Quilting Machine Suggestions for Beginner
#11

No machine rec (mine is a Singer 201, as basic as you can get while keeping the motor)
But if you want to check out a couple of brands at once, keep an eye out for quilting/embroidery conventions in your area. They'll have booths for several companies and you can do direct comparisons and talk to the reps about any specific features you might want.
But if you want to check out a couple of brands at once, keep an eye out for quilting/embroidery conventions in your area. They'll have booths for several companies and you can do direct comparisons and talk to the reps about any specific features you might want.
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 148

I have the brother pq1500 mounted on a frame. I’ve had it about 7 yrs and have only had 1 repair. The motor went out about 4 mos ago but it only cost me $150.00 to replace. Eats any thread I feed it, don’t have to mess with tension much (except for humidity in the hot summer months) only downfall is the 9” throat space. If you do a 100” line quilt you can only do about a 3” border since a lot of the throat space is taken up by the finished quilt. You can do larger borders you just have plan on doing them in multiple passes. You roll a lot and there’s is more thought in designs BUT it is very workable. I have the grace SR2 frame which is no longer available but the newer QZone Queen is very similar. They are less expensive than other machines and have the features you are looking for.
#15
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 17

Hi everyone,
After reading through all your helpful suggestions, I found a local Juki dealer and came home with a TL-18 QVP Haruka. I do love my Rocketeer, but found I had to fiddle with the tension too much any time I changed thread, setup etc. I have been playing with the TL-18 all week and am SO happy with it :-) The tension and stitching are flawless and I honestly love that it's mechanical. Love, love, LOVE the floating foot adjustment for FMQ :-) I will still use my Rocketeer for piecing and zigzag :-) She is not going anywhere :-)
After reading through all your helpful suggestions, I found a local Juki dealer and came home with a TL-18 QVP Haruka. I do love my Rocketeer, but found I had to fiddle with the tension too much any time I changed thread, setup etc. I have been playing with the TL-18 all week and am SO happy with it :-) The tension and stitching are flawless and I honestly love that it's mechanical. Love, love, LOVE the floating foot adjustment for FMQ :-) I will still use my Rocketeer for piecing and zigzag :-) She is not going anywhere :-)
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 878

Hi everyone,
After reading through all your helpful suggestions, I found a local Juki dealer and came home with a TL-18 QVP Haruka. I do love my Rocketeer, but found I had to fiddle with the tension too much any time I changed thread, setup etc. I have been playing with the TL-18 all week and am SO happy with it :-) The tension and stitching are flawless and I honestly love that it's mechanical. Love, love, LOVE the floating foot adjustment for FMQ :-) I will still use my Rocketeer for piecing and zigzag :-) She is not going anywhere :-)
After reading through all your helpful suggestions, I found a local Juki dealer and came home with a TL-18 QVP Haruka. I do love my Rocketeer, but found I had to fiddle with the tension too much any time I changed thread, setup etc. I have been playing with the TL-18 all week and am SO happy with it :-) The tension and stitching are flawless and I honestly love that it's mechanical. Love, love, LOVE the floating foot adjustment for FMQ :-) I will still use my Rocketeer for piecing and zigzag :-) She is not going anywhere :-)