need (want) another machine
 

I read on Leah Day forum not to expect to both piece and fmq successfully on the same machine. I bought a Bernina 180 expecting to be able to piece on it, (it fmq's very well, haven't used the embroidery unit) but due to the wide feed's it tends to twist & does not sew a good 1/4" seam. I've tried several methods of marking the seam, tape, 1/4" foot, magnetic do dad, sticky pad, moving needle etc. Everything I could think of or read about. Nothing works. (I have a 221 Featherweight for piecing but can't fmq on it). I don't want to invest a lot, have a Janome 6600P but it's too heavy to move to the family room where I sew in the winter. The Janome has spoiled me but I want a machine that is good and solid but not too heavy to move, has needle threader, start & stop, basically one I can fmq or piece. I HATE to keep switching machines, don't have enough room to set up 2 at the same time. I'd like to sell or trade the 180 but live a long way to the nearest shop that takes trade in's. Same thing for selling, live in rural area but no need to keep a machine I can't use or don't like but cost too much to give away. Any suggestions or recommendations??

I think, if you are talking moving it once in the fall and moving it back in the spring, then I'd ask a neighbor teen to come help you for about 5 min. Give him/her a bag of Doritos and some salsa (if you feel extravagent) and call it good. I don't think you are going to find a "cheap" replacement for your 6600 that will be equivalent. That would be like going from Moda fabric to the cheapest brand of Walmart fabric. Your cheap machine may work, but it won't act or feel the same.

I have a Brother pq1500s that does all my piecing and quilting ! I have never had a problem with it performing beautifully for either job ! It has a nice size throat as well so that is a nice plus ! It does not have a stop/start but it does have 4 feed dog settings, adjustable foot pressure, auto threader, and needle up/down.

I've never heard that advice about not expecting to be able to piece and FMQ on the same machine. I hate to say it sounds like drivel, but, well, it does. Or maybe I have just been lucky. I haven't found a machine that wasn't fit for piecing, although some may be easier than others because of their bells and whistles. People do FMQ on their Featherweights, although the throat is small.

Is it possible that your 180 needs adjustment? It shouldn't be twisting the fabric. I'm not familiar with the 180, but I have no problem piecing on my 440, and doing FMQ on it too. I found this review of the 180 - http://lovestoquilt.com/guild.asp?ar...t/000605_a.asp
The reviewer states that the 1/4" foot doesn't work well with the 180, but tells how she was able to get a 1/4" seam using the all purpose foot and needle position #7. She states that the Bernina fed the fabric evenly without a problem.

I agree, I have done piecing and quillting on dreamy with no problems but I also never move my machine as it weighs about 50lbs

Leah Day is a pro and has books, classes, and a huge following. She probably knows good reasons for two machines from experience. For me it's because it s a pain in the butt to set up one machine to do both. Change the feet, change the needle, change the tension, test sew, before I can start sewing. I have a Bernina I use for piecing but won't use it for machine quilting even though it does a great job. I have a Brother 1500 I use for quilting but won't use it for piecing even though it does a great job.

I purchased a straight stitch plate for my Bernina when I am piecing. I love it! It makes piecing so much easier. The only thing, when I turn the machine off, I have to remember my settings or I will break a needle, since the default setting is different from the settings I use with the straight stitch plate. You can find this accessory and many others at your Bernina dealer. Oh, and if you subscribe to the Bernina newsletter, every month they feature a presser foot and they give a 25% discount on that foot. Plus, the Bernina newsletter is free and is full of projects. FYI, I am not affiliated with Bernina, I just own one.

Just because it is on a forum doesn't mean it is true. forum members all have opinions on everything, doesn't make anyone right.


What a load of codswallop.

Get the single hole plate for you 6600, mine was about 25 bucks.

I have a Janome Horizon 7700 and use it for both. Takes about 1 minute (or less) to change from piecing to FMQ foot and a flip of the switch to lift the feed dogs.

I tend to agree with dunster and quilter2090.

I never heard about different machines for piecing/sewing and fmq'ing. None of my quilting friends has ever shared this either. We use what we have.

I do wonder if you are using the straight stitch throat plate though. Using this would help you considerably with fmq'ing.

I think the extra wide feed dogs on embroidery-enabled machines may make getting an accurate scant 1/4" seam more problematic. Aside from being so wide, the feed dogs are also designed to accommodate multi-directional feeding. One reason vintage featherweights do such a nice piecing seam is because the feed dogs are quite narrow; another reason is because the feed dogs are designed to feed fabric in only two directions (forward and back).

