Choices…a coin with two sides. The Up Side where the opportunity to make a choice is a good thing. It allows us to be in control – allows us to pick what we want, not what another deems to be the best choice for us.

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The other side of the coin or, the Downside, where often there are too many options to choose from which strips the joy of being able to make that choice.  When too many choices are available, it is fear that sets in.  The last thing we want to do is make the wrong choice – we want to avoid regret at all costs!

And, for some reason, this is what happens whenever a quilter/sewest is faced with the need to purchase new or upgrade to a new machine.  The fear of making the wrong choice stifles our pursuit of happiness.

Before a major purchase, in particular a new sewing machine is made, there seems to exist an undercurrent fear of regret collectively shared by those of us in the market for a new machine.

It’s something I have yet to explain. It took me only 30 minutes into a home showing to decide to make an offer to purchase an item easily 200X the purchase price of most any sewing machine I have seriously considered! Yet here I am, 2 years later and STILL in search of “THE” machine!

However, these past couple of years have allowed me time to develop a more focused sense of direction and more a specific answer to the question, “What do I want this new machine to do?”.

If you too are at this point in your search for the machine that is right for you and want to make that purchase with “No Regrets” then you have arrived at the right place!

“Must-Haves” vs “Considerations”

I previously published a post listing the Top 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Sewing Machine. True, that information remains valid however, it doesn’t really get into nitty gritty of what decisions need to be made before making such an important purchase. As the title implies, it is a list of things to “consider” and was based primarily on what I had read and not enough on experience.

Here, my goal is to do much more than just offer “considerations” – the goal is to give you a definitive list of “Must-Haves” if you want to purchase a machine with NO REGRETS.

For those of you who follow my blog, you may remember a review I posted a few months back on what I considered to be my “Dream Machine“. Initially, my research was in response to a concern regarding my current machine (a Janome DC ) and its growing list of annoying noises and quirky habits – tell-tale signs that retirement, or at the very least, an extended vacation on a warm, sunny beach with a cold beverage in one hand a book in the other was looming on the horizon.

And if retirement or an extended vacation was the case and I woke up one morning to find a note on the refrigerator that my Janome had indeed packed its bags and headed for the beach I would then be forced to answer a second question, “If I were to buy a new machine, which one would I buy?”

Taking a Test Drive

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival (KCRQF) in Overland Park, Kansas. In addition to “oohing” and “ahhhing” hundreds of quilts on display and visiting with vendors that allow me to spend oodles of money on must-have fabrics, patterns and anything else my mind deems necessary to joyfully pursue my quilting hobby, this festival also gave me an opportunity to try out a few high end sewing machines.

My first encounter with a much coveted machine was during a class where each of us were set up with a Janome Memory Craft QCP.

This is the exact machine I used:

A Little Housekeeping

Before I go any further I want to clarify that this article is not an endorsement of this or any Janome product. In my limited experience I have had only positive experiences with Janome machines but there are many other makes and models with their own brand of greatness.

I’m choosing this particular Janome machine because it is from using this machine for several hours that I was able to determine exactly which “bells and whistles” I want/need and those that I don’t. I have spent more time using this machine than any other I’ve “test-driven” and feel I can give a more authentic description of each of my must-have items using just one machine.

Spending a good 6 hours with this machine on day one and another 3 hours on day 2 (in addition to the “test drives” on other brands on the vendor floor) I have to say I am so grateful that I did not give in to impulse and purchase a new machine before now.

Do’s and Don’ts of Researching a Sewing Machine

Read

Relying on written product reviews simply cannot compare to a hands-on test-drive. So many of the reviews I’ve read provide information is that is too general. Once you read three or four of these you begin to see a pattern of repetitious and generic content. While these “reviews” serve a purpose, the absence of specific experiential details is a clue the review was not submitted by an actual user. That’s not what I need to make this type of decision. Sure, I will continue to read reviews but only as spring board to propel me to my next level of research – the “test drive”.

Test Drive

DO visit a local deal/retail business and try out as many machines as you fell necessary. It is often through this process that you learn about options you never knew existed. And of those options you read about and thought, “yes, that’s what I want” you may also learn that option is more hype than function.

As much as I love learning a new technique and networking with others who share my interests, the main reason I attended the festival and enrolled in a couple of classes was to have the experience of trying out a new sewing machine.

While the Janome Memory Craft QCP may not be “the” machine for me however, using it for several hours has taught me what I do want and need in my next sewing machine. And, as my search continues, I will be asking about the following items listed below and the moment I encounter a “no”, that will be my signal to move on.

