Machine Speed
 

Just curious how many use their machines at anywhere near the top speed. I have been sewing for over 40 years but find the top speeds are too fast for me. I use an anti vibration mat but it still shakes my table. I stop frequently to remove pins and slow down when crossing seams for matching and it seems silly to race for a few inches just to slow down or stop over and over. Even when sewing on borders or sewing curtains I don’t use top speeds.

Am I in the minority on this one or do you feel the same way?

The only time I turn my machine to high speed is to spin a bobbin. Sometimes I forget to slide the bar back and it will scare me a bit when I start sewing again! I don’t use top speeds because I don’t feel I have as much control but sometimes I wish I could. I have so many quilts that I want to make that it would be nice to get to them faster but I don’t want to sacrifice accuracy.

I never use the high speed on my machine. I am a slow and steady person and I feel I get better even seams that way

I use the higher speeds when I'm sewing long seams like borders. If I need to pin, I use a dot of glue and go full steam ahead.

You will find that if you move your machine to the end of the table, so it sits directly on top of a table leg, it will lessen the vibration. If you're using something lightweight, like a card table, you'll get vibration no matter what. But if your table is solid and has good support underneath, such as a beam connecting the legs under the table's surface, it won't vibrate at all.

I sew very slowly, that is why my mid arm just scared me to death, finally gave it away. Had it for 4 years and never used it, such a waste so gave it to some one who would use it.

I never go over 1/2 speed and then only on long seams, like sewing strips together.

On my mid arm, I sew at 13% of what my machine can do. If I ever went 100% I think it would chew me up.

Watson

I can start zipping together pretty fast but nowhere near top speed. I'm really variable and like the control of a foot pedal as opposed to pre-determined on/off buttons.

My top speed on my machine doesn't seem to be all that fast compared to what I've seen in youtube tutorials, etc. I generally sew at about 1/2 or 3/4 speed. I'm finding the slower I go the better I sew.

I only use the top speed to wind bobbins. For piecing I usually sew at about 1/2 speed- my seams are more accurate that way.

When FMQ I go faster for bigger areas and slower when doing dense fills. Same with ruler work. I usually have my Sweet Sixteen set somewhere between 25% and 60% of its top speed.
Rob

It depends on the item being sewn. There is a rhythm with stitching and if I sew too slow or fast I mess up. Generally, my machine is at 3/4 speed. Bulky seams like binding are stitched slower.

I have a pivot function so can lift up with the foot pedal and set it to stop with either needle down/up. I like needle down so I can pivot or hold the fabric in place.

The embroidery machine is set for top speed as the machine is made for it.

If I go too fast on my high speed machine I lose control.

So this discussion reminds me of the first quilt class I took 20 years ago. I had very little sewing experience, and I had to borrow one of the store's machines. I was stitching along on my Log Cabin blocks thinking how hard it was to keep everything straight and keep my seam allowance accurate. A sales person came over and said I was sewing too slowly; that I needed to speed up. I was so confused. How could I go faster and keep things straight? Was there some sort of speed magic I didn't know about? I just could not fathom how I could ever go faster and not end up with ruined, off-kilter blocks.

I agree with Rhonda K, it depends on the project. When I am stitching blocks, and matching up seams, quarter to half speed for me is plenty. I have been make lots of jelly roll rugs and table runners. When I am sewing the cord for them, I stitch full speed, then when they are zigzagged together, again full speed after the first few rounds. There is a rhythm to this type of project when at full speed, but for me, slower is better when piecing.

I have also heard that sewing at a "slow speed" all the time is hard on the machine motor. It can damage an expensive machine. I don't know where I read this. So I have been trying to go at least at the midpoint. The machine sounds better.

I never go faster than half-speed on my Janome 6600. I quilt at about 25% on my Tiara sit-down. When I watch some of the You-Tube videos, I'm astonished at how fast and how inaccurate some of the quilters are.

My accuracy really suffers if I go faster than half speed. I've been quilting for over 20 years, and I still have trouble sewing a straight line!

Leslie

I don't sew at top speed. I have an older machine that getting parts for takes a literal Act of Congress because there's just no spare parts to find, so I'm super, super careful with it. My machine also doesn't do the whole start slow then move up in speed, as soon as I touch the knee press, I'm off to the races, so I start and stop a lot when I first start on a new project or I haven't been at the machine in quite some time. I'd rather be slow and accurate than fast and have issues anyway, so it works to my benefit.

I usually sew slowly. Sometimes stitch by stitch.

