Brother LS-2150

Frustrating – It may have been cheap but I still expected it to sew basic items. Bought from Post Office for mending & occasional curtain making 8+years ago - Hardly used. I’ve spent more time unpicking than I really needed to. Bulb was the first to go, managed without it but the bobbin issues drove me to despair. I thought it was me so had it looked at - bobbin mechanism replaced - still have issues. This love hate relationship is about to end.

Cheapie Workhorse – Purchased about 3 years ago. No, it's not as good as a more expensive machine in that you really have to settle for 2 speeds - medium and slow. However, for 3 years it has done all of my mending and I've made dozens of clothing items on it. Just finished sewing heavy denim which it has breezed thru. The bulb has never blown and I have no major… Read more

tension difficulties as others have experienced. I guess at this price range it can be the luck of the draw :) I will not upgrade whilst it's still working fine (which at this stage is the foreseeable future) but when I do have to buy a new machine I'm hoping to spend a bit more for speed control and a better sense of a quality product. My little block of plastic has done me proud so far

Brother Appliances? Never Again – What a piece of unmitigated garbage this machine is (Brother LS2150). So much so, I have consigned it (brand new) into the garbage. Couldn't say what I wanted to say. Yes it is cheap and basic but, it is not fit for purpose. It does not do what it is supposed to do. As a recently purchased item, I could take it back to the retailer but this is… Read more

now not an option, so it is in the bin.  I have no time for this malarkey.

No more Brother product for me - utter rubbish.  I'll find something else.

Cheap and very nasty – Badly designed. Thread wraps around gears and has to be untangled. Tension knob on front is cheap plastic and thread cuts into it and tangles. Thread constantly breaks. Save your money and buy something that actually works. I'll never buy another brother machine- this might be a basic machine but I still expected it to sew.  Show details

Don't waste your money – Basic does not mean it lacks 'bells & whistles', it just means the machine is crap. No good for beginners trying to learn how to use a machine due to major tension problems and the unpredictable speed of the pedal. If you're a quilter, forget it. I've had terrible trouble with this machine since I bought it - but it did get me through when my old… Read more

machine broke down, though I would not have purchased it if I'd known how much unpicking I would have to do.

I got what I paid for – As it says in the box, good for simple sewing and repairs. That's exactly it was designed for. I got my one from Australia Post for $120 over a year ago. I am quite happy with it. Sometimes threads get tangled under the plate, this is when the fabric gets crumpled. I have not encountered big problem, so far. Even then, I just think - it's… Read more

$120. But i wouldn't fall for expensive sewing machine unless I was a professional Seamstress. Just for home basic sewing & repair, this is very good. Just look after it, it will serve you for a few years. By then you would have got your money's worth. In 1979 I bought a Singer sewing machine from Grace Bros in Broadway (Sydney}, it lasted 24 years without needing a repair. So to pay $120 or $110 for a modern sewing machine these days is quite a bargain.

Slowly gets the job done – I'm a hobby sewer, I wouldn't recommend it but wont replace it either. Bobbin keeps slipping, bulb blew ages ago, tension too tight and snaps thread. But since I use it to hem and repair, it's OK

Don't waste your money!!!! – I bought my machine from Australia Post in 2012. When I took it out of the box the bobbin case holder fell out, not a good start for a new machine, so I put it in place & used it to sew a pair of curtains, only a small job. It was packed away for quite a few months & unpacked it again to sew a dog coat & the light globe stopped working & the… Read more

tension was not working, tangling the cotton under the sewing plate so tried adjusting the top tension, then the bobbin tension. I fixed that problem, now the top thread is breaking, I have tried numerous times to readjust the tension, have tried changing the thread, but will just not work. I know this is a relatively cheap machine, but I am really disappointed with this machine. I have been sewing for over 40 years, & have used a number of different brands, I am now going to have to buy another machine, but I will deffinately not be buying another Brother machine.

Works as it should – I have had this machine for about a year. Purchased from Target, $110 half price. The machine does exactly what I expected it to do. I knew beforehand that if I wanted a machine that had more controllable speed (i.e. slow sewing), I would have had to pay more; something that I learned from talking to a professional seamstress. She has a 40 year… Read more

old Singer that never breaks down and sews slowly (and she let me try hers). She showed me that that is the difference between cheap and expensive machines. One day I'll buy myself an expensive one that never breaks down and sews slowly, maybe when this eventually dies.

As for what other people have said:

1) I have had absolutely no problem with the bulb.

2) I find it much easier to thread than any other machine that I have borrowed or old one that I have bought second-hand.

3) I have never had it break the thread.

It really does what I bought it to do, which is basic sewing (not with intricate detail).

I have not given the machine five stars only because if I paid more, I would have got a five star machine. Does what it should do: - basic sewing

Basic but does the job – I love this machine. It was only supposed to be a temporary stop gap solution but now, three years later, it is still going strong. It doesn't have any fancy functions but as a dressmaker, I don't need much. I haven't had any issues with the lightbulb or threading (except when I have used cheap thread). It also gets thrown into the boot of my… Read more

car once a week and stills survives.

