Hello everyone. I've read the posts here on everyone's favorite machine for quilting, but I'd like to ask what may be a really dumb question. First of all, I'm shopping for a good machine to pursue quilting, one that has a great straight stitch for piecing, and can be used for machine quilting. My dumb question is this: can I assume that the higher end machines, such as the Janome 6600P, are good for piecing? Do they sew a good 1/4" seam without chewing the fabric or moving to one side? My top priority is getting a good machine for piecing, but I'd like it to have enough harp space for machine quilting. It seems like many quilters have favorite machines for piecing, but then different machines for quilting. I can only have one machine. Thanks for any advice!

Hi,

Welcome to the board, waving from Indiana, USA.

I am just beginning to quilt but can't answer you about what machine to buy.

I wanted to welcome you to the group. I am sure others here will let you know as they are very good quilters and lots of knowledge.

Karen

if all you really want it the good 1/4 inch seams you dont have to go to the high end janome all the janomes are good
machine quilting you need the longer area to get the quilts in

Hi Chewboo,

I just went to live chat and no one there, ha ha

Karen

Maybe I should rephrase my question. Does anyone have a machine that they are not pleased with the 1/4" foot? My little machine sews fine, but cannot sew a 1/4" seam. Feed dogs are too wide. I'd like to get a really good machine, but want to make sure the piecing is easy.

Hummmm....that question usually gets a lot of opinions, but since it's late on the East Coast, you may not get many tonight. I personally sew on a low end Brother, no fancy stitches, no needle up/down, etc. I can adjust the needle position, though, and I check it often for distance from the edge of my regular sewing foot. It works.

I have an inexpensive Brother XL3750 that does a nice job.. but I think the Bernina I have is a little easier.. and I think it's because of the way the foot is made rather than the machine itself.

Wow, looks who is still up playing on the quilting board, lol

Karen

Welcome to the board from Southern California!
I have an expensive Bernina and it does a great job with the 1/4" seams. I know there are a lot of lower priced machines that do a great job with the seams that you need for quilting. I have a regular size machine, I looked into the 9" throat machines but decided that I will later on, someday, buy myself a larger mid to long arm machine for quilting. I don't know if the extra 2" is that much better. Others will be able to answer that better!

I have a Janome 6600 on order (it hasn't come yet because we've got snow and ice here! rats!). Mostly to improve my FMQ capabilities, it's true. But a friend here has one (Katrine on the board) and HER piecing is perfection personified! With the 1/4" foot, you can move the needle position by small increments to make it scant, spot on or generous, whichever you want. This link is a UK site but I put it up to show the foot - you see it has a little guide at one side to keep the edge of your fabric straight? And the Acufeed system will ensure that the fabric feeds evenly. http://www.sewdevine.co.uk/product_i...roducts_id=468

:-D

EDITED to say - sorry, should have started with 'hello and welcome to the board'! :D

I have a 20 yr. old manual Janome...just bought a new 1/4 foot for it and it works great, after I figured out where to move the needle to. I marked that spot on the dial with a Sanford permanent marker so I won't forget where it is supposed to be.

You need a 1/4 foot with guide. It will change your quilting life.

There is a 1/4 foot with guide to fit all Brother machines.

You are going to try out the machine before you purchase, correct? If so, be sure to check out the 1/4" seam yourself.

Most of the new machines allow you to adjust the needle so that the fabric can completely cover the feed dogs while you are sewing the 1/4" seam. However, this is something you need to check out in person.

Here's something you may also want to check out -- whether the needle position can be retained in memory when you turn off the machine. I love my older Bernina 1230. It allows me to adjust the needle so that the fabric completely covers the feed dogs while I sew 1/4" seams. HOWEVER, it does not retain the last setting when I turn off the machine; it always restores the needle to its central "home" position. I cannot tell you how many times I sewed yards of pieces together with the wrong seam width because I sat down at the machine and forgot to reset the neede position when turning on the machine. (Now I place a piece of tape over the knob when I get up, to remind me the next time I sit down!) This is especially problematic for me when I can piece only sporadically rather than every day.

It would be really nice to be able to "instruct" the machine to retain your last needle setting. (I don't know if any machines actually do this.) All of the machines that do embroidery have the wider-set feed dogs, and most of the nicer new machines do embroidery, so I think it's pretty normal to have to adjust the needle position for a 1/4" seam. Having that as your "normal" setting would be really, really nice for us quilters!

