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Which Sewing Machine Is Best For Quilting? – Here’s Our Guide!

Sewing machines are not all the same, and they are not all built for the same purposes. In fact, choosing the right sewing machine for certain jobs is a very important consideration.

One of the most popular kinds of sewing machines is a quilting machine. Quilting machines are designed to sew long sewing seams quickly.

They use a straight stitch, rather than zig zag or other fancy stitches. However, many quilting machines also have additional features that make them very versatile.

They can mean the difference between a frustrating sewing experience and creating beautiful quilts.

Features of a Good Quilting & Embroidery Sewing Machine

If you’re a quilter or do embroidery, chances are you have a sewing machine. But are you using a machine that’s the best fit for the projects you do?

It’s important to have a good understanding of what features a quilting or embroidery machine should have.

If you have a machine with these features, you’ll be able to work more efficiently and have a better experience.

You’ve carefully chosen your fabrics, and finally you’re ready to make your quilt.  You know you need a good quilting and embroidery sewing machine, but which features are important to have?  

Easily Changeable Presser Feet

There are so many reasons why you might need to change your presser feet on your sewing machine. Usually, it is because you are making a project or need a specific feature that a particular foot can provide.

The other reasons could be you had an accident and broke your foot or you are just bored with the one you have and want to try a new one.

If you want to have the ability to make your own quilting projects, you need to have a machine that is capable of switching out and seaming different presser feet.

Having the ability to change your presser feet is essential to achieving the look you want and for working with the widest range of fabric types and quilting projects.

Easy To Adjust Top Thread Tension

If you are new to quilting or are looking for an upgrade for your regular sewing machine, you may want to consider a quilting machine.

A quilting machine makes quilting easier and more enjoyable, and can make quilting go faster.  

Look for a quilting machine that has features that will make it easy for you to adjust the tension of the top thread, since this is vital for great looking quilting.

Also, the quilting machine you choose should be easy to use, so that you will enjoy using it now and continue to use it in the future.

Lots Of Different Free Motion Feet Available

If you are interested in quilting, you know that there are a ton of different feet available for your sewing machine that you can use to make your quilting easier.

However, when you are shopping for a quilting machine, you should be sure that the machine you are interested in purchasing has a lot of different feet available for it.

A Large Opening To Accommodate Bigger Quilts

When it comes to making a quilt, one of the biggest decisions you will have to make is the size of the opening to use.

Many times, this is decided for you if you are making a traditional top-down quilt, but there are many options available for those who want to make a quilt from their own pattern.

The question then becomes: Why do you need a large opening to accommodate bigger quilts?

If you are looking for the best sewing machine for quilting, you need to look for a machine that has a large throat space.

The throat space is the opening at the top of the sewing area that allows the fabric to pass through the machine as the sewing is taking place.

The larger the throat space, the easier it will be to fit larger pieces of fabric through it. This is important because you want to be able to have as little width as possible in a seam, in order to get a more accurate and professional-looking stitch.

The newest models of sewing machines are able to open up to an almost 10 inch diameter, which is plenty of room for even the largest quilt. 

Threading Feature

Threading is probably the most important thing to know about any sewing machine.  The biggest difference between these machines is the speed and efficiency of the threading system.  

On most machines, the bobbin is at the bottom, and the upper thread is at the top, but there are some machines that have the bobbin on top and the upper thread on the bottom.  

This has become much more common on machines made in recent years.  The first thing you should do is to check the manual to see whether your machine is top-loading or bottom-loading.

The Length of the Arm

If you’re shopping around for a new quilting machine, you may have heard the term “quilting arm length”. And you may wonder why it is important.

Knowing the length of the sewing arm will help you determine how much fabric you can work with at one time.

As a beginner, you may not even have thought about arm length. But as you look into what kind of machine you need, you may hear about quilting arm length. And you may wonder whether it’s important.

It is frequently observed by experienced quilters that the most frequently used tools and accessories in a quilting studio are those that are used the least.

A longarm quilting machine is a great example.  If you are just beginning your quilting, the subject of buying one should probably be left for a while. The same is true if you are not a quilting addict.  

A longarm quilting machine is a huge investment, and once you have one, you will be tempted to use it as often as possible. This does not work.  

The most important step in using a longarm quilting machine is to make sure that it is always ready to use.

In Conclusion

There are three important things to consider when you are looking for a sewing machine for quilting. The first thing to think about is the type of sewing you plan to do. The second is the size of the sewing machine. The third thing to think about is the price. You may want to read on to learn more about these things and things to look for when you buy a quilting machine.

Kirsten Carter

Kirsten Carter

Kirsten Carter is a freelance content writer who specialises in writing about travel, technology and health. When she's not traveling between her home of Tanzania and England, she writes for her blog Rightminded Travelling and features on a variety of different travel and technology sites.View Author posts

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