How do you know what features to look in a machine?
 

I wanted to start sewing clothes 13 years ago and did a ton of research into SM features. There was a lot of info online and I was positive that I wanted a Husqvarna Emerald 118. I went to the local dealer, she showed me the features and I ordered one on the spot for $500 CAD. I LOVED it and am so glad I picked it.


I turned to quilting about 9 years ago and haven't made clothes since (except pj pants) and my SM has been great. But my quilting skills/goal have outgrown the machine. I stopped quilting 4 years ago, picked it up with covid and am realizing that the issue is the machine doesn't meet my needs anymore. I need a larger throat. I need a machine that I can free motion quilt. I had purchased a couple feet to allow me to free motion but they didn't do an ideal job when I bought them years ago...and I have tried to put them on again recently and use them but no matter the youtube videos I watch I can't figure out how they work anymore. And I want them to look better than they did. I can only SITD with a normal walking foot and it doesn't look nice on larger quilts. I want an upgrade.


But I also find I want to experiment with applique more, doing a dresden quilt now. I don't even have a satin stitch and that's the one I want, the emerald 118 hardly has any stitches. Doing a zig zag with no space between doesn't work - we tried it at an applique class I took.


I have a janome, pfaff and viking dealers in my area, but I am very loyal the the store that sells pfaff and vikings. Just before Christmas I went in with a budget of $3000 and told her I wanted a quilting machine. The person who knows about the machines came out with pamphlets and said to either buy a opal 690q or a quilt ambition 630 and that they were basically the same. (just under $2000) She told me since I was used to vikings that she recommended I stick with them. That's it. Gave me the pamphlets and waited for any questions I had, but I don't know what to ask so that was that.


I know I love my needle up/down, and speed control. I want to applique things on quilts and wall hangings. I also want to put words on the wall hanging in big fabric letters but also wonder if there are QM that embroider smaller letters? I don't want an embroidery machine though. I want to free motion quilts and have flexibility there. I don't know what else I need or want though...


I google QM online there is a HUGE price difference so it's hard to know what is a need vs want vs dream feature. I want to go in the end of May again and demo them and get a better feel for them with the intent to purchase in July.


I feel a bit nervous/lost in what to look for even a bit overwhelmed to make a big purchase during a pandemic. I want this machine to meet my needs for at least 10+ years...I don't anticipate upgrading afterwards. What should I ask? Look for? What features are great in my price range, which aren't necessary?

Good questions!

There are different things people mean when they say a quilting machine. Sometimes that is a general all around machine that you can do all sorts of things on, including quilting. Sometimes it is a machine dedicated to just quilting, like a long arm. When talking to dealers, you have to stress "quilting as in every day/heavy duty usage". For examples there are cheap Brothers that just will not hold up even though they may say stuff about what they can do with quilting, and there are expensive ones that might be great choices for you.

From looking at the Husqvarna, I think the biggest thing you need is more throat space. The Pfaff 630 does have alphabets -- most machines these days do, depends on if the size you want or not. The 8" throat is ok, not huge. With the desire to do FMQ -- I see no integrated walking foot feature, or stitch regulator? Different brand but for Bernina there is the BSR
https://www.bernina.com/en-US/Footer...-Regulator-BSR

I understand brand loyalty -- but if I had a budget and space, I might look at the midarm/sit down machines like maybe Babylock and I know several people here have different set-ups. Will be interesting to me to see their comments. :)

JANOMES ARE GREAT machines for the money. For budgeting, find a machine you like, call we severalon line dealers, then let your local store know that you can get X machine at no tax....they may match that price. D &H Sewing and KensSewing.com can also help you find the right machine with your features and budget.

I understand wanting more throat space. I bought a Juki 2200 QVP Mini for the throat space and FMQ. I've been happy with it. But I don't understand the problem with the FMQ feet. What type of problem are you having? I've found that most often when my FMQ isn't as good as I'd like it, it's a problem with how I'm moving the fabric and not a problem with the foot at all. Could this be the case with you?

Buy two. One straight stitch only either Juki, BabyLoc, or Brother. All are made with the same features and you have the large throat space and they last for decade being all mechanical.
Get a second machine for piecing and decorative stitches. You can get both for about $1500 or less.
I wouldn't invest in a thousands of dollars machine for sewing quilt blocks. I rather have a new regular sewing machine every few years that I'm not stressed about it breaking or messing up and requiring hundreds of dollars of repair. Now if my piecing machine which is a Brother 420 (six years old) goes belly up no big deal.
I paid about $378, so it has cost me $50 a year. It has auto thread cutter, knee lift, needle position, neeld up/down, start/stop button or foot control. Low med and high speed settings and needle threader. Those are the features I want in any regular sewing machine and they are available without paying a fortune for them.

I myself am very partial to Pfaffs. I sold Vikings 13 yo but bought a Pfaff (which didn't go well with my boss lol). I started with a 2058 then bought a 2170 embroidery / sewing machine. Later I wanted larger harp and bought a Creative 2.0 and now am sewing on a Creative 4.0.

I purchased the Pfaff for the built in walking foot (they call it the IDT system). One thing is all the feet I have ever purchased for any of these machines fit all the others. All these Pfaffs were used machines - one first one was from a dealer the others found and purchased off craigslist.

All the dealers you listed carry good quality machines. My list of "must haves" for piecing machines is needle up and needle down, ability to move the needle position left and right, built in walking foot, a straight stitch needle plate with an option to lock the needle from moving left to right and a variety of stitches. A lot of machines have built in alphabets. I have a long arm so if you are looking for a machine for free motion I have no recommendations for a machine there. One other question you need to answer is are you interested in a machine that embroiders as well as sews?

I would take time and go to all three dealers and sew on every machine available (new and used imho).- take notes on the ones you like and if you decide on one do not hesitate to negotiate. For a lot of dealers, while the price might be non negotiable, they may be willing to throw in extra feet (a new 1/4 foot maybe, welting foot, ..... etc ) and other items to make the sale. If you are a confident sewer and comfortable with machines you could look at used machines as well.

Good luck with your choice!!

I would want the automatic needle threader and drop in bobbin, also. I also agree with eparys/betty.

I just bought a Viking Topaz 40 which is about the price range you are talking about. It has a lot of fancy stitches including a variety of applique stitches and quilting stitches. It does not have a stitch regulator....the only DSM machines that have that as far as I know are the mid and higher end Berninas. (I also just got a Bernina 590 too...ok, I may be a bit crazy). The Bernina has a stitch regular you can use with free motion quilting. but, it is higher than your price range. Both of these machines came with the embroidery arm and both came with some quilting embroidery designs you can use on your quilts. Neither of these two machines have those really huge throat spaces as I wanted a DSM that I could actually lift and carry around. I do have a long arm also for my quilting. Free motion quilting really does take practice. and some people decide they would rather quilt by check. If you go to sewing mastery . com. They have a lot of videos on both berninas and vikings.

^ Very wise advice ^

I got a new Janome a year ago Christmas. I love it! I use it for piecing and applique.