Best sewing machine?
 

Hey guys, I’ve got this one, i got it from Walmart for a little over 100 it’s hard to quilt bigger quilts with it, is there a better machine?[ATTACH=CONFIG]606985[/ATTACH]

I had an older version of your machine, and it was great to learn fmq! When I did larger quilts, I often just put a strip of batting down the center, quilt it, then add the batting along the sides. It reduced the amount of bulk that had to be squeezed into the harp when quilting the center.

Your little mechanical machine is a lot more reliable than the fancy computerized Viking that broke down on me after a couple of years. I now have a Singer Heavy Duty that I also bought at Walmart for $99. I love my little Singer. It does every thing I ask it to do... have used it daily for 4-5 years now... and neither I nor it are complaining. Sometimes more expensive doesn't mean better.

I bought a Juki 2200QVP Mini last March. It has a larger harp space and I really like it for FMQ

When I was ready to buy my first sewing machine for quilting (I had been using my daughters small Kenmore) I got a similar machine. The machine itself was fine, but what I found was that it was too lightweight. By that I mean the larger quilts I was working on would shift the machine around during FMQ. I brought it back and got a Janome New Home, which is a metal frame and therefore heavier and was able to stay put while I pushed my quilt through it. It was more expensive; about $500, but a good machine. Still have it as my "back up", but I now quilt on a Janome memory craft 8900 and LOVE the 11 inch harp. It makes a huge difference, but of course the price difference was pretty big too!

If you just want a harp for quilting I would go brother pq15500s or juki 200 type machine if you have money to inst a sit down hwq sweet 16 or babylock tiara

You can find a good used machine with a larger harp, too. On craigslist near me, right now there is a Janome 8900 for sale for $1759 and another one for $2,000.

I bought a Baileys Home Quilter with a 22” throat on EBay for $900. It’s a sit down machine (only because I don’t have room for it to be on a frame). It was barely used and runs like a dream. Keep looking, don’t get impatient. Do your research. This is my 2nd Bailey. My first one was a used 13”. I sold it on Craigslist for $650 after I used it for about 5 years. They are out there. :-)

I have the Brother 1500, straight stitch only and fairly large throat area. They cost about $600 -$700 new. Comes with ext table, walking foot, and 1/4 foot. Will last a lifetime, all mechanical. Nothing wrong with the cheaper machines at Walmart. Sew the devil out of one until it breaks. No need for repairs, just buy another one.

Hmmm. The seller who is asking $2,000 says she paid $3999 for it new. Are the reviews bad?

I bought my Janome 8900 off Craigslist. The lady who had it listed had all her original paper work, box, and sold it because it had to many bells and whistles. She was more of a vintage straight stitch gal she told me. This was her first computerized machine and it was to much for her electronically. Her original PW that was in the manual book and it showed me the machine was just two years old and she paid over $4000 for it, I paid $1500 for it. Great machine, I've had it almost 3 years and just love it. Highly recommend it, only draw back for me, it has a carry handle, but holy cow, it has yet to leave my studio due to how heavy it is.
Vanna, there are great deals to be had out there. You can save a lot of money and find great deals for any budget in a variety of machine styles for a larger harp size, just keep your eyes open. Good luck searching.

Have you considered a vintage sewing machine? They usually have a larger harp space, are inexpensive, last forever and are easy to find. The downside is they are heavy. A Singer 15-91 is said to be an excellent FMQ machine. It has something to do with the way the bobbin sits that is supposed to make it work so well at FMQ. There are Japanese made models from that era that should work well, too and they would usually be less expensive.

bkay

This one is a really nice example: (Note where the tension is. The similar Japanese models would have the tension in the same place.)

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I had a older version of that machine. I called it Dobbin (named after my grandfather's Clydesdale). That machine was a workhorse. I did quilt large queen size quilts on it. It wasn't easy and I had arm muscles develop from maneuvering the quilts through the throat area.lol. Hope yours works as long as mine. If you definitely want one for FMQ, I'd suggest a 1500Q. I have one. I don't like that the bobbin is on the side.....it's hard to get at when machine is set in a table..... but it's a great machine for quilting.

I also have the Brother PQ1500 and I set it in an Arrow table. I start around the center and work out so there is less and less under the harp. I just did a queen size no issues. I think amazon has them on line for about $500. They don’t require much in the way of service if you maintain them

I too love the vintage Singer for FMQing. They are very smooth and don't miss a beat.

I don't have that machine, but I do have a Singer HD 110. It came from Fleet Farm! That machine is a workhorse. Every quilt, wall hanging, bag, alteration etc. has been done on that machine. I don't do quilt as you go. What I do, what works for me, is when I quilt, I start in the middle, and work outward. I roll my quilt and it's only "tight" for a few blocks, or rows. By maneuvering it top to bottom, side to side, I can make it work. Keeping the bulk of the quilt to my left and supported by the table it helps too. I mostly do SITD, echo, cross-hatch, or meandering. I find I have to take it a little slower. Sometimes that's hard for a quilter!

I bought the 1500 when they first came out, approx 17 years ago, great machine, still going strong. I've FMQ many, many quilts on it.

To Just a Bit Crazy, new... they are selling for $1999 with Bundle of extras on Amazon.

I have two vintage Singers, my own first machine (bought used) and much loved little 99K, and a 15-91 that belonged to my stepmother. I haven't tried FMQ on either but the comments here have persuaded me to try it on the 15.

The comments here about the Brother 1500 PQ, plus its price line, are intriguing....and tempting. I need another sewing machine like another hole in the head -- I have 5 Singers and a Brother -- but that large harp is so cool ....... if I'm going to continue to quilt my own quilts.

I have bookmarked this thread just in case my Pfaff 7570 has a high repair bill.