Originally Posted by quilterwannabe
Looking for suggestions on a first sewing machine to learn machine quilting on. I am an avid top maker with just a straight stitch old machine. My budget is limited . Any suggestions? I have really enjoyed this site and have gotten great ideas from ya'll already!!
Whatever you do get one that you can drop the feed dogs on. That is the little teeth that forward your material. You want to have control moving the fabric so you usually drop them to be in control yourself. Some times people trade in perfectly good machines for a trade in so you might go to a dealer ship and see if you can get one with a service contract. It costs nearly $200. to get your machine cleaned and calibrated. I personally have a Pfaff quilt expression 2046. Got it after I retired. Would never be without a service contract. I also learned over time that each machine is made for a different purpose. I do not mend jeans on this machine as it can mess it up and need to be recalibrated.