Quilters?

louisvillebride21

What machine do you have? I have a mini machine and I can't get the stiches uniform. It's just not heavy duty enough to handle the quilt sandwhich. I think I want something new, but I have no idea how to even begin looking.

LesPaul

I have a Singer Featherweight that my Dad bought for my Mom when they got married in 1953.  Even with a walking foot it can't handle anything larger than a table runner.  I really want a long-arm machine, but can't justify the cost and space it would take up.  I take my larger quilts to a friend for finishing.

squirrly

I don't quilt, but I have a Singer.  It's about 11 years old, and holding up just fine! 

The lady who did my alterations is a family friend and sewing goddess.  She's got mostly Pfaff in her sewing room (3 of them, I think?), plus an old Bernina, and then an automatic quilting machine in her basement that I'm not sure what brand.  And two sergers that I don't remember the brands on either, although I think the old one is. . . White?  Maybe?  It would be about 20 years old now, though.

opalsky007

I hand quilt, so I can't speak for how my machine does with machine quilting. But it's my mom's 1960s Singer (it was old when she got it!), complete with mod-wearing ladies on the manual. It does pretty well, especially for such an old machine.

amclausen

I sew clothes with an old Kenmore and it's never balked at anything I've asked of it.  I'm looking into getting into quilting and the woman at the local quilting store said she sends her quilts away to get quilted after they're assembled.  That might be worth looking into.

smokyhills

My machine, which is considered to be a "lower end" bernina was about 5k, CA$. That's without an embroidery module or anything, and I've sunk probably 800$ more into accessories. My car was 3500, and I've only needed $200 worth of repairs. But I quilt a lot, I make money from it, so it's worth it to me.

Singers used to be really great. They used to be made in the US, out of all metal parts with great support for the product. I have a 1950's Slant-O-Matic that purrs like a kitten. However, a lot of the newer machines have plastic parts as opposed to the metal ones in our parents' machines. My mom's newer singer is... not as great.  Some stuff to consider:

a) What your favourite part of the process is - piecing, or quilting. If you're not sure yet that you really love the actual quilting, see if you can take a class or lesson at a dealership with quilting machines, so you can decide that you really like that part.

b) what type of quilting you want to do. If you want to do primarily straight lines, invest in a walking foot. It's coming with a great many machines that are advertised ad being specifically for quilting. If you want to do lots of curves, or even raw-edge applique, invest in a free motion / darning foot. These can vary as far as how much they cost, but are absolutely worth it. Along with that, you want the ability to lower your feed dogs, so that the fabric can move freely.

For a LOT more information, check out this post

http://www.evidently.org/2007/he-said/too-much-information/ If nothing else, it'll make you a lot more confident should you go in and deal with a dealer.

All of that being said - while I have the opportunity - who else is making a wedding quilt or having one made for them?