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Sewing Machine Guides
Looking for a sewing machine that can take care of repetitive tasks while giving you more control, creativity and space to sew? The Brother Innov-is 1850Q could be just what you’re looking for.
Designed for dressmaking, quilting, home furnishings and craft projects, this advanced computerised sewing machine combines excellent stitch quality with an impressive range of automatic features. It can raise the presser foot when you stop sewing, secure your seams and even cut the threads for you.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at the Brother Innov-is 1850Q, explain its most useful features and help you decide whether it is the right sewing machine for you.
The Brother Innov-is 1850Q includes:
It also includes familiar everyday features such as needle up/down, a sliding speed control, a start/stop button and an exceptionally reliable automatic needle threader.
Shop the Brother Inventio Innov-Is 1850Q online
The Brother Innov-is 1850Q is a versatile machine for confident beginners, intermediate sewers and experienced makers who want to enjoy more advanced features.
It is particularly well suited to:
Beginners can use the speed control and automatic settings to make sewing feel more manageable, while experienced sewers can take advantage of the machine’s precision adjustments, decorative stitch options and specialist sewing modes.
One of the biggest advantages of the Brother Innov-is 1850Q is the amount of automation it offers.
These features take care of the little repetitive jobs that interrupt your sewing, leaving you free to concentrate on guiding the fabric and enjoying the project.
Select the automatic pivot function and the machine will stop with the needle in the fabric while raising the presser foot for you.
This is particularly useful when:
The needle holds everything securely in place, while the raised presser foot allows you to move the fabric without reaching for a lever.
You can also adjust how high the foot rises, which is helpful when working with thicker fabrics and bulky layers.
The automatic reverse setting can secure your stitches at the beginning of each seam.
Depending on the selected stitch, the machine will either sew backwards or create several reinforcement stitches on the spot. When you reach the end of the seam, press the reverse or reinforcement button and the machine will secure the stitching again.
When sewing decorative patterns, the machine is clever enough to finish the complete motif before securing the stitches. You won’t be left with half a heart or part of a decorative shape at the end of your stitching.
The automatic thread-cutting function snips the upper and bobbin threads after the seam has been secured.
You can combine it with the automatic reverse function for a seamless workflow, or use the separate thread-cutter button whenever you choose.
It may sound like a small feature, but it soon becomes one you won’t want to sew without. There’s less reaching for scissors, fewer loose threads and less tidying up as you work.
The Brother Innov-is 1850Q features Brother’s ICAPS fabric sensor system, which detects changes in the thickness of your fabric as you sew.
The machine automatically adjusts the presser foot pressure to help produce smooth, even stitches when moving between different numbers of layers.
Think of hemming a pair of jeans. The machine may need to travel from a few layers of denim to a much thicker section where the side seam is folded into the hem. This sudden change can cause skipped stitches, uneven feeding or very short stitches on some machines.
The ICAPS system helps the Innov-is 1850Q glide over these bulky areas while maintaining consistent stitching.
It can also be useful for:
You can still adjust the presser foot pressure manually when required, giving you the best of both worlds.
Choosing the correct thread tension can sometimes feel a little daunting, especially when you’re trying a new fabric or technique.
The Brother Innov-is 1850Q automatically selects an appropriate tension setting for the stitch you have chosen. This gives you a reliable starting point and helps you achieve balanced stitches without unnecessary trial and error.
You can override the automatic setting when working with an unusual fabric, thread or technique. The display makes it easy to see when you have moved away from the machine’s recommended settings, and the reset button takes you straight back to them.
The Brother Innov-is 1850Q provides 210mm of space to the right of the needle.
A standard domestic sewing machine often offers around 170mm, so that extra room makes a noticeable difference when handling:
You also receive a large extension table with the machine. This supports the fabric around the needle and creates a much larger, flatter work surface.
The extension table is especially valuable when quilting because it helps prevent the weight of the fabric from pulling against your stitches.
With 232 built-in stitches, the Brother Innov-is 1850Q gives you plenty of choice for practical and decorative sewing.
The stitch chart is conveniently displayed inside the lid, allowing you to find each design at a glance.
The stitch selection includes:
The most frequently used utility stitches can be selected using the numbered buttons on the front of the machine. Other stitches are chosen by entering the corresponding number shown on the stitch chart.
The screen displays your chosen stitch, the recommended presser foot and the current width, length and tension settings.
Shop the Brother Inventio Innov-Is 1850Q online
The five built-in alphabets allow you to personalise sewing projects with names, words and short messages.
This could be useful for:
Letters are selected by entering their numbers, and the complete sequence appears on the display before you sew it.
You can also combine letters with decorative stitches and adjust the spacing between characters.
Once you have created a combination you love, it can be stored in one of the machine’s 15 memory pockets. This saves you from having to recreate frequently used names or patterns every time.
One of the Innov-is 1850Q’s more unusual features is its ability to sew sideways.
