What type of sewing machine?
 

I have never quilted before and am not wanting to spend a lot on a sewing machine. What would be he best sewing machine for somebody on a budget. I would like to spend less than $200. What are the essentials I will need on a sewing machine? Thanks in advance for any help.😀

I did my first 12 years of sewing on a $250 five stitch machine with a four-step buttonhole. Works great with a walking foot and it's the one I FMQ on. Completely mechanical, all it's needed is the occasional tune-up. My new one is still mechanical but it has 18 stitches and a one-step buttonhole. I highly recommend Janomes as a good start, you might look at 2212, HD1000, and Magnolia 7318. Go find a Janome dealer and see what you like, also the Magnolia 7330 is a good machine, I know several folks that have one. It's electronic but not computerized. There are other great brands but Janomes are well built and take generic accessories. Good luck!

You mentioned that you have never quilted before, but not whether you have other sewing experience. If you have not sewn before, you may want to sign up for some lessons at your local quilt shop. Check to see if they have machines that are used in lessons. And in this case, I would suggest buying from a dealer. You may not be able to find any machines selling for under $200 at a dealer. They tend to focus more on higher end machines, though that's not always the case.

The main things you need in a quilting machine are a good quality straight stitch for piecing. A 1/4" piecing foot is a very nice thing to have and even if the machine you choose doesn't come with one, chances are if you stick to Janome, or Brother you will be able to find a generic 1/4" foot to fit. Other useful feet include a walking foot (for use in quilting) and a Free Motion Quilting foot (also sometimes called a darning foot). I would also take into consideration the throat size of any machine you are looking at. Some of the lowest cost new machines have very small throat spaces and it can be very difficult to get a quilt through the opening when it comes time to do the quilting.

If you do have sewing experience and are therefore familiar with basic operation of a sewing machine, then there is no need to go through a dealer for a good machine in the price range you have indicated. As the previous poster mentioned, Janome makes a very good, basic, reliable sewing machine. Another brand to check into would be Brother.
Both Janome and Brother can be purchased over the internet from Amazon.com, and also from various of the Big Box stores. In order to find out which machines each makes that has what you're looking for go to the Janome and the Brother websites, they both list their machines and mention what features each machine has.

If you are going this route, then I would get on Amazon.com, look up the model machine you are thinking about and see what the reviewers have to say. Also do a google search to find reviews on the machines, there are a couple of websites where experienced quilters or garment makers review machines--I can't think of their URLs right off the top of my head but you can put in the model machine you're thinking of and find reviews that way.

I purchased my PC420PRW from Amazon for under $400 and it has some extra features which I like,( but aren't necessary for quilting) that the less expensive machines don't have. These are needle up/down function which allows you to set the machine so it stops with the needle in the down position, very reliable auto threader, thread cutter and a 7" throat width which is nice to have when quilting a larger quilt as it can get quite tiresome shoving a large quilt through a small throat space.

You might also think about a vintage machine if you do have sewing experience and are comfortable finding your way around a variety of sewing machines. You won't get needle up/down, but you may get a larger throat space (more like 6.5-7") than in the very lowest end Brother and Janome machines.


Rob

If you have several dealers in your area, visit and try out their "starter" machines. I found one of my machines by comparing at a county fair that had three brands for sampling.

A lower end machine will do you fine as a beginner. Several things to look for were mentioned above. The extra perks but not necessities are needle down ( the machine will stop with the needle in the fabric which helps on long seams). Another perk is auto thread cutter. I have this on my new machine and love it. I prefer top load bobbin to front load. These are all things you can do without but the are a joy to have. It took me ove 40 years to move up in machines. I had to move up as I sewed so much I would wear out the gears. Cheaper to buy new than pay for repairs on those machines. I still do not have top of the line but have no desire for one either. The biggest thing is to get comfortable with what you can afford and enjoy quilting