I also have my speed control at about the middle...I am more concerned with precise piecing rather than how quickly to reach the finish line. Medium speed seems to be my best.

i only use high speed for bobbin

I’m not a speed sewer at all, not even close! Longarm is faster than when I’m piecing, but not super fast either. Like all things, different speeds for different folks. When I took a longarm class I needed a couple of practice tops since I had no tops ready, I purchased 2 practice tops on Etsy, and was appalled at the seams. I spent several hours ripping and re-sewing them. Some seams were totally missed altogether, some were less than an 1/8 of a inch, etc. . I reached out to the seller and expressed my concerns and she stated that she was a “speed sewer” and it never occurred to her to check her work when she was done. 😳

I recently ran my machine at top speed, but it was for a very long seam when I was sewing the backing together. Other than that, I generally run 1/2 speed or maybe a bit faster. Complicated piecing, I use slower than that.

my newest machine startled me the first time i went top speed. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/eek.png
it's the fastest machine i've owned to date.
now that i'm used to it i will put the pedal to the metal when i can.
most of the time, though, i plod along at about 3/4 max.
i will crawl if it's the only way to maintain accuracy on that project.

I use full speed to test a sewing table. If my machine shakes I know the table isn't a good sewing table. At sewdays or retreats the tables are never the best so sewing slow is a must.

I do Not use full speed on anything. Not embroidery, straight seams, FMQ, winding a bobbin, nothing. I feel that I lose control and accuracy. Sewing slower works better for me.

Ican take my machines up close to the top for only moments at a time. I mostly stay in the mid range of my speed control. That is where I am comfortable. Especially when sewing blocks or putting on a binding, like I am today, I want a bit of speed but do not want to lose control of what I am making.

I go fast when winding bobbins and when FMQing. Going too slow will not give me even stitches.

My machine is meant to be sewn fast.

Interesting to hear what people do. For me I stitch as fast as I can control. Winding a bobbin, FMQ full out. Sewing strips together and other long seams--full out. Slow-rarely.

most videos look faster than it actually is because of camera speed.

My machine's top speed isn't all that fast. I keep it set on top speed, but I use a foot pedal and mostly sew slowly. If I'm piecing long strips or finishing fabric edges I'll go fast. I certainly hope I'm not ruining my machine by going slowly! There is nothing in the manual that warns about going slowly.

I've only ever run mine at full tilt when servicing. On projects likes of gowns with long seams, etc then i'd say about ¾ speed maximum (about 800 rpm) which is plenty fast enough for myself. But for most jobs, the speed is much much slower for accuracy https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png

I have an Elna eXcellence 760 and I have a tendency to sew too fast when in a hurry to finish a project. I just got it back from the sewing repair shop 4 days ago. An $89.00 repair that has taught me to slow down as I sure don't want to go through that again. The thread had somehow hooked around a large screw on the bar that runs up and down while sewing and that screw was jammed tight full of thread. The repair man advised me that slowing my speed would save me that kind of cleanup again. I was very lucky it was not worse! My most expensive machine and will definitely take better care in my use of it.

I'd rather sew slower and get it right the first time. I usually sew at half speed, but sometimes even less.

This is interesting...not one person mentioned that if they sewed too fast, the stitch length shortened. That was a problem I was having with my Husqvarna and I could not figure out what to do to correct it...drove me crazy. Then I acquired a Bernina 1008 and I couldn't believe how fast I could sew and the stitch length stayed exactly where I set It! I sold the Husqvarna with all the fancy stitches and computerized readout and now I use the old Bernina mechanical machine and love it!

I go top speed when bobbin winding, that's it. Otherwise I'd estimate I'm at half to three quarter speed, or slower if I feel it's required.

I did once have a complaint that I was irritating someone else (a quilter) in the room by sewing too slowly. I wasn't going particularly slowly, and wasn't going at a noticeably different speed from others in the room, but for some reason I was picked out to be complained about. I've always thought that was odd, and said so at the time, lol.

I find that odd, too!
The only time I've been irritated by another person's machine was at a retreat when another quilter was doing satin-stitched applique. She had the pedal to the medal but because it was satin stitch, it was slow going. Her machine was really loud, so loud that you couldn't chit chat with your neighbor. We all tolerated it for an hour or so (without compaint!), then we decided to go get coffee and go shop-hopping, and she stayed behind to finish her satin stitching. 😁

I have to take my time. I've always been that way.

I'm a speed sewer. I get impatient with slower speeds. My speed setting is set to "rabbit" permanently (It's a Juki so the settings are between a rabbit and a turtle, LOL!) You can totally sew accurately at high speeds. Hold the fabrics above and below and just GO from point to point. You will get a straighter, nicer line than if you were plodding along. Love the high speed for sashings and borders, but really I use it for anything.

On my longarm, I sew at 85% to 90% of the max. Gotta get those puppies done!

Probably not... don't worry.

One shop owner that I watch on YouTube frequently tells viewers how she "has to" race her machine at full speed like it's a contest to see who can sew the fastest. I'm with many others of you-I sew at medium speed as it is as fast as I can control and still be accurate. I don't think it should be a contest, it should be about control and accuracy.