EverSewn and the serpentine stitch
 

I've got 14 machines, ranging in age from 110 years to 30 years old; and I love every one of them. Some are straight stitch only, some are straight stitch and zig zag, and some of them will do a limited amount of "fancy" stitches, which is fine with me, because I hardly ever use them (maybe twice, that I can remember.)

One of the stitches that none of them will do is the serpentine stitch. I do straight stitch walking foot quilting, big stitch hand quilting, or send them to a longarmer. But I really like the way quilts look with that serpentine stitch, so I've started looking for a machine that's reliable and won't break the bank, that can do that.

I've heard a lot of good things about the EverSewn machines, so I've been looking at them online. I looked at the Celine and the Charlotte, and downloaded a couple of manuals so I could see if they will do that stitch, but it's hard to tell. One of the stitches looks like it *might* be, or it might just be a scallop.

If you have one of these machines, can you help me out here? I don't want to pay more than $3 or 400.00 for a machine that I'm basically buying for one stitch, and that won't be my daily driver. Though if I really love it, it could become my new travel machine. Honestly, I've never paid more than $100.00 for a machine, and most of them were around $25.00 so this is a leap for me.

I'm also willing to look at a Janome, as long as it doesn't go over my budget.

Thanks for any help you can give me. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

I have the Ever Sewn 30 Sparrow, it has zig zag which is adjustable in both length and width so would do what a serpentine would do, just more angular.
That said, I've used my 30 a lot and wouldn't use it for machine quilting, I love it and don't want to wear it out, it is a lovely piecing machine.

I also use my Janome serpentine stitch and walking foot for all the machine quilting I do do and like it very much.
But... you can do a serpentine on any straight stitch machine by gently moving the quilt back and forth yourself, I've done it twice on my old 1960's straight stitch before I had this machine. Buying a machine for one stitch doesn't seem practical in my book.

Well, I tried the multi-stitch zig zag on the machines that I have and it just doesn't work. I used the longest and widest stitch settings and what I got were some very nice, but very pointy zig zags. Not at all the look I want. This is what I'm looking for - nice smooth curves :
https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...h-t278440.html

KalamaQuilts - I'm pretty sure that we quilters make a lot of purchases that aren't strictly practical, but there ya go! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png

There is a used Pfaff 2.0 Expression on Ebay for $400, looks like it has a serpentine stitch. No current bids on it, Bidding ends in 6 hrs. Good luck. Thinking you will like the built in IDT.

My Brother low end machine has a nice serpentine stitch. It use to be Brother 420 but now is called a Project Runway model. I think I paid about $250 on Amazon. I think all Project Runway models have this stitch.you can return it if you don't like it if bought at Amazon from Amazon not a third party. Right now the machines are way over priced.

My 1975 Bernina Record 830 has a nice serpentine stitch. I used to use it a lot for elastic around the legs of swimsuits (when I made them). It is small tho, for quilting. Have you tried any ruler quilting? There are rulers that do a big serpentine st.

You were the one with the specific budget. Were it me, I'll sell 10 machines, keep a few favorites and get a good practical machine that does pretty much what you want.

Thank you...this is helpful. I've been looking on Amazon and I've got it narrowed down to two machines :

This Janome
https://www.amazon.com/Janome-Fully-...ct_top?ie=UTF8

And this Brother
https://www.amazon.com/Brother-Proje...s%2C277&sr=8-9

I'm reading reviews for both of them, and I'm leaning toward the Janome. One of my Kenmore machines from the '80s was made by Janome and I've always liked that machine. And this Janome has a metal frame, which is something that I can appreciate.

The only thing I don't like is that the stitch chart is a separate cardboard card, but I don't think it's a dealbreaker. Don't know...gotta think about it.

My Brother cx155 Laura Ashley does a nice serpentine stitch. Made many kid quilts using that and the walking foot. Cost was less than $200. No metal frame on the Brother though.

I like to buy the inexpensive machines with decorative stitches I like and sew the devil out of them. If they conk out after a couple of years I don't fret over it. The Brother 420 has lasted over five years so far so the machine has cost me $50 a year and will only get less each year. I don't baby it and try all types of threads and techniques with it.

That's probably what I'll end up doing. The stitch that I thought was a serpentine stitch on the Janome, wasn't. It seems that the only Janomes that have that stitch are more than I'm prepared to pay right now. The Brother that I posted a link to seems to get decent reviews and I found several places where I could buy it for less than on Amazon.

I looked at a few different models, but many of them are sold out - for making masks, I imagine.

i love the multi zig zag for making jelly roll rugs. I widen and lengthen it.

I think my Pfaff has a serpentine stitch but I have not used it. I do a version of this stitch but in more of a free motion style. It is particularly useful for quick small to medium sized quilts. I purposely do not try to make the curves exact. In the end it appears to be textured somewhat like the bark of a tree. I keep my width to about 3 inches max, but some curves come in to about an inch apart from time to time. The quilting as a whole is not too dense. I would put it in the medium density category. I will go a searching for the serpentine stitch on my machine and play around with that. It may just give me one more option when quilting. Thank for the ideas, quilty friends.

