285mm workspace
Nearly 11.25 inches between the needle and machine arm provides room for quilts, bags and large projects.
Premium sewing and quilting machine
Brother Innov-is BQ3100
Take on ambitious quilts, advanced garment sewing and creative decorative work with Brother’s flagship Quilt Club machine. The Innov-is BQ3100 combines a huge 285mm workspace, Compact MuVit Digital Dual Feed, laser-guided sewing, a V-Sonic Sensor Pen, Automatic Height Adjuster and an extensive professional quilting package.
285mm
needle-to-arm workspace
729 + 30
built-in and supplied stitches
7-inch
colour touchscreen
1,050 SPM
maximum sewing speed
Space, precision and fabric control in one advanced machine
The Brother BQ3100 is built for quilters and sewists who have outgrown ordinary domestic machines and want more room, better visibility and greater control.
Its large workspace accommodates quilt blocks, quilt sandwiches, bags, home décor and bulky garment sections without forcing everything through a narrow machine arm.
Compact MuVit Digital Dual Feed moves fabric from both above and below, while Automatic Height Adjuster responds to changing fabric thickness.
Precision features such as the Sew Straight Laser Vision Guide and V-Sonic Sensor Pen help position stitches before sewing begins.
A dedicated sewing and quilting machine
The Brother BQ3100 is not an embroidery machine. It does not use embroidery hoops or stitch imported embroidery files.
Its extensive stitch library, My Custom Stitch system and USB capability relate to feed-through sewing and decorative stitch patterns.
This allows the entire machine to remain focused on high-level sewing, patchwork and quilting performance.
Premium quilting package included
Wide table, MuVit accessories, thread stand and specialist feet
The BQ3100 package includes a substantial collection of standard and dual-feed accessories, allowing you to begin piecing, quilting, couching and free-motion work without immediately purchasing a long list of extras.
- Compact MuVit Digital Dual Feed Foot
- Open-Toe Foot for MuVit
- Stitch-in-the-Ditch Dual Feed Foot
- Dual Feed 1/4-inch Guide Foot
- Dual Feed Quilting Guide
- Couching Dual Feed Foot
- 1/4-inch Quilting Foot with Guide
- Free-Motion Quilting Foot
- Free-Motion Echo Quilting Foot
- Free-Motion Open-Toe Quilting Foot
- Straight Stitch Foot
- Straight Stitch Needle Plate
- Extra-large Wide Table
- Two-Spool Thread Stand
- V-Sonic Sensor Pen and holder
- Knee Lift
- My Custom Stitch CD
- Soft machine cover
Advanced quilting technology you will actually use
Compact MuVit Dual Feed
A motor-driven upper feed works with the lower feed dogs to control quilt layers and difficult fabrics.
Sew Straight Laser Guide
Project a visible guideline onto the fabric for accurate piecing, top stitching and decorative alignment.
V-Sonic Sensor Pen
Touch the fabric to set needle placement, stitch width and the endpoint of a sewing line.
Automatic Height Adjuster
Helps maintain consistent pressure and stitch quality as the fabric thickness changes.
Pivot function
Keep the needle lowered while the presser foot automatically lifts for precise turning.
7-inch colour touchscreen
Select, edit, combine and preview stitches through a large full-colour display.
Automatic thread management
Automatic threading, cutting, tension and upper and bobbin sensors simplify long sewing sessions.
Built around large projects
285mm of space to the right of the needle
The BQ3100 provides approximately 285mm of horizontal space and 127mm of height within the sewing area.
This significantly reduces the bunching and folding required when manoeuvring quilt sandwiches and large sections of fabric.
The full bed measures approximately 396 × 195mm, with the supplied wide table extending support well beyond the machine body.
- 285mm horizontal workspace
- 127mm workspace height
- 396 × 195mm machine-bed area
- Wide extension table included
- Suitable for queen-size quilting
- Free-arm conversion
Support the weight around the needle
Extra-large wide table included
The supplied table increases the flat support area surrounding the machine bed.
Supporting the quilt closer to the needle reduces the amount of fabric pulling downward or dragging against the edge of the sewing surface.
