Best machine for quilting... around $1000
 

Hi, everyone. This is my first post and I hope this forum is much more friendly than the legal forums I usually peruse. My wife is a stay-at-home mom and she loves sewing and just got into quilting. She is just finishing her first quilt and the machine I bought her (some $300 Singer) is great for small things, but for the large, thick quilt she is working on, it just cannot do the job. My wife has made some comments that she believes the sewing machine isn't able to handle the thickness of the quilt she has made (she took all of her old jeans, cut them up, and made this really cool quilt with them). I want to surprise her with a machine that can handle thick fabric so that she can continue to make her quilts without frustration; she has resorted to hand quilting the aforementioned quilt. We have a rule that whenever we buy each other a gift just because, we try to keep it around $1000, so any recommendations you have will be incredibly helpful.

TLDR (Too Long, Didn't Read) version: I need advice on the best machine to buy my wife, around $1000, that will be able to handle quilting and sewing on really thick materials.

You are going to get lots of suggestions. I don't own either of the machines I have in this response, but I have heard lots of good stuff about them on this board. You can do a search for either machine model and find lots of folks who love theirs.

Brother PQS 1500

Juki TL 2010

Here are links to descriptions at allbrands. com and it will give you details and prices for each machine.

http://www.allbrands.com/categories/...machine-699-do


http://www.allbrands.com/categories/...uilt-machine-1


Have fun deciding.

So, after a cursory Google search, it looks like a treadle is a machine that does not use electricity, which seems interesting, but what is the reason it is better for denim and thicker materials?

I have a Janome 6600P which does fine with thick fabrics; also have a Husqvarna Platinum which is a workhorse...and we won't go into the numerous older machines that I think will handle most anything you can throw at them. THe Janome was about $1400, a bit more than you asked about; the Platinum was a steal at auction for about $450. Good luck...you might also try Craig's List in your area or visit your local sewing machine shop and talk to the owner for his/her ideas. Good luck!

Another machine to consider is the Juki F600. It has a larger harp and also features a box feed system that is supposed to be great for thick fabrics.

What a nice hubby you are. Is it important that she gets the machine as a gift? Just wondering because I would prefer to pick my own machine. Maybe you could find out what features are important to her. I can tell you that for quilts my must haves are needle up/down, needle position sideways, motor speed control, easy threader, LARGE THROAT, handle thick layers.

Is she going to keep the Singer for regular piecing? In that case you may consider a simple mechanical straight-stitch machine such as the Brother 1600, Pfaff 1200, Yuki 980 etc (they are all essentially the same machine). This machine has a large throat and it sews at 1500 to 1600 stitches a minute BUT it only goes forward or backwards.

My favorite brand is Baby Lock but I don't know what their prices are. Whichever one gets chosen, I'd want to take her for a test drive.

I concur with getting an older machine for the jeans. It doesn't have to be a treadle, though - a Singer 15-91 would be fine and would probably be under $100. Then add a check for the difference and let your wife pick out the machine she wants for all her other quilting. (Or not. She may want to buy fabric instead.)

For $1000 you could get a better Singer that will sew through anything. I have a Singer Quantum L-500 that sews through anything I put in it. I also have a Juki that I love and sews through anything. They both cost slightly under $1000 when I got them. I also have 15-91's both treadle and electric and Singer 66's treadle and electric and they all sew through anything! Those old machines were/are true workhorses and meant to last!

How about a surpise shopping trip for the day and let her pick out the machine herself. Line up a sitter and have all the shops mapped out and just let her play at each shop. I would have loved that when our boys were small!

BTW, I have an Elna and it sews thru leather! Its quite a workhorse :)

I agree with letting her pick out her own machine. How about making her a hand made Gift Certificate for $1000 with a note on it to go shopping for the sewing machine of her choice. If my husband bought me a machine without my knowledge, I would probably be highly disappointed as it may have some options on it that I don't care to have and it may be missing some other things that are essential to me. My priorities are Needle Up/Needle down, needle threader, and the needle position button that moves the needle from side to side to the position I want it in. As far as stitches, I usualy only do piecing so I really onl need straight stitch and zigzag. All those extra stitches just make the machien cost more and I don't use them. Good luck.

I sew with a Janome 6600 and absolutely love it. It certainly can handle anything I put under the needle, including my finger! I found a great used one at a dealer for $1000

If it is for thicker quilts I would look at a vintage Singer 201. It has a nice big opening and can stitch through thick stuff.

