Thread: Looking for a multi-purpose machine that's great for applique

Another Husqvarna Viking fan...I have a older Lily 545 which has abt 25 decorative stitches and alphabet...But my best friend is my SE combo embroidery and sewing...

I'm another Viking fan, with my Designer SE. I haven't used the embroidery module all that much, but there are plans for it in the future. When I have used it--it did a beautiful job. I also love using it for applique--the satin stitch and blanket stitches are perfect!
I also had a Pfaff in the past and loved it, but it was an older machine that wouldn't do everything I wanted. My youngest daughter now owns that one--and it's just waiting for her to get the quilting bug!

Originally Posted by thepolyparrot

If you have an early Touch & Sew, you probably have everything you need for applique right there in that machine except for maybe the cam that makes the blind hem stitch and an applique foot. The earlier T&S's were great machines. :)

My little Brother CS6000 is probably like yours - it has all kinds of decorative stitches and stitches that would be useful for machine applique and I think it came with the applique foot, too.

The Brother *may* handle the invisible nylon thread a little better than the T&S, but maybe not. My T&S's do just fine with any kind of thread I give them, but every machine is a little bit different.

You can find cording, piping, couching & overedge feet for either of your machines.

I just did my first Baltimore Album style block - and I mean "just" - I washed it and pressed it only a couple of hours ago. :) I'm amazed that I really did it - I never dreamed that I could do something this precise, but aside from the rather tedious preparation, it was actually easy.

Mine will be all hand work, but the samples they had up in the store used a variety of methods - starched & turn under, fused and turned under, fused and raw-edge, fused and zig-zagged - and they were all beautiful! :)

Good luck and have a good time with it.

Congratulations on the completion of your first BB block! Envy you that. T&Ss are wonderful, aren't they?! But, I am really in mind of something with ALL the bells and whistles and my T&S doesn't meet those expectations.

Will keep looking and shopping around. Appreciate your time and advice.

You said money is not object....Designer Diamond...can't go wrong. If there is a power outage while embroidering it will save your design and you don't loose a thing. :-D
Voice of experience...yes...happened to me this last weekend. :-D

Originally Posted by sueisallaboutquilts

If I were in your position I would go with a Bernina. They are fabulous machines!! :D

I would love to get one but suffer from sticker price shock....Any advice on my best resources? eBay, but are there any other options? Bernina doesn't make it easy to identify a good price, much less a bargain. LOL...

Thanks for the encouragement.

Thanks to all of you for your recommendations and encouragement....nice to know there's a wide range of machines out there to love. Will post back if and when I get a new machine--after 47 years with my T&S, guess I shouldn't rush things.

Thanks again!