Spin Off on Multiple Machines---Why Are Some Better?
 

In the thread some posters mentioned having a machine for piecing and one for quilting. What is the difference? Why is one better than the other?

If the quilting machine isn't a mid- or long-arm then probably the sewing throat space is larger than her piecing machine.

My piecing machine is the one I take to sew-ins and to friends homes when we quilt together, as I want to do the whole quilt piecing on the same machine to keep seam allowances constant.

i have a juki 9" throat for quilting, a standard old kenmore for general sewing and sometimes for piecing. then i have a brother 6000i that i cart around to various locations. i have a brother embroidery machine that i have occasionally converted to the sewing module.

I have a viking 18x8 on an imperial frame that I quilt on, a Viking mega quilter that I piece on, and a Viking Diamond that I do embroidery work on. These are the machines that I use the most. I have several smaller lighter machines that can be hauled around when needed. In all I have 22 machines, some I use and some I just collect. As long as your machine does what you need then that is really enough. For me sewing machines are kind of like quilts I just never have enough or get tired of them!!!!

I have my workhorse, a Husqvarna, that I use daily. I have my Bernina that does all the fancy work -- embroidery, heirloom stitching, etc. I'd love to get an FW to take places, but that's a 'someday' thing....

In my case it's the larger throat on my new Juki. I am just so pleased at how much faster and less stressful it is to quilt when you aren't cramming it through. I've actually had tops get stuck in the throat of my Pfaff! It makes a world of difference.

I have a Pfaff that I piece on. I bought a Janome 6600 because I wanted the wider throat area and I thought with the AccuFeed system I could replace the Pfaff and piece and quilt on one machine. I don't like the huge feet of the Janome for piecing but if you use a regular foot you're not using the AccuFeed system. But I like the Janome tons better for quilting.

Maybe they just want to go back and forth without adjusting their settings. I used to keep a walking foot on my mechanical just so I wouldn't have to get one out to use, just a thought. Also some have a straight stitch 9" throat just for quilting and use their small machines to piece. No one is suggesting that one needs more than one sewing machine, but it is an option for everyone if they can afford it. Its all a matter of opinion, its one of those subjects that you can debate forever. You can get by with one machine. I did for years on my cheapie mechanical brother being my only machine. The only reason I still have one is that many of the TOL machines are bulky and heavy, not easily transported for classes or travel, kind of a pain to move so most that own those own smaller lightweight machine

If someone does a lot of FMQ then they may want one machine with the quilting foot attached and feed dogs down, and then one with the regular foot (or 1/4" foot). It is a bit of a pain to have to change the feet all the time.

Some machines are straightstitch only so if someone wanted to do some decorative work, they would need a machine with fancy stitches (unless they were good at threadplay).