Good basic sewing machine for beginner quilter?
 

A good friend of mine has been bitten by the quilting bug-yay! She wants me to go machine shopping with her-she has been using her daughter's Singer, but after sewing on my Bernina, she would like to get something a little more functional than what she has been using. Her budget is $500. Reading reviews online, Brothers seem to be popular...any suggestions on specific models, or other brands? I watched a YouTube video review of a basic Janome, and to be honest, it didn't look like it had the features I think are necessary-needle down being one. Thank you!

I have the Brother CS6000i which I really like. It comes with a quilting walking foot. I got mine from Amazon but I am sure they sell them in other places possibly WalMart.

sewing machine
 

I have always wanted a bernina, but they are so expensive. My first computerized machine was a Brothers Novice 1200, but Brothers don't make it any more. I was able to save money quickly to buy it. I bring it with to sewing class because it is light weight and had no problems and had it for 10 years. I was inspired by some of the ladies in my sewing classes by using old feather weight Singers. I was so inspired I took my old machine out, oiled it and use it for piecing. I forgot what beautiful stitching it sewed. It is very important also to choice a machine that your can bring it to someone that can fixed your machine.

What features does she want and what are her "must haves"? There are Janome models in the $300-400 range with needle up/down. I liked my DC 1050, and have heard great things about the Janome 7330 Magnolia as well. Brother makes good ones under $500 as well, with lots of features. I advise she test drive some different ones if possible. One will just "feel right" and she won't want to leave the store without it!

Just based on my experience, I would recommend Janome or Babylock.

Even the low end Brother's and Janome's have a pretty good reputation, which can't be said for the new Singer's. I would suggest going to a dealer, that way you get service and lessons on the particular machine, whichever one she picks.

For a beginner, I don't think needle down is that important. I rarely use that option on my Bernina.

I love the option to have the needle down! I would not get one without it!

We have discussed this topic a lot of times before. It is all a matter of personal preference, desired features, price, etc. Even the basic Brother machines get good praise from those of us who use/have them vs. hearsay from folks who don't. I have several basic Brothers, one at each son's house and I have never needed a dealer. The instruction manuals are very good and easy to follow. There usually is one at Costco at any given time. Try using the search function and see what else you can come up with.

I love my Juki TL2010Q! It costs roughly double what she wants to spend, but it's all metal and is built for quilting. If she's going to be primarily quilting, it would be a great investment. Will make her quilting easier and more pleasurable.

The only other machine I have used besides my bernina's was a janome quilter's model. Sorry I can't remember the name of the model. Low cost and had many feet with it related to quilting. It was a very nice machine and buying the extra accessory feet was so inexpensive I was able to buy them all for a song compared to the bernina feet. It worked really well and there was no oiling. All that was sealed in a compartment. I just could not get used to it since I had always worked with a bernina. I am sure you understand. I sold it here on the board and the lady was very happy with it. It was within her range with all of the feet!

Do you have any local dealers? If she is willing to spend up to $500.00 she may be able to get a fantastic machine someone traded in. Some dealers will get a limited warranty on such machines. (Mine gives 90 days.) They also sell demo machines with a good discount.

My sister bought her Brother machine at Costco many years ago, it game with the extended table and loves it. It was called a quilting machine it was on sale and about $200.00. She said the working directions were easy to follow. She took a class but that was to learn how to make t-shirts. I gave her a little featherweight to take to classes, but at home she is still using her Brother.

I picked up the Brother XR3140 for a couple hundred. It comes with a table insert, a number of feet. Its a great little machine that is light enough take to classes but strong enough to sew thru a number of layers of fabrics. I bought it just to do my long borders and bindings for my quilts. I set it up at one end of my cutting table so I could lay the large quilt on the table without having it hang over the side. Its a great little machine in my book. Plus my Babylock embroidery machine uses the same feet and bobbins so I can interchange them if necessary.

