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Brother Innov-is 1250D Review (2023 Update)
Note from the Editor: This Brother Innov-is 1250D review was originally written in 2012, and has been revised and updated in 2023. We have added alternatives such as Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9850, Juki HZL-F600, and Janome Memory Craft 500E.
Disney magic is one of the most endearing things we noticed when we reviewed the new Brother Innov-is 1250D.
This combination sewing, quilting and embroidery machine brings 35 popular Disney animation characters to the sewing room along with hundreds of other built in utility and decorative stitches and embroidery designs.
Brother Innov-is 1250D Overview
The Brother Innov-is 1250D is a versatile computerized sewing and embroidery machine that offers a range of features, including over 400 built-in embroidery designs, USB connectivity for importing new designs, advanced needle threading, automatic thread cutting, and automatic tension control. It also includes a large LCD touchscreen for easy navigation and editing of designs, as well as a range of stitch and pattern options, including utility stitches and decorative patterns. The machine also allows for custom stitch creation using its built-in design software, making it a highly capable and customizable tool for a variety of sewing and embroidery projects.
In addition to the large embroidery arm, one of the first things we noticed was the smiling image of Mickey Mouse greeting us with open arms,inviting us to sit down and give the Brother Innov-is 1250D a chance to show us how much fun we can have with it.
The ergonomic design, floral decal interspersed with the traditional Mickey Mouse silhouette, blue motif and easy to read LCD touch screen all combine to give this machine an inviting appeal that is practically irresistible to anyone who loves to sew.
What are some alternatives for Brother Innov-is 1250D?
The Brother Innov-is 1250D is one of many computerized machines that we have reviewed so far. Here are some alternatives that we recommend.
Are you searching for a compact-size embroidery machine? Then, with Janome Horizon Memory Craft 850, your hunt just ended. The machine can impress you with its versatility and abundance of great features. It consists of sewing and embroidery modes, allowing you to easily switch between the skills. Moreover, the machine provides you with up to 200x 280mm hoop capabilities to ensure precision, especially during embroidery, and the latest needle threading system lets you do some vibrant stitching.
- A wide array of more than 200 built-in stitches
- 175 embroidery designs
- Sturdy frame to manage hard fabrics
- Editing capabilities
- Prompt touchscreen for easier navigation
- Expensive, especially for beginners
- Slow speed of embroidery
The Juki HZL-F600 takes the lead in the sewing and quilting machine industry. The tool has the potential to impress you with its professional performance and user-friendly features. Why should you invest in this machine? The reason is that it comes ahead with a sturdy motor designed to sew thick materials such as denim and several quilting layers, which other machines fail to do. Furthermore, you can unleash your creative side by making the most out of 255 stitch patterns and 16 buttonholes completely automatic. And do not forget the bonus part: it offers a large working space, bright LED lighting for you to navigate the instructions, and a box feed system to guarantee precision and ease so you can continue with your complicated sewing projects.
The Janome Memory Craft 500E empowers designers to express their unique style through personalized, embellished, and monogrammed creations. Its intuitive features, including a full-color touchscreen and on-screen editing functions, offer unparalleled convenience. With a maximum embroidery size of 7.9" x 11" and 160 built-in designs, this machine caters to intricate projects. The automatic thread cutter, advanced needle threader, and USB import capability enhance efficiency. Navigating through its advanced features is seamless, thanks to the vivid and user-friendly LCD color touchscreen, making the MC500E a versatile and inspiring tool for creative endeavors.
- Empowers designers with personalized, embellished, and monogrammed creations
- Full-color touchscreen and on-screen editing functions for unparalleled convenience.
- Maximum size of 7.9" x 11" accommodates intricate projects
- Some users, especially beginners, might find the advanced features a bit overwhelming
What are the features on Brother Innov-is 1250D?
Standard features available on the Brother Innov-is 1250D include:
- More than 300 built in stitches
- 184 utility and decorative stitches
- 171 embroidery designs
- 35 Disney characters
- 6 embroidery fonts
- 3 sewing lettering fonts
- 10 one-step buttonholes
- Two embroidery frames
- 5”x 7”
- 12” x 5”
- USB port
- Automatic needle threader
- Automatic thread trimming system
- Variable speed slider
- 2 LED lights
- Thread sensor
- Rotating embroidery pattern
- Automatic height adjustment
- Presser foot pressure foot adjustment
Working on the Brother Innov-is 1250D
When you first turn the Brother Innov-is 1250D on, a message pops up on the LCD screen telling the user to touch the screen to get started.
The next instruction is to raise the presser foot. That instruction comes with a warning, however, that the carriage will move when the presser foot is lifted.
Threading the Brother Innov-is 1250D is literally as simple as it could possibly be. All the user needs to do is merely follow the clearly marked threading guide. Winding the drop in bobbin is just as easy.