I have a Janome Memory Craft 6500 that has a serpentine stitch on it but have never used it. It shows the stitch to be #25 in Mode 2. I'll have to give it a try.

I have Juki F600, but I use the the serpentine stitch all of the time for my donation quilts. I widen and lengthen it. It gives the quilting definition and is so quick and easy.

I did some more searching online and it seems that the Brother will be the one that I get.

One of the things that I'm wondering and a little concerned about is the rounded off harp area on the Brother machine, especially since I want it mainly for quilting, not piecing. Large quilts will go to the longarmer, but I would like to use it for twin size quilts.

For those of you that have Brothers, do you have a problem getting the quilt through that opening?

The largest quilt I've made is lap size on my Brother cx155LA. It looks much like the project runway and quilt models. Fan folding rather than rolling helps

another option would be to look at used trade-in machines....my Bernina 630 I traded in for my new 570 had a nice serpentine stitch...and part of me really wishes I had kept the 630 as It had a way nicer straight stitch for piecing and wasn't as fussy as the new 570...which has been in the shop three times in the past year and which I got back about a month ago...but haven't wound up the courage to try it yet.

Ha! Funny you should say that! 😄

My husband and I have been talking about this all morning, and we both came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be happy with one of the less expensive smaller machines.

My vintage machines have spoiled me, quality-wise, and I really don't want something that may or may not last. And I really don't want something that can't be repaired if something goes wrong, so it ends up in a landfill.

This has made me really think about what I want, and why I'm now considering a computerized machine. The serpentine stitch... is just the tip of the iceberg.

I love my vintage machines and they are here to stay. I love to piece on them, I love how solid they are, the stitch quality, and that I can fix them myself. But they have their limitations.

I want something with a bigger harp space so that it's easier to stuff the quilt through. My birthday is next month and it's the "Magic Medicare" birthday. I need something that's going to be easier on the old bod.

Though I've sewn for around 40 years, I've been quilting for about 7 years and I want to start challenging myself, so I want a machine that will let me do that. I'm ready for something with a few more features.

Fortunately, my husband (aka The Enabler 😁) would rather spend more to get a better quality and more full-featured machine that I will love and use, and doesn't want me to settle.

So I'm going to call a local Janome dealer, tell him what I want, and see what he can do for me. 😊

fun update! I always go for quality over quantity, but thats just me. I have the Janome 8900, that big harp space is wonderful with good lighting built in. If I had it to do again I wouldn't have gotten that model, I do not need the 100's of stitches, but would certainly go for the biggest harp with the other things you want. Needle up needle down #1. Thread cutters can be problems on their own so I no longer use mine, but never was in the habit anyway. My first computerized machine would sew out motif embroidery, I found it to be the most boring thing in the world, I want to be behind the wheel, so never went that route again.

Happy stitching! Happy Birthday!

Well, we went to a Janome dealer, but he didn't have much in stock, and for some reason Janome doesn't have many models with the stitch that I want on them. So we ended up at a Baby Lock dealer and I test drove the Soprano.

Really nice...the harp space is 8.3", just over 1.5" bigger then my current machines. It also has a nice big extension table, so I have to figure out if that would be big enough for me to quilt comfortably. King size quilts will go to the longarmer, but I want to be able to do quilts that are roughly 80"x80" myself.

It has 300 stitches...way more than I'll ever use, plus some features that make me scratch my head and go "huh?"

So I'm gonna do my homework, think about it, and shop around a bit more before I decide, but I think this is the right next step for me.

SherylM, I have an Eversewn Sparrow 30 and just love it. Yes, it has a serpentine stitch. I picked mine up about 1 1/2 years ago on E-bay. Often, sewing machine dealers sell directly through there and a much friendlier price. I know I paid well under $300 for it. One thing I will point out to you or to anyone thinking of purchasing it for machine quilting. The harp is definitely on the narrow side. It is several inches narrower than my Singer. I do not machine quilt except for something small like a tablerunner so that wasn't important for me. Overall, it is a wonderful machine.

I would look at the Jukis. I have a straight stitch only machine. throat is 9" and I make a large double quilts about 85 x 95" quilts for our bed. Not a big deal to quilt them. I don't use any other stitches. Lots of Jukis have more stitches. My machine has not been in the shop. I use it lots, just needs oil and cleaning. I have a BabyLock Jane also. Straight stitch only, 9" throat, never in the shop. I have been quilting about 53 years, made clothes before that.

Good luck picking the machine you want.

Sheryl, I know how daunting finding the right machine is! Good luck and let us know what you get.

