I need recommendations for a great sewing machine for quilting!
It's time to invest in a new sewing machine. I use my machine primarily for quilting but it needs to be great for everything else too. I am just learning to do free motion quilting. I haven't gotten into embroidery yet but may want to someday. I am interested in any help you can give me. I am leaning towards purchasing a Bernina 560 minus the embroidery module which I can add later.
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Lemor Sidis on Nov 06, 2013Hey Hometalk community do we have any advice? @Autum H @DiybyDesign Judy @Maria S ?Helpful Reply
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Janet Harden on Nov 06, 2013i have three bernina sewing machines. i love them all. i started with an old singer, then a brother, then i bought my first bernina...best purchase i ever made. they can be a bit finiky at times but its well worth the effort to understand.Helpful Reply
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141737 on Nov 06, 2013I have been sewing and quilting my entire life. I've tried all of the top brands - Brother , Husqvarna, Bernina, Janome, Pfaff... - they are all very good and can all have some issues. Have you been able to try some out? Good sewing machine shops will let you test drive them and should offer free sessions for getting to know a new machine. Best wishes - it's lots of fun to have a great new machine!Helpful Reply
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Ruth K on Nov 07, 2013I used to do a lot of sewing and I loved machine embroidery. I had 3 Babylock. Never had a problem with them. I quilted on machine.Helpful Reply
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Jessica C on Nov 07, 2013The Viking (Husqvarna) is hands down the best machine on the market. I have one that is twenty years old, works great, needs very little maintenance. Nothing else compares.Helpful Reply
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Barbara on Nov 07, 2013I have a Bernina Viking ,Singer and Kennmore. You service them and they all Work well. Depends on what you use them for. Stay basic and you can't go wrong if your first starting out... The fancier the machine when you first starting leads to many frustrations..Helpful Reply
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Elaine Simmons on Nov 08, 2013I have a Bernina......a very old Bernina and it is still going strong. Berninas also have very high resale value. What makes them good is that they have all steel parts. What makes them heavy is the same reason! If you plan on toting a machine to a quilting class or anywhere else, they are really too heavy unless you are built like Popeye! I don't do as much sewing as I used to so I am thinking of selling my Bernina and getting a Brother.Helpful Reply
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Victoria on Nov 08, 2013I have a Bernina, had a 930 sold it and I wish I had it back. I don't think you can wrong with a Bernina. Congratulations and good luck!Helpful Reply
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Donna H on Nov 08, 2013I have a 35 yr old Bernina for regular sewing with just a few decorative/utility stitches and I still love it. It gets an occasional tune up and the only problem I had was because the dog knocked it off the table. I am considering a new Huskvarna/Viking and hope to start quilting.Helpful Reply
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Valerie on Nov 08, 2013I do a lot of quilting and have a Bernina Quilters Edition. It is an extremely robust machine. One of the features that it has is a lever which allows you to lift up the presser foot by using your knee, rather than taking your hands off the fabric. It also has several special feet designed specifically for quilters, including a quarter-inch foot which works extremely well. Another feature is that you can drop your feed-dogs, which is absolutely essential if you are doing free-motion quilting. The walking foot is also excellent - I use mine when I am assembling the various layers together. I think it also comes with an embroidery add-on, but quite frankly, if your main use is quilting, I would not go for it (the add-on). Once you become accustomed to free-motion quilting, and the freedom of design that comes with it, it is unlikely that you will want to go back to small little designs such as those offered with the embroidery component. Have a look at the Quilting Daily website for loads of free information (and masses of inspiration). You can also download videos on how to do free-motion quilting if you are looking to learn more. I find that downloading their tutorials so that I can learn 'at leisure' is great. The added bonus about the Bernina Quilters Edition is that, because it is so strong (almost industrial) it handles jobs like making things out of canvas with absolute ease - a huge bonus! Whatever you decide on, good luck and I hope it serves you well for many years to come.Helpful Reply
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Sue Walker on Nov 08, 2013I have multiple Janome machines including one with a 9" throat making it a little easier to quilt. Bernina is a great machine too. My advise is to "test drive" the machine, make sure the dealer offers thorough lessons and be sure to get one with enough room to handle the fabric.Helpful Reply
