lizzie3

I wanted to start sewing clothes 13 years ago and did a ton of research into SM features. There was a lot of info online and I was positive that I wanted a Husqvarna Emerald 118. I went to the local dealer, she showed me the features and I ordered one on the spot for $500 CAD. I LOVED it and am so glad I picked it.


I turned to quilting about 9 years ago and haven't made clothes since (except pj pants) and my SM has been great. But my quilting skills/goal have outgrown the machine. I stopped quilting 4 years ago, picked it up with covid and am realizing that the issue is the machine doesn't meet my needs anymore. I need a larger throat. I need a machine that I can free motion quilt. I had purchased a couple feet to allow me to free motion but they didn't do an ideal job when I bought them years ago...and I have tried to put them on again recently and use them but no matter the youtube videos I watch I can't figure out how they work anymore. And I want them to look better than they did. I can only SITD with a normal walking foot and it doesn't look nice on larger quilts. I want an upgrade.


But I also find I want to experiment with applique more, doing a dresden quilt now. I don't even have a satin stitch and that's the one I want, the emerald 118 hardly has any stitches. Doing a zig zag with no space between doesn't work - we tried it at an applique class I took.


I have a janome, pfaff and viking dealers in my area, but I am very loyal the the store that sells pfaff and vikings. Just before Christmas I went in with a budget of $3000 and told her I wanted a quilting machine. The person who knows about the machines came out with pamphlets and said to either buy a opal 690q or a quilt ambition 630 and that they were basically the same. (just under $2000) She told me since I was used to vikings that she recommended I stick with them. That's it. Gave me the pamphlets and waited for any questions I had, but I don't know what to ask so that was that.


I know I love my needle up/down, and speed control. I want to applique things on quilts and wall hangings. I also want to put words on the wall hanging in big fabric letters but also wonder if there are QM that embroider smaller letters? I don't want an embroidery machine though. I want to free motion quilts and have flexibility there. I don't know what else I need or want though...


I google QM online there is a HUGE price difference so it's hard to know what is a need vs want vs dream feature. I want to go in the end of May again and demo them and get a better feel for them with the intent to purchase in July.


I feel a bit nervous/lost in what to look for even a bit overwhelmed to make a big purchase during a pandemic. I want this machine to meet my needs for at least 10+ years...I don't anticipate upgrading afterwards. What should I ask? Look for? What features are great in my price range, which aren't necessary?