Look for used Berninas and Vikings too. I have a Viking Opal 650 as a travel machine. It is over your budget, but it does have a serpentine stitch, and I have learned to really love it for applying binding. I have a sit down quilter, so I don’t use any of my regular sewing machines (a Bernina 440 plus some vintage machines I only sew on occasionally) for quilting anything bigger than a table runner. I really tried to find an inexpensive machine as a travel machine to be used 90% for piecing but also for mending and home dec while in our motorhome, but they just didn’t feel as solid to me or they didn’t allow me the flexibility of stitch length/width or needle position. I got a screaming good deal on the Viking, but it definitely isn’t my 440 in quality. Then again it is quite a few pounds lighter and much easier to haul around.

Ditto a used Bernina. (I've never had a Viking) They are fabulous machines. I have a new one but kept my older one. I will only part with it if my baby granddaughter decides she wants to sew someday.

Well, after trying out that Soprano...I'm just not feelin' the love, so I'm not even going to consider that one. However, I came across a Janome 6550 on YouTube and oh my goodness...my heart started beating fast! It's a semi-industrial - has an aluminum bed and frame, a tensioner I can adjust myself, a 10" harp space, and most important...the serpentine stitch! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

It sells for $1600.00, which is a lot more than I wanted to pay, plus it's an on-line only model, so if it needed repairs I'd have to send it back to wherever I got it. I called the sewing machine guy I use to see if he would be able to work on it, and he said no, not without invalidating the warranty.

So then I came across the Janome 6700P, which is an upgrade from the 6550. That one made the heavens part and the angels sing! It has an 11" bed and the extension table and knee lift lever come with it, in addition to numerous different feet. I feel like it was made for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3KJ2YfgR_s

I called a different Janome dealer and they don't have any in stock, but they can order it. Plus they offer an extra 3 year warranty with it. Their sale price right now is $2200.00. Ouch. But we're going to the dealer's today to talk to them about it and get some questions answered. It will probably be a couple months before we can actually buy it, but that's fine.

Does anyone here have that one? I'd love to hear about it.

My Janome dealer offers 3 year no-charge tune up too, with the purchase of a new machine, ask about that. $165.00 each, quite a savings, and well worth it.

Yes, that's a good thought. I'll ask about that.

Yes, they do offer that, however they throw that in, no charge! They didn't have any in the store, but they've got some ordered and they should be in in about a week. She said she would call me so I can come in and give it a test drive. I did get a brochure to bring home. Found out that it has a 10" harp space, not 11" like I thought, but that's plenty big enough.

I did test drive Janome's newest top-of-the-line machine though, the M7 Continental. Oh, my...so nice! It's also an $8000.00 machine. Also, and I think this is a big deal, I felt really good about the dealer. They have three stores - two of them are closed now, but will re-open at the end of the month. The one we went to was about 30 minutes away, so not bad at all, but we'll be able to take the machine to the one that's closest to home. They're also a sew & vac repair place and the store was packed with vintage sewing machines, so I kinda liked that too!

So I'm pretty sure that, unless something else comes up, this is the machine I'll be getting.
.

Ha! This cracks me up because my husband blew my budget out of the water! LOL
I'm not complaining, mind you...

Some of the 9mm models have multiple serpentine stitches to choose from. One of may favorite stitches.

Yes, the 6700 is a 9mm machine and the stitches are adjustable both ways. I've been reading serpentine stitch threads and learning a lot. I'm getting more excited about this machine all the time! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png I never really had the desire for a computerized machine before and didn't think I would use one with decorative stitches. I also didn't think I would want to learn free motion quilting. Well, things change.

Two years ago we downsized, moved an hour away to a different county and I joined a weekly quilter's Sit and Sew group, as well as a group that meets once a month. It was the best thing I could have done, both socially and quilting wise. Seeing what the other ladies are working on has exposed me to and pushed me to try things that I wouldn't have before, like English paper piecing, that opened up a lot of possibilities for me.

When I started thinking about why I didn't want to learn free motion quilting, it came down to the fact that the smaller harps on my machines would make it more difficult (not impossible...I know there are many quilters that do it) to do anything other than smaller items, like QAYG blocks or wall hangings. I've done several large twin size quilts with the walking foot and it was a chore that I didn't enjoy at all. I don't want to keep sending them out to a longarmer and though I love to do it, hand quilting takes so much more time, that I'd rather save that for the occasional quilt.

I don't want to be limited anymore by what my machines can do, and while I know that this machine won't live nearly as long as my beloved vintage machines, I also think it will be one that I can grow with skill-wise, and that I'll be happy with for a long time. Janome's are well made, dependable machines, and as long as I don't end up with a lemon (it happens), I don't think I'll regret the purchase at all.

Just to keep your excitement up Sheryl :) I just finished binding this quilt, quilted with the serpentine stitch on my Janome 8900. For perspective the blocks are 2" finished. This is the reverse side of a mystery quilt, using up the leftovers.

Oh, I like that! So, it's reversible? I have a pile of 64 patch blocks made with 2 1/2' squares (2' finished) that I put together when I had the flu in January...and then again in February. And then a friend gave me a whole shoebox full of 2" squares that I'm going to have to do something with one of these days. Yikes...little squares, everywhere!

I have a couple of UFO's that are going to get the serpentine treatment just as soon as that machine follows me home; it's such a useful stitch.