Adjustable legs allow the table height to be aligned with the machine bed.
- Included in the standard package
- Supports quilt weight
- Improves free-motion control
- Useful for bag panels
- Adjustable support legs
- Removable when not required
Motor-driven upper feeding
Compact MuVit Digital Dual Feed
The MuVit system uses a dedicated motor to feed material from above in coordination with the machine’s lower feed dogs.
This helps keep quilt layers, checks, stripes, velvet, knits and slippery materials moving together rather than creeping apart.
Unlike many basic walking feet, the MuVit system can sew both forward and backward and works with more than 100 compatible stitch designs.
A complete Dual Feed quilting system
Open-toe plate
Improves visibility around appliqué, decorative stitching and quilting lines.
Stitch-in-the-ditch plate
Guides stitching along existing seams while retaining dual-feed control.
1/4-inch guide plate
Supports controlled piecing with the digital dual-feed system engaged.
Quilting guide
Helps sew evenly spaced rows of straight-line quilting.
Couching foot
Guide yarn and decorative fibres onto the project during sewing.
Forward and reverse
Use compatible stitches in both directions with powered top feeding.
See the line before you sew it
Sew Straight Laser Vision Guide
Activate the laser to project a straight guideline onto the fabric in front of the presser foot.
The projected line can be repositioned to suit the seam allowance, stitch placement or decorative layout.
This provides a clear visual reference without requiring permanent markings across the entire project.
- Patchwork piecing
- Diagonal half-square triangles
- Long top-stitching lines
- Decorative stitch alignment
- Stitching through marked points
- Straight-line quilting
Touch the fabric and tell the machine where to sew
V-Sonic Sensor Pen for sewing
The supplied sensor pen communicates directly with the machine when touched against the fabric inside the active sensor area.
Use it to position the needle, set stitch width or establish the endpoint of a sewing line.
This is particularly useful when a seam or decorative stitch must finish at a precise point.
- Set the needle-drop position
- Set stitch width
- Choose a sewing endpoint
- Position decorative stitches
- Align stitching with project details
- Pen holder included
Touch
Position, adjust and sew
Use the V-Sonic Sensor Pen to communicate stitch placement directly through the fabric.
Intelligent pressure across changing layers
Automatic Height Adjuster
Brother’s Automatic Height Adjuster responds as the fabric thickness changes beneath the presser foot.
It helps maintain suitable pressure and consistent stitch formation as the machine crosses quilt seams, bulky joins and uneven layered surfaces.
Manual presser-foot pressure adjustment remains available when a particular fabric or technique requires a different setting.
- Responds to fabric thickness
- Helps maintain stitch length
- Useful over seam intersections
- Supports layered quilting
- Improves difficult-fabric handling
- Manual adjustment available
Turn without losing your position
Automatic pivot function
When pivot mode is active, the needle remains lowered in the fabric while the presser foot automatically lifts.
Rotate or reposition the project with both hands, then resume sewing and allow the foot to lower automatically.
Ideal for
- Appliqué
- Patchwork corners
- Top stitching
- Bag construction
- Quilting curves
- Chain piecing
- Decorative sewing
- Detailed garment work
Knee lift and automatic presser-foot control
Use the included knee lift to raise the presser foot without taking your hands away from the project.
This is particularly valuable while aligning patchwork intersections, controlling quilt layers or positioning appliqué pieces.
The machine can also raise and lower the presser foot electronically using the front-panel controls.
A clear creative control centre
7-inch full-colour touchscreen
The large 178mm display presents stitch choices, settings, sewing recommendations and editing controls in colour.
Up to approximately 260,000 colours provide detailed on-screen graphics and easy-to-read menus.
View built-in tutorials, combine decorative stitches and save personalised settings directly through the touch interface.
- 7-inch diagonal display
- Up to 260,000 colours
- Touch-based stitch selection
- On-screen stitch editing
- Built-in tutorials
- Machine-setting guidance
- USB mouse compatibility
- Custom stitch memory
7-inch
Full-colour LCD touchscreen
Select, combine, edit and preview sewing stitches through a large visual interface.
