I am hoping this thread will help me choose a machine to buy :)

What sewing machine features do you use most for piecing and quilting?

What features you consider a "must have" and which are "nice to have"?

Thanks!

Must have for FMQ- needle down, also love the thread cutter, push button start and stop, knee bar that lifts the presser foot. Don't have but wish I did- signal when bobbin is getting low. I forgot, built in walking foot is great.

My must haves were Needle Up/Down, needle movement left/right and ease of threading. I also wanted a built in dual feed so that limited my choices (Pfaff).

My bobbin low alert I have turned off - It tells me that is is low WAY before it is empty.

Good luck with your search.

auto thread cutter.needle up/down,accufeed..I have the janome 6600.

MIne is an old singer, no bells but I love it.

Needle up/down, wish my Janome had a bobbin sensor when thread is running low. I don't have very fancy machines. My Featherweights are my favorite machines! Good luck on choosing a machine!

I have 2 Juki TL98QE With Up/Down button,thread cutter - I seldom use- pressure foot bar to raise pressure foot - I don't use - gets in my way, FMQ foot,Walking foot,Compensating foot - use to make 1/4" seams, only straight stitches, if I want to do other stitches I have three others I can use. All of these have a lot of hours of use, before I bought the Jukis. These two are all I use, they work as long as I want to work.

I love my needle up/down button and I wish I also had a bobbin sensor...that would be great.

I love the needle up/down feature. Love that!!!

Gotta be my 1/4 in. foot....

Definitely the knee bar that lifts the presser foot. It's like having a third hand!

Hi,

My machine has just about every bell and whistle and it's hard to pick the favorite....but.....I'd say my bobbin is running out of thread signal and the automatic pressure foot setting - it goes up when you stop sewing and goes back down when you start...for appliqueing it is fantastic! You can rotate your piece around all those little edges and not have to use one hand for the pressure foot...also can set it to lock your stitches at the start for you and cut it at the end.

Bev