Several people have mentioned the Pfaff Passport 2.0 as being a wonderful lightweight machine. I believe some of the lighter-weight Janomes also have the features you are looking for. The advantage of the Pfaff is the IDT. If I can find them, I will link one or two recent threads about these types of machines.

Edit: Okay, here's one thread:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t241649.html
and here's another:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t238748.html

I've never heard of not being able to piece and FMQ on the same machine, I do both on any of my machines, although my FMQ sure isn't the greatest, I've never had any problems doing either.

I respectfully disagree with her observations also. My machines can and do piece and quilt with ease. Lots of practice with samples for reference allows me to adjust the machines as needed to do whatever the project calls for.

Oh ladies I have a few machines and I definitely prefer to use a different machine different action. Embroidery machine in horn cabinet. Juki is on quilt frame bernina and viking bothe sit in a sewing table.

I have several Bernina's, 131, 140, 830 and formerly 200e. I found that using the straight stitch throat plate works best for 1/4 inch with the #37 pressure foot. I'm not a fan of the #57, but that's personal. If you can't sell your machine, think about donating it to a school or 4H group. You might be able to get a tax deduction. Personally, I'd try purchasing the throat plate first. I've done FMQ and stitching on all my machines.

get a table with wheels for your 6600.
roll it back forth when it's time to move.

For piecing I use my Pfaff 4.0 because it has the IDT, don't do any FMQ. And since I do a lot of PP, I keep my Brother 1500 set up just for that. I have somewhat limited space, so have to get one or the other out of the closet depending on what I want to do.

I have 7 machines and use them all. However, I CAN piece and FMQ on my Pfaff 7570. Before I got a Juki, that is what I did. I use a straight stitch throat plate on the Pfaff for all my piecing.

I think it all comes down to personal experiences which are posted. I can do the same tasks on both of my machines. My cousin has about 8-9 machines and to her it boils down to her mood and which machine she feels like using. She is also a long armer.

So first of all, I don't think this is an opinion held by Leah Day, since she's stated several times she uses her 8900 for both piecing and FMQ. This sounds like some random person in a quilt forum somewhere making the statement, not Leah herself.

I never knew there were Leah Day quilt forums ... where are they?

I also have this machine. Use it for both. I have never heard of such a thing. Is Leah Day selling machines now?

Ahh .. it was her blog, not a forum. This is the original article she posted about the subject. http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...conundrum.html

Her second article is here ... http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...w-machine.html

I DO understand what she's saying ... in some cases, one machine may not be enough to satisfy you but she never once says that you MUST have two machines to do piecing and quilting. She said that at the time, in 2009, that was her preference.

My experience when I was using low end machines was pretty much the same actually ... One machine did not do everything I needed. The machines that exist today have pretty much made that a thing of the past ...

I have a small Janome DC 2010. I use it to piece and I quilt on it. Granted I just started FMQ'ing on it recently.

I wonder if you couldn't buy a sewing table with rollers that lock. Then you could push it where ever you wanted-if it would fit through the doorway.

As I understood her, she ended up with a Horizon 7700 which she seemed to love and worked for her at a reasonable cost. However, she later updated to a 8900 as something broke on it, as I understand it.

I have many machines also. I have a HV Diamond I only use for embroidery. I have an SE that has the walking foot on it that I use for binding, etc. I have an old/antique Singer up in my bedroom by the TV that I use for piecing while watching TV. I have a longarm (two) so I don't FMQ on a sewing machine, but I have machines all over the house so I can sew wherever I want. With all the new electronic machines I have, I still prefer the old Singers for piecing. I have to get a neighbor to help if I want to move a machine, so I try to have one in every room now. LOL

Nothing broke on the 7700; she traded it in when she went to get it cleaned because she saw the 8900 and decided she liked it better. Plus, she said they gave her a really good deal on the trade in.

I have an 8900 as well, and I have VERY mixed feelings about it. Yesterday I was ready to toss it out the window. In fact, I'm planning to buy a new machine next month, and the 8900 may well find itself on Craigslist ...

Which type of machine you do general sewing on, piece on or FMQ on is such a personal matter. I have a Singer 221 that I love to piece on-whenever I am away from home. Its stitch is perfect. I also have a Singer 401A that I love also. I use it mostly when I am at home and have a FMQ project going on with the main sewing station. I put it on a table and use it as any other portable. I also take this one in our camper in the summer. It sews beautifully as do al the vintage Singers. I did purchase a new Bernina 530 recently and do most of my FMQing on it. Bernina has prided itself in the design of its #37 patchwork foot in that holding your work so that the edge of it comes just to the edge of the foot keeps the work on the feed dogs and is a 1/4 seam. You do not need to change any needle positions. This machine sets down in a cabinet that my husband built so it is flush with the table. I did not trade my Bernina 1130 in to get the new machine because I did not want to have to replace all of the presser feet I had. (The fact that the presser feet were not universal for Berninas was the down side of a new machine (planned obsolescence). I really like my new machine but I wouldn't want to give up my old ones-they are just comfortable. I also have a treadle that I like to use just for fun. If you purchase a new machine you should be willing to learn to do all that machine was designed to do. I know that weight is a problem in this thread but a wheeled device or a strong neighbor will help-just be careful of the reasons you employ to justify a change.

