Originally Posted by sunflower126
Originally Posted by Quilter7x
I just have regular plain old sewing machines. No room in my sewing room for a long arm and no $$ to get one. **sigh**
However, I got a used Bernina back in the spring and it does an excellent job of quilting. I've done two baby quilts and several wall hangings on it so far (just the quilting part, the piecing was done on my Janome).
I am getting a new machine this week that I will be able to quilt my own quilts. What is the reasoning for using one machine for piecing an another for quilting? Is there any reason not to use the same machine for both? The lady at the store that sold me the machine does the same thing. I didn't ask her. Just wondering if I'm missing something.
Good question, I should have clarified. I have a Janome that I bought brand new about 13 years ago. I got a Janome Jem about 5 years ago to take to classes (that's a great light weight machine). I had the opportunity to use a Bernina last year in a class where machines were provided and couldn't believe how wonderful the FMQ stitches were. I get "whiskers" on the backside when doing FMQ around curves on the Janome, but not at all on the Bernina.
When I bought the Janome, it was expensive so I took every class I possibly could to get the most use out of the machine. I truly love that machine and will never give it up. I know how to do just about anything on that machine.
The Bernina 180E has wider feed dogs than a standard machine and reviews of it say that the wider feed dogs seem to want to "eat" the fabric when doing 1/4" piecing. I haven't done enough 1/4" piecing to really tell if it is doing that, but I'm so comfortable with the Janome, that I do all the piecing there.
I will be taking more lessons on my Bernina, hopefully soon. I was amazed at the differences between two brands of sewing machines! :shock: