New to quilting (excited but overwhelmed!)
11-24-2025, 04:59 AM
#12
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 17,810
Over the years I have had every brand of machine. Some new some used. I have settled on Juki straight stitch for piecing, quilting, bag making, and thick seam sewing. I have an older Bernina for decorative stitches and zig zag. Those stitches come in handy now and then. I have a Brother embroidery machine, a Feather Weight, and Janome travel machine. If I could have only one machine it would be the Juki.
11-24-2025, 06:28 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,259
Hope we are not over-sharing with you 
There is no one perfect answer, we have to suit ourselves and we are all different. We don't always know what we want or will use until we try something. I would hold off an expensive machine but I'd be looking for something that you think will make you happy now and give you some room to grow in the future. You will find out what you want and need. When you know, you know and I will encourage you to buy the machine of your dreams once you have those dreams. We deserve the proper tools to follow our muse.
I debated about a year before buying the straight stitch Juki. I was really tempted by pretty much the same machine but more computerized and more options -- similar to the linked one but heavier duty for about 3k. I could have afforded it, but my thought process was the straight stitch is mostly what I use. I'd still be pretty happy with my vintage machine if my own vision wasn't quite so vintage
But I need that threading assist, bright light, and other things the modern machines have. By the price point I chose, I could still buy another machine if I really wanted that serpentine stitch or to have some letters or (minor) embroidery stitches. I have other options for the quilting down part.
The Juki isn't quite perfect for me, I wanted a "top loading" bobbin because I have a sewing desk (where the machine drops down) and it is awkward changing side bobbins. What I found I wanted is a "drop in" bobbin (like on that linked one), what I have is a hatch that lets me access the traditional side loading bobbin in a case. Still, working beats non-working every day of the week and it does fulfill my basic needs. And it is fast and just purrs when I'm stomping on the gas!
Going through the repairs on the Bernina, at first I thought, well ok -- it originally cost the same as a small car, if it needed some parts replaced, well ok. But when they kept on failing and because the model was not supported there were no replacement parts made and each repair got more expensive. I'd have to figure $300+ and 2 months of time each repair. Ultimately in 7-10 years I paid about $1k and was out of action for about a year -- plus the 2 years during covid the shop was closed. For that I could have bought a pretty reasonable Brother at Walmart and been back to work in 30 minutes with significantly less aggravation and ultimately less cost even if I had to replace the Brother every couple of years.
Brother makes some good machines, but none of the lower end models by any brands are really meant for daily sewing, or for heavy use quilting. That is part of what makes a machine more expensive than another. Those guts inside.
Just as the Juki isn't 100%, the Eversewn Sparrow 15 I got as a portable machine has been pretty good for the criteria I chose, including a low price point. I wanted an all metal parts, non-computerized machine for around 200ish. It's been a good little machine but for me is slow, and LOUD compared to the other machines at group. While you are looking at features and comparing models, you might check out Eversewn. I was recently at a guild retreat and one of the ladies had a higher model that was not loud and she was quite happy with.
https://www.eversewn.com/
There is no one perfect answer, we have to suit ourselves and we are all different. We don't always know what we want or will use until we try something. I would hold off an expensive machine but I'd be looking for something that you think will make you happy now and give you some room to grow in the future. You will find out what you want and need. When you know, you know and I will encourage you to buy the machine of your dreams once you have those dreams. We deserve the proper tools to follow our muse.
I debated about a year before buying the straight stitch Juki. I was really tempted by pretty much the same machine but more computerized and more options -- similar to the linked one but heavier duty for about 3k. I could have afforded it, but my thought process was the straight stitch is mostly what I use. I'd still be pretty happy with my vintage machine if my own vision wasn't quite so vintage
But I need that threading assist, bright light, and other things the modern machines have. By the price point I chose, I could still buy another machine if I really wanted that serpentine stitch or to have some letters or (minor) embroidery stitches. I have other options for the quilting down part.The Juki isn't quite perfect for me, I wanted a "top loading" bobbin because I have a sewing desk (where the machine drops down) and it is awkward changing side bobbins. What I found I wanted is a "drop in" bobbin (like on that linked one), what I have is a hatch that lets me access the traditional side loading bobbin in a case. Still, working beats non-working every day of the week and it does fulfill my basic needs. And it is fast and just purrs when I'm stomping on the gas!
Going through the repairs on the Bernina, at first I thought, well ok -- it originally cost the same as a small car, if it needed some parts replaced, well ok. But when they kept on failing and because the model was not supported there were no replacement parts made and each repair got more expensive. I'd have to figure $300+ and 2 months of time each repair. Ultimately in 7-10 years I paid about $1k and was out of action for about a year -- plus the 2 years during covid the shop was closed. For that I could have bought a pretty reasonable Brother at Walmart and been back to work in 30 minutes with significantly less aggravation and ultimately less cost even if I had to replace the Brother every couple of years.
Brother makes some good machines, but none of the lower end models by any brands are really meant for daily sewing, or for heavy use quilting. That is part of what makes a machine more expensive than another. Those guts inside.
Just as the Juki isn't 100%, the Eversewn Sparrow 15 I got as a portable machine has been pretty good for the criteria I chose, including a low price point. I wanted an all metal parts, non-computerized machine for around 200ish. It's been a good little machine but for me is slow, and LOUD compared to the other machines at group. While you are looking at features and comparing models, you might check out Eversewn. I was recently at a guild retreat and one of the ladies had a higher model that was not loud and she was quite happy with.
https://www.eversewn.com/
Last edited by Iceblossom; 11-24-2025 at 06:31 AM.
11-24-2025, 06:34 AM
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,681
I started my quilting journey with a Basic mechanical Brother machine from Costco about 20 years ago. I still have that machine and it works perfectly. I made a king size quilt on it, Quilted it with a straight stitch. Then I learned to Free Motion Quilt on that machine with smaller quilts. It worked just find. Since then I got another small Brother that is electronic I think, because it can do an alphabet in addition to the stitches. That works just fine. Then I graduated to a Brother PQ1500 for piecing and FMQ and that is my favorite machine. I collect vintage Singers and they work too but I am very pleased with my Brother machines.
I started quilting with a mat, rotary cutter and ruler. I already had a scissors and pins. I could probably survive with just that now, but, I love gizmos and they are in my budget.
I started quilting with a mat, rotary cutter and ruler. I already had a scissors and pins. I could probably survive with just that now, but, I love gizmos and they are in my budget.
11-24-2025, 10:17 AM
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: California
Posts: 116
I'm curious about what your machine is. If it is an older mechanical, a servicing might be needed.
I love the old straight stitch machines and also have a 1980s Elna with a variety of stitches.
You've come to a good site to learn and ask questions. Welcome!
I love the old straight stitch machines and also have a 1980s Elna with a variety of stitches.
You've come to a good site to learn and ask questions. Welcome!
11-24-2025, 05:45 PM
#17
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2025
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3
Thank you all for the warm welcome and sharing your experiences! I decided to drop my machine off for service (as some advised) to see if maybe that'll help me keep going until I figure out exactly what I feel like i'm missing and need in the next machine. The one I have is a Singer 5932.
I love that this forum is so active! <3
I love that this forum is so active! <3