For a newer machine I would look at the Janome 6500 or 6600. My husband got it for me as a surprise for one of my birthdays and I love it. He made sure the dealer would take it back if I did not like it.

Ditto here - though not the finger! Yeowch! If you call around to various dealers in your area, you might be able to find one for around $1000, about half off MCRP. Wonderful machine.

However, please consider which dealers you have in your area! That can make a big difference when it comes time to service the machine. For example, we have lots of local Bernina dealers, some Viking, some Janome, but no Juki within about a four hour drive, so I wouldn't personally purchase a Juki.

I agree with the others or buy or a higher end used machine :)

I swear that my Singer 66 can go through anything.. I think it is indestrucable. The price won't put a dent in your wallet, either..

My DH almost bought me a new machine a number of years ago. I'm so glad he didn't. The one he was going to purchase was LOTS more $$ than I would have spent and did lots more things than I wanted. I ended up buying a Viking Platinum for about $1200 at the time. So far the only thing it hasn't handled was repairing the binding/welting on a boat canvas. I've hemmed jeans and sewn sheer curtains with it. I don't machine quilt my quilts but it does all of my piecing with no problem. I agree with the others suggesting taking your wife for a shopping trip. Let her pick out the machine of her choice. And she may want to wait for a while to see what type of quilting she evolves into liking best.

http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...e-reviews.html This has some reviews on it that may help.

I bought, 7 years ago, an Elna 7200 for £900/$1400 and although it has been, and still is a fabulous machine, I would never buy a modern one again. I prefer the stability, durability and dependability of the older machines. Although your wife's first quilt was made from Jeans/Denim I doubt that she will be making heaps more so what you need to do is to go for a good all-rounder machine for quilting.

All makes of machines up to the late 70's were manufactured to a very high standard, were made from metal with a minimum of plastic bits n pieces. This link has loads of opinions! http://quilting.about.com/od/essenti...g_machines.htm

I did a quick search for you and found this company "Allbrands.com" and spotted what looks like a fantastic buy, this Refurbished commercial grade Singer http://www.allbrands.com/categories/...rade-freearm-s for only $299!!!!!!!!!!! When you read the spec. it looks as tho' it would sew through anything especially with that extra powered motor.

Do let us know what you decide on.

http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...e-reviews.html This has some reviews on it that may help.

I bought, 7 years ago, an Elna 7200 for £900/$1400 and although it has been, and still is a fabulous machine, I would never buy a modern one again. I prefer the stability, durability and dependability of the older machines. Although your wife's first quilt was made from Jeans/Denim I doubt that she will be making heaps more so what you need to do is to go for a good all-rounder machine for quilting.

All makes of machines up to the late 70's were manufactured to a very high standard, were made from metal with a minimum of plastic bits n pieces.

I did a quick search for you and found this company "Allbrands.com" and spotted what looks like a fantastic buy, this Refurbished commercial grade Singer http://www.allbrands.com/categories/...rade-freearm-s for only $299!!!!!!!!!!! When you read the spec. it looks as tho' it would sew through anything especially with that extra powered motor.

This is another link for the same machine, which gives you more information and $10 less: http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/singer-590fs.php

Do let us know what you decide on.

lso, the Janome machines are excellent. You could always get her a gift card to a sewing machine store.
Dena

As much as you would like to surprise your wife, this is a BIG decision and it would be best if you took her to some quilting shops to see what is available. A gently used machine might be the answer but you won't know until you do some searching. Also, don't look only for a heavy duty machine just for one quilt made from jeans - her future quilts may be made from quilting cotton.

I have a Juki , the cost is about $800. It's on a Grace Quilting frame but you don't have to have a frame to use it. My sister has an older model and she uses it for regular straight stitching and quilting small things, she also has a long arm but I like to quilt on my Grace frame with my Juki better than on hers. It only straight stitches. You are a good husband !

The Janome 6300 is a stripped-down version of the 6500/6600 that so many quilters love. It has fewer stitches but still offers the same metal housing, automatic thread-cutter, extra high lift, variable needle positions, speed control, free-motions easily and has a 9" harp. The Juki 600 has more stitches but there are fewer dealers to service them. Both are $1000.

This would be my choice too. I love my 6600. If she gets into free motion quilting it is great for that also. It does so many things she may what in the future.

I have a Babylock and a Juki. I agree, my Juki has sewn anything I placed under it.