729
Stitches built into the machine
Plus 30 additional compatible decorative stitch designs supplied on the included CD.
An enormous feed-through stitch library
759 available utility and decorative stitches
The BQ3100 stores 729 stitches inside the machine and includes another 30 decorative designs on the supplied My Custom Stitch CD.
The collection covers construction, quilting, heirloom sewing, satin work, decorative patterns, lettering and multi-directional designs.
Additional compatible stitch data can be loaded using USB media.
- 729 built-in stitches
- 30 additional stitches on CD
- Utility construction stitches
- Built-in quilting stitches
- Decorative patterns
- Satin stitches
- Five sewing fonts
- Fourteen buttonhole styles
Five built-in sewing fonts
Add names, labels and decorative wording using characters sewn as the fabric feeds beneath the presser foot.
The font selection includes three alphabet styles, one Cyrillic font and one Japanese font.
These are sewing fonts rather than embroidery fonts. The BQ3100 does not use a hoop or automatically move the project to form embroidery lettering.
My Custom Stitch
Build an original feed-through stitch by placing individual stitch points onto an on-screen grid.
Existing compatible stitches can also be adjusted and combined to create personalised decorative patterns.
Save completed stitches in the machine’s memory or use compatible stitch data from the supplied CD and USB media.
- Create original stitch patterns
- Edit individual stitch points
- Modify compatible built-in stitches
- Save designs in machine memory
- Load compatible stitches by USB
- My Custom Stitch CD included
Sideways and multi-directional sewing
Supported straight and zigzag stitches can feed forwards, backwards and sideways.
Straight stitching can also move diagonally, allowing the machine to create larger decorative patterns and reach areas where rotating the project is difficult.
Decorative mending
Stitch around patches without continually rotating the garment.
Bag making
Reach structured corners and awkward project sections more easily.
Large projects
Add stitching where turning the full quilt or panel is inconvenient.
Wide designs
Create decorative patterns using movement beyond ordinary forward feeding.
Fourteen one-step automatic buttonholes
Place the button into the supplied buttonhole foot and allow the machine to determine the required buttonhole length.
The complete buttonhole is sewn automatically in one continuous operation for consistent sizing across garments and home décor projects.
- Fourteen buttonhole styles
- Automatic button measurement
- One-step sewing sequence
- Repeatable sizing
- Buttonhole foot included
- Suitable for garments, bags and furnishings
Guide the quilt by hand
Free-motion quilting and thread painting
Lower the feed dogs through the on-screen controls and move the quilt freely beneath the needle.
Three specialist feet are included for standard free-motion quilting, open-toe visibility and echo-quilting techniques.
The large workspace, bright lighting and wide table provide the support required for detailed free-motion work.
- On-screen feed-dog lowering
- Free-Motion Quilting Foot included
- Free-Motion Echo Foot included
- Free-Motion Open-Toe Foot included
- Adjustable machine speed
- Large supported sewing area
Straight Stitch Foot and Needle Plate included
Fit the straight-stitch plate for quilt piecing, fine fabrics and techniques that require a centre straight stitch.
The smaller needle opening supports the fabric close to the needle and can reduce the risk of fine material being pulled into the bobbin area.
A dedicated straight-stitch foot is also included for clear visibility and controlled feeding.
Automatic threading, tension, cutting and sensors
The automatic needle-threading system guides the upper thread through the needle eye using a direct machine control.
Electronic thread tension supplies a recommended starting setting for the selected stitch and technique.
Upper and bobbin thread sensors warn when the thread breaks, runs out or becomes low.
Press the automatic cutter and the machine trims both upper and bobbin threads.
- Automatic needle threading
- Automatic upper-thread tension
- Upper-thread sensor
- Bobbin-thread sensor
- Automatic upper-thread cutting
- Automatic bobbin-thread cutting
Quick-Set Bobbin and adjustable winding speed
Insert the bobbin from above, follow the marked thread route and begin sewing without manually drawing the bobbin thread through the needle plate.
The F.A.S.T bobbin-winding system includes adjustable speed control for preparing standard and specialist threads.