I am fascinated by the comments about the features and feet needed to quilt in the above comments. My old 830 uses one foot (1) and I have never taken the zigzag lever out of straight. The only other foot I have used is the walking foot for doing long quilting lines and bindings.
As far as I can tell, you use a simple zigzag for applique work and straight for everything else. And I don't do applique.
So for a first machine, a 1970s Bernina 830 that has been gone over by a Bernina repair expert, with the extended table. It will last forever, mine I have abused for 10 years now and it just keeps on ticking. It is strong enough to actually quilt tops, you can roll a whole lot of quilt into it (I've quilted queen size quilts with it), and as others have said, Bernina stitches are beautiful. No, it does not self thread and no, it does not stop needle down (except when it feels like it). Small price to pay for a tremendous first (and in my case) last machine. tim in san jose

I always recommend a nice, inexpensive ($139-$179) Brother from Walmart. User friendly, have speed control and features that come in handy, plenty of stitches to play with and will hold up for years giving your friend time to decide if she will continue sewing and wants to upgrade. ( I've had plenty of friends who lost interest 2-3 years down the road & were happy to not have an expensive machine taking up space. ) one of my aunts spent $500+ on a Janome, made one quilt, hemmed 3 pairs of pants & never used it again-- it sat in the corner for over 10 years until she passed away & I inherited it. There is no reason to spend big bucks until you are ready to make an upgrade, know you will get the use out of it.

Brother PC-420 is a popular model

This is also good advice. My Walmart brother is a little workhorse.

Needle down is one of my favorites. That being said, I agree that it isn't a have-to-have for a beginner.

I have a Bernina 440-they do not loose their value nearly as much as some of the less expensive ones. I purchased a Janome 6600 last year with a lot more features for a lot less money and have been satisfied with it. I mostly quilt on it.

I love my Janome 7318. I bought it as a beginner machine but truly, it's been fabulous for me. I have made 10 quilts, all pieced and quilted on it (SID and FMQ) and I still love it. It was only $250 when I purchased it, and came with lots of accessories. It doesn't have the needle down, but I wasn't willing to spend $100 more just to get it. I like that it's not computerized, since I wanted to learn on a mechanical machine first. Figured it was less electronic parts to break. It has 6.5in from the needle to the base and I've quilted up to a 108" quilt on it.

Friend of mine has the Brother CS6000i which is currently going for $150 on Amazon. Comes with extended table, walking foot, hopping foot for fmq, and other accessories. Also has needle down. And 6000 reviews and it's still 4.5 stars. Just depends on what she's looking for :)

It looks like Bernina has now partnered with Brewer to create an entry level sewing machine. Here is the webpage: http://www.brewersewing.com/c-418-sa...-machines.aspx The brand name is Eversewn. There are 3 machines starting at 149.99 on Amazon.

Thank you for the link, Caspharm. Interesting little machine! I will start searching for more info.

Me too. I love needle down...I would miss this feature.

I don't know about other machines but Brother has a push button thread cutter I wouldn't be without. Have a cheap Singer and hate it.

I prefer the straight stitch machines as that is all I use. I have a Juki TL98QE and Babylock Jane. They have served me very well.

I would buy a used name brand, Viking, Bernina, Pfaff, Babylock. I think you can get more for your money by not buying new. Just my experience.

I have had a Brother PC420 for 6 years now and I remain a satisfied customer. The price is just under $400 through amazon.com.

https://www.amazon.com/Brother-PC420...ct_top?ie=UTF8

I love the easy to understand manual, hard cover, automatic thread cutter, bobbin winder, and automatic threader.

Excellent budget. The best machine for her is the one she bonds with. Go shopping!

sandy

I love my Juki also!

The Janome Gem was one that beginners used. I don't know if that is still made but it was a good un

The Husqvarna Viking Emerald 116 is a good beginner machine.

Thanks for all of the input! We went shopping today, and she now owns a Janome Magnolia. Seems like a great little machine! No one in our area carries Brothers that are available to test drive, so that limited her options a bit, but she tried 3or 4 different brands.
Thanks again!

Congratulations to your friend! I don't think she will regret her purchase. My Magnolia has been going for over 4 years now and I've never had to take it in for any issues or servicing. The generic feet you can purchase on Amazon do fit and work well. I bought a walking foot and an open toed embroidery (hopping/fmq) foot very reasonably and both have worked great on my machine.