You are a kind and thoughtful hubby!! I agree with all the info given. Will your wife do sewing besides quilting? That can make a big difference in which machine works best for her. I have seen some great high end machines with only a few hours on them for a very good price. Good luck on your quest!!

Best to buy a machine with 9"-11" throat, with a walking foot or IDT, a quarter inch foot and a quilting foot for free machine quilting. The best I have found in your price range is the Brother Nouvelle 1500s. It is made by Juki and is called PQS 1500 and a number of other names. It is completely manual and strong and fast. Here is some info:
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...S#.UCt_Az1mSD8

I have the Juki TL-98Q which is the model before the TL 2010. I love this machine!!!!!! Straight stitch only but sews through anything I have tried. I bought mine through Allbrands. I have quilted a queen size quilt on it.

I have a Babylock Quest Plus, that I love and is very similar to the Janome 6600 everyone is telling you about. I do have to agree the best thing would be to somehow take her and let her decide on which machine would be best for her. There are so many things involved in purchasing a machine, and the first one is a dealer that will be there when you need them. Also, you want one that will offer classes on the new machine purchased. Today's machine come with so many extras, and not all of them are necessarily important to each person. Since she probably will use this machine for other things besides quilting, what is things would she want? I happen to really like decorative stitches and I even us them on my quilts. Its pretty hard to give you good solid advice without knowing what she thinks is important for her sewing needs. Good luck and be sure to let us know what you do decide on.

Brother pq 1500s. Straight stitch only. Solid, powerful, doesn't need all the servicing (at $100 or so a pop) that the fancier machines need. About 699 on Amazon. This will do the job - but it does not have much in the way of bells and whistles, not even a zig zag. I agree with others, you might want to let her decid after trying some else. Not as much fun for a surprise . .

I agree with either of these machines, this is right on for your price point. The next step up would be a full out Mid arm machine. What you are shopping for is throat space (the space between the needle and the housing.
These machines are :
Long 6"X9" Arm Space Right Of Needle

9" is from needle to head of machine

6" is height from sewing bed to top of underarm

Note...both these machines only do a straight stitch but its a quilting machine and thats whats needed. And they are high speed which is nice. I commend you on your efforts to find your wife the perfect machine.

I have a Brother PQ1500S. It is WONDERFUL!!!! You can get it on Amazon for about $700.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...wsusanmalle-20

It doesn't do embroidery or zig-zag stitches. It just does a single line of stitches, which is perfect for piecing and quilting. It's really fast and strong and heavy, which is just what I was looking for. I've only done a thin quilt so far, two layers of cotton fabric with a thin layer of batting in between, but I don't think it will have a problem with thicker quilts. (Of course, they will always be tricky to maneuver.) It does a straight stitch, meaning a single line of stitches, but your wife will be able to sew curves, etc. with it, such as this:

what is a box feed system?

OH let her pick out her own .. I have done that with my machines: I had a Kenmore for 25 years before it died, then I bought a Riccar (mini) it was okay, then I found Brother- Love it ;my next machine will be a Babylock Ellismo (I think that is the spelling on it!).Babylock is the big brother to Brother machines, and I am happy with them.
Be sure to tell her to go online and look around, then I agree- take her shopping... She will love it
AND welcome to the board-tell the wifey to sign on and she will learn so much (as I have) from the wonderful people on here.

I sent you a PM, please check your private message file.
Diana in TX

I just have to jump in and add, while getting a sewing machine for "heavy" fabrics is really sweet, how many "jeans" quilts is she likely to make? If her first quilt had been more standard, she might like a different kind of quilt. Also, as this is her first, she just may decide she isn't really a quilter after all. Maybe you should consider waiting a bit, maybe for Christmas, if she still has the bug. One last comment, does it really have to be a surprise. Quilting is very personal, it might work out better if she had the opportunity to sit at a few machines to see if they fit her physically.

I sent a PM to you.
Janome 6600 is one of the best quilting machines, as you can see from some of the responses.
Lots of features that quilters love for a very reasonable price.
Accufeed built in so you don't have to use a walking foot for bulky fabrics.
Automatic Thread cutter GREAT FOR PIECING QUILTS.
Start/Stop feature for sewing long seams without using a foot pedal.
Separate motor for winding bobbins.
This is a workhorse of a machine. I own two.
Diana in TX

I have a Janome 6600P that I bought used from a dealer. I just love it ! It has a big throat space to fit a quilt into, a built in walking foot. It does everything I need it to do. I haven't regretted my purchase. I too had a $300 machine that just wasn't cutting it for quilting.