Part 1

Let’s meet Joan - a beginner at quilting

… and an art quilter wanna be

Hi, my name’s Joan and I’m a beginner at quilting. I’ve only been quilting for a very short time and I really don’t know all that much about it yet, probably even less than a beginner would know.

I’ve recently done a few small quilts for my family and they turned out ok, but what I really want to try is art quilting - that just sounds like so much fun!

Well, now that I’ve been quilting for a short while, I’ve got lots of questions. It can get very confusing trying to sort out all the stuff you need to know about quilting, and I’m not even going to start with art quilting just quite yet.

These are just some of things I’m having trouble understanding:

• I overheard someone say that not all fabrics were the same quality - I didn’t know that, I thought they were all the same.
• and I seem to have trouble with some of my threads breaking - I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong.
• and sometimes my machine quilting is not so good - what can I do to make that better?

I am a true beginner. A virgin quilter even. Speaking of virgins, I must tell you the one about …

Ooops, I can hear Linda rummaging around in her sewing room.

Stick with me as I pick her brain and you might learn something as well. This could take quite some time so we might have to do this in installments. I don’t know about you, but my head can only hold so much information at a time.

never say never

Linda is a very nice person, but I find it really strange that she seems to spend so much time and money buying fabric and thread and quilty things. Talk about stuff !! Beads and paints and things I can’t even imagine using. It’s almost like an obsession with her ! I’m quite sure that’ll never happen to me, although I did see some nice fabric at that quilt shop the other day, and she had some beads there that were winking at me … hmmmm.

And you know, lately I’ve been thinking … my sewing machine is a little old and cranky and maybe I’d like to get a new one, but where to start with that, I’m a little confused about it all.

let’s get started

J: Hey Linda! Pull your head out of that fabric stash. I need some advice.

L: Hey there Joan, what can I help you with today ?
(Thinking: She sure does need help .. I should live to see the day she can sew a straight seam.

J: Linda, I think it’s time for a new sewing machine, but I don’t know where to start.

(Thinking: Hmmm, maybe I will live to see the day…)
L: A new machine? I think I can help you with that.

Part 2

What exactly is a Quilters’ Machine ?

Joan is a little confused about quilting machines Quilters Machine

J: First of all, what exactly is a quilters’ machine? Isn’t it the same thing as a sewing machine?

L: No, not really. Joan, in recent years quilting has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry. Some would say (usually husbands) that quilters are obsessed and single minded in their attempt to cloak not just their household with all things quilted, but the planet also. I say there are worse addictions.

And along the way we have diversified, so we now have all sorts of quilters:
traditional, hand, art, contemporary, long arm, short arm and wanna bes, just to name a few.

a love affair

Quilters Machine Quilters, it seems, simply love to quilt above all else, have a lot of time to do it and spend a lot of money in the pursuit of it.

And sewing machine manufacturers, quick as they are to pick up on a trend, decided to accommodate them by offering them their very own type of sewing machine called a quilting machine or quilters’ machine.

a special love affair

This machine is defined by some very special features, and it’s these features that set this type of machine apart from a normal sewing machines.

Of course you can still quilt with a normal sewing machine, but the special features on a quilting machine will allow you to do it with much less effort and subsequently produce better results.

J: So what are the features that make these machines so special?

L: Glad you asked Joan, let me explain …

Part 3

Features of a Quilters’ Sewing Machine

J: So, Linda, you were going to tell me about the special features of a quilters’ sewing machine.

L: Ok Joan, when selecting a quilters’ machine, there are certain features that quilters find very useful and these features help them do a better job of quilting.

size does matter

J: My husband say’s it doesn’t.

L: We’re not talking about men Joan, focus.

Size does matter when it comes to an extended bedspace and this is one of the best features of a quilting machine. An extended bedspace - usually about 9" long - is quite a bit longer than the bedspace on a standard sewing machine.

This allows the quilter extra room to move big, bulky quilts with ease, as well as allowing your hands extra room when doing free motion quilting. It also gives you better visibility in order to see where you’re going and where you’ve been.

J: Free motion ?

L: A story for another time Joan.

zoom zoom

High speed is also another desired feature on a quilters’ sewing machine. A speed of 1000-1600 stitches per minute offers the quilter the ability to quickly piece and quilt their projects. But just note, this speed is for straight stitch only. When you use other stitches like zig-zag or decorative, the speed reduces significantly.

J: So how fast does a normal sewing machine go ?