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Kelli on Nov 08, 2013I have a Janome Memory craft 6600. Love it, There is a special foot that allows you to compress and sew through layers of denim, (use to hem jeans). It also has the knee lever. This Machine is a quilters machine. Also has some small embroidery designs built in and also 3 different font styles for letters. But, that Bernina 560, looks like a winner, especially if you can add the embroidery module.Helpful Reply
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Diane Carlson on Nov 08, 2013Janome, Janome, Janome!Helpful Reply
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Betty Fancher on Nov 08, 2013Janome!Helpful Reply
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Kimberly Young on Nov 08, 2013Thank you for all your feedback. I have also been looking at the Janome Memory Craft 7700(?) and the Babylock Symphony. However, I can't add embroidery to them later if I decide I want to like I can with the Bernina. I looked at the Viking but the only dealer in my area is Joann's. The woman that runs the department is rude and seems to not want to be bothered to discuss the machines so I would not have the support with a Viking that I would have with the other brands. It seems that there is no perfect machine without paying the price of a small car.Helpful Reply
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Elaine Simmons on Nov 08, 2013Ha ha, well I would have to have some bucks in exchange! No, the reason I am thinking of getting a lighter machine is that I live in a 55 plus community and if I want to go to some of the classes that require sewing, the Bernina would be too heavy to tote every time.Helpful Reply
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Therese Ryan-Haas on Nov 08, 2013check out Leah day on YouTube. She uses a Janome Horizon 7700 . and just loves it. I don't know about the embroidery but she has used it to death on free motion embroidery.Helpful Reply
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Colleen on Nov 08, 2013After owning an Elna,White,Singer and Bernina I love my Bernina. I purchased a used Bernina 200 with all attachments (walkin foot,free motion foot and embroidery unit).I love the options of sewing everything from home decor ,quilting,fashion clothing and embroidery. Its great to customize items with embroidery. The Bernina 560 is a good machine, maybe negotiate the price of the embroidery modual, rather than waiting. You may be surprised by how much you use it, and why you didn't purchase one earlier. What ever you do, HAPPY SEWING!!!Helpful Reply
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Jody on Nov 08, 2013I just had a seminar with the Ca rep of Bernina. If I was go to purchase a machine and quilting was my main sewing I would also get the Bernina 560. The throat is pretty wide so there is more sewing space between needle and body of machine. If I had the spare $1499.99 I would buy the Bernina 880. That machine is sweet. I also own 2 Janome's mc5700 and the new 9900 and love them both. Good luck.Helpful Reply
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Twila Palmatier on Nov 08, 2013Elaine I had the same problem. Too heavy to carry into quilting every week so I got a Singer Featherweight. I love it! Out of group of 12 six of us have Featherweights and each of us love them. No fancy stitches just plain straight line sewing. Have to get them off of ebay as most of them date from the 1959's! Check them out. I can carry mine with just 3 fingers!Helpful Reply
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Judipick on Nov 09, 2013I think the Pfaff Sewing machine is a really great machine. I am going to sewing classes at a Pfaff Sewing store, and everyone there is using one of these machines. They have a great variety of machines which do a great number of things. You can also add an embroidery unit at a later date.Helpful Reply
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Linda Goldsberry on Nov 13, 2013I wouldn't want any thing but an Elna. I love mine and it has a lifetime warranty.Helpful Reply
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Patti on Nov 13, 2013Viking, makes a great machine. the one plus is a work horse. Most important is the dealer. I love the Yardstick in Cobleskill N Y on Barneville rd off Rt 7 The Yardstick - Cobleskill www.yardstickny.com/Authorized dealer for simplicity vacumn cleaners, husqvarna viking sewing machines and sergers fabrics embroidery designs sewing notions.Google+ page · Be the first to review 147 Barnerville Rd, Cobleskill, NY 12043 (518) 234-2179 Brother, Bernina , Pfaff also wonderful machines.Helpful Reply
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Cindy on Jan 06, 2014YHelpful Reply
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Elaine Simmons on Jan 07, 2014I ended up getting a Brother ........mainly because it was such a bargain on Amazon and it suits my needs to transport because it is so light. I will keep my Bernina for heavy duty sewing.Helpful Reply