I wouldn't buy from Walmart. I had a Brother Project Runaway from there several years ago. I paid $300 and it only lasted two years before the computer in it went wonky and it died. It was then that I bought my favorite machine from Amazon.com for $150. It is the Singer Heavy Duty 4423, and I love it. I quilt full size quilts on it and FMQ too. My MIL is a professional seamstress and makes wedding dresses. She sewed on my Singer once and said she now wants one too! Since there is no computer or plastic parts, I'm hoping it will last me for all my sewing years. Just my experience:-)

A low end brother would suit your needs well. The SQ-9185 is popular and can be found at walmart. This is the model that replaced my SQ-9050 and my SQ-9050 is a workhorse. I got her from walmart 5 years ago and she runs as beautiful as the day I purchased her and I haven't even serviced her yet and sew on her many different projects. I do have my high end brother as well but my little baby never dissapoints, even with super thick layers she has been a trooper

I must have had the only dud on the shelf then:) My first machine was a cute little Brother... I don't remember the model; I had to leave it in NZ when I moved over. Isn't it great that there are so many nice sewing machines out there for everyone's differnt needs and personalities! I love my singer 4423...a real workhorse and quilting partener for me!

I bought the Janome Magnolia 7318 some months ago and think it's a pretty nice starter machine. All mechanical = nothing computerized to fail. 18 stitches the bobbin drops in from the top and is easy to keep an eye on because the bobbin cover is transparent. Very easy to thread and it has nice looking straight stitches too. Bought it new on Amazon for $218.

I bought the 5 pound Janome Mini Sew. I hate it. It was only $50, but it is not for quilters. I makes too much noise, and seems to be struggling as I sew.

This machine would be a good one to have around if you don't really sew much, but need something to close up the occasional seam. It's really cute, but I'm giving mine to the church auction.

An old machine that does only straight stitching would be your best bet for quilting. A lot of people use their old machines and let the $2000 machine sit. You may be able to get one for little or maybe nothing.

There are some nice machines in the Brother line in your price range. I did my first 6 years of quilting on one. You might also check out the Janome line. I bought one a few years ago to take to my quilting group and retreats.
Bought it online from sewingmachinesplus.com. Great little machine!

The last time I sewed was about 20 years ago

This is the Walmart machine that many of my guild members are recommending to beginners. It is right at $200. I have never used it, and I don't really know much about it, but it comes with a 1/4 inch foot, so you can start piecing as soon as you get it. It might be worth checking out...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Brother-1...Q9185/29176878

Dina

I may be in the minority, but I always feel that a good all-metal parts machine is a great option for just about anyone. But, then again, I'm not interested in decorative stitches, embroidery or one-step buttonholes. I just want my machine to be able to sew a perfect straight line, 1/4" seam, and to be able to quilt both straight lines & free motion.

Any machine that can sew a straight stitch can do free motion quilting (FMQ). Almost any machine that can sew a straight stitch can also work with a walking foot to quilt straight lines. My first choice in that price range would be a used Bernina (210 or 215 are both very, very good options). They do 9 different stitches, including a buttonhole. They can be outfitted later with a knee lift to allow it to grow with you. The only downside is that parts -- like a walking foot, patchwork (1/4") foot & darning (FMQ) foot -- are some of the most expensive on the market. However, Berninas are ultra-reliable & will last you a very long time.

The other option I'd consider is a used classic Singer. Typically they will only do a couple types of stitches & some of the oldest ones only do a straight stitch. Of course, that's all you need to quilt so it's not really a huge problem -- just something to keep in mind. I have a 353 that I inherited & it is fantastic. It doesn't have the needle down function like my Bernina -- which really does help with the quilting process -- but the parts are a fraction of the cost. It does need servicing a bit more often, but it's still a reliable workhorse of a machine. The upside of it is that it will sew through pretty much anything -- vinyl, heavy denim, decorator fabrics, thin silks & polyester crepes ... I've yet to find something it can't accurately sew. Very few modern machines are that versatile.

