Selecting the Right Sewing Machine for Quiltmaking

Are you in the market for a new sewing machine? If you are a quilter (or want to be a quilter!) I hope this list will help you make the investment a wise one. There are certain features to look for in a sewing machine that will make quiltmaking easier and more pleasant. They are different than those sought by a dressmaker, although some machines will provide both sets of functions.

If you have a limited budget, it might be worthwhile to seek out a top-quality sewing machine dealer with a good local reputation and ask about used machines. Some reconditioned Viking, Bernina or Pfaff 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.

Important features in a sewing machine intended for quiltmaking:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. It has a nice big sewing surface - In dressmaking, a narrow free arm is useful, but for a large, flat quilt, we want a big surface to help lay out 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!
4. 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.
5. It has a good bright light that illuminates what you are working on - make sure the light actually shines on the right place. Also make sure that replacement light bulbs can be obtained and installed easily.
6. 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.
7. You can adjust the pressure on the presser foot - this is how "heavily" the presser foot lies on the fabric underneath it. For free-motion machine quilting, you need to be able to move the layered quilt around easily under the foot.
8. It has a lock stitch - if you have a very controllable backstitch, you can use this instead, but a lock stitch allows you to secure the end of your stitching line neatly and precisely.
9. It has a good straight (not slanted) buttonhole or blanket stitch - this stitch is often used for machine appliqué, both decorative and invisible.
10. The accessories are readily available and affordable - some of the nicest 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.
11. It comes with a good owner's manual - preferably written by someone whose native language is English.
12. It 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.
13. 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 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.
14. It has a convenient and sharp thread cutter built into the machine.

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 see what you are doing.

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. The newer Pfaffs have this feature built into them and you do not need a separate attachment.

A 1/4" piecing foot is used to achieve a perfect 1/4" 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.

© 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 email me for permission - cathe@gloryquilts.com.

© 2004 Nyberg Network