The machine’s features include an automatic needle threader, automatic trimming, automatic needle up and down positioning and a slider to control the variable speed selector.
It operates by lightly touching the start/stop button above the presser foot lever or by using the foot pedal, making it as easy as possible to sew, quilt or embroider with the utmost convenience.
The user friendly backlit LCD touch screen takes the user through the stitch selection process in such a way that it is virtually impossible to make a mistake.
For this review, we decided to try one of the many built in embroidery designs.
Identifying the design to execute was the most challenging part of the entire process. Just for fun, we navigated through the Disney character embroidery designs.
All of the classic Disney characters were represented: Mickey Mouse; Minnie Mouse; Donald Duck; Daisy Duck; Pluto; Tinker Bell; Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh as well as characters from several Disney Pixar films.
We selected Peter Pan and immediately learned that we would need ten different thread colors to complete this design.
We were able to learn exactly which colors were needed by scrolling through the color identification option for the Peter Pan design: moss green, lime green, forest green deep gold, white, vermillion, clay brown, emerald green, black and linen.
We feel that this is perhaps the important feature offered on the Brother Innov-is 1250D, especially for someone who is new to machine embroidery because it not only takes all of the guesswork out of the entire process, it even showed us where each color would go in our design.
After finding the perfect embroidery design and identifying the thread colors the next step is to adjust the size and position of the design if you think it is necessary, place your fabric and stabilizer on the hoop and get to work.
After scrolling through several different embroidery design options, we finally settled on a one color cornflower design which was located in the heirloom embroidery collection.
The embroidery hoop snapped into place with ease and with a simple touch of the start/stop button, our flower began to come into view.
The bright LED light illumined the work space in such a way that we were able to observe every single stitch as it was formed, assuring that our cornflower was being formed with the expert precision we expected.
When it was done, the machine simply stopped and the LCD screen let us know that it was done by displaying a “Finished Sewing” message.
You simply cannot ask for an embroidery machine that is less complicated to operate. Our cornflower was perfectly executed and it took less than three minutes from start to finish.
No doubt, if we had opted to create one of the many designs that required at least one change of thread color, the process would have taken longer.
However, we expect that with a threading system as uncomplicated as this one and a maximum speed of up to 850 stitches per minute, the time it takes to complete any of the on-board designs would not exceed a few minutes.
An added benefit to having a Brother Innov-is 1250D is the fact that it is also a sewing machine.
Removing the embroidery arm is simple as pressing a lever on the undercarriage and sliding it off to reveal a functional free arm, which facilitates working on small tasks like cuffs, collars, cuffs and children’s clothes.
What are the fabrics on Brother Innov-is 1250D?
| Fabrics that work | Fabrics that don’t work |
|---|---|
| Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester Knits(Medium to heavyweight only) Upholstery Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers Leather/suede | Fur Reptile skin Canvas/Twill Plastic/Rubber |
What are the accessories on Brother Innov-is 1250D?
The list of accessories that are standard with the Brother Innov-is 1250 includes:
- 11 presser feet
- Buttonhole
- Blind stitch
- Zipper
- Button fitting
- Monogramming
- Overcasting
- Embroidery
- Adjustable Zipper foot
- Stitch Guide foot
- Non-stick foot
- Metal open toe foot
- Embroidery arm
- Knee lifter
- Seam ripper
- Scissors
- 3 screwdrivers
- 4 bobbins
- 3 spool caps
- Twin needle
- Extra needles
- Embroidery grid sheet
- USB cable
- Owner’s manual
- Lint brush
- Eyelet punch
- Soft cover
- 2 embroidery hoops
- 5″ x 7″
- 5″ x 12″
NOTE: Additional embroidery hoops are available as optional accessories.
How to maintain Brother Innov-is 1250D?
| Maintenance activities | After each use | Monthly | Once each year | As needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean race hook and feed dogs | Yes | No | No | No |
| Wipe head with soft dry cloth | No | No | No | Yes |
| Wipe head with soft damp cloth | No | No | No | Yes |
| Lubricate | No | No | No | No |
| Service by sewing machine repair professional | No | No | Yes | No |
Brother Innov-is 1250D Review
With the growing interest in machine embroidery, more and more people are shopping for and investing in sewing machines that are capable of doing more than just utility stitches and a few decorative options.
To conclude this review, the Brother Innov-is 1250D is an ideal machine for the sewer with strong sewing skills to venture into the world of machine embroidery. It’s easy to understand and use on-board tutorials and guides make this an ideal vehicle for learning the art of machine embroidery.
Once a design is selected, the LCD screen clearly displays exactly how many thread colors are needed and guides the user through the step by step process required to produce a perfect design each and every time.
The image of Mickey Mouse might tempt the uninitiated to allow a child to sew on the Brother Innov-is 1250D, but this machine is no toy. It is definitely not to be used by anyone who is not adept at clothing construction and the operation of a sewing machine.
