Is a built in thread cutter worth it?
 

Hi,
I'm new to the forum, I've been sewing off and on for years, mostly easy clothes and home projects. My old white machine needs to be replaced, and I've decided to go with a Janome. I'd like to start some quilting, and tried out the 3160 in the shop. That has the thread cutter which I kinda fell in love with. The problem is do I really need it?? (The other machine I'm looking at is the jw8100) I don't want to spend over $400 to get a super convenient, but not exactly necessary feature. I guess the question is, how much would I use it quilting vs general sewing? I don't want to get a machine, get hooked on quilting and kick myself for not getting that feature. On the other hand, if I end up primarily quilting, wouldn't that be an excellent reason for a new machine? Help!!

Short answer for me is, yes, but even more important is the needle threader ;-)

My first machine with a thread cutter was a 3160 and I absolutely love it. I have since upgraded, but let me tell you that not only is the thread cutter a good thing, but also the needle up/down on the 3160. Love the convenience, but having your threads cut as you go saves time in trimming long strings when you are cleaning up the back of a quilt (especially if you are using a white fabric in the quilt). The needle up/down keeps your fabric in place as you pivot. Other really nice things are that the Janome motor is quieter than many other brands and that there is a speed control.

I have since upgraded to another Janome with a larger throat space, but I still love the 3160. I use it for classes and group quilting.

Definitely worth it. I love my thread cutter, especially when paper piecing.

I like my thread cutter. Love the needle threader too.

Definitely love my needle threader but I barely use the thread cutter. Welcome to the board!

Welcome from Texas! I don't have a thread cutter on my Janome Magnolia 7330 but I do have a needle up/down feature which I love. I think a thread cutter would be a great asset to have. Just think of all the time you save by not having to cut all those threads on quilts that you make plus think of all the thread you will save by not having to cut off long pieces when you have to hand cut them. Good luck in making your machine choice.

I have machines with and without. My newest, a Juki, I bought for machine quilting. It has a thread cutter and I like it.
The learning curve for me was that one way to use it is in the foot pedal and in the beginning I was accidentally cutting threads when I didn't mean to. Once I got used to the pedal it was fine.
Welcome to the board.

Same here.

Adding in my greetings and my opinion.

I've used vintage machines older than I am for the last 30 years or so. Recently I was gifted with a friend's modern Bernina, mostly because I have vision issues and it is a self threader and my friend is wonderful... but I love the thread cutter so much! I recently worked on a project with partial seams, a breeze with the thread cutter. And as an added benefit I could tell that I had a lot less thread stuck on me afterwards instead of looking like a walking thread ball.

I also like the knee lift bar to raise the foot up and down, my friend never used it but I have already adapted to where all of this is on automatic.

I find it difficult to use a machine without the knee lifter

The auto thread cutter saves a lot of thread. I won't buy a machine unless it has one. I have the Eversewn Sparrow 30 about $400 and it sews as nice as my older Bernina has more updated features. The Sparrow 30 had become my go to machine and I have Brother, Bernina, Janome, and Singer.

Welcome from western NY and happy quilting :)

I love the thread cutter when paper piecing, but otherwise I don't use it. My Babylock Serenade leaves thread tails between a quarter and a half inch long. They are just long enough to make a little snarl when you start stitching again. It's on the back, not visible, but it still bugs me, I just don't like that little snarl. And occasionally the top thread immediately unthreads itself past the needle when I start stitching again after using the thread cutter, and I have to rethread the top thread, pull it out to a long length and hold it anyway when I start stitching. :mad: And that really bugs me. In the end, the thread cutter doesn't thrill me the way I thought it would. Only use it for paper piecing--then it's great.

I'm another that loved the thread cutter for paper piecing but didn't use it much otherwise. Though I'd hate to not have one with my embroidery machine!

I just went to a fully mechanical industrial straight stitcher for piecing - no needle threader or thread cutter, but it does have a knee lift.

A good tech/repairman can adjust the thread cutter tail lengths and the pull that unthreads the needle. I had to have my Brother's thread cutter adjusted and it works fine now.

Yes, a good thread cuttet on a machine is priceless. Buy the best machine you can afford now. You will never regret it. But rather, you will be thankful for years.

Needle threader, thread cutter and best the knee lifter of the presser foot. Yes!

I have it on both my machines and love it. Once you get used to sewing with one, it will feel really awkward and time consuming to go back to the old way.

I never use my thread cutter …. I find it leaves a little "bump" where the thread was cut.
Probably no one else would feel it and really my quilting is not that great that there wouldn't be other things to notice.

