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Hi all. I’m Zoann. My husband and I moved to the Lower East Side of Manhattan a few years ago after living for many years in Madison, WI. I’m a Kansas girl by birth but I think I was born to be a city girl. The very best times I’ve had here were having my mom for two extended stays and taking her to the great museums and the ballet, and seeing that she, too, despite being an Iowa farm girl by birth and having lived over half a century in a small Kansas town, is also a city girl at heart, so perhaps I inherited it.

i have sewn all my life, and I pieced a couple quilts when I was in college back in the early 80s and my grandma quilted them for me. For most of my sewing life I made clothes. My heyday was during my daughter’s childhood when I made her (and her friends) lots and lots of cotton dresses. A few years ago I decided I had better actually use all the scraps I’d been hoarding, and I started quilting.

I have had a few machines throughout the years but I have not loved any of them. I had my Viking Lily for the longest. I sold it before moving here, and now have a Juki HZL-DX7, which I thought would be better for quilting but is smaller than I’d like. It also is on the fritz now and m exploring getting a new machine with more throat space.

Since I don’t have a car, I’ll probably buy online. Aside from Gotham Quilts who sell Berninas (out of my budget range) I’m not sure there are any local dealers accessible by public transit.

Tartan

Welcome from Ontario, Canada. It is helpful to have a local shop in case you need lessons or repairs. Buy the best machine you can afford and all the major brands are good. Research what is available in your area .

juliasb

Welcome to the QB from SE Michigan! You are in the right place to explore and tone up quilting skills. I love my Juki machine but I have a number of good machines here. I have many that are vintage and antique. (15 all together) I like older machines the best plus I don't have a budget for a brand new machine. There are any number of people here that should be able to give you a better idea on making this important purchase. Of course it is always your decision. I do the majority of my shopping online. Everything from groceries to all important quilting supplies. I spend the majority of my time on the internet when I am not at my sewing, here or shopping, even more so with the lockdowns. It sounds like you have all the right ideas and materials to get started and enjoy quilting. You will find the support you need here and plenty of people that will help you along the way. Again welcome to the QB!

leaha

a warm welcome from Ky.

leonf

Howdy from Kansas. Lived here all my life. Have traveled, but love this state. Handcrank demo at the museum in Topeka.

Lori B.

Welcome from Michigan!

Fabric Galore

Welcome from the Heartland of Florida. I was born and raised in Miami, FL and I think this is the furthest north that I could survive a winter. I have 4 sewing machines but none of them have a large harp. I did have a Janome 6500 that I loved but they no longer make parts for it. I don't feel like spending thousands of dollars for a new machine and I figure if I make a large quilt it would be cheaper to take it to a long arm quilter than pay for a new machine. Good luck with your choice.

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Thanks for the welcomes! I look forward to interacting with the nice group of quilters here.


An update on my original post:

After a lot of poking around I found a little hole-in-the-wall sewing machine repair shop within walking distance (about a mile) from my apartment. I bundled my Juki up in my grocery stroller and took it over yesterday to be fixed. Nice owner was confident the problem was easy to solve and also agreed to completely remove the dumb auto threader that I broke the second time I touched it and that has just been in the way ever since.

He expects my bill for service and repair to be $65!! I have my fingers crossed for good results. I do not love this machine but it will do for now, til I find what I really want. I don’t want to spend $$$ and not be any more satisfied.

thepolyparrot

Welcome aboard! That's great news on your machine - at least it will buy you some time to find a machine that you really like.

And how lucky to live near one of the biggest garment centers in the world - all those fabric and trim stores!

Jordan

Welcome from Northern Arizona. My hubby is from NYC but really likes the southwest part of the country. I always like to visit NYC but was glad to get back to the farm land where I was raised in Montana.