A dedicated bobbin case and covers are included for bobbin work and decorative cord-guiding techniques.
- Top-loading horizontal bobbin
- Quick-Set Bobbin
- Adjustable winding speed
- Low-bobbin sensor
- Bobbin-work case included
- Cord-guide cover included
Clear visibility across a wide area
Enhanced 254mm LED lighting
The lighting system spreads illumination across approximately 10 inches around the needle and sewing area.
Better visibility helps with dark fabrics, detailed quilting, precision piecing and long evening sewing sessions.
- Wide LED illumination
- Approximately 254mm lit area
- Clear needle visibility
- Useful for dark fabrics
- Supports precision piecing
- Low-heat LED technology
254mm
Enhanced illuminated sewing area
Bright, evenly distributed lighting across the needle, presser foot and quilting workspace.
Import stitches, connect a mouse and update the machine
The full USB port accepts compatible media for loading and saving decorative sewing stitch data.
A compatible USB mouse can be connected to navigate the touchscreen interface.
The machine may also be connected to a computer for supported software updates and upgrades.
The BQ3100 does not have built-in Wi-Fi and does not use Brother Design Database Transfer. USB connectivity does not turn it into an embroidery machine.
Fast when you need it, controlled when you do not
Up to 1,050 stitches per minute
Complete long construction seams, chain piecing and straight-line quilting efficiently.
Use the speed-control slider to reduce the maximum speed for curves, appliqué, free-motion quilting and detailed decorative work.
- Up to 1,050 stitches per minute
- Electronic speed-control slider
- Start and stop button
- Traditional foot-controller operation
- Needle up/down control
- Reinforcement stitch button
1,050
Maximum stitches per minute
Efficient performance for long seams, patchwork piecing and quilting.
Explore the Brother Innov-is BQ3100
A premium choice for serious quilters and advanced sewists
Patchwork piecing
Large quilt projects
Free-motion quilting
Straight-line quilting
Quilt appliqué
Garment construction
Tailoring
Bag making
Home décor
Decorative stitching
Stitch creation
Long sewing sessions
Important information before purchasing
The Brother Innov-is BQ3100 is a premium domestic sewing and quilting machine. It does not embroider and does not use embroidery hoops.
The machine has 729 stitches built into its internal library. Thirty additional compatible decorative stitch designs are supplied on CD, bringing the total available package to 759.
The BQ3100 does not have Wi-Fi. Additional compatible sewing stitches, saved settings and supported updates use USB media or a computer connection.
The 285mm measurement refers to the space between the needle and machine tower. The included wide table increases fabric support but does not increase the physical throat-space measurement.
Compact MuVit is a domestic motor-driven dual-feed system. It does not convert the machine into an industrial walking-foot or compound-feed machine.
The Sew Straight Laser Vision Guide is a visual alignment aid. It does not automatically steer the fabric.
The V-Sonic Pen works within the machine’s supported sensor area and is intended for compatible sewing functions.
Use the correct needle, thread, presser foot, stitch and stabilisation for every fabric and quilting technique.
What comes with the Brother Innov-is BQ3100?