The machine can sew forwards, backwards, left and right without requiring you to turn the fabric. This is extremely helpful when you are working in a confined area where manoeuvring the project would be difficult.
Possible uses include:
By combining sideways movement with decorative stitches, you can also create stepped stitch patterns. These can be arranged in different directions to produce borders and customised decorative effects.
It is a wonderfully creative feature, and quite fun to watch in action too!
The sliding speed control usually limits how quickly the machine can sew, making it valuable for beginners and detailed work.
On the Brother Innov-is 1850Q, it has another clever use. Switch on the width-control setting and the slider can vary the width of a satin stitch while you are sewing.
Move the slider gradually and you can create flowing designs that expand and narrow as you stitch. It gives you a much more free and creative result than sewing a satin stitch at one fixed width.
The machine also offers a separate elongation feature. This allows you to lengthen selected satin stitches without changing their density.
There are five elongation settings, making it easy to produce consistent decorative patterns for borders and embellishments.
Many of the decorative stitches can be flipped using the mirror-image function.
For example, you could sew a row of hearts facing in one direction, mirror the design and then sew a matching row facing the other way.
It is a simple feature, but it gives you far more flexibility when creating:
Free-motion sewing is a brilliant way to create hand-guided quilting, embroidery and thread-drawing effects, but getting the presser foot height right can be tricky.
If the foot is too low, it can drag against the fabric. If it is too high, the fabric may bounce and the threads can be pulled upwards.
The Brother Innov-is 1850Q includes a dedicated free-motion mode. When selected, the machine detects the fabric thickness and positions the presser foot at an appropriate height.
You can then make further manual adjustments to suit your project.
A free-motion quilting foot is included with the machine, so you have everything you need to start experimenting.
The Innov-is 1850Q also comes with a walking foot as standard.
A walking foot helps feed the top and bottom layers of fabric through the machine together, preventing them from shifting at different rates.
Although it is often associated with quilting, it is equally useful for dressmaking. Consider using it when sewing:
Walking feet are often sold separately, so having one included adds real value to the machine.
The automatic needle threader on the Brother Innov-is 1850Q is particularly robust and reliable.
Once the machine is correctly threaded and the needle is in its highest position, lowering the threader lever passes the thread through the eye of the needle for you.
This is helpful for anyone who finds threading a needle fiddly, but it also saves time when you frequently change thread colours.
The sliding speed control lets you set the machine’s maximum sewing speed.
Even if you press the foot control fully, the machine will not exceed the limit you have selected. This is ideal when:
The machine can also sew without the foot control. Simply unplug it and use the start/stop button, with the speed slider controlling how quickly the machine stitches.
Shop the Brother Inventio Innov-Is 1850Q online
When using a straight stitch, the width controls move the needle to the left or right.
The large number of available needle positions helps you place your stitching exactly where you need it for:
This extra precision is particularly useful for dressmaking and detailed finishing.
The Brother Innov-is 1850Q includes ten styles of one-step buttonhole.
Once the button is placed into the buttonhole foot, the machine measures it and sews a correctly sized buttonhole automatically.
The selection of styles gives you options for different fabrics, garments and decorative effects.
As always, we recommend testing the complete buttonhole on a scrap of your project fabric first, including the same interfacing and number of layers.
There are several ways to raise and lower the presser foot:
The knee lift allows you to control the foot using your knee, leaving both hands free to guide the fabric. This can be particularly helpful for quilting, appliqué and detailed garment construction.
You can also adjust the raised height of the presser foot, making it easier to position thick fabric or multiple layers underneath.
The settings menu lets you tailor the machine to the way you sew.
Options include:
Twin-needle mode is particularly useful because it prevents you from selecting stitches that are too wide for the twin needle. This helps reduce the risk of the needle striking the presser foot.
The machine comes with a generous selection of accessories, including:
There is also a wide range of optional Brother presser feet and accessories available separately, including rolled-hem feet, binding attachments and other specialist tools.
The Brother Innov-is 1850Q is an excellent option for sewers who want a spacious, versatile machine with genuinely useful automation.
Its automatic presser foot lift, reinforcement stitches and thread cutting make everyday sewing feel wonderfully smooth. Meanwhile, its ICAPS fabric sensor, automatic tension and generous work area help you achieve consistent results across a wide variety of projects.
Add the included walking foot, extension table, knee lift and free-motion foot, and you have an extremely capable machine for dressmaking and quilting.
It may offer more features than a complete beginner initially needs, but its accessible controls mean you can start with the basics and explore its more creative functions as your confidence grows.
For an experienced sewer looking to upgrade, the Innov-is 1850Q offers the space, control and convenience that can make a noticeable difference to every project.
We use our sewing expertise to help customers find a machine that suits their projects, experience and budget. Should you need any advice before ordering, our friendly team is always happy to help by phone or email.
You’re also welcome to visit our East Midlands showroom for a personal demonstration and a closer look at the machine.
All our machines include the full manufacturer’s warranty and expert after-sales support, giving you plenty of reassurance before and after your purchase.