I just bought an janome embroidery and the piecing is awsome.
I don`t know if the model you want has a cloth guide but if it does its great.
I use it and set the needle 3 positions over for scant and use the !/4 foot better than my phaff!
Gale

I love my Janome 6600, my pieceing has improved greatly. But it has alot of bells and whistles that you may not need or want. the feet you buy are not expensive either.
You could look into the Juki 98Q, it is a work horse, industrial machine.simple straight stitching..solid,not plastic. 9" throat.and half the price of the 6600.
i would advise you to find a sew and vac dealer, where you can test drive the machines your thinking about. Bring a quilt sandwich with you, and go play with them.

In the early 90's I worked for a Bernina dealer who also did custom dressmaking and alterations to survive. I purchased three different machines from her. We used bernina machines in the shop to do the sewing for customers. I learned early on that the machines that did the biggest decorative stitches and then the ones that also did embroidery had the least stable straight stitch. When the 1630 came out that did the really wide decorative stitches I did not like working on it because it could sew in 16 different directions. To my "quilt" oriented mind that meant "wobble". I was able to purchase a 1260 with my employee discount. While it did lots of decorative stitches it was much more stable in the straight stitches I needed for quilting. I also own a Bernina embroidery machine but it is an entirely seperate machine that only does embroidery.
If you are only interested in piecing accurately look for a machine that does basically straight stitching.
I don't machine quilt anything bigger than crib or lap size as I am basically a handquilter.

Thanks so much ladies! Wow. I'm so glad to be a part of this forum. What a great community.

The Pfaff with the built in walking foot is the best ever! I've used other machines in our shop and this does the best job. Also, a single needle plate helps a lot,too. It keeps your fabric from being sucked down under.

I dont have a lot of expierience with many machines but I love my Viking Sapphire. It is an older model so not as expensive anymore. I paid 1100 new and it has come down alot from that price.
It is computerized, has a 1/4 in. setting and you can move the needle for a scant 1/4 in, which you will need to do on occasion.
It has a 10 in. throat which has become a necessity for me.
It also has needle down and that also is a necessity for me.
It has a drop in bobbin which is very easy to change even in the middle of sewing and filling a bobbin is easy too.
My only complaint is the throat is low so changing the foot is a hassle because your hand gets in the way.
I dont have a problem with it pulling the fabric to the side at the end of a seam either.

it is easy to avoid the fabric going down into the hole..if you can't get a single hole needle plate..(which i have and don't use) You simple use a Leader piece of fabric..
go to
www.quiltville.com
and see how Bonnie uses leaders/enders.. and what you can do with them!

Yep, I agree! I just learned to quilt a few weeks ago and the first few days, I had to do without the rail/guide on the foot. A few days later, I found a 1/4 inch with a guide and it is SO much better!

I love my Janome 6600. You won't be disappointed.

If you have only one machine a straight stitch machine with wide throat would do both things. I use my Brother 1500 for quilting. I could also piece on it but prefer my Featherweight or Janome. If I could only have one I would have to go with the Brother because you can't quiilt easily on small throat machine. I bought one secondhand a few years ago and it is perfect. The new machines that do everything including embroidery are great for some things but I find that you can not sew on them for hours as computers can overheat. They also do not make as nice a straight stitch. I haven't used a Juki but understand they do the samething as Brother 1500.

Hi I have a Brother Innova 4400D and it is a embroidery and regular and it does a great job. I also have a Janome 6500 and that is on my quilt frame but I have used it just sewing and the 1/4 " seam is great and the free motion is wonderful. Before I put it on my frame I used this alot. Loved the fancy stitches.
also have a Babylock ESL and Haven't done much with it but it doesn't have a 1/4" foot so when I hit the dealer soon I'm going to purchase one. Good Luck but check out everyone of the machines that the dealer has so you can get a good idea of what you want. kjym Kathy

I have two Pfaffs and one for quilting. The older one does a good job on the 1/4" with the 1/4" foot but I still have to pay attention how I feed the fabric. (Love the built-in walking foot). My newer Pfaff is very persnickety with thin fabric and it sucks the corners down into the feed dogs (even with a leader strip) Regular cotton piecing is handled quite nicely.