Standard sewing and quilting feet
- Zigzag Foot
- Monogramming Foot
- Overcasting Foot
- Zipper Foot
- Buttonhole Foot
- Blind Stitch Foot
- Button Fitting Foot
- Straight Stitch Foot
- Free-Motion Quilting Foot
- Free-Motion Echo Quilting Foot
- Free-Motion Open-Toe Quilting Foot
- 1/4-inch Quilting Foot with Guide
Compact MuVit Dual Feed package
- Compact MuVit Digital Dual Feed Foot
- Open-Toe Foot for MuVit
- Stitch-in-the-Ditch Dual Feed Foot
- Dual Feed 1/4-inch Guide Foot
- Dual Feed Quilting Guide
- Couching Dual Feed Foot
- Yarn guide
- Yarn threader
Quilting workspace and controls
- Extra-large Wide Table
- Two-Spool Thread Stand
- Knee Lift
- V-Sonic Sensor Pen
- Sensor Pen Holder
- Straight Stitch Needle Plate
- Foot controller
- Touchscreen stylus
Bobbins, needles and specialist sewing
- Brother bobbins
- Bobbin clips
- Needle set
- Twin needle
- Bobbin case for bobbin work
- Cord-guide bobbin cover
- Marked bobbin cover
- Extra spool pin
- Spool caps and nets
- My Custom Stitch grid sheets
- My Custom Stitch CD
Tools and protection
- Seam ripper
- Cleaning brush
- Eyelet punch
- Large screwdriver
- L-shaped screwdriver
- Disc-shaped screwdriver
- Accessory bag
- Soft machine cover
- Operation manual
- Quick-reference guide
Brother Innov-is BQ3100 specifications
| Machine type | Premium computerised domestic sewing and quilting machine |
|---|---|
| Built-in sewing stitches | 729 |
| Additional supplied stitches | 30 compatible decorative stitches on the included CD |
| Total available stitch package | 759 |
| Sewing fonts | Five, including three alphabet, one Cyrillic and one Japanese font |
| Buttonhole styles | Fourteen automatic one-step styles |
| Maximum sewing speed | Up to 1,050 stitches per minute |
| Maximum stitch width | 7mm |
| Maximum stitch length | 5mm |
| Workspace | Approximately 285mm wide × 127mm high |
| Machine-bed area | Approximately 396mm wide × 195mm deep |
| Touchscreen | 7-inch full-colour LCD touch display |
| Display colours | Up to approximately 260,000 |
| On-screen help | Yes |
| On-screen stitch editing | Yes |
| Compact MuVit Digital Dual Feed | Included, compatible with more than 100 supported stitch designs |
| Sew Straight Laser Vision Guide | Yes |
| V-Sonic Sensor Pen | Included |
| Automatic Height Adjuster | Yes |
| Automatic presser-foot lift | Yes |
| Pivot function | Yes |
| Knee lift | Included |
| Presser-foot pressure adjustment | Yes |
| Presser-foot levelling | Yes |
| Thread tension | Automatic with adjustment available |
| Needle threader | Automatic threading system |
| Automatic thread cutter | Yes, cuts upper and bobbin threads |
| Upper-thread sensor | Yes |
| Bobbin-thread sensor | Yes |
| Thread-sensor control | Can be switched on or off through machine settings |
| Bobbin system | Top-loading horizontal Quick-Set Bobbin |
| Bobbin winding | F.A.S.T winding with adjustable speed |
| Feed system | Longer seven-point feed-dog system |
| Sideways sewing | Yes |
| Directional sewing | Forward, reverse, sideways and supported diagonal movement |
| Drop feed | Electronic on-screen control |
| Free-motion quilting | Yes, with multiple included free-motion feet |
| My Custom Stitch | Yes, create and save original feed-through sewing stitches |
| Back to Beginning key | Yes |
| Reinforcement stitch button | Yes |
| Start and stop button | Yes |
| Speed-control slider | Yes |
| Needle up/down | Yes |
| Twin-needle setting | Yes |
| Lighting | Enhanced LED lighting across approximately 254mm |
| USB media port | One full USB port |
| USB mouse compatibility | Yes, mouse available separately |
| Computer update capability | Yes, through supported USB connection |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Embroidery capability | No, this model is sewing and quilting only |
| Wide table | Included |
| Two-spool thread stand | Included |
| Machine cover | Soft cover included |
Popular compatible optional accessories
Quilting and free-motion accessories
- Free-Motion Guide Grip
- Ruler Foot
- Quilting rulers
- Additional 1/4-inch feet
- Additional stitch-in-the-ditch feet
- Adjustable Bias Binder Foot
- Circular Attachment Bundle
- Additional couching accessories
Machine control and workspace accessories
- Brother Multi-Function Foot Controller
- Additional Brother bobbins
- Additional spool stands
- Specialty spool caps
- Brother presser-foot accessory sets
Quilting supplies
- Schmetz quilting needles
- Schmetz Microtex needles
- Quilting and piecing thread
- Temporary basting spray
- Quilting rulers and templates
- Rotary cutters and mats
- Walking-foot quilting guides
- Free-motion quilting gloves
Brother Innov-is BQ3100 FAQ
Is the Brother BQ3100 an embroidery machine?
