Buying a sewing machine for quilting.

BrilliantButScary

I am looking to buy a sewing machine, which I will hopefully use for quilting/patchwork, curtains and dressmaking.

My budget is up to £500.

I have owned and used a sewing machine before, but it is some time ago. I would like one that I can 'grow into', as my skills improve and I get more ambitious.

I was thinking about this one:

https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/singer-patchwork-quilting-and-sewing-machine-7285q/6323941000.html?glCountry=GB&store=&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20489202173&gclid=CjwKCAjwup3HBhAAEiwA7euZuuy7SUWEt2UtFcDKX4yGxf4W6mE_8iWvao5ta1BEGgf3ZgBavxRQzBoC2o8QAvD_BwE

or:
https://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/5060qdc/

Any advice about essential kit needed for patchwork and quilting, brands, where to shop, or anything you think I might find helpful, would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

dreaming

I learned to quilt using a fairly basic Brother machine. As I progressed I did buy an extension table and a couple of feet to make life easier - a free motion foot (although never got the hang of that) and a walking foot which feeds the fabric from above as well as below, and is especially useful when quilting through the topper, wadding, and backing layers.  The only other things I found really essential was a large cutting mat, a rotary cutter and some good rulers, and some good sharp long pins. I also booked onto a course for beginners but actually learned more through trial and error at home (lots of errors but remember, finished is better than perfect ). It can get quite expensive so my suggestion is to start small and add things on if you enjoy it. I can no longer quilt due to vison problems but the only thing I would have liked is a machine with a wider 'throat' (the bit between the motor and the needle, as larger quilts can be a bit of a struggle to fit through on standard machines, but of course those are more expensive. Happy quilting!

BrilliantButScary

dreaming said:

I learned to quilt using a fairly basic Brother machine. As I progressed I did buy an extension table and a couple of feet to make life easier - a free motion foot (although never got the hang of that) and a walking foot which feeds the fabric from above as well as below, and is especially useful when quilting through the topper, wadding, and backing layers.  The only other things I found really essential was a large cutting mat, a rotary cutter and some good rulers, and some good sharp long pins. I also booked onto a course for beginners but actually learned more through trial and error at home (lots of errors but remember, finished is better than perfect ). It can get quite expensive so my suggestion is to start small and add things on if you enjoy it. I can no longer quilt due to vison problems but the only thing I would have liked is a machine with a wider 'throat' (the bit between the motor and the needle, as larger quilts can be a bit of a struggle to fit through on standard machines, but of course those are more expensive. Happy quilting!

Thanks for your reply @dreaming.

'Finished is better than perfect' made me smile.
I have bought a couple of books from the charity shop, one by Jo Avery and another by Pamela Jane Morgan, which seem helpful.

Your suggestion about starting small, is a good one, as I can envisage, that as well as it being expensive, it could take up a lot of space.

There was talk about 'building a stash of fabric' in one book, is this what happened in your experience? 

dreaming

Ah - the fabric stash! Definitely a money gobbler, although some people use charity shop finds such as cotton shirts or bedding to cut up to use.  No matter how much you have, it always seems that you don't have just the "right" colour or pattern. I actually took most of my remaining stash to my old craft group just last week as after 4 years of not sewing I wanted it to go to people who could make use of it (although I admit to keeping some favourites). The saying about finished being better than perfect came from Jenny Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt company on YouTube. Although some of the terms/measurements are American I found her tutorials very helpful, with the advantage that I could rewind as many times as I liked. The course I took, although it started me off. wasn't right for me. Although termed "for beginners" the tutor didn't have enough time to spend with me when I just couldn't get what she was telling me, and then she seemed impatient when I asked again. I did much better working it out on my own after watching Youtube. I still have the quilt I made then (my very first) on the back of the sofa some 10 years later, and a bed topper made of flannel - which was difficult to sew as it was quite stretchy but I absolutely love. Then of course there's the storage issue. I ended up buying a lot of plastic tubs to store everything in, then bought a cupboard to store the crates in , as they looked too messy just stacked up in the spare room. And then wadding - storing that is a whole different story - especially if bought in bulk when on offer. Oh dear, I hope I don't put you off. I really loved making them and gifting them - various friend's babies have had play mats from me (they're very quick to make up and the fabrics for kids can be really fun). I just need to sort out my wool stash now.

Devongardener

I’d avoid the Singer, they are not the reliable machines they used to be.
If you are making even relatively small quilts you need to consider how you will handle the bulk of the fabric, with wadding and backing through the throat of the machine.   

I can highly recommend The Sewing Studio, you can run through their machine choice questionnaire to see what will suit your needs:
 the sewing studio.co.uk 
They also have an excellent phone advice service, they are based in Cornwall.