A Sewing Machine

[beetlequeendiva]

I already have a sewing machine but it's old and heavy and I haven't used it yet - i do alot of craft and want to do alot more quilting. Is it worth me getting a new one? And if so what's the best one to get? I don't know much about these things.

 

[hischildsindik]

I can't say I am an expert, because I am not. If you're going to just use it to piece the quilt together it should be fine, so long as it works well without hitches and glitches. If you're going to use the machine itself to quilt, then probably a new one with some of the newer features would be better. There are special presser foots and sometimes quilt attachments that can be used. I'd say unless you know you're going to do a lot of quilting, hold off for a bit until you know. I am a mood crafter... gotta be in the mood for this or that before I'll do it, so I know for me purchasing a new machine specifically for quilting, if I already had one, would be a dust collector for many months of the year. I'm just looking for a good used one to make the tops with for now. Hopefully someone else who does more quilting can give more tips and better idea for you.

There is a woman I work with who does a lot of quilt tops and wall hangings, she doesn't like to quilt big quilts on her machine because she finds them harder to handle and control.

 

[peaglej]

Hi Beetleqeen Diva...
I have sewed for many years, mostly sewing the craft projects. I loved sewing the country bunnies and bears! Anyway, when I began to learn how to sew quilts by machine (I had always hand sewn them) my machine was not adequate. If you want to do bulky items, like the flannel quilts or flannel rag quilts...you need a good solid sewing machine. By the way, the flannel rag quilts are fun to make.
So, there are many good sewing machine brands...but my very favorite is Viking. JoAnn Fabrics usually sell Vikings...or you can go to a quilt shop and they oftentimes specialize in Vikings or other brands, such as Bernina.
At any rate, Viking has a machine called Quilt Designer...it has quilting features on it and it will do your machine quilting. I got one and I love it.
The reason I love the Viking machine is because the basic construciton of the machine is very solid..not the plastic ones that they put out today...although, I did have a Brother sewing machine that I bought from WalMart and that was a nice little machine...but it doesn't do the heavier sewing and quilting very well. Also, the Viking does not have to be oiled, as the basic machines have to be oiled. You just take it in once a year for a tune up.
I love my sewing machine...it runs like a dream and has a lot of different quilting stitches on it...

I hope this helps you. I know everyone probably has their favorite brand...some like Pepsi...some like Coke ...haha...but I have always like the Viking sewing machines....

Happy sewing....

 

[Sharilyn]

There are a lot of improvements in sewing machines. I have owned three sewing machines through the years, and it seemed they kept getting better and better. My latest one is about 9 years old. I hope to begin quilting one of these days too, and think my machine will do a great job on the quilting. It has a lot of features. It was a wonderful machine in its day. I'm afraid to go shopping for a new one to see what they have, because they may just sell it to me! But the one I have works fine, sooo....I'd better not!

 

[schooner]

I still like my old trusty sewing machine. I can't imagine getting a new one....It's taken me this long to learn mine!