The Baby Lock Zeal is a dial-controlled sewing machine for mending, crafts, home décor and simple garments. It sews one-step buttonholes sized to your button, threads the needle with a built-in threader and comes with 6 presser feet. With 25 stitches and no screen, it's easy to learn and has room to grow.
Why buy from Imagine Sewing & Vacuum
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Authorized Baby Lock dealer. Only authorized retailers can issue Baby Lock warranties, so your Zeal is covered by Baby Lock's 25-year limited warranty.
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Sewing specialists since 1922. We've helped sewists and quilters choose the right machine for more than a century.
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Factory-trained technicians. The people who service Baby Lock machines can help with threading, tension and buttonhole questions, before and after you buy.
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Free shipping on orders over $299. This machine qualifies.
Everyday sewing with room to grow
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Buttonholes in one step. Set your button in the automatic buttonhole foot, and the Zeal sews a buttonhole sized to match it.
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25 built-in stitches. Straight, zigzag, stretch and decorative stitches cover clothing, crafts, mending and home décor.
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Built-in needle threader. Thread the needle in a few quick motions instead of by hand.
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Quick-set, drop-in bobbin. Drop the bobbin in from the top, pull the thread through the slot and close the clear cover.
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Adjustable length and width. Set stitches up to 4 mm long and 5 mm wide for basting, gathering or a wider zigzag.
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Control for different fabrics. A presser foot pressure dial lets you adjust how firmly the foot holds the fabric.
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Drop feed and twin needle. Lower the feed dogs for darning and free-motion work, or topstitch parallel rows with a twin needle.
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Free arm with storage. Slide off the extension table to hem jeans and sleeves. Accessories store in a box under the table.
Is the Zeal right for you?
It's the best fit if you want an easy dial-controlled machine that still handles garment details like buttonholes, or a step up from a very basic machine.
Good to know before you buy: the Zeal has no screen, speed control, needle up/down button or automatic thread cutter. Stitch width tops out at 5 mm. Baby Lock lists a 7-piece foot kit and a free-motion quilting foot as compatible feet, but no walking foot.
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Want to spend less? The Baby Lock Joy has 19 stitches, a needle threader and a drop-in bobbin, with a four-step buttonhole.
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Want a screen and speed control? The Baby Lock Jubilant has 80 stitches, an LCD screen and stitches up to 7 mm wide.
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Sewing lots of knits? Pair the Zeal with the Baby Lock Vibrant 4/3/2-thread serger, which finishes seam edges and has differential feed for stretchy fabric.
Expert tip
"For a one-step buttonhole, pull the button holder on foot R toward the back, set your button in it and push the holder snug against the button. Then pull the buttonhole lever down as far as it will go. Stitch a test buttonhole on a scrap with the same interfacing first. If the button won't slip through, slide the holder back a little."
Greg, Owner, Imagine Sewing & Vacuum
Specifications
| Model |
BL35B |
| Machine type |
Mechanical sewing machine with dial stitch selection |
| Built-in stitches |
25, including a one-step buttonhole |
| Stitch length |
0 to 4 mm |
| Stitch width |
0 to 5 mm |
| Needle threader |
Built in |
| Bobbin |
Class 15, quick-set drop-in |
| Feed dogs |
Drop feed for free-motion |
| Twin needle |
Yes (needle sold separately) |
| Presser foot pressure |
Adjustable dial |
| Presser feet |
Snap-on, 6 included |
| Thread cutter |
Manual |
| Free arm |
Yes |
| Sewing bed width |
6" |
| Weight |
14.9 lb (machine only) |
| Dimensions |
16-1/8" W × 10-3/4" H × 8" D (machine only) |
What's in the box
- Baby Lock Zeal with electronic foot control
- 6 snap-on feet: general purpose (on the machine), automatic buttonhole, button fitting, overedge, zipper and blind hem
- 4 bobbins (one in the machine)
- 5 needles: two size 11, two size 14 and one stretch needle
- Screwdriver, seam ripper and lint brush
- Large and small spool caps, additional spool pin and felt cushion
- Quilting guide
- Instruction and Reference Guide
Warranty
Baby Lock covers the Zeal with a 25-year limited warranty: 10 years on parts, 2 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 Zeal at babylock.com after it arrives.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the Baby Lock Zeal and the Joy?
The Zeal adds a one-step buttonhole, 6 more stitches, a presser foot pressure dial and 2 more feet. The Joy weighs 11.5 pounds to the Zeal's 14.9 and costs less.
Is the Zeal computerized?
No. You choose stitches and settings with dials, and there's no screen.
Can the Zeal sew denim?
It handles everyday jobs like hemming jeans on the free arm. Use a denim needle and sew slowly over thick seams. Baby Lock doesn't market the Zeal as heavy-duty, so leave thick canvas and many layers to a heavier machine.
Can I quilt with the Zeal?
Yes, on small projects like table runners and baby quilts. It includes a quilting guide, and drop feed lets you free-motion quilt with Baby Lock's free-motion quilting foot, sold separately.
Does the Zeal come with a twin needle?
No. It supports twin-needle sewing, but the twin needle is sold separately.
