Good machine for free motion quilting/embroidery

[Anne B.]

I've been madly saving for a machine to use for quilting my quilts, and doing some free motion embroidery on. I can't afford a long arm but would like as much throat space as I can get. Any suggestions? I don't have any dealers near by, but would most likely travel down into Washington to buy my machine. I do have an Innovis 4000D but it just doesn't cut it for quilting.

[Anne B.]

Janome just came out with a 7700 that has an 11 or 12" throat (gee, I own one and should know this!) It is an awesome machine and won't break the bank!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

[Jules M.]

I love my Bernina 200. I don't know the going rate for them anymore tho. I even pinch-hit with my Bernina 1130 at times. I do all my own quilting on the 200.

[Susan B.]

The Handiquilter has a table model that has a large harp. Margo has posted on this I believe.

[Margo C.]

This is Handi-Quilter's sit-down model. It is their machine head (with a 16" throat space) mounted in a sit-down cabinet. It is a fabulous QUILTING machine, but it's not a sewing machine and because it doesn't have feed dogs it also can't do embroidery.

This is the machine that David Taylor (Episode 406) uses to quilt his wonderful quilts.

[Hannelore N.]

I guess most of us like what we are used to.... In which case (now don't laugh) I should recommend you look for a secondhand Frister & Rossman Cub4 from the 1970s.

Seriously: When I have saved up enough money for a machine with a few bells and whistles, I'll plan a proper 'campaign' during a holiday. I'll prepare a stack of small projects at home, the type that need all the sort of thing I either normally do on my machine (decent invisible appliqué) or would love to be able to do (very small machine blanket stitch a la Bernina). I'll then phone the dealers of several machine makes and arrange for me to go and test drive their machine. I will take as much time as I feel like, and I won't be pressured by over-zealous sales people. I'll then go home with my test pieces and a ton of written notes, sit down, look at everything, read everything, and then...... yes, you got it.... buy a machine that'll hopefully prove to be a marriage made in heaven.

Until then I listen to what my quilting buddies say, and I love workshops where machines are provided (a sneaky test drive), so when the time comes I may not feel like having to 'hit' every single make of sewing machine that exists.

And they better convince me that their after sales service is superb!

Laura, I keep my fingers crossed that whatever you decide will be just right for you.

[Cheryl K.]

I am attaching a link:

http://www.pfaff.com/us/18574.html for the Pfaff Grand Quilter. It is a neat machine...has feed dogs...can be used to quilt on a table (w/o a stitch regulator) and has an optional walking foot for straight line quilting. The sewing bed(harp...space, etc) is longer than my Bernina 200 or 450, so you might like that. I love my Berninas and use them for machine quilting on smaller projects but use my Handi Quilter sit down for larger quilts.

The Pfaff Grand Quilter does not have a zig zag that I can remember, which would be important for freeform emb. But I would ask a Pfaff dealer. I like the fact that you can use it with a quilt frame and even though you don't have as much space as a long arm, it sounds better than your current domestic machine.

[Cheryl K.]

I did SO much research on this very topic this year LOL! I finally settled on an Elna 7300, and could not be happier. Elnas are made by Janome, but to Elna specs so not the same machines. A close cousin of the 7300 is a Janome 6600MC, very popular with quilters. I have almost 9" of throat space. But with the variety of stitches and ease of combining (and setting combinations into memory), it's a great machine for multiple applications. I truly believe, for the money, one could not do better than an Elna 7300. The one difficulty is lack of dealer saturation, but I was able to get mine online for under $1100, new with warranty.

http://www.elnausa.com/en-us/model_sewing_elna-7300.php

Good luck, and happy shopping!

[Cheryl K.]

Some terrific ideas and thoughts. Thanks so much! Now I can spend the next few days doing more research. And then I think I'll need to go do some test driving!

[Charae H.]

I have a Freedom sewing machine and cabinet that belonged to my grandmother and would like to find out a little more about it. Can't find anything on the web. Does anyone have know anything about this particular machine? Thanks!

[Margo C.]

Charae, are there any other markings on the machine? Is Freedom the brand name, or is it the model name? Maybe if you could post a photo, someone could help.

[Charae H.]

Thanks, Margo. I'll get that information when I go home tonight. I appreciate the help.
Sorry, everyone for the typo in my original question. I love seeing a mistake just as I'm hitting the submit button!

[Sue R.]

Charae, Any chance it could be a "Free" sewing machine ? I love to hunt info about old SMs but couldn't find anything about a Freedom make.

Sue

[Charae H.]

Yep! Sure could. I am at my office and going from memory only. Do you have info on the "Free" machine?

[Charae H.]

Get a drop in table setting for your machine.... The table supporting the machine has just as much to do with good machine quilting as the machine itself.



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