Good Stuff

So here we are – the “good stuff” – the top five items, I have so far, identified as items my next sewing machine must have:

1)  Box Design Feed Dog – this could easily be the ONLY item on my list. Other manufactures have a similar design, the Janome system is called the “Acu-Feed Flex”. Every other bell and whistle can go straight to the recycle bin but this Acu-Feed Flex system is a must! When it comes to piecing and quilting I cannot over – emphasize importance of an accurate fabric feed system.

2) Automatic Thread Cutter – At the push of a button thread is cut at the end of a stitch which means less thread waste and no more long thread tails to trim later.

3) Auto Presser Foot Lift – Can be set to automatically raise when pressure is removed from the foot pedal or after cutting the thread. Doing this when the needle is down is perfect for sewing corners or curves.

4) Quarter Inch Presser Foot without Guide – FINALLY – a presser foot designed to accurately place a seam exactly 1/4″ from the edge. The eliminates the use of the inaccurate ‘1/4″ presser foot with seam guide’ that DOES NOT measure 1/4″.

5) 11″ Sewing Bed. A wonderful thing if you do your own quilting but do not have or use a long arm quilting machine. An 11″ sewing bed (or throat) is considered a mid-arm and in my opinion, the optimal size for quilting on a domestic machine. Many manufacturers boast about their “large” work space which is actually in the 8.5″ – 9″ range. This will do and if you fall in love with a machine that has a 9″ sewing bed that’s really not too much of a compromise. (I did a test drive on Juki with a 9″ sewing bed and I found it to be more than adequate). However, if you have the opportunity to choose a machine with an 11″ sewing bed by all means do!  I’ve yet to hear anyone complain of having too much sewing space!

Final Thoughts

While at the KCRQF I also had a chance to try out a Bernina, Husquavarna-Viking and Juki each an outstanding machine.  Interestingly, each of the five items listed above are things my current machine does not have so, in reality, most any other sewing machine would be a good choice!

I still have some additional test-driving to do but I feel so much more informed and more confident my decision will be based on function vs. name and appearance – a purchase made with no regrets!

I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comment section below. Tell us what sewing machine you use and how you made that choice. Were there ever any regrets?

Quilting Sewing Machines: Which One Is Best For You & Your Budget?

by Suzy Williams

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Matress Quilting Machine.

When researching sewing machines, there are a lot of factors to consider. Since my specialty is quilting, I’ll give you the deets on what I’ve found to be the best quilting sewing machines.

It’s time. You’ve sewn a couple quilts, become totally addicted (I mean, it’s hard not to), and now realize the old hand-me-down Singer just isn’t cutting it. The tension keeps getting off, the light doesn’t work, and every so often, the bobbin comes unthreaded leaving you oblivious and happily humming along until you pick up your chain piecing only to have it all fall apart.

AHHH! The frustration is there, but what about the money? Quilting ain't cheap - especially if you have a tendency to hoard fabric...which inevitably becomes second nature to all quilters. Below is a list of great quilting sewing machines for every type of budget.

Before jumping in, I do have one stand-alone piece of advice: test drive. Go to a few different dealers and jump onto a few different machines. Each brand has its own quirks and before assuming that “I’m get’n a Singer cause I’ve always had a Singer.” Each machine will have a different feel, a different sound, even a different stitch. This machine is going to become an extension of you, so make sure that it FEELS right.

I would also remind you that a lot has changed in the sewing machine world over the past 5-10 years. And since you will be servicing your machine every couple years like a good little quilter, you want to be fairly close to your sewing machine dealer.

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ahum. Now to the list. (And note, that prices may vary based on your dealer and as new machines are released)

$$

1. Singer Q, $650: This is the least expensive machine on this list, but don’t let that deter you from reading more about it. The extra large sewing space and extension table measures 22” x 14”. Few other more expensive machines can compare to that! A few more features include: 215 built-in stitches, knee lifter (that means that you can lift your foot with your knee, rather than reaching around the side of your machine) and an automatic needle threader.

2. Husqvarna Viking Opal 650, $700: This computerized sewing machine has all of the bells and whistles a quilter needs, without a ton of extra features to drive up the price. The generous 8” sewing surface and long arm makes it a breeze for machine quilting larger quilts. This machine also won the “Best Buy” award by Consumers Digest.

3. Brother PC660LA Laura Ashley Sewing Machine, $700: This machine is making the list for a few key reasons - you can buy it at Joann Fabrics (which means no matter where you live, you’re never very far from a Joann Fabrics), it comes with a wide table and extra quilting accessories, 138 different stitches, free-motion stitching and an easy-to-view back-lit LCD screen display.

