sashiko machine
 

I have been very interested in buying a Babylok Sashiko machine. What can you tell me about the process and the machine?

If that is the machine that resembles hand stitching. I liked the look on the front. Can't wait to hear other input.

I thought about getting it but it is very expensive for a "one trick pony" so I decided against it. The expense just didn't warrant the purchase for me.

I also fell in love with it and bought one - and have yet to thread it up and use it. I've watched several videos. It only uses bobbin thread, and the needle is a hook that pulls the thread to the top to form the stitch - so you get a double thread stitch, then no thread stitch on the top. and a chain looking stitch on the bottom. However it's not a true chain stitch and is not easily removable.

I've got several tops I plan on using this machine on, just have not gotten to them yet.

The LQS has them and lots of customers. They give a unique touch to quilts, pillows, etc. Endless possibilities. Do you have support at your local dealer?

Some projects here.

http://babylock.com/projects/?Product_ID=BLQK2

If you do get one, purchase the Babylock Gold Standard plan, too. Because it is such a specialized machine, if it has more than a basic problem, it will have to be sent back to Babylock. The Gold Standard will cover that cost. Otherwise, you will have to pay it.

I bought one recently and love it. Right now Babylock has a half price sale on them. I got mine for $1,499, and my dealer agreed to give me the extension table at no extra cost. Even though it is a "one trick pony" in my opinion it is a good deal because you can use it to quilt your quilts. The same ("one trick pony") can be said of longarm machines, embroidery machines, and most anything. Your stove, refrigerator, furnace all only do one thing, but do it well. I have been using 40 wt. embroidery thread (polyester) in mine because that's what my dealer uses and recommended. But she says it can use cotton thread, too. Besides the hand quilted stitch, it can be used for couching decorative rayon and other threads, for gathering, and making tucks. So cool!

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good point about definition/comparison of one trick pony----- sounds like you must have rec'd a good deal, but the question that popped into my mind immediately was....wonder how much dealer actually pays for it if it can be sold at "half price". But whatever...have fun with your new "toy".... Maybe someday I'll look into one too....

I’ve had one for a few years. I absolutely Love it. It’s great for doing quilting on those little bags (pouches) I make all the time for gifts. It works really well quilting up table runners and smaller type quilts. I haven’t quilted any large quilts on it though. It runs pretty slow and I’m not that patient. I made all the little quilts in the Moda Mini Marvel book - a challenge to myself - quilted them with my Sashiko machine and my local quilt shop displayed them. She can’t remember how many people bought the machine after seeing them. Most of the folks were more interested in the stitching than in the quilts. LOL

I agree with Sewgood about this being a slower way to quilt than longarmming. It's like quilting on a dsm and sometimes slow at that, like when quilting a small circle where you pivot after each stitch. Plus, another member who has used one for a long time told me a large quilt is too cumbersome to try to quilt with a Sashiko.

I have looked at them My LQS has one. They do some really neat projects on it. I just can't pay that price for it. It would be lots of fun to play with. I have looked on Craigslist for one. No success yet.

Awhile back, there were instructions to use your dsm to do this stitching. I think it called for monofilament on the top and colored thread in the bobbin. Or was it the other way around? One had to adjust the bobbin tension to get the stitch. Not sure about the top thread tension.

Do anyone recall this idea for sure? How successful?

More features
 

I work at a fabric store that sells Babylock machines. Babylock has some informative videos that show you how to do some amazing 'other' things with the Sashiko machine such as making special trims by braiding yarn or embellishing with other ribbon, etc. You can even make flowers using organza material as well as doing cross stitches and feather stitches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBMuux8PaXs
Here is a link that you may find interesting and informative. Copy and paste into your browser.

I received a 4 year membership to the Babylock classes when I bought my embroidery machine - I've watched a few of the sashiko ones.

That technology has been around for awhile. I know Pfaff had machines doing that since around 2000. Those machines actually sewed a normal straight stitch, but with every other stitch being made with the monofilament (invisible) thread. This Babylock Sashiko does not use monofilament thread at all, and it actually makes a stitch, then skips a stitch, just like hand quilting a running stitch does. This is a big improvement over that previous technology. I never wanted monofilament thread on my quilts. This I like.

Even though it may be a "one trick pony" if you watch the videos, you can do plenty with it.