Newbie Quilter Needs Your Input & Recomendations Desperately!!
06-18-2010, 04:20 PM
#71
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Winston,GA
Posts: 1,821
I have a viking, designer se and it does sewing/embroidery. I use the embroidery unit to quilt with and it's wonderful. I quilt from baby to king size and get excellent results. I love the IDT, needle up/down feature, blanket stitch and darning stitch, which repairs holes. It's pricey but worth every penny! Good luck in finding the right machine for you.
06-18-2010, 04:57 PM
#72
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Petersburg, WV
Posts: 1,512
Spent to much money on a new Designer 1 several years ago and just found out it is discontinued. So go for a machine that will be around for awhile. Love my D1, but waiting for the ball to drop that says parts no longer available. I will inherite(?) some machines off of Mom (older machines, but can not beat 'em for dependability). So I should be set there.
06-18-2010, 05:10 PM
#73
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Flint, MI
Posts: 1,643
I have an old Brother mach. that I love and would never get rid of. All my quilting is done by hand,so I just need mine for piecing and misc. sewing. You might be able to get a good one on Craigs list!
I hope you find a quilting buddy in your area, try you LQS.
I hope you find a quilting buddy in your area, try you LQS.
06-18-2010, 05:22 PM
#74
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Central Arkansas
Posts: 2,559
My first sewing machine about 45 yrs ago was a Pfaff with the straight stitch and a simple zigzag. I still have it and I am sure it would still run beautiful if I took it in. I also had a Sears sensor100, it had 100 zigzag and decorative stitches. This was about 30 yrs ago, it ran well for a couple of years and then I had to have it worked on about every couple of months. It liked to run on its own and I was trying to make DD#2's wedding dress and all the other dresses for the wedding. Got the dresses done but was looking for a new machine. 13 yrs ago I bought a Bernina1530 but have just recently started using it. Broke my hip and leg and ended up having many surgeries on the leg. Had it cleaned up and adjusted and it is a dream. Did buy a walking foot, expensive, but I would not use any other machine. My friend who I quilt with also has a Bernina and loves her's. What ever machine you decide on try to use it before you buy it If that is not possible, make sure they have a return policy.
06-18-2010, 06:35 PM
#75
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 397
I have an old Pfaff and a newer Viking. The old Pfaff has a built in walking foot, which is really great. Not nearly as bulky as the attachment walking foot for the viking. The Viking has a needle down position (always stops with the needle down) but the Pfaff does not. Both have a built in needle threader which I love. I also have a single hole throat plate for the Viking. This is great for piecing. It would be nice to have all of these in one machine.
06-18-2010, 07:17 PM
#76
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: So. California
Posts: 122
I have a 10 yr old Pfaff...and I love it! It is computerized, a 2030, and cost $1400 new, but I've got my money's worth from her! The Pfaffs have the built in even feed, so you don't have to use a walking foot for quilting...this is the best. Also like the needle down feature. You might see if you can buy one used. If you don't want to go computerized, even the mechanical Pfaffs have the even feed. That's what I started with, then traded it in on the 2030. Check Pfaff dealers to see if they have used machines traded in.
Sue
Sue
06-18-2010, 11:03 PM
#77
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Adelanto CA
Posts: 41
I have 5 sewing machines. 3 are Singers, one is 38 years old, the second is 26 years old and the last is a brand new Futura C250. I love them all. I am using the older ones to teach my granddaughters how to sew.
The other 2 machines and as follows: A brother about 6 or 7 that I purchased to have something to carry to class. The other is a Euro Pro, which my children bought for me for mothers day. The brother I use but can do without. The Euro Pro I love.
First decided exactly what you want to do with your machine, then set a budget. If I had the funds I would love to have a Janome, most of my quilting friends own them, even a couple of award winners.
The other 2 machines and as follows: A brother about 6 or 7 that I purchased to have something to carry to class. The other is a Euro Pro, which my children bought for me for mothers day. The brother I use but can do without. The Euro Pro I love.
First decided exactly what you want to do with your machine, then set a budget. If I had the funds I would love to have a Janome, most of my quilting friends own them, even a couple of award winners.
06-19-2010, 01:21 AM
#78
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Lincoln. MI
Posts: 491
I have Singer that was made to be used in home ec classes in school. Totally gear driven, no electronics, and I love that machine. It is just a total workhorse. Bought it at one of those "special" sales at JoAnne's. Also have a small Baby Lock embroidery machine (the Sophia model) that I really do like. I'm seriously considering trading it in on a much larger, slightly used model (Ellegante I think is the name) with a much larger throat and the ability to embroider on a field up to 6 x 10 inches. I suggest, like the others, that you visit dealers and try out a variety of machines. But then, I would search out independent sewing/vacuum sales and repair shops. We have one here in Bradenton (FL) that sells used, refurbished machines and gives a full 10 year warranty on any machine they sell. The place has been in business for about 40 years and has a stellar reputation. I've talked to a number of people who have bought their machines there, and not on single complaint. Good luck no matter what route you take.
06-19-2010, 03:54 AM
#79
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 2,879
Originally Posted by lab fairy
Sorry, I can't help with location. I'm in Texas (but my parents still live in VA if that helps).
