Brother BQ2450 vs Baby Lock Ballad
Two of the sewing machines in our best sewing machines comparison, lined up spec by spec. Every figure comes from the manufacturer pages linked below, and the scores use the same published formula as the full ranking.
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Best for: 561 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 14 official buttonhole styles, 11.25" official sewing space
Check price at AmazonBest for: 771 official built-in stitches, 14 official buttonhole styles, 11.25" official sewing space
Check price at AmazonSpec-by-spec comparison
Green marks the better published figure. "Not listed" means the manufacturer doesn't publish it.
| Spec | Brother BQ2450 | Baby Lock Ballad | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official built-in stitchesThe official built-in sewing stitch count published on the maker's specification table, not a retailer listing. | 561 stitches | 771 stitches | 30% |
| Official maximum sewing speedThe official maximum sewing speed in stitches per minute. If the maker writes “up to,” we still record that official maximum and note the wording; it is not a measured rate. | 1050 SPM | Not listed | 25% |
| Official buttonhole stylesHow many official buttonhole styles the specification table lists. | 14 styles | 14 styles | 20% |
| Official sewing spaceOfficial sewing space to the right of the needle, in inches. When the official table lists two work-space dimensions, we score the larger one (throat width) and note both figures. Imprecise official wording such as 6"+ is shown as written and is not scored as a precise figure. | 11.25 in | 11.25 in | 25% |
| Official sewing space (specification table) | 5.0" x 11.25" | 11.25" | info |
| Official machine weight | 56.659 lb | 33.7 lb | info |
| Official needle threader | Automatic | NeverMiss Needle Threader | info |
| Official thread cutter | Yes | Not listed | info |
| Official unit dimensions | 11.18" x 22.48" x 13.07" | Not listed | info |
| Official display | LCD | Not listed | info |
| Official lighting | LED | LED, 10" illumination around the needle | info |
| Official included presser feet (count) | 15 | 13 | info |
| Official included accessory feet | Buttonhole Foot , MuVit Digital Dual Feed Foot , Straight Stitch Foot , Free-Motion Echo Quilting Foot , Free-Motion Open Toe Quilting Foot , 1/4" Quilting Foot with Guide , 1/4" Foot , Button Fitting Foot , Zipper Foot , Overcasting Foot , Blindstich Foot , Monogramming Foot … | Not listed | info |
| Official sewing lettering fonts | 5 | Not listed | info |
| Official drop feed | Manual | Not listed | info |
| Official warranty wording | 2/6/25 Year Premium Limited Warranty | Not listed | info |
| Source note | Official work-space field lists 5.0" x 11.25"; we score the larger official dimension as sewing space to the right of the needle. | Not listed | info |
| Official screen size | Not listed | 7" diagonal | info |
| Official fonts | Not listed | 5 | info |
| Official maximum stitch length | Not listed | 5mm | info |
| StitchPick score | 6.9/10 | 6.8/10 | 100% |
Where each one comes out ahead
Brother BQ2450
No scored spec where it is strictly ahead; its case rests on the strengths below.
What we like
- Official table lists 561 built-in stitches
- Official table lists a maximum sewing speed of 1,050 SPM
- Official table lists 14 buttonhole styles
- Official table lists 11.25" of sewing space to the right of the needle
Watch out for
Baby Lock Ballad
Better published figure on: Official built-in stitches.
What we like
- Official table lists 771 built-in stitches
- Official table lists 14 buttonhole styles
- Official table lists 11.25" of sewing space to the right of the needle
Watch out for
- Official table we used does not list a maximum sewing speed
Verdict
On published specs, the Brother BQ2450 scores higher (6.9 vs 6.8). Specs don't capture sound character or feel, so weigh the pros and cons above too.
- Choose the Brother BQ2450 if this sounds like you: 561 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 14 official buttonhole styles, 11.25" official sewing space.
- Choose the Baby Lock Ballad if this sounds like you: 771 official built-in stitches, 14 official buttonhole styles, 11.25" official sewing space.
- Brother BQ2450: Brother official specifications
- Baby Lock Ballad: Baby Lock official specifications