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. 

carly

Several sewing machine companies have youtube channels where they give demos and tutorials of machines that they sell.  e.g DC Nutt   ( I have no connection )  but they give you an idea about the capabilities of the machine.  They also sell second user machines , which can be useful as one can get a better value machine with more capability than a new one at the same price.   I found "Sewing machine world" based in Kings Lynn very helpful with advice via emails when I was looking for a machine  ( again I have no link to them)

twopenny

It's not really helpful to your question but I have a Singer enamel and gold with a turn handle probably 1920s and belonged to my grandmother.
And it has a whole box of attachments several of which are for quilting. 😉

Oh I love 'better finished than perfect '. 
I wish someone had drilled that into me from a young age 😕

BrilliantButScary

Thank you for all of your replies @Devongardener, @carly and @twopenny. They were all very helpful.

I have visited the websites suggested, done questionnaires, watched videos of machines and suggestions of things to make ,and looked at fabrics. I am getting to grips with the terminology.

Fortunately, I have quite a local shop that also sells on the Internet, similar to the ones mentioned above, with good reviews. I went yesterday and I am going back there next week to 'test drive' some machines. 

I have used a treadle Singer, a Jones and an industrial sewing machine (can't remember the manufacturer) in the past. I suspect that I might be increasing my budget, but it is a 'retirement' gift to myself. 

The shop owner yesterday said that he often sees couples in his shop, with both parties having expensive hobbies, he mentioned golf, photography and motorbikes!

Marcon

Janome machines are great - solid reliable workhorses with all sorts of bells and whistles which you'll actually use.

One downside (common to all machines, not just Janome) is the cost of accessories such as specialist feet. Janome's are typically around £19 - or under a quid from Temu. They are identical - I know because a I bought a few out of interest! Most feet are universal fit: https://www.temu.com/search_result.html?search_key=sewing%20machine%20feet&search_method=user

Temu also has a huge range of quilting supplies - a bit of browing will find you the cheapest supplier: https://www.temu.com/search_result.html?search_key=quilting%20supplies&refer_page_el_sn=204060&srch_enter_source=10009204060&search_method=waist&_x_sessn_id=newo1mxtdh&refer_page_name=search_result&refer_page_id=10009_1761420730668_yk6mdpc53y&refer_page_sn=10009

Mckinkle2

Hi,

I’m new here sorry to be late to the party but I was wondering if you’ve bought your machine?

If not I’d like to recommend Jaguar. They are really very good and you get a lot more for your money than any of the huge names.

I bought a basic one for dressmaking and could not recommend it highly enough. I did then go mad and ended up with two other machines but wanting to get a starter overlocker I chose the entry level one by Jaguar and I am so thrilled with it.

The one tip that elevated my quilting was to trim each block to a set size oh and press each seam as you sew them.

I find that I don’t feel like myself if I’m not sewing so I wish you many happy years of sewing ahead!