Things I think are a must with my machine:
For piecing:
1. The built in "walking foot" (on my machine it is called IDT).
2. The sensor light that indicates when the bobbin thread is about to run out.
3. Adjusting my needle position so I can get an accurate 1/4 inch seam (It is important to me, maybe not so much to others.)
For quilting, quilting:
1. Being able to drop my feed dogs.
2. As big a throat as I can afford so I could handle more quilt bulk.
3. Is there an big open toed free-motion/darning foot available? I hated the little darning foot that came with my machine. I couldn't see a thing.
I'm sure there are more but I didn't think of them yet.
I would think that the following would be part of things to think about:
1. cost of feet [Can you get a 1/4 inch piecing foot with a blade, stitch in the ditch foot (mine is called a knit edge foot because I wanted the all metal construction for durability), etc]
2. warranty and repair facility [Does the machine get serviced on site or does it have to be sent away? That is a big factor for me]
3. if the machine can download stitched from a computer, is the software compatable with the new Windows 7 and Vista updates. (My machine will not load the software on the those new operating systems but the machine itself is still wonderful. Just wanted to give you a heads up on the software issues since my old computer "ate itself and I bought a new one".)
I own a Pfaff 7570 and bought it new. I paid a lot for things I really probably haven't used enough of like the computerized emboidery, but I can't say enough about how the way it handles all sorts of fabric. That is important to me because I sew a lot of other things besides quilt pieces. Front bobbin loading has never been an issue for me because I don't think I've ever owned a machine that didn't do this. However, I bought my daughter her first sewing machine, a Janome DC2010 (fairly economical, has some good features, access to feet that are inexpensive, serviced at the place I purchased, etc.) It has a top loading bobbin and I liked it a lot. That little machine sews pretty well and has handled everything she has given it so far. She hasn't pieced anything so I can't tell you how well her new 1/4 inch foot works yet (or the stitch-in-the-ditch one either). We do use those feet for other sewing needs and they've preformed well so far.
My point of view is just mine, but I have bought many machines over the years. I have to say I'm getting better with each one I purchase.
Make sure you take fabric and thread with you to test drive a machine (make a small quilt sandwich or two as well.) I'm sure other people will think of more things to consider. I always envision sewing everything when I buy a machine (I kind of sound like Alton Brown, all things should multipurpose not just single task) because I usually end up doing it.
Things I think are a must with my machine:
For piecing:
1. The built in "walking foot" (on my machine it is called IDT).
2. The sensor light that indicates when the bobbin thread is about to run out.
3. Adjusting my needle position so I can get an accurate 1/4 inch seam (It is important to me, maybe not so much to others.)
For quilting, quilting:
1. Being able to drop my feed dogs.
2. As big a throat as I can afford so I could handle more quilt bulk.
3. Is there an big open toed free-motion/darning foot available? I hated the little darning foot that came with my machine. I couldn't see a thing.
I'm sure there are more but I didn't think of them yet.
I would think that the following would be part of things to think about:
1. cost of feet [Can you get a 1/4 inch piecing foot with a blade, stitch in the ditch foot (mine is called a knit edge foot because I wanted the all metal construction for durability), etc]
2. warranty and repair facility [Does the machine get serviced on site or does it have to be sent away? That is a big factor for me]
3. if the machine can download stitched from a computer, is the software compatable with the new Windows 7 and Vista updates. (My machine will not load the software on the those new operating systems but the machine itself is still wonderful. Just wanted to give you a heads up on the software issues since my old computer "ate itself and I bought a new one".)
I own a Pfaff 7570 and bought it new. I paid a lot for things I really probably haven't used enough of like the computerized emboidery, but I can't say enough about how the way it handles all sorts of fabric. That is important to me because I sew a lot of other things besides quilt pieces. Front bobbin loading has never been an issue for me because I don't think I've ever owned a machine that didn't do this. However, I bought my daughter her first sewing machine, a Janome DC2010 (fairly economical, has some good features, access to feet that are inexpensive, serviced at the place I purchased, etc.) It has a top loading bobbin and I liked it a lot. That little machine sews pretty well and has handled everything she has given it so far. She hasn't pieced anything so I can't tell you how well her new 1/4 inch foot works yet (or the stitch-in-the-ditch one either). We do use those feet for other sewing needs and they've preformed well so far.
My point of view is just mine, but I have bought many machines over the years. I have to say I'm getting better with each one I purchase.
Make sure you take fabric and thread with you to test drive a machine (make a small quilt sandwich or two as well.) I'm sure other people will think of more things to consider. I always envision sewing everything when I buy a machine (I kind of sound like Alton Brown, all things should multipurpose not just single task) because I usually end up doing it.
06-19-2010, 05:50 AM
#80
Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 36
Hi!
I'm in Elizabeth City, not too far into North Carolina. I have a Janome and I love it. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, as they say, but it does a fantastic job. I bought it here at the local Singer's store. They carry other brands other than Singer.
I'm in Elizabeth City, not too far into North Carolina. I have a Janome and I love it. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, as they say, but it does a fantastic job. I bought it here at the local Singer's store. They carry other brands other than Singer.
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