We certainly do not recommend the Brother Innov-is 1250 for anyone who is at the beginner’s level, regardless of their age. The MSRP is $2699, definitely not within the price range of a sewing machine for any beginner.
Although the Brother Innov-is 250 is easy to operate, this machine is far too advanced for anyone who has not first learned the basics of sewing and sewing machine operation and is comfortable with sewing all types of clothing and accessories.
To do so would likely result in their either breaking the machine or getting so frustrated with its many features that they end up putting this excellent multi purpose sewing, embroidery and quilting machine in the back of a closet.
Brother Innov-is 1250D Review
Summary
The Brother Innov-is 1250D is a computerized sewing and embroidery machine that is designed for both beginners and experienced sewers. It has 171 built-in stitches, including basic utility stitches, decorative stitches, and quilting stitches. The machine also has a number of features that make it easy to use, such as a needle threader, a top-loading bobbin, a free arm, and a large LCD screen. The Brother Innov-is 1250D also has a built-in embroidery module, which allows you to embroider a variety of designs.
Overall, the Brother Innov-is 1250D is a high-end sewing and embroidery machine that is designed for both beginners and experienced sewers. It is a good option for those who are looking for a machine with a lot of features and that is easy to use.
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Happy Stitching.
looking for a combo embroidery/sewing with a 5×7 hoop that is simple task.. any suggestion???
Hi, Lynsie –
You may want to look at the Brother PE 770 and PE 750D as well as the Ellure and Ellure Plus from Baby Lock.
I have not yet had the pleasure of reviewing any of these four machines. Therefore, I cannot tell you which is simpler or more complicated to operated.
Why not ask for a demonstration at your local dealer? Sit down and get a feel for the machines. Then go with the one that you believe would be the best fit for you and your specific skill level and needs.
Happy Stitching.
Thanks so much.. I ended up buying my mom the 1250d embrodery/sewing machine.. abit pricing..hope Im not getting ripped off
Hi on the brother.com site three reviews complain of a fuzzy screen. How true are those coments? I am looking to buy a 1250.
I’ve had this machine for about a year now. It is a wonderful machine. I chose it primarily for the sewing function, but have been enjoying learning the embroidery side of things too. I LOVE having the Disney images! This one has a smallish selection, but a good variety, including the Pooh characters (who are my personal favorite).
Don’t forget to mention that on can upload images found online via a USB stick. Brother has a site, ibroidery.com , that has tons more Disney/Pixar/Warner images for individual purchase.
I love this machine as well as the others.
I bought it mostly for the embroidery since I have another machine strictly for sewing,
but I also sew on the Brother.
It takes a while to figure it out but stick with it!!!
Is it possible to do a satin stitch without the hoop?
Is the USB port a cable or stick flash drive and how does the screen look after downloading.I read another review that stated the screen was fuzy.
I purchased the Brother Innovis 1250 in August. I have used just the sewing machine and it works beautifully. I have attempted to monogram several items but I am having trouble with the stitches looking feathery. They look uneven and looks like they may skip a stitch every now and then. Not pleased with the way the embrodiery looks with this machine. Have tried several different threads and it did not change the look of the embrodiery.
Hi, Have you tried using a better stabilizer? I had a similar problem but once I changed my stabilizer it was resolved immediately.
I do not like the fact that you must use the same thread in both the upper and the bobbin. I enjoy machine applique, but the last time I used clear poly in the top, I had to pay $79.00 to get the machine fixed! Dealer told me NOT to use the clear threads.
Embroidery is perfect! General sewing is also excellent. I just don’t like an expensive machine that limits my creativity.
I’ve been embroidering with my Innovis 1250 for several years and have been using patterns downloaded from the Web. Here’s the problem: my machine won’t recognize a pattern I just bought. I’m wondering if the pattern has too many stitches: it has more than 45,000 of them. Is that too many for this machine? Does anyone know what the stitch limitation is for this machine? Thank you!
I am not sure the exact stitch limit, but that is possible. my 10 needle also will not do that many at once~
Hello, Linda –
Thank you for visiting Sewing Insight.
It is possible the design you downloaded has too many stitches for your machine. It is also possible that the design is not compatible with your machine. You did not say if you downloaded the design from the Brother site or some other source. If you have the most current software from Brother, you might want to check the software requirements posted by the source of the design. I know it’s very time consuming, but you might have to find a comparable design from another source.
Happy stitching.
Hi! I am new to sewing in general and just bought this machine. Is there a certain size thread I need for this machine?
I bought this machine several years ago for my daughter to use. I have it back and I am trying to sew not embroidery. The needle stays in one spot like it is embroidering and won’t feed material through. What am I not doing right.
do you have vedio of how to do lettering on the 1250D MODLE//