Favorite machine features
 

On another recent thread, it was mentioned that when machine shopping you need a list of your "must have" features, and then consider your "nice to have" or "can live without" features.

I'd love to hear which features are peoples' favorites. I'm not in the market for a new machine at this time, but maybe it will help others.

When I bought my current machine (Brother VQ-3000) I knew I had to have

• needle up/down
• real automatic needle threader
• large throat space

I wanted to have

• thread cutter

I was surprised at how much I love to use

• knee lift
• laser guide line (no more drawing diagonals on squares)

In addition to what you've already mentioned hray,

Good lighting under the harp
Easily installed walking foot
Easily accessible back stitch button
Good, even fabric feed so top layer doesn't feed faster, creating excess at end of row
Automatic stitch ripper -- sure!

Cute tech when machine needs tune up!
Magnetic wand to retrieve wayward pins on the floor.
WAIT~~~~ Are these supposed to be REAL features on a machine?

That'd sure be an amazing feature! :D



Of course they are!!!! :)

I have a magic wand!! ...... one of those extension pen size magnets.
Picks up a whole bunch of pins with ease!
Best $ $tore find ever!! :)

The knee lift and the thread cutter in the foot are my favorite in my Juki.

i love my start/stop button. I didn't think it was a big deal when my machine came with it, but I have never used my foot pedal at all since i got it!
a decent sized extension table is nice, too.
a hard shell carrying case is a bonus, but not a necessity.

I like my automatic stitch choices. I also like having my machine in a sewing cabinet. They're both about 40 years old and going strong!

The most important things that I don't want to do without are the up-down needle feature, the thread cutter, and a large sewing bed. A lot of other things are nice to have but are kinda like "frosting on the cake"https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

When i wanted to learn free motion for real I wanted a high shank machine with a lot of space. And needle down. And for it to be non finicky and sturdy. I have the Brother PQ 1500 and it is just right for me. Really is a limited frills machine. I rarely use the thread cutter, never use the knee lift, and added a strip of LED lights. It sits in an arrow table and I have no complaints. I have other machines if I want a fancier stick or a button hole.

I love my walking foot that is attached and all I do is put the foot on and bring down the attachment and click it on. I also love my threat cutter. I bought my machine used and it had an auto needle threader but it has never worked so I guess that wasn't a "need" item.

I love the "hoover" function on both my viking D1 and my Bernina 570. This raises the foot automatically just a bit when you stitch. I usually put it into stop in needle down position....so when I am turning a corner....I stop stitching, the needle goes down and the foot comes up so I can turn the quilt without having to manually raise the presser foot....also wonderful when appliqueing by machine as it makes it way easier to do those curves and angles. I also loved the knee riser on my old bernia without the hoover function to turn corners with.

on my Janome and Pfaff this feature is called auto lift. It’s my favourite feature.

My new Bernina has that too. I still sometimes try to reach back for the pressor foot thingy haha. I really like it.

Yes! This is what I want also. I want to turn my machine on, and sew. I honestly don't need any bells and whistles. I like a good workhorse machine. I will admit my BFF keeps telling me "You don't know what you're missing", but maybe that's the point. I can't miss what I don't have!

A decent straight stitch
No tension issues
Well written manual
not finicky about what thread is used
Needle threader
Needle down setting
useful built- in patterns

Low bobbin warning is great!

Repairable for at least 50 years after purchase!

I'm generally optimistic, but I don't think I have that many years left.

I usually sew on my Bernina 440QE. However I also use my vintage Singer 301. The thing I miss most when using the 301 is the knee lift. The Bernina doesn't have all the bells and whistles of newer machines, but I don't miss what I've never become accustomed to.

My main machines are Bernina 770 and Juki 2010 TLQ. The threader on the Juki is junk. (but I love the machine) When I got my Bernina it had a needle threader that works every time!! I love that. Also love the large bobbins and warning when it gets low.

Needle threader.
Thread cutter.
Knee lift.
Extension table.
Sturdy, reliable, mechanical machine, no computer boards or chips that are cost-prohibitive to repair/replace.

I have all of these in my Brother 1500. I realized since I acquired it, I haven't touched my other machines, so I sold or gave away all of them except for my Pfaff, which has a buttonhole stitch (and I actually use it for buttonholes!).

A lot of people complain that the needle threader on the 1500 doesn't work, but time after time it turns out they didn't understand *how* it works and so were using it improperly.

For me, this is specific to the machine, as I have a high end embroidery machine and with that things like thread cutter and needle threader are a must. - and the low bobbin sensor and that it will shut off if it thinks something is not right.

But with my LA, I'd hate not having my 24" throat and 12' frame. And I really like the digital tension readout. I'd love a low bobbin sensor, and if it would shut off if the thread breaks. It has no sensors like that so I need to really watch it if I'm using the robotics.

And then with my main machine, a straight stitcher, the only thing I've got on that one is the knee lift, and I really don't miss any of the other features. Only time I miss a thread cutter is when paper piecing, and I don't do that often enough for it to be a big issue.

This is my favorite feature, also (the presser foot staying in a slightly lifted position when done stitching). I used to have to lift my presser foot for every piece because fabric didn't feed in easily.

I also love the "hover" on my Bernina 590! The LED lighting is such an improvement and a big deal to me. Jumbo bobbin holds 70% more thread. Needle up/down. Thread cutter. Touch screen as opposed to knobs and buttons. A couple good alphabets. I had to trade my old Bernina just to get the blanket stitch for applique. If you're doing alphabets or decorative stitches, it's nice to have a 9mm needle plate hole.

As well as many of the above, I like my 9" versus 6" harp space. Especially if you do your own FMQ.

One feature I would like is a beep or something that alerts me to my bobbin running out. It would especially be important when FMQ as I always try to stop at a more inconspicuous spot.