I am looking for some advice.  I have long been an admirer of quilting from the sidelines.  I have wanted to start taking lessons for years at local quilting shops but have yet to start.  I have accumulated quite a library of quilting books and magazines which I have purchased, subscribed to and saved for a long time.  My problem is this:  I need to purchase a sewing machine.  I have researched many sewing machines to use for quilting and if money were not an object would love to purchase a "state of the art" machine for both quilting and embroidery.  However, I am not made of money.  Can someone please recommend a good "beginner" sewing machine that I can use for quilting and take with me to lessons and workshops?  I have had a reputable local store recommended and a few people that I have spoken to have suggested Bernina's as their favorite choice.  Do I really need a machine with all the "bells and whistles" to start my new passion?  

Thank you in advance for any recommendations!

Dorene 

I started with a singer that I inherited from my mother, then I moved up to a Kenmore....and now I have a Bernina. I guess the thing to do is decide what features are absolutely necessary and then look at the different manufacturers.

 I love my Bernina and  would recommend any machine that they have, but then I have a good bells and whistles machine and I love my dealer. That is one of the big things...if you don't love your dealer/maintenance person you may be in for a rough ride. Because they will be the person that you go to when you really need assistance for maintenance, and if you are not happy with them it can make the experience a real bummer.

I purchased a Bernina for my mom and she loves it, she wont give it up for the world. At the time, I got the best that I could afford and she still loves it and uses it 6 years later.

Oh, if the manufacturer has a 6 months same as cash deal....go for it. 

I have a Pfaff now but,before I could afford this machine I used a Kenmore for years because that was the best I could get.To learn to quilt on that is what I suggest. I know what its like to have to make do. I also have a Babylock that I like really well. Good luck and happy quilting.

I have a Pfaff now but,before I could afford this machine I used a Kenmore for years because that was the best I could get.To learn to quilt on that is what I suggest. I know what its like not

Hello Dorene,

Think of your sewing machine as an investment. There are many good ones out there. My personal preference is Bernina. I purchased a Bernina 801 over 20 years ago. It served me well for both regular sewing and all of my quilting projects. I recently decided to go for an upgrade, I traded my 801 in for a Bernina 440 Quilter's Edition. It works great and the new features are worth it!  I'm good to go for another 20 years. Best of luck with machine shopping.

 

 

Hello Dorene!

 You sound very much like me except that I first became interested in machine embroidery and later found that quilts could be a good place to display my embroidery. I looked at new embroidery machines for about a decade, but I felt that I would not make enough embroidered garments to justify the cost. Finally, I decided that maybe I could justify a used Bernina if someone, who absolutely always had to have the newest one available, traded hers in.

I went to the local independent fabric store and explained what I was looking for. Each time I went in, I checked to see if they had any used Bernina embroidery machines. Finally I head that they had two in, and they would demonstrate both for me. I got a Bernina 180E about 5 years ago. I paid half of what it had cost, which is less than a third of what a new quilting and embroidery Bernina costs today. It works well with occasional maintenance servicing, and I would buy a used one again from a local shop where they new me (and knew I would be back to hound them if it was a lemon). Maybe you could consider doing that!

Joyce

Hi Dorene,

I have a little Elna which so far has been fine for me but I to would like to get something to do embroidery and quilting....I have been collecting patterns, books and magazines too. At the moment I cant afford much so I have been still looking.'

What I can say is that over the last 8 months I have been doing the rounds of quilting/embroidery/patchwork blogs...especially for those who teach or do prize winning or just plain lovely work............and guess what ..they seem to swear by their BERNINAS....of any persuasion.so Im defintiely leaning in that direction.

I like the suggestion about visiting the local shop.....regularly. Happy hunting.

Sadia