How to chose a lightweight quilting sewing machine for my wife???
 

Hello- I am a quilters husband and need help to chose a lightweight sewing machine for my wife of 48 years who is having trouble lifting and transporting her Janome 3000 to quilt meetings/classes etc. I would really appreciate some expert opinions on what to purchase for her Birthday in April...so far I have researched the Janome mechanical jem 660 and the computerized Janome dc1050....I would like to get her a light weight machine that works well on quilts...then maybe she can better convert her substancial stash and UFO's to quilts ha ha ...any and all comments would be appreciated....Dave Murray, Cape Cod MA

All quilters seem to love featherweights, the vintage Singer model 221 machines. They are lightweight, reliable, sew a wonderful stitch, and cute as a button. They're usually available on craigslist and eBay. However featherweights sew only a straight stitch. That's all you need in *most* classes.

I have friends who have the Janome Gem just for the purpose of traveling to quilt meetings/classes and they have been very happy with it. I've thought of getting one myself when my machine becomes too much to handle.

I like my Janome gem. It helps a lot to get a rolling-foot case to go with it,one with room to put her stuff,so she won't have to take too many trips. I have found that folks are quite helpful,and if I ask for help,someone will lift the machine off and onto sewing tables. You get the husband of the year award!

Janome Jem gets my vote also. I have one to take to my daughters when I cat sit. And it is cheaper than a Featherweight. I carry it up 3 flights of stairs with no problem.

I have both a Featherweight and a Janome Gem. The Gem is my traveling machine as I would hate to have anything happen to the Featherweight. The Gem has been been inspected by TSA, dropped from an overhead bin, left in a rental car trunk and it's still working like a champ. A rolling case is an absolute must have and JoAnn's will have a couple of choices. I got tired of gathering up my tools every time and now have a separate set of everything which is always kept in the rolling case. I use a cosmetic bag to hold the travel set of pins, bobbins, rotary cutter, scissors, snips, seam gauge, thread, etc.
You are a real sweetheart to get her a travel machine. Wish her a happy birthday from all of us on the Quilting Board.

Any of the low end brothers do a good job. I have the brother SQ-9050 for my classes and travel that I love. The brother cs6000i is also a very popular model. I think you can get both at walmart. I got mine at walmart a year and half ago and it has been the best little machine I have had, plus it comes with all the quilting accessories you need. I think the cs6000i doesn't come with all the accesories that the SQ-9050 does. You get your walking foot, your FMQ foot, and your 1/4 inch foot with the SQ-9050. Also the SQ-9050 just makes the most beautiful buttonholes. I enjoy mine and highly recommend it

I think you need to be nominated for the BEST HUSBAND OF THE YEAR!!

How sweet that your getting advise on a machine.

Has she ever mentioned that there might be one whe would like? Has she test driven any?

I know that I look a lot but have never mentioned to my DH that I would want another machine. But like most ladies - it is fun to look and dream.

I've heard great things about Featherweights and the Janome Gem.

Definitely the Janome Gem. It can do everything a quilter needs. Besure to get the one with the quilter's package, the attachable table and different feet. I have the Janome Gem and several Feather Weights but I think this would fit the need better because you can only do straight stich on the vintage FeatherWeight. The Janome Gem does also an awesome quilting stich for the actual quilting. Several of my friends have this machine as their main machine and never invested in a full size machine since they did not see the need for it. that is how good a job the Janome Gem did for them.

Do not have one but the Janome gem sounds like a good machine. You sure are one great husband!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!