L: A normal sewing machine goes about 800 stitches per minute or less depending on the brand.

don’t needle me

A needle that has the ability to stop in the down position is also another very useful feature. When working with heavy quilts or fabric, the needle down position stops the quilt or fabric from shifting when you restart sewing. This ensures that your stitching line is not interrupted.

tension headaches

J: All this information … I think I’m having one now.

L: (Sigh, me too)
Joan, Some of the later model electronic quilting machines now offer a manual tension adjustment, as well as manual stitch length/width adjustment, just like on the older type sewing machines.

This gives you the best of both worlds by offering you the benefits of an electronic machine with the ability to fine tune your tension and stitches on the fly.

feed me

An inbuilt "even feed" or "walking foot" feature is very useful for quilters also. This feature works the same as a walking foot, but because it is inbuilt it offers more precision and ease.

It is useful when working with bulky or difficult fabrics and thick quilts, and assists the fabric to feed through smoothly without bunching up.

to recap

So, Joan, to recap, some features that quilters find useful on their sewing machine:

• extended bedspace
• high speed
• needle up/down position
• manual tension
• inbuilt "even feed" feature

but wait … there’s more

Some other features that you might find useful:

• extension table
• thread cutter
• needle threader
• speed controller

J: Linda, that’s a lot of useful information, is there anything else I should look for ?

L: Look this way Joan

Part 4

Other Considerations About a Quilting Machine

J: So Linda, what other things should I consider when looking for a quilting machine ?

L: A couple other things to think about Joan.

decisions! decisions!

Joan, the first thing to decide is what type of quilting machine you need. There are two basic types of quilters’ machines available:

• straight stitch only machine
• all-purpose machine

staying on the straight and narrow

The straight stitch only machine is a mechanical machine that only does a straight stitch.

The main benefits of a straight stitch machine are

• excellent stitch quality
• high speed - around 1500-1600 stitches per minute
• wide bedspace - approx 9"

It’s worth noting that a machine that is designed to do one stitch will do it better than a machine that is designed to do many stitches.

So if you are looking for the highest quality stitch for your surface quilting, then a straight stitch machine is the best option.

staying on the straight and narrow

If you want your machine to offer more than a just a straight stitch, there are quilters’ machines, usually electronic machines, that will still offer very good quality straight stitching, plus the added benefits of other quilting and decorative stitches as well as all the other features we mentioned previously.

show me the money

As with any major purchase, always spend as much as you can afford to get the most important features for your dollar.

Those features will depend on exactly what type of quilting and/or sewing you intend to do.

deciding what’s important

Your next steps are to 

• make a list of the features that are important to you
• decide on a budget
• research (online is easiest) the different machines that are available within your budget
• decide which of these machines fall within these guidelines
• visit your local dealers and take them for a test drive

lean on me

Most people don’t stop to think about dealer support when buying a new sewing machine.

Price should not necessarily always be your first consideration, particularly if you are preparing to spend a good deal of money.

With deals being offered all over the internet, it’s easy to think you’re getting a bargain until you have a problem with your machine or it comes time for your machine to be serviced.

When buying over the internet, sometimes you’ll find that the fine print requires you to return the machine to point of purchase for servicing or repair. So buyer beware - this could end up being more expensive than purchasing from your local dealer.

And your local dealer normally offers classes and instruction with a new purchase, so at the end of the day you really are getting a bargain.

J: Linda, that’s a lot of good information, but where do I start looking for a machine?

L: Look this way Joan …

Part 5

where to start

J: Ok Linda, what’s the best way to go about finding the best sewing machine for a quilter ?

L: Joan, researching online is the easiest way to start looking for a new machine. If you are a member of an online quilting group, ask around and find out what machines other members recommend, or you could also ask your quilting friends. This gives you a starting point and you can then begin researching further.

Just to help you along, I’ve compiled a list of sewing machine manufacturers. Visit their websites and search for quilting machines.

Pick two or three different types or brands that you think you might like and then do a search for a dealer nearest you. Visit the dealers and take the machines for a test drive. You’re bound to fall in love with the one that’s perfect for you.

second hand rose

Also discuss with the dealer if they have any used or traded in models that might suit you. You might get lucky and find one with extra features but within your budget. And always remember to check out the warranty on used machines.

sewing machine manufacturers

Babylock
Bernina
Brother
Husqvarna/Viking
Janome
Juki
Pfaff

and finally

L: Joan, that’s about as much information I can give you short of going out myself and buying you a machine.

J: Linda, I think I have more than enough information to make a good decision. Hopefully the next time I see you, I’ll be toting a brand new quilters’ machine behind me.

L: That will be good to see. If you have any questions in the meantime, drop me a line and I’ll try to answer them for you.