Yes! Get the needle threader and knee lift too!

No. It's nice to have but to get something just for that no. I honestly don't even miss it when I use my smaller machine

My machine has a thread cutter, needle up/needle down, needle threader and knee lift. The thing I like the most is the needle up/needle down. I use the thread cutter sometimes, but, don't find it necessary - for me.

I too purchased a Juki, but then left for vacation right after getting it, so I didn't use it for several weeks. When I pulled it out to use it, it wouldn't do anything. I re-threaded and did everything I could possibly think of and was very worried that something MAJOR was wrong with it. THEN I realized that I was stepping on the wrong end of the foot pedal and I was cutting thread instead of having the machine sew!!! DUH - head smack - LOL

I've never had one, and so I don't miss it at all. Perhaps if I had one I would become reliant on it. But then that would make it more difficult to switch off between machines, so I think I'm better off without it.

Thread is so cheap, I don't mind wasting it. And I chain piece 90% of the time, even when paper piecing.

I absolutely love mine and would highly recommend getting it. My first Janome $250 model didnt have one and I spent a lot of time cutting manually ( think short seams and hundreds of them cut twice—once ysing the cutter, then again snipping all loose threads). My top 3 must-haves when I upgraded were auto-threadcutter, 11” throat, and needle up down. I miss the thread cutter whenever I use a machine without one.

I sew on a Janome 8900 QCP and it has an auto-thread cutter. I thought it was mainly a feature that I could take or leave. I used it a bit, but then stopped. A couple of quilts ago, I started using it while FMQ and I love it. Now, I would say it is a must have item. I don't use much when I am piecing, but a its a huge thread/time saver when free motion quilting.

Hi & Welcome!

Guess you can tell from all the responses that most quilters love the thread cutter. My machines have cutters and I love them. I can set a button to auto cut when stitching is stopped or press the scissors button. Love it!

Ditto. Paper piecing is so much fun with the thread cutter.

I have Husq's Vikings...I agree get the best now you won't regret it. I started out without allot of the Perks machines offered and in 4 mths found myself upgrading for all the perks. Love my thread cutter which is a button on my machine, needle up and down, auto pivot foot, auto fix at the beginning and end and threader. I recently upgraded again and this machine has a self threads and OMG who knew...I just push a button and it threads on it's own...so no more manually pulling down the threader and pushing the thread thru...soon we won't have to do anything but tell the machine by talking into it and directing it as to what to do... oh my new machine connects to wifi what's next...combo coffee maker/sewing machine.

I have always said soon you will be able to load a machine with fabric, select the pattern from the attached screen and out will come the finished quilt top. LOL When you think about it the machines that do it all now kind of takes parts of the quilt making away. I am not a purist quilter but it does cause pause. The goal is finished product but the fun is in the making.

I have one machine with a thread cutter, and it Is the one thing that I do miss when using my vintage machines. As for the needle threader, I don't use it and had my machine guy take it off.

I'm another that loves the thread cutter! First one I've ever had and I intend to always have one from now on. Did I say that I love the thread cutter? I have a Juki straight stitch only with the cutter on the foot pedal and a button on the machine. I use it on the pedal. It also has a needle threader that I always use and the up/down button is always engaged. As was said, it came in very handy for paper piecing. I don't use the machine for quilting but I would think it would be handy for that also; not having to go under the quilt to cut the thread. And my quilt tops are so clear of threads when I finish! No trimming of thread tails!
If you can find a machine in your price range, without the thread cutter being extra, I say, Get It. And I also use the knee lift all the time. And it is a first. Boy, am I spoiled now!!!

Welcome to this board.

I use 1 of 2 machines. One has a threader and thread cutter, other one doesn't have either. Both have a knee lift I never use, both have needle up/down, I could not live without that feature.

Thread cutter cuts thread about 1/2" long, not good for me when I quilt. I never remember not to use it when quilting and looks messy on the quilt back.

It's a must have for me.

You're killin' me, smalls! You guys are all bragging about your machines that all have the things I want in a new machine, but none of you are telling me brands and model numbers. Help a sistah out here, lol.
I really want to get one with a knee lift, thread cutter, threader and needle up/ down. Don't worry if its an old model, tell me anyway! I might get lucky in my second hand shopping!!

Sounds like something I would do! :thumbup:

Yes. I had a machine that had one. The computer board on it died, and that was the end of the machine. My newer machine doesn't have it and I miss it with every seam I sew. Needle threader on the other one never worked, but by some miracle I can still thread the needle, even with my feeble eyes!

To think that all I want in a new sewing machine is and "Undo" button! Think of all the time that could be saved...