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Linda Goldsberry on Jan 07, 2014I love my Elna.Helpful Reply
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Elisa KelloggShaffer on Jan 10, 2014I have a brothers but it's not good for quilting. Hemming fine but feed dog's stickHelpful Reply
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Lisa Acevedo on Jan 10, 2014I am very shocked to hear about the mgr at the Viking store in Joanne's. I also work for Viking located in a Joanne's and all of us including our mgr go out of our way to help you decide on a machine. Even if that means you test each and every one. We also offer one on one classes to teach and help you with the machine. And if for any reason you forget or need a refresher course you can come in. Even though I own a brother and love it for my quilting I tell everyone if you can afford it go with Viking. You can always trade in and upgrade when you want more features. I am truly upset that you are not considering a Viking due to this rude mgr. They are truly one of the best machines out there and worth the investment.Helpful Reply
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Vicki V on Jan 12, 2014@Kimberly Young I have had several sewing machines (Singer, Brother, etc), but the absolute best machine of all time is my Bernina. I bought a basic Bernina about 20 years ago and it is still going strong. Last year I bought a Bernina Aurora 430 because it came with an embroidery module. I absolutely love it !!! You also get free sewing and embroidery classes with the purchase. I will continue to keep my original Bernina as I can sew on that while my new one is doing embroidery. Bernina is the best of the best !!Helpful Reply
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Elaine Simmons on Jan 13, 2014Vicki, I agree, Bernina is the best but one thing that I don't like about mine is that any attachments you might want to get are so expensive. I have a very old one too, a 930 and I keep it to do heavy work that my Brother cannot do. Also, if you check Ebay you will find that you can still get a hefty price for it when you go to sell it.Helpful Reply
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Vickie P. on Jan 27, 2014I see you live in Pahrump NV... ;-) I'm also thinking of this machine and am in Henderson. What prices were you quoted, I am thinking the 560 with embroidery but closest dealer is very high....maybe we would get a discount if buying two???Helpful Reply
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Vickie P. on Jan 27, 2014Congratulations!!! Do you love it? Would you recommend the machine? I was thinking the Pahrump Bernina dealer might have been cheaper. I am anxious to hear what you think about it, I haven't bought a new Bernina since my 930 and that one is 32 years old now!Helpful Reply
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Letitia on Mar 03, 2014What ever you do buy a machine that you will grow into. I had a Bernette 65 (Shame on Bernina for marketing it as one of their machines. It isn't.) When I upgraded I really liked the 700 line however they are really expensive. The 500 line was more reasonable. I shopped around tried Janome and Viking (Husquvarna). Although I really liked the Berninas I ended up purchasing a Viking Sapphire 930. The machine was on sale with a quilters package that included an extension table, 2 walking feet and a 1/4 inch foot with a guide. It has hundreds of decorative stitches, thread cutter, automatic feed and tension adjustment. Don't buy too small of a machine because you will end up replacing it in a couple of years. The Sapphire has a large enough throat to machine quilt and embroider. I like to hand quilt but have recently tried to use the machine. It is really a dream. Good luck!Helpful Reply
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Elaine Simmons on Mar 04, 2014When you say "shame on Bernina for marketing it as one of their machines", I don't understand that statement. Whose machine is it then if not Bernina's?Helpful Reply
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Kimberly Young on Mar 05, 2014The Bernette machines are produced by a manufacturer in Asia. Bernina handles the quality control and ensures a high standard of performance. I have been told that Bernina makes some of the parts in the Bernette but it is not a true Bernina. The Bernette purchase price is a lot less than a Bernina.Helpful Reply
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Letitia on Mar 05, 2014No, It is not made by Bernina..... that is why each machine says: Bernette FOR Bernina. They are made in Japan. Unfortunately I didn't find that out till I had already purchased the machine. I could have purchased a Brother at Walmart or Amazon for far less money and had the same quality of machine.Helpful Reply
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Judy on Apr 15, 2014I just bought a Bernina 560. I also am a quilter. Don't know if I will ever want an embroidery module but nice to know it's an option. I just love this machine. So quiet and stitch quality is wonderful. Also easy to use. My old machine was a Babylock Quilter's Choice - stitch quality was terrible and couldn't sew anything thick or heave (like fowling or jeans). Everyone I have ever known who has a Bernina adores their machine and wouldn't buy anything else. I know people who have been sewing on the same Bernina for decades. I'm so glad I went for my Bernina. Got a great deal, too. Look at the Bernina website as they are having special offers now. I say go for the 560. I bet you won't be sorry.Helpful Reply