No. It is a premium sewing and quilting machine. It does not use embroidery hoops or import embroidery files.
How many stitches does the BQ3100 have?
It has 729 stitches built into the machine plus 30 additional compatible stitch designs supplied on CD, providing 759 available stitches in the complete package.
How large is the quilting workspace?
The space to the right of the needle is approximately 285mm wide and 127mm high.
Does it include the wide table?
Yes. An extra-large wide extension table is included in the standard package.
What is Compact MuVit Dual Feed?
It is a motor-driven upper-feed system that works with the lower feed dogs to move quilt layers and difficult fabrics more evenly.
Does the MuVit foot sew backwards?
Yes. It can sew forwards and backwards with supported stitch designs.
Does it include a walking foot?
It includes the more advanced Compact MuVit Digital Dual Feed system rather than a basic mechanical walking foot.
What does the laser guide do?
It projects a straight visual guideline onto the fabric to assist with piecing, top stitching and decorative alignment.
What does the V-Sonic Pen do?
It can be used within the supported sensor area to set needle placement, stitch width and the endpoint of a sewing line.
What is Automatic Height Adjuster?
It responds to changing fabric thickness and helps maintain suitable pressure and consistent stitch quality.
Does it have a pivot function?
Yes. The needle remains lowered while the presser foot rises automatically, allowing the fabric to be turned or repositioned.
Does it include a knee lift?
Yes. A knee lift is included for raising the presser foot while keeping both hands on the project.
Can it free-motion quilt?
Yes. The feed dogs can be lowered electronically and three specialist free-motion feet are included.
Does it include a straight-stitch plate?
Yes. A straight-stitch needle plate and matching straight-stitch foot are included.
Can I create my own stitches?
Yes. My Custom Stitch allows original feed-through sewing stitches to be created, edited and saved.
Can additional stitches be imported?
Yes. Compatible decorative stitch data can be loaded using supported USB media.
Does the BQ3100 have Wi-Fi?
No. It uses USB media and a supported computer connection for stitch data, software updates and upgrades.
Can a USB mouse be connected?
Yes. A compatible USB mouse can be used to navigate the machine screen. The mouse is not included.
How fast does it sew?
Maximum sewing speed is up to 1,050 stitches per minute.
Can it sew sideways?
Yes. Supported straight and zigzag stitches can feed sideways, and supported straight stitches can also move diagonally.
Can it sew stretch fabrics?
Yes. It includes stretch stitches, pressure adjustment and fabric-control technology. Use the correct stretch or ballpoint needle.
Can it sew denim?
It can sew normal garment-weight denim with the correct jeans needle, thread and settings. It is not an industrial heavy-material machine.
Is the BQ3100 suitable for beginners?
An ambitious beginner can learn on it, but it is primarily designed for serious quilters and experienced sewists who will benefit from its advanced functions.
Product information, brochure and machine support
Brother New Zealand
View the current regional product description, specifications and compatible accessories.
Official BQ3100 Brochure
Review the complete quilting features, measurements and included accessory package.
Manuals and Support
Access operation manuals, software updates, FAQs and compatible USB-media information.
Buy from New Zealand Brother quilting specialists
Expert machine advice, genuine warranty assistance and in-house servicing
Direct Sewing has supplied sewing, quilting, embroidery, overlocking and industrial equipment throughout New Zealand since 2001.
Our experienced team can demonstrate Compact MuVit Dual Feed, Automatic Height Adjuster, the laser guide, V-Sonic Sensor Pen, free-motion quilting, stitch creation and specialist Brother quilting accessories.
Your Brother Innov-is BQ3100 is supported by genuine New Zealand warranty assistance and our own in-house technical workshop. Servicing and repairs are completed by experienced sewing-machine technicians with decades of industry knowledge.
For quiltmakers wanting a large workspace, premium fabric control, laser-guided precision and a complete professional quilting package without moving to a straight-stitch-only machine, the Brother Innov-is BQ3100 is an exceptional choice.