Hey everyone! Are you ready for some more sewing machine advice? It’s time to do a recap of my previous post, Let’s Talk: Sewing Machine Recommendations.
First of all, I appreciate the feedback from everyone who commented on the original discussion. It was really interesting to hear about your sewing machine experiences. Some of you had your own advice to offer and it was great food for thought!
Out of the 36 people who commented on the original post, 23 of you {admitted to} having more than one sewing machine (all the way up to 5 machines). Here’s the breakdown of current machines you own: 14 of you have one or more Berninas, 10 of you have at least one Singer (mostly “vintage”), 7 of you own a Pfaff, 5 Janome, 5 Brother, 4 Viking, 2 Juki, 2 Babylock, 1 Kenmore, 1 White and 1 Necchi. Four people commented about how much they love their mid-arm machine (which is a sit down machine for free motion quilting – between a longarm and a domestic sewing machine).
A common feature that many of you are looking for in a new sewing machine is a larger harp (throat) space for quilting. That seems to be one of the main reasons for buying an additional machine or upgrading to a new one. The other reason for upgrading is the need for a better machine with more features.
Many of you agree that it’s hard to fine ONE machine that does it all. It seems one machine is great for piecing and another one for quilting. And then you need another one for embroidery and one to take to classes! That’s four reasons to buy another machine. You have my permission to tell your husband that “Julie said so”! I’m just kidding (sort of). I hope you don’t think I’m in the sewing machine retail business. I’m not, and I think if you have one machine that you’re happy with, then that’s all you need. Someone (Melissa) said that the best machine is one that is loved. I love all of mine!
Personally, I found that the more I became familiar with quilting and the more techniques I tried (applique and FMQ for instance), the more features I wanted from my one sewing machine. Then I started acquiring new machines and learning what was good and bad about each one from those different stand points. I also have the advantage of playing with lots of different sewing machines from my students.
Sewing Machine Sampler made by Julie Cefalu
I’d like to share my own sewing machine advice with you. This is a list of things I would look for in a new sewing machine and it’s geared toward the quilter. The following list is divided into two sections: Necessary Features and Luxury Items. It wasn’t easy deciding what was a necessity and what was a luxury. Consider this line very gray!
Necessary Features
A reputable dealer with a good service record. Having access to classes, follow-up care, a good service technician and helpful employees is SO important!
Good stitch quality. It should sew a nice, balanced straight stitch smoothly and with good tension. The stitches should be even and the fabric should be flat (as opposed to “puckery”).
Needle up/down feature. This allows you to stop stitching with the needle down so that your work doesn’t shift or move on you.
Good even-feed system or capability. This means that you can purchase a good walking foot or that it has a good IDT (integrated dual feed system) in place. I could write an entire article on walking feet. They aren’t all created equal! I also think that the IDT is not enough. I prefer the ability to add a separate walking foot, but that’s just my preference based on my own experience so far. Bring a quilt sandwich and test out the system. Check for puckers and even stitches (front and back) when using the appropriate walking foot or even feed system.
Capability to disengage feed dogs for free motion quilting .
Automatic needle threader. These can be “finicky” and I often hear that they break or need to be adjusted. (Perhaps a measure of machine quality?) Make sure you learn how to use it properly. When your eyes get old, you’ll be thanking me.
Blanket stitch. If you ever decide to do applique, this stitch is a must.
Chain piecing ease. I’m saying this because I had a machine that just wouldn’t chain piece well. When I would feed the next piece into my machine I had to lift the presser foot and shove it through. It was a constant struggle.
Luxury Items
Knee lift or hands free presser foot. I LOVE my knee lift for being able to lift my presser foot and then use both of my hands to position the needle. I find this very helpful when doing applique, stitching in the ditch, top stitching and free motion quilting. I don’t like machines that automatically raise and lower the presser foot with NO manual presser foot lever. It’s very “fiddly” to get the needle where you want it (as Edith put it).
Automatic thread cutter. You just push a button and your thread tails are cut!
Large harp space. This is the space between the needle and the body of the machine. For quilting large quilts, it’s nice to have room to fit all of that bulk.
Presser feet and ease of use. How easy is it to change presser feet? I do this frequently and I appreciate a system that allows me to make a foot change quickly and easily. Also, most sewing machines are smarter than me, but I like knowing that it’s possible to figure things out on my own without getting another college degree.
Speed control. This adjusts the speed that the machine stitches and it’s really useful when you’re free motion quilting. More control, less speeding tickets.
Free arm. This creates a small peninsula around the stitch plate/bobbin case area for sewing sleeves, bags, or circular objects (yes, there are other things to sew besides quilts).
Mirror image button. This allows you to create a mirror image of any stitch which comes in handy for decorative stitches.
Stitch adjustment ability. What I mean by this is the number of adjustments you can make to the length and width of decorative stitches. Some machines have a governor on how much you can adjust the length and width of your stitch. For example, when I choose a blanket stitch, I like to be able to choose anything from a .1, 1.4 or 4.6 stitch length and/or width. Some machines only allow .5, 1.0, 1.5, etc. increments. This is directed to those of you who like to do applique or thread embellishing.
Presser foot pressure dial. This determines how much pressure the presser foot is putting on your project. When I’m doing FMQ or applique, I like to lessen the amount of pressure so that things flow easier underneath the foot. When I’m doing piecing, I like more pressure to keep more control under the foot.
This list is meant to be a starting point and not necessarily the “definitive” guide. I included ideas that were shared by comments from the original post as well. If you have anything else to add, please chime in.
Free Motion Quilting on my Bernina 440 QE
I have a few more thoughts about shopping for a new machine.
Do your research. Test out as many machines as you can.
Bring a quilt sandwich to test straight line quilting and free motion quilting.
How does the machine sound? How does it feel? It should feel comfortable and have a smooth sound when stitching.
How does it handle thick intersections such as what you might find at the center of a pinwheel unit or a thick bag project?
Make sure you’re comfortable with the dealership. Do they care about you or do they just care about making a sale? Many offer trade-ins and the ability to trade up at a future date and apply the full value of the original purchase price to a new machine.
Do they offer free classes on learning how to use your machine?
Know your particular needs. Do you need it to be portable? How heavy is it? Do you want to do custom embroidery? Do you make king size quilts? You see where I’m going with this.
In general, you get what you pay for. BUT, a high price tag could mean a quality machine with a strong motor and good stitch quality OR it could mean a machine with lots of features, bells and whistles that you may or may not use.
If you’re buying online or used, know what to look for and/or ask a knowledgeable friend for help.
Buy what you can afford. Save up your money if necessary. Don’t be afraid of spending good money on a good machine if it means better quality. However, if you’re just starting out quilting and you don’t know if you’ll like it or continue down that road (silly you), look for a dealership that will allow you full trade-up value. Or just borrow a friends until you’re crazy addicted like the rest of us!
Blanket stitching on my Bernina 440 QE
I hope that you found this information helpful. I know that sewing machine advice is everywhere. You can decide for yourself what rings true for you. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Someone will have the answer! Thanks for making this a constructive discussion!
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