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Baby Lock Ballad

Ranked #2 of 90 in Best Sewing Machines (2026). Here is every spec we scored, where it came from, and how it compares.

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#2

Baby Lock Ballad

Best for: 771 official built-in stitches, 14 official buttonhole styles, 11.25" official sewing space

6.8/10

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

Score breakdown

Official built-in stitches 30%
Official maximum sewing speed * 25%
Official buttonhole styles 20%
Official sewing space 25%

* Not published by the manufacturer; scored at the lowest published value in this category, so an unpublished figure never outranks a published one.

Official built-in stitches771 stitches
Official maximum sewing speedNot listed
Official buttonhole styles14 styles
Official sewing space11.25 in
Official sewing space (specification table)11.25"
Official machine weight33.7 lb
Official needle threaderNeverMiss Needle Threader
Official screen size7" diagonal
Official lightingLED, 10" illumination around the needle
Official included presser feet (count)13
Official fonts5
Official maximum stitch length5mm
PriceCheck price
Check price at Amazon
Specs source:

Baby Lock Ballad head-to-head

Head-to-headBaby Lock Ballad vs Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Sewing Machine with Extension TableHead-to-headBrother BQ2450 vs Baby Lock BalladHead-to-headBaby Lock Ballad vs Husqvarna Viking TOPAZ 55Q Sewing Machine

