Selecting the Right Sewing Machine for Quiltmaking
Are you in the market for a new sewing
machine? If you are interested in quilting, crafting, or dressmaking,
this list will help you make the investment a wise one. A cheap
sewing machine will only frustrate and discourage you, so buy the best
machine you can afford. If you have a limited budget, it is usually worthwhile to seek
out a local sewing machine dealer with a good reputation and ask
about used machines. Some reconditioned "better" machines will
cost about the same as a new machine of lesser quality. A reputable dealer will
often provide a limited warranty on these machines and/or lessons on how to use
the machine. He will be able to service what he sells and provide accessories and a manual.
The list here is specifically focused on quiltmaking. In a
multi-purpose sewing machine, you will also want to see and test the
buttonhole process at the store before you buy! An adjustment to
a "free arm" is important. You will want to have zipper, rolled hem,
blind hem and some other feet. Those are usually included with a new
machine.
Important Features
- The needle can sew in three positions - a needle that can
be moved to the right or the left gives you more freedom to adjust your seam
allowance while keeping the fabric on both feed dogs.
- The machine can be set to stop with the needle up or the
needle down - This is particularly important for machine quilting and piecing
inset corners.
- The flatbed sewing surface is big and smooth. In
dressmaking, a narrow free arm is useful, but for a large, flat quilt,
we want a working table big enough to spread and support the weight of the
quilt. If the bed of the machine is not very large, it should have a
built-in extension or flat bed table accessory that slides up alongside
of it. These can be purchased separately or made by a handy husband!
- Foot pedal and electrical cords are long enough for comfort
and safety - tripping over cords or having to stretch them across your workspace
is dangerous and frustrating.
- It has a good bright light that
illuminates what you are working on. Make sure the light actually
shines on the right place. Ascertain that replacement light bulbs can
be obtained and installed easily.
- The feed dogs drop down to disengage. Those little snap-on
feed dog covers are a nuisance. Look for a machine that lets you disengage the
feed dogs at the touch of a button.
- The pressure on the
presser foot can be adjusted - this controls how "heavily" the presser foot lies on the
fabric underneath it. When free-motion machine quilting, you need to be
able to move the layered quilt around easily under the foot.
- A "lock stitch" secures the ends of the stitching lines neatly and precisely. If you have a very controllable
backstitch, you can use this instead.
- It has a good straight (not slanted) buttonhole or blanket
stitch. This stitch is often used for machine appliqué, both decorative and
invisible.
- The accessories are readily available and affordable. Some
of the top quality machines require you to use their specialized feet, which can cost
up to five times as much as the generic low shank feet. Even if you are willing
to pay for the attachments, you want to be able to purchase them
conveniently. Make sure that they are easy to change.
- It comes with a good owner's manual - preferably written by
someone whose native language is English.
- A sturdy machine can accommodate a variety of threads. If the seller
tells you that it can only tolerate a certain brand of thread, start looking for
a better "workhorse" machine - maybe an older used one. They are not so
temperamental.
- There is a local dealer who will honor your warranty. I
really do recommend buying your sewing machine, new or used, from a reputable
dealer who knows how to maintain and repair the machines he sells. If you are
buying a new machine, he should offer a good warranty and free classes in how to use it. Look for at
least a partial warranty, even on a used machine, if you are buying a
computerized sewing machine.
- It has a convenient and sharp thread cutter built into the
machine.
- Most machines use a standard-sized needle, but do check on that. You don't want to have to special-order needles.
Accessories
For free-motion quilting, (stippling), you will need a
darning foot. This foot has a spring or hinge and it's nice if it is open in the
front so you can catch the thread ends and see where you are going.
For straight-line quilting and for sewing the binding on
your quilt, you will need a walking foot. This is a box-like contraption that is
also called an even feed foot or a plaid-matcher foot. Several of the newer machines have
this feature built into them and you do not need a separate
attachment. You want to be able to disengage it when you don't want to use it.
A 1/4" piecing foot is used to achieve a perfect seam
allowance. I prefer to use an all-purpose foot, move my needle into the right
position and use my first plate line as a guide, because then the fabric is
pressed down firmly on both feed dogs and on both sides of the seam. Usually,
the use of the 1/4" foot positions the fabrics only on one feed dog, so they
tend to pull to the left.
Your Dealer, Your Friend
Test-drive the sewing machine before you
buy it. Bring your own fabrics, because the ones available in the
stores are usually stiffened for a nicer-looking finish. Bring some
calico and a small "quilt sandwich" of calico and batting. Test
every stitch and see if the store owner will let you try specialty
threads in it. The dealer is almost as important as the machine itself! If
the dealer is unfriendly and uncooperative during the sales process, he
is unlikely to improve when you are looking for help later. Comparison
shop. Don't be afraid to "haggle", especially for a used machine.
Ask about its history. Ask what "reconditioned" means to him. A
reputable dealer with a long-term business vision will see you as
an investment in his own future. He knows that if you buy a basic
machine today and are encouraged by its easy and reliable operation
(and his good customer service), you will probably want to upgrade
eventually. You will recommend him to others. Word-of-mouth
advertizing and customer loyalty are important to these small
businesses. If you find a good dealer, your machine is doubled in value!
© 2003 Catherine
Timmons
If you found this article
helpful, please feel free to print a copy for your personal use. If you
would like to publish it in your quilt guild newsletter or share it
elsewhere, please contact me for
permission.
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