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Becky Hansen on Apr 15, 2014I have the Brother Quattro and it's a wonderful, strong machine. I love it for sewing, quilting, and embroidery. I always hate to see Brother machines put down because of the ones sold at Walmart. Brother and Baby Lock have very competitively great machines, if you buy through a sewing machine dealer. I also have an Elna that sews very nicely, and a Janome that I travel with. They are all very nice machines. A lot of my friends have Bernina's and, like most others, love their "Bernies!"Helpful Reply
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Christina aka Queenopearls on Jul 07, 2014Hi Kimberly, you asked a great question! Are you talking piecing a quilt and/or doing the quilting yourself on the machine? For piecing, look for a machine with an easy to change to straight stitch throat plate. My preference is to piece on my vintage Singer Featherweight because it is super easy to use and all it does is a straight stitch. Bernina does make a GREAT machine if you can afford the price tag.... even used. There are a few very reputable Bernina sellers on Ebay as well. If you want local support then hightail it out to your local stores and test drive all kinds of machines... even the used ones they have taken in on trade. Ask about warrantees. Trust your gut on what FEELS right. I agree with looking for something you can grow into. Sewing machines are often like cars... new ones lose value as you walk out the door. Don't feel pressured into making a decision on the spot. Machines can be a large investment and you need to feel totally comfortable with your decision.Helpful Reply
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Diane Patterson on Aug 28, 2014Kimberly, do you know what the 560 is being sold for where you got yours? Here in Oregon they sell for the MSRP of $4599, without the embroidery module. I currently own a little Brother PE400D that I paid $699 eleven years ago. It works like a dream, just too small for some projects. I also have a 4 year old Bernina 820 that we bought with frame (husband wanted to try his hand at quilting) that has only about 10 hours of use, that we paid $7000 and are trying to sell. The local dealers won't give hardly anything for trade in. If I could get a 560 for $2700, it'd totally be worth the 5 hour drive to Nevada.Helpful Reply
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Christine Brown on Aug 31, 2014look for Huannah machne, I know did not spell it right,but it germany made, and are wonderfulHelpful Reply
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Candace P on Sep 26, 2014I love Bernina machines! I have 4. I did try a Viking and it broke after a year and I am not a heavy sewer.Helpful Reply
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Donna on Apr 11, 2015Juki for free motion.Helpful Reply
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Kate on Jun 28, 2016My advice is to buy a machine from the best quilt shop in your town, whatever brand they carry. They will service it and honor the warranty. My quilt shop runs free classes to learn everything about your machine they just sold you.Helpful Reply
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Erma on Oct 14, 2016I love the Babylock machines. The Elure is a beginners machine that has embroidery capabilites. I also have the Ellissimo which also has embroidery. I just sold my Ellegante . Just LOVE these machines. My shop, SewVac in Ellicott City, MD gives a 6 yr. warranty, lifetime free lessons and all the help you need.Helpful Reply
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Diane Patterson on Oct 15, 2016I own the Bernina 560 with embroidery. Have had it for 2 years and haven't tried the embroidery yet, but really do plan on trying it. Husband insisted on purchasing the embroidery module when we bought the machine. I only do machine piecing on it, so I know I haven't scratched the surface on what it can really do. My first machine was a small Brother. It was an absolute workhorse, just too small for large projects. We moved up to a Bernina 820 with quilting frame because my husband thought he'd like to try his hand at the quilting part. Well, that didn't work out so well, and the machine was Tom large for me to move on and off the frame, or we sold it and purchased the 560. It has a large enough throat I believe you could do free motion nicely, not sure about king size though, and its small enough to move around and take to retreats, etc. So far, so good! The only thing I don't care for is the front loading bobbin. Wish Bernina would do a top load, much easier to get to.Helpful Reply
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Asare Emmanuel on Oct 16, 2016How can I buy it?Helpful Reply
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