If I had to do it again, I would check out the Janome.

I like my Singer Featherweight for piecing. I can be more accurate and the needleplate is single. I use several layers of painters tape to mark where a scant 1/4 " seam edge should ride. It works well for me. I have used a lot of different machines and prefer this for piecing. I use my new Viking for machine quilting, etc.This is my first comment on this site. I have been enjoying all the comments for several weeks now.

I too love my 1/4 " foot with the guide. It helps keep my seams consistent. So does taping an index card or a post it on the machine, just to keep a long guide line.

For my bernina, I had to buy a extra foot to get a good 1/4 inch seam.

Sharon

Bonnie Hunter has a good test for whether or not your machine does an accurate 1/4 inch seam using an index card. See her website at www.quiltville.com. I have a Viking Rose and I'm very happy with my 1/4 foot. I did, however, just order a different foot that has an edger on the side. I am looking forward to trying that out.

I agree, I chose Pfaff over Bernina because of the built in walking foot!

I recently bought the babylock decorator's choice machine. There is a setting that measures 1/4 inch from the edge of the presser foot. I have been working on a butterfly quilt that has lots of small pointed edges. Piecing the entire quilt, I had no problem whatsoever with the fabric feeding improperly. It's a great machine (but a bit pricy).

yes, she does! you can also use quilters 1/4" tape.
i also used "white out" on the inside of the black bar on the foot..so i can see it better...

when using a leader like bonnie suggests, i find that sometimes you start,with the fabric tight up against the bar..then as you finish sewing the piece, i tended to sort of relax and let it go, therefore, the 1/4" seam was narrow at the start of the piece, and a bit wider at the end of the piece..the leader and ender took care of that little issue for me..

http://www.husqvarnaviking.com//medi..._facelift.html

This machin will run around $1599 on sale around here for $1299 for the sew expo. Not tyring to sell a Viking but I luve them. watch this vidio. you want to be able to move the needle position, and a 1/4 in foot and this has a larger open space to roll a quilt , and is a back up machine I'd like to get. I wanted the modle before these but didn't get one. Havent seen these new ones but I know I have Vikings and I love them all. All machine you can get a 1/4 in seam you just need to find where it is. Usualy the foot is the biggest priblem for some are real wide and if you can'tmove the needle position it is hard to keep a good 1/4 in seam. Also If I remember this one had the sencor foot and the needle threader. You really get a lot on thers Sapphires... Remember not everyone drives a FORD . I hope this is helpful.

OH and I should add my feather weight does a beatiful 1/4 in seams as the treddle does also so just saying again you can do a 1/4 in seam on most all machines and if it is not a good 1/4in seam it is because the foot or the tension.
And I might add a nothe tid bit... with the Viking and the scensor foot you do not have to use an expencive walking foot. YOU do not I promis need one... I have a new one in a bok over 15 years old I havent ever used. Wish I hadn't of spent the 50 some it was way back then but some people said I must have it.... Ol well if I ever sell the machine it has one.
My Oldest Viking is over 20 years old and still purrs like a kitty.
It is the #1. That is the name of the machine. I worked for Viking for 20 years. I have seen all machines come in... Have demoed all of them.

I like my Viking Mega-Quilter. One thing that is important is that yur quarter-inch seam is consistant throughout the quilt you are constructing.

I just bought a new Bernette 46 by Bernina. It has a perfect 1/4 seam. But it also has a 1/4 inch seam foot. That makes it really nice. This machine was only $160.00 and the 1/4 inch foot was $7.00. Also bought a walking foot. I'm told by everyone that this is a very good machine for the price. Hope this helps. Love my little Bernett 46.
Deatle

Wow! Am I doing something wrong? I have an older Janome Memory Craft 9000. I bought it used. Only paid $4oo for it. I was so excited about it but now I must say that I am a little disappointed! It has the 1/4 foot and I have used it but it is a little wider than 1/4 inch! This machine has 3 needle positions. However, it doesn't sew a nice straight stitch unless it is in the center position! Any advice?
Bills Girl

Get a 1/4 foot. check it and sew and sew

I have a 15 year old Pfaff with the built in walking foot and I wouldn't trade it for anything, even my Mega-Quilter. I use the Pfaff to piece my quilts and the Mega for quilting.