Baby Lock Aerial Sewing and Embroidery Machine

The Baby Lock Aerial is a sewing and embroidery machine for sewists who want an 8" x 12" embroidery field and 11.25" of workspace in one machine. It has 757 built-in stitches and 262 built-in designs, and the NeverMiss automatic needle threader threads the needle at the push of a button. Designs load by USB, so it suits sewists who don't need Wi-Fi or on-screen design creation.

Why buy from Imagine Sewing & Vacuum

• Authorized Baby Lock dealer. Only authorized retailers can issue Baby Lock warranties, so your Aerial is covered by Baby Lock's 25-year limited warranty.
• Sewing specialists since 1922. We've helped sewists and embroiderers choose the right machine for more than a century.
• Factory-trained technicians. The people who service Baby Lock machines can help with embroidery setup, hooping and thread tension questions, before and after you buy.
• Free shipping on orders over $299. This machine qualifies.

Room to sew and embroider

• Large designs, less re-hooping. The 8" x 12" field handles big designs, and both an 8" x 12" and a 5" x 7" hoop come in the box.
• Space for quilts and bulky projects. 11.25" to the right of the needle gives a rolled quilt or heavy garment room to move.
• 757 stitches. You get utility, decorative, satin, cross and character stitches, with utility stitches up to 7 mm wide.
• 262 designs and 19 fonts. Combine, rotate and edit designs and lettering on screen, and add any of 140 frame patterns.
• See real color before you stitch. The 7" touchscreen displays up to 260,000 colors, so you know what a design will look like before you sew it.
• Bobbin work is built in. An included gray bobbin case lets you stitch heavy decorative thread or narrow ribbon from the bobbin, in sewing or embroidery.
• Quick setup. NeverMiss automatic threading, a Quick-Set drop-in bobbin and upper and lower thread sensors make getting started simpler.
• Hands-free control. The knee lifter, automatic presser foot lift, thread cutter button, speed slider and programmable needle up/down keep both hands on the fabric.

Is the Aerial right for you?

It's the best fit if you want a large embroidery field and a full-size sewing and quilting machine, and you're comfortable moving designs by USB. It's a natural step up if you're outgrowing a 5" x 7" or 6" x 10" hoop.

Good to know before you buy: the Aerial has no Wi-Fi, no IQ Designer for drawing or converting artwork, and no IQ Intuition positioning app. The LED pointer embroidery foot, dual feed foot and multi-function foot controller are optional extras, and embroidery software is sold separately. It's a single-needle machine, so you change thread for each color.

• Want a 9-1/2" x 14" field and on-screen design tools? The Baby Lock Altair 2 adds IQ Designer, Wi-Fi, the IQ Intuition apps and a 10.1" screen, with the same 11.25" workspace.
• Short on table space? The Baby Lock Vesta has a 6-1/4" x 10-1/4" field and Wi-Fi, and weighs 22 pounds without its embroidery unit.
• Only need embroidery? The Baby Lock Reflection embroiders a 9-1/2" x 14" field with 2-point positioning, but it doesn't sew.

Expert tip

"For bobbin work, swap in the gray bobbin case that comes with the Aerial, and use it only for bobbin work. Wind No. 5 or finer hand embroidery thread, or ribbon up to about 1/8", onto the bobbin by hand and stitch with the fabric wrong side up. Test on a scrap of the same fabric first. When you're done, clean the race and put the standard bobbin case back in."

Greg, Owner, Imagine Sewing & Vacuum

Specifications

What's in the box

• Aerial with embroidery unit, foot controller, power cord and dust cover
• Knee lifter, touch pen (stylus) and USB cable
• 11 presser feet: zigzag "J", monogramming "N", overcasting "G", zipper "I", buttonhole "A", blind stitch "R", button fitting "M", straight stitch, embroidery, 1/4" quilting with guide, and free-motion open toe "O"
• Embroidery hoops: 8" × 12" and 5" × 7"
• 10 bobbins, standard, alternate and bobbin-work bobbin cases, bobbin center pin and 3 bobbin covers
• Straight stitch needle plate and embroidery needle plate cover
• Needle set, twin needle and ball point embroidery needles
• Vertical spool pin, spool caps and spool nets
• Bobbin thread, stabilizer, chalk pencil, tools, accessory bag and manuals

Warranty

Baby Lock covers the Aerial with a 25-year limited warranty: 10 years on parts, 5 years on circuits, 5 years on electrical components and 1 year on labor. Baby Lock only honors warranties issued by its authorized retailers. Imagine Sewing & Vacuum is an authorized Baby Lock retailer, so your machine is covered. Register your Aerial at babylock.com after it arrives.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the Baby Lock Aerial and the Altair 2?

Both have 11.25" of workspace and run at up to 1,050 stitches per minute. The Altair 2 has a larger 9-1/2" x 14" field, a 10.1" screen, Wi-Fi, IQ Designer, the IQ Intuition apps and a digital dual feed foot. The Aerial has an 8" x 12" field and a 7" screen, and transfers designs by USB.

Does the Aerial have Wi-Fi?

No. You transfer designs with a USB flash drive, or connect the Aerial to your computer with the included USB cable.

Can I create my own embroidery designs on the Aerial?

You can combine and edit built-in designs and lettering on screen, but there's no IQ Designer for drawing or converting artwork. To create designs, use software such as Baby Lock's Palette 11, sold separately.

Which optional hoops fit the Aerial?

Baby Lock's optional hoops include 4" x 4", 8" x 8", a 7" x 4" border hoop and a small 2-1/2" x 1" hoop.

Is the Aerial good for quilting?

Yes. It has 11.25" to the right of the needle, a 1/4" quilting foot with guide, a free-motion open toe foot and a knee lifter. Baby Lock's dual feed foot (BLTY-DDF) is an optional add-on.