolled hem stitch forms right along the finished edge.

Press ribbon. I like to use Mary Ellen’s Best Press to smooth out the ribbon in preparation for decorative stitching. Set up your sewing machine for decorative stitching. Thread your machine with Embroidery Thread that matches your rolled hem, threading top and bobbin with the same thread. It is important to use a Presser Foot designed specifically for decorative sewing. In addition, you want your presser foot to be the same size, or slightly smaller than your ribbon. If your particular decorative foot is wide, then you will want to use ribbon that is slightly wider as well. Prior to stitching on the ribbon you need to cut stabilizer strips to equal twice the width of the ribbon.

Select a decorative stitch to fit the ribbon. I used a stitch measuring 7mm wide and I increased the length of the stitch. It’s likely you have many built in stitches to choose from. I recommend testing several stitches until you find one that works well on your machine.

Stitch a row of decorative stitches down the center of the ribbon placing stabilizer underneath as you stitch.

Remove stabilizer according to the package directions. Trim ends at an angle and treat with seam sealant.

Attach the ribbon to your project using a straight stitch, stitching just along the edge of the rolled hem stitching. Tip: The adjustable blind hem foot is perfect for this task. Adjust the guide to line up with the edge of the ribbon, having the needle pierce along the rolled hem stitching. While stitching, keep your eye following the guide to maintain even and consistent edge-stitching.

Ideas for using your ribbon: Use lengths of ribbon to trim a pillowcase, accent the hem of a little girl’s dress, decorate ready-made placemats, trim baskets and flower pots, decorate gift packages and more! Because this ribbon looks good on both the right and wrong sides, you can tie it into a bow and use it to accent any garment or craft project you like!

Next time . . . I’ll show you to use plain ribbons to enhance your embroidery designs. Until then, happy sewing from your sewing friend,

Join Our Newsletter

Be sure you sign up for our newsletter so that you can receive special offer, our latest news, and tips and tricks. Sign up after the jump!

Tag: news