I really keep talking about getting a new one but there is nothing wrong with mine and don't want to be wasteful. I have become very loyal to it! Inexpensive, does what it says on the box Need to make sure I click my bobbin in before winding

Not impressed – I knew this machine was basic when I bought it , I am disappointed that the light bulb blew on its third use. It breaks thread and goes flat out, I have managed to make a baby blanket with it but I don't think it will last a year of occasional use Light bulb gets hot, blew 3rd use. Pricey for not very good quality

Rubbish – I bought this machine for $110 from target last week. I Made one cushion cover then the machine died and has completely stopped working!!! Triggered the safety switch in my home! Attempts to start the machine again have failed. I'll be seeking a refund and will not purchase another! Absolute rubbish!! Nothing The fact it didn't last more than an hour!

Worked for me! – I bought this machine on sale from Australia Post and as a beginner It's not worried me yet. I've only had it a day and It's shirring beautifully, all the stitches are even and well balanced. The only bad things are it does not have as many options or functions as other machines which is to be expected for $120 and the bulb get very hot very… Read more ·  1

quick. It does sew a little fast so you need to be deft, but you can go slow as well. As for people having trouble with the bobbin or threading I find it easy as pie, It's the same as my last front loading bobbin, except you need slightly taller ones that come with the machine. The instruction manual is very helpful and easy to read. well balanced, good stitches, hot bulb, sews quickly,

Terrible – This looks like a great machine & it is cheap ....... but like the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for". You don't pay much for this machine ....... and the reason is obvious once you start using it ...... It won't sew slow & breaks cotton at faster speeds along with the continual bobbin jamming with cotton ...... it's a lemon Easy to… Read more

thread. Easy to pull apart bobbin mechanism. Easy to carry Bobbin keeps jamming with cotton. Thread breaks when using at higher speeds. Motor lacks torque & won't run at low speeds, like a sports car you have to rev this thing to make it go, then at higher speeds the cotton breaks. Needle holder screw hits fingers when guiding material thru. Awkward placement of foot lever. Not enough room for hand on right side of sewing.

brother LS 2150 - terrible – I cant believe they can sell this machine as 'basic'. you need to be a nuclear scientist to thread the bobbin. hugely disappointed. big rip off. complicated and noisey. definately a huge waste of money. and I did not get it on sale either. has put me off sewing altogether. impossible to machine. difficult to thread rest of it also

A Basic Machine but a great starter for the new sewer – Just like other reviewers, I found this machine in the xmas sales at Target for $100. It was cheap enough to have a crack at some sewing, so I bought it. Best thing I ever did! I would definitely recommend this as a learning machine, not an investment one, so you really have to buy it at the low price point. Being a beginner I've used the wrong… Read more ·  2

feet with the wrong stitch and subsequently broken a smash of needles. I've not held the thread to start a stitch and gone gang busters so the thread has recoiled and knotted inside the machine head, which I've had to unscrew and unmangle. I've held the turning handle when I've accidentally floored the foot pedal and heard the grind. You name it, I've done it! BUT the machine is still going strong.

I really think the low price point made it easier to make mistakes and not panic. I bought some cheap oil to do the maintenance and have become a whizz at cleaning out lint and oiling the different parts. It definitely runs rough if you don't oil it often. One time I thought it was time to oil it, but decided to just jump into my project and worry about it later. The machine quite literally shook with every stitch so I had to stop and oil it, but then it ran smooth again.

I've made a smash of cushions, curtains, bed quilts etc. and made tops, skirts, a dress and a smash of kids clothes and had no problem at all with the machine. BUT KEEP IT OILED!!

This is a very basic machine with basic stitch patterns. It doesn't have the ability to adjust the pressure of the presser foot for doing different fabrics, so as the fabric gets thicker it does bunch up a bit. The foot pedal speed is either slow or full pelt.

I noticed people are having issues with the thread tension. I really don't think I have. I HAVE had to change the tension for the different stitches, threads and fabrics, but there are guidelines in the manual, there are heaps of you tube videos that talk about tension and from there you just have to play until you get a feel for it.

This machine is a little like an old car. Does the job, but it's not flash. It's a good machine to do the basics and tinker with, and you can make mistakes without worrying about damage. If you're looking at spending up to $300 on a machine, I'd wait for this to go on special and buy it around $100. The next step up from this machine would be one around $300-$600 where you would definitely notice the extra value.

I'm looking for another machine at the moment because I really want extra features that I can actually understand and appreciate now that I've had a basic machine. Cheap. Great learning machine. Sews fine. Easy to fix mistakes. Very basic features. Needs weekly oiling to keep running smooth.

Great value for money! – This machine is reliable for someone learning to sew, not too many functions to get confused with!It can be a bit clunky and noisy depending on what I am sewing, but has not let me down yet! great value, easy to use, simple clear instructions can be a little noisy

Having problems – Having problems ,tension won't work just loopy stitches and a piece of wire of some kind fell out of the machine When it worked it was fine As above. Very noisy.