I have also purchased a single hole needle plate for my Bernina, and it really helps.

I don't believe that Lea Day was telling everyone to have two machines....she is a Janome gal when it comes to both piecing and FMQ. She has used the 6600/7700 and now 8900. I have a 6600 and a 8900. I do piecing and FMQ on both with no problems. I replaced my walking foot on the 8900, but both machines are great. I would suggest that you have a neighbor or someone from church to come over to move your machine. I like the idea of a cart with wheels to move it too.

My solution to creating a sewing/piecing space in my bedroom came in the form of a strong granddaughter. She comes over to clean my house once a week (her allowance runs out of money by Friday, that's my cleaning day) and she can/will do anything I ask of her. She has cleaning the floors down to an art--and in between she will take stuff out to my sewing room or papa's shop with no complaint whatsoever. Weight is a problem with me, plus the fact that my sewing room is about 50' behind our house. Those heavy sewing machines in the carrying cases are no problem at all for her, and I can't even get one up off the floor. I was 78 yesterday, and she was 13 in January.

I'm not sure why someone would tell you that you can't piece and FMQ on the same machine. Until I burned the motor out (quite literally) on my old reliable Kenmore, bought a Singer sewing machine, which was replaced about a year later to a Janome 4000, but at least I got the price I paid for the Singer as trade-in on the Janome; I pieced and quilted on the same machine. However, I should stipulate that I did mainly SID or straight line quilting, except for using the pre -printed papers with the quilt designs printed on them, after piecing a quilt. I am still trying to master FMQ., but unless you will be carrying a machine back and forth to classes, I cannot see why you can't piece and FMQ on the same machine. Perhaps that person has stock in a sewing machine company, and wants to sell you a new machine.

I have an old Bernina 830 (over 40 years old), then got a BabyLock Quest, then down the road picked up a used Bernina 165, then a Bernina 1230. I use all of them ALL the time. I both piece and FMQ with all of them. As for the 1/4 inch seam - When starting a new project, I sew a test seam using the fabric combination used in the project as well as the thread that will be used. I find that placement to get the true 1/4 seam can vary from project to project so I "test" every time.

I have a Janome 6600P also and find that NOT using the accufeed when piecing works better. I just use a regular 1/4" foot and not engaging the accufeed. It does great then for both piecing and FMQ. I do use the accufeed when straight-line quilting and sewing the binding on. Although, I recently bought a Singer Featherweight 221 and I admit that I love the wonderful straight, even-tensioned stitch I get on it. I have been doing quite a bit of piecing on it. We were both born in 1953 - so I think we have a "bond". :)

ABout 5 times out of every 10 when I get on the board, I find some problem I didn't know I was supposed to have. I have a Janome 4600, a 57 year old Kenmore with cams, and a 1930 something Singer straight stitch. They all have done everything I asked them to do without complaint. The Janome is not quite as good at sewing really bulky seams, but for the most part, every one of the machines is "a little dolly booger." I am going to knock on some heavy duty wood that all my machines are doing the job--at least right now. froggyintexas

I piece and FMQ on my Bernina 440. If there's a problem, it's usually me, not the machine.

Sounds like a good reason for getting another machine. Try it on your hubby and see if it works. Not sure my husband would fall for it.

klgls, as I've said numerous times the Janome 6600P is my dream machine I am saving for. It will take me time to save for it but since I am a beginner self taught I figure I will learn a lot by the time I can purchase it, so no hurry (well sort of) but since getting the Janome 662 Silver edition from an Estate Sale & noticing how quiet & smoothly it runs naturally with a bit of research of the extras that come with it...i want..no wait..I NEED it!

I have read Leah Day's blog for a long time. She uses and highly recommends the Janome 7700 - and she is not paid by Janome. I think she uses this machine for piecing and all her quilting. I have this machine and love it for piecing and free motion quilting. I have another machine, but never use it.

I piece and quilt on my Quilla (Baby Lock Espire) and she purrs like a kitten. Since I can only work at one project at a time, I switch setup or feet or whatever to make it work for me. Now that said, it sounds like you want a new machine. In that case, go forth and shop.