4. Pfaff Passport 2.0, $700: Don’t let the small size of this machine fool you - it’s got a lot of features. With 70 different built-in stitches, an automatic needle threader and an option for free motion quilting, this is a great machine for a newbie.

5. Juki HZL-F400, $900: For the price of this machine, it really does have it all! It has a built-in knee lifting lever, free-motion sewing AND an automatic thread cutter. Another cool feature about Juki is that the tension system handles invisible thread so well, you're hand-look quilt stitches look perfect every time.

$$​$

1. Janome QDC, $1,000: This is a full-featured machine made with a quilter’s needs in mind - 60 built-in stitches, a one handed needle threader and needle up/down. Weighing in at only 12lb., this pint-sized machine is a bona fide quilting Mighty Mouse!
2. Juki HZL-F600, $1,200: This machine has a large LCD display with easy pattern selection. With a wide 8” sewing surface and 255 different stitches, you’ll easily be able to crank out quilts at an alarming rate. Some other features include an automatic needle threader, an extra high foot lift and a built-in knee lift. This is a sturdy machine that gets great reviews from its owners.
3. Pfaff Quilt Ambition 2.0, $1,400: This machine’s high resolution touch screen and large 8” sewing surface can really get you excited to quilt the night away. You also get features like: 201 built-in stitches, automatic thread tie-off, free-motion sewing and a bobbin sensor (that means NO MORE oblivious sewing of non-existent stitches!).
4. Janome Skyline S5, $1,500: This computerized machine has top of the line features at a mid-level price. It has 170 built-in stitches, an advanced start/stop button AND an automatic thread cutter (one of the best features a quilter can ask for).
5. BERNINA 330, $1,500: If you talk to any quilter off the street, they will usually have a strong opinion about which brand of sewing machine is best, BUT, be warned, that if you buy into the BERNINA family, you are buying into it for life. My BERNINA friends won’t even consider a different brand. Would I use the word cult? maybe ???? OK, but now to the features: a color LCD touch screen, 97 different stitches, a built-in needle threader, the ability to wind a bobbin while sewing (pretty cool) and a lifelong bond with every other BERNINA owner.

$$​$$

1. Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.2, $2,600: Aside from the beautiful design of this machine, it's also the cream of the crop when it comes to features. Basically, dream up any feature you would want, and YES, this machine has that. Some of them are: an extra large sewing surface, automatic thread cutter, 47 different quilt stitches with over 200 other decorative stitches, electronic knee-lift and a PFAFF exclusive - Integrated Dual Feed (absolutely even fabric feed from both the top and the bottom).
2. Brother Laura Ashley Innov-is NX-, $2,800: In addition to winning the “Best Buy” Consumers Digest award, this machine has 1,000 spm (stitches per minute) forward, reverse and side to side. Some other features include a built-in needle threader, automatic thread cutter, 460 different stitches and a wide 8.25” sewing surface to the right of the needle.
3. Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 960Q, $2,800: This machine is pretty much the FUBU for quilters. On top of the color touchscreen, free-motion sewing can be done with any stitch! There are over 300 stitches, side-motion sewing, an automatic thread cutter, built-in needle threader and the Exclusive Sensor System automatically and continuously senses any thickness of fabric for perfect fabric feed.
4. Janome Horizon Memory Craft QCP, $3,200: If you are a serious enough quilter, and want a strong, sturdy and long-necked machine, I encourage you to look into some of the older used models too. Dealers of all brands usually have some refurbished machines you can test drive. Now for the bells and whistles, and ooohhh are there a lot: a high resolution LCD touchscreen, 270 different stitches, a locking stitch button, automatic thread cutter, 1,000 spm sewing speed and an extra long 11” sewing surface.
5. BERNINA 770 Quilters Edition, $6,000: This sewing MONSTER has all of bells and whistles your quilty brain can imagine, so I’m just going to skip over that and get to the really exciting part. If you are a dedicated free-motion quilter, this is the machine for you. A special stitch-regulating foot provides high-speed free-motion stitching assistance with both straight and zigzag sewing speeds. So say goodby to janky stitches and crazy tension problems!

I hope this list helps in your search for the perfect sewing machine. If you have any questions OR reviews on any of the machines mentioned, feel free to leave a comment or me.

If you have really specific questions, please reach out to your local sewing machine dealers. Just remember that they want to sell you THEIR machines, so call a couple different peeps before settling in on one brand. Quilting sewing machines are not a one size fits all type of thing. If you sit down at a $700 machine and feel good, that’s great! And if you sit down at the Bernina 710 and realize that it’s the love of your life, well, start saving your pennies! ????

For more information, please visit High Efficiency Quilting Machine.