How it compares

Open the full comparison table

Brother BQ2450
6.9/10
#1 · 561 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 14 official buttonhole styles, 11.25" official sewing space
Husqvarna Viking TOPAZ 55Q Sewing Machine
6.2/10
#3 · 472 official built-in stitches, up to 1,000 official SPM, 15 official buttonhole styles, 10" official sewing space
Brother CX1
6.2/10
#4 · 760 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 16 official buttonhole styles
Brother BQ2500
5.9/10
#5 · 729 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 14 official buttonhole styles
Brother BQ3100
5.9/10
#6 · 729 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 14 official buttonhole styles
Singer C9920 Sewing Machine
5.4/10
#7 · 810 official built-in stitches, 13 official buttonhole styles, 6.6" official sewing space
Singer Quantum Stylist 9985 Sewing Machine
5.4/10
#8 · 960 official built-in stitches, 13 official buttonhole styles, 6.6" official sewing space
Pfaff performance icon Sewing Machine
5.3/10
#9 · 522 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 12.2" official sewing space
Brother BQ3050
5.2/10
#10 · 561 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 14 official buttonhole styles
Juki KIREI HZL-NX7
4.7/10
#11 · 351 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 20 official buttonhole styles
Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Sewing Machine with Extension Table
4.6/10
#12 · 600 official built-in stitches, 13 official buttonhole styles, 6.4" official sewing space
Baby Lock Allegro
4.4/10
#13 · 200 official built-in stitches, 11 official buttonhole styles, 12" official sewing space
Baby Lock Lyric
4.4/10
#14 · 250 official built-in stitches, 10 official buttonhole styles, 11.88" official sewing space
Juki HZL-DX7
4.4/10
#15 · 287 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 16 official buttonhole styles
Pfaff quilt expression 720 Sewing Machine
4.3/10
#16 · 428 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 9.84" official sewing space
Juki HZL-DX5
4.0/10
#17 · 185 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 16 official buttonhole styles
Brother BQ1350
3.9/10
#18 · 290 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 10 official buttonhole styles, 8.3" official sewing space
Juki HZL-F600
3.8/10
#19 · 225 official built-in stitches, 900 official SPM, 16 official buttonhole styles
Brother BQ950
3.7/10
#20 · 240 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 10 official buttonhole styles, 8.3" official sewing space
Baby Lock Soprano
3.6/10
#21 · 300 official built-in stitches, 10 official buttonhole styles, 8.3" official sewing space
Juki HZL-F400
3.5/10
#22 · 157 official built-in stitches, 900 official SPM, 16 official buttonhole styles
Pfaff expression 710 Purple Sewing Machine
3.5/10
#23 · 247 official built-in stitches, 1,050 official SPM, 9.8" official sewing space
Juki HZL-F300
3.3/10
#24 · 106 official built-in stitches, 900 official SPM, 16 official buttonhole styles
Brother SB4138
3.1/10
#25 · 138 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 10 official buttonhole styles, 7.4" official sewing space
Baby Lock Brilliant
3.1/10
#26 · 190 official built-in stitches, 10 official buttonhole styles, 8" official sewing space
Brother NX570Q
3.0/10
#27 · 129 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 10 official buttonhole styles, 7.4" official sewing space
Brother PS700
2.7/10
#28 · 180 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 10 official buttonhole styles
Juki HZL-HT740
2.7/10
#29 · 116 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 13 official buttonhole styles
Husqvarna Viking ONYX 30 Computerized Sewing Machine
2.6/10
#30 · up to 1,000 official SPM, 9 official buttonhole styles, 6.4" official sewing space
Brother CS7205
2.5/10
#31 · 205 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother XR3340
2.5/10
#32 · 195 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Baby Lock Presto II
2.4/10
#33 · 100 official built-in stitches, 7 official buttonhole styles, 8.3" official sewing space
Brother HC1850
2.4/10
#34 · 185 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Juki HZL-G120
2.4/10
#35 · 180 official built-in stitches, 900 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Juki HZL-G220
2.4/10
#36 · 180 official built-in stitches, 900 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Singer C5980Q Patchwork Plus Quilting Machine with Extension Table
2.4/10
#37 · 200 official built-in stitches, 8 official buttonhole styles, 6.4" official sewing space
Singer C7220 Sewing Machine with Extension Table
2.4/10
#38 · 200 official built-in stitches, 8 official buttonhole styles, 6.4" official sewing space
Singer C7250 Sewing Machine with Extension Table
2.4/10
#39 · 200 official built-in stitches, 8 official buttonhole styles, 6.4" official sewing space
Brother DZ3400
2.3/10
#40 · 160 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother SM8270
2.3/10
#41 · 160 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother XR3240
2.3/10
#42 · 140 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother CS7130
2.2/10
#43 · 130 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother DZ2400
2.2/10
#44 · 130 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother DZ2750
2.2/10
#45 · 130 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother DZ3000
2.2/10
#46 · 130 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother SQ9185
2.2/10
#47 · 130 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Juki HZL-80HP-A
2.2/10
#48 · 197 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Brother NS40E
2.1/10
#49 · 50 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 5 official buttonhole styles, 7.4" official sewing space
Brother SC9500
2.1/10
#50 · 90 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother SQ9285
2.1/10
#51 · 205 official built-in stitches, 710 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother XS2100
2.1/10
#52 · 100 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Pfaff quilt ambition 635 Sewing Machine
2.1/10
#53 · 201 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 7.9" official sewing space
Singer Elite CE677 Sewing Machine
2.1/10
#54 · 200 official built-in stitches, 6 official buttonhole styles, 6.3" official sewing space
Brother NS80E
2.0/10
#55 · 80 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother PS500
2.0/10
#56 · 100 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Brother SB1000T
2.0/10
#57 · 100 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Brother XS2080
2.0/10
#58 · 80 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Husqvarna Viking OPAL 690Q Sewing Machine
2.0/10
#59 · 7 official buttonhole styles, 8" official sewing space
Singer Heavy Duty 4511 Sewing Machine
1.9/10
#60 · 11 official built-in stitches, up to 1,000 official SPM, 4 official buttonhole styles, 6.25" official sewing space
Brother CS7000I
1.9/10
#61 · 70 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Brother SB700T
1.9/10
#62 · 70 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Brother SC707
1.9/10
#63 · 70 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Brother XS2070
1.9/10
#64 · 70 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Pfaff ambition 620 Sewing Machine
1.9/10
#65 · 136 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 7.9" official sewing space
Singer Smart Heavy Duty 9120 Sewing Machine
1.9/10
#66 · 200 official built-in stitches, up to 900 official SPM, 6.3" official sewing space
Baby Lock Jubilant
1.8/10
#67 · 80 official built-in stitches, 8 official buttonhole styles, 6" official sewing space
Brother CP100X
1.8/10
#68 · 100 official built-in stitches, 750 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Brother CS6000I
1.8/10
#69 · 60 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Pfaff ambition 610 Blue Sewing Machine
1.8/10
#70 · 110 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 7.9" official sewing space
Singer Brilliance 6180 Sewing Machine
1.8/10
#71 · 80 official built-in stitches, 6 official buttonhole styles, 6.8" official sewing space
Brother CP80X
1.7/10
#72 · 80 official built-in stitches, 750 official SPM, 8 official buttonhole styles
Singer Fashion Mate 5560 Sewing Machine
1.7/10
#73 · 100 official built-in stitches, 6 official buttonhole styles, 6.5" official sewing space
Brother CS7000X
1.6/10
#74 · 70 official built-in stitches, 750 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Singer Patchwork 7285Q Sewing & Quilting Machine
1.6/10
#75 · 100 official built-in stitches, 7 official buttonhole styles, 5.5" official sewing space
Brother CP2160L
1.5/10
#76 · 60 official built-in stitches, 750 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Brother CP60X
1.5/10
#77 · 60 official built-in stitches, 750 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Brother CS5055
1.5/10
#78 · 60 official built-in stitches, 750 official SPM, 7 official buttonhole styles
Brother SC6600
1.5/10
#79 · 60 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 5 official buttonhole styles
Brother ST150HDH
1.5/10
#80 · 50 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 5 official buttonhole styles
Juki HZL-70HW-A
1.5/10
#81 · 80 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 5 official buttonhole styles
Juki HZL-HT710
1.5/10
#82 · 60 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 6 official buttonhole styles
Pfaff select 4.2 Sewing Machine
1.5/10
#83 · 40 official built-in stitches, 900 official SPM, 6.8" official sewing space
Pfaff passport 3.0 Sewing Machine
1.1/10
#84 · 100 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 5.7" official sewing space
Pfaff passport 2.0 Sewing Machine
1.0/10
#85 · 70 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 5.71" official sewing space
Brother GX37
0.9/10
#86 · 37 official built-in stitches, 850 official SPM, 1 official buttonhole styles
Brother SB530T
0.8/10
#87 · 53 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 1 official buttonhole styles
Brother ST531HD
0.8/10
#88 · 53 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 1 official buttonhole styles
Brother XM3700
0.8/10
#89 · 37 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 1 official buttonhole styles
Brother XR3774
0.8/10
#90 · 37 official built-in stitches, 800 official SPM, 1 official buttonhole styles