Baby Lock Altair Sewing & Embroidery Machine

The Baby Lock Altair is a sewing and embroidery machine with a 9-1/2" x 14" embroidery field, IQ Designer, the IQ Intuition Positioning app and 11.25" of workspace. Baby Lock now lists it as a previous model, and the Altair 2 is the current version. The Altair 2 adds 2-point positioning, stitch tapering and a couching foot.

Why buy from Imagine Sewing & Vacuum

• Authorized Baby Lock dealer. Only authorized retailers can issue Baby Lock warranties, so your Altair is covered by Baby Lock's 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 IQ Designer, software update and hooping questions, before and after you buy.
• Free shipping on orders over $299. This machine qualifies.

Big-hoop embroidery with IQ Designer

• Large designs in one hooping. The 9-1/2" x 14" field fits big quilt blocks and home décor, and four IQ Intuition hoops come in the box.
• Place designs on a photo of your fabric. The IQ Intuition Positioning app sends a photo of your hooped fabric to the 10.1" screen, so you position designs on the real fabric.
• Make your own designs. Draw on the screen in IQ Designer, or bring in a photo or image file, and the Altair converts it to embroidery with the colors and fills you choose.
• Try colors first. Color Visualizer shows a design in different color combinations.
• Know where the needle will drop. The included "W+" embroidery foot has an LED pointer that marks the needle position.
• Room for quilts. You get 11.25" to the right of the needle, a dual feed foot, a 1/4" quilting foot and three free-motion feet.
• 771 built-in stitches. Combine utility, decorative and character stitches and save them in memory.
• Hands-free helpers. A knee lifter, automatic presser foot lift, automatic needle threading, thread cutter, speed control and programmable needle up/down keep your hands on the fabric.

Is the Altair right for you?

It's the best fit if you want a 9-1/2" x 14" combination machine with IQ Designer and the positioning app, and the Altair 2's newer features aren't on your list.

Good to know before you buy: the Altair is a previous model. It doesn't have the Altair 2's 2-point positioning, stitch tapering, couching foot or digital dual feed foot, and the IQ Intuition Monitoring app needs Baby Lock's optional upgrade kit. It's a single-needle machine, so you change thread for each color. The positioning app needs a compatible phone or tablet and works only with IQ Intuition hoops.

• Want the current model? The Baby Lock Altair 2 keeps the 9-1/2" x 14" field and adds 2-point positioning, stitch tapering, the Monitoring app and a digital dual feed foot.
• Only need embroidery? The Baby Lock Reflection embroiders a 9-1/2" x 14" field with 2-point positioning, but it doesn't sew.
• Happy with an 8" x 12" field? The Baby Lock Aerial keeps the 11.25" workspace, without IQ Designer or Wi-Fi.
• Want a smaller, lighter machine? 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.

Expert tip

"Before your first project, check babylock.com for the latest Altair software and install it from a USB drive. Version 2.0 lets the machine download later updates over Wi-Fi and adds support for Baby Lock's optional 12" x 7" magnetic frame. For photo placement, stick with the IQ hoops in the box, because the positioning app doesn't recognize standard hoops."

Greg, Owner, Imagine Sewing & Vacuum

Specifications

What's in the box

• Altair with embroidery unit, foot controller, power cord and soft cover
• Knee lifter and touch pen (stylus)
• 14 presser feet: zigzag "J", monogramming "N", overcasting "G", zipper "I", buttonhole "A", blind stitch "R", button fitting "M", dual feed, straight stitch, free-motion "O", "C" and "E", embroidery "W+" with LED pointer, and 1/4" quilting with guide
• IQ Intuition hoops: 9-1/2" × 14", 9-1/2" × 9-1/2", 5" × 7" and 4" × 4"
• Positioning stickers (4 sheets) and lens calibration sheet
• 10 bobbins, 2 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
• 2-spool thread stand, spool caps and spool nets
• Bobbin thread, stabilizer, chalk pencil, tools, accessory case and manuals

Warranty

The Altair is covered by Baby Lock's limited warranty. 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 Altair at babylock.com after it arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Baby Lock Altair discontinued?

Baby Lock lists the Altair as a previous model. The Altair 2, released in 2023, is the current version. Baby Lock still posts its manuals and software online.

What's the difference between the Altair and the Altair 2?

They share the 9-1/2" x 14" field, 11.25" workspace, IQ Designer and the positioning app. The Altair 2 adds 2-point positioning, stitch tapering, the Monitoring app, couching and "N+" monogramming feet, a digital dual feed foot and a multi-function foot controller. It has 774 stitches and 534 designs, compared with 771 and 494 on the Altair.

Can I add Altair 2 features to an Altair later?

Many of them. Baby Lock's Altair & Meridian Upgrade (BLTAU), sold separately, adds a couching foot and designs, a 7" x 12" magnetic frame, 2-point positioning and more fills and fonts.

Does the Altair have Wi-Fi?

Yes. It uses Wi-Fi for the positioning app and for receiving designs from Design Database Transfer or Palette 11. After the version 2.0 update, it can also download updates over Wi-Fi.

Is the Altair good for quilting?

Yes. It has 11.25" to the right of the needle and comes with a dual feed foot, a 1/4" quilting foot and three free-motion feet.