Make sure that no matter what brand you choose, that there is a repair shop near where you live that can service your machine when needed.

You may want to check with dealers for a good used machine in your price range. You will be suprised at what is out there. Most will even set down and show you how the features work.

Eleven years ago my DD and her friends bought me a mid-range Walmart machine, that had 35 stitches and has available accessories feet. It is not electronic. It has been across the United States (Washington State to Texas and back) twice riding under a grayhound bus, and still works perfect. It was $150 and is the model 5130, which I believe is available on Amazon for less money now. Brother machines are sturdy, durable, low maintenece, and the manual make it all easy to use. This machine is white with burgundy trim if that helps you located it easier.

Consider a vintage machine. Ask this same question on the Vintage and antiques Sewing Machines forum. Chances are you can find a machine for your needs that will last virtually forever for under $100.00.

bkay

http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/

***
*** Hi! Y'all from the upstate of South Carolina.
***
***
*** I started on hand me down straight stitch,
*** then progressed to a $100. Singer, and
*** now I only have antiques and I love them all.
***
*** The simplier the better for me.
***

For quilting you really only need a straight stitch. I would highly recommend a good vintage Singer. A Singer 201 or 301 will be 50+ years old and could very well outlive you! They have a beautiful stitch and are very easy to maintain and adjust. Remember the old Singers are solid workhorses, not like the new Singers. The inexpensive electronic machines are not designed to last a long time or to be easy to service; they are designed to be thrown away.

Pam

If you have the space, I got started on a singer model 27 treadle. That or a number 66 singer are both solid lockstitch machines, I do costume and reenactment work on my 66, it uses common needles and is what got the common 66 class bobbin started. more than qualified for quilting and if you have the space for a treadle and non-electric isnt a deal breaker (It actually isnt tiring or requires much effort, provided the machine is lubricated, and I actually find i have more control but ymmv.) Often these machines turn up at flea markets, craigslist etc for $100 give or take.

I am a Rank Amateur when it comes to quilting. I have made three total quilts in the past 6 years, only two of which were pieced-block quilts (Log Cabin Quilts), and one was a whole-cloth embroidered quilt with deep red borders. I learned almost immediately (before I ever cut the red fabric for my first quilt) that red fabric (and not only red fabric) can bleed. The bleeding can be prevented, but you have to treat the fabric BEFORE YOU CUT it. The last quilt I completed was made for a US Army Veteran whose mother is a very good friend of mine. He was seriously injured in Afghanistan, and was quite thrilled with the quilt. I pieced his quilt with a 1954 Singer Featherweight machine, assembled it with a 1952 Singer 403-A, and quilted it on a Singer 201-2 (I'm not sure of the year, but it's an old machine). In fact, all the sewing machines I have are vintage (more than 50 years old), one or two are more than 75 years old. I will say this, I have absolutely NO complaints about any of my older vintage machines. They work like champs. I like them because they are all-metal machines, and do not have plastic gears (which will break). So, I advocate a vintage all-metal machine. They are so easy to maintain that most of us who use them maintain them or fix them ourselves. The vintage machines should have a very nice straight stitch, which is what you need primarily for piecing quilts. However, I have been sewing all my life -- ever since the 6th or 7th grade in school (at that time I made my own clothing). I had never made a bed-size quilt until 2010, although I did make a baby quilt and hand-quilted it myself (I was working full time, so it took me 5 months to make the blocks, applique the blocks, and assemble them with the sashing and borders, and quilt it. You have some great recommendations above, so I wouldn't push you to buy a vintage machine. I've had my Singer 328-K since Christmas of 1963, when my husband bought it for my first Christmas as his wife. I have found the vintage machines to be very well-made sewing machines, and they work very well for me. Good luck! (My avatar depicts the red and white log cabin quilt I'm in the process of finishing)!

Jeanette