Which sewing machine should I buy for quilting?

I have previously written about the fact I didn't own a sewing machine when I started quilting.  I now have two:

This Singer beauty and a very snazzy new toy, which I will come on to.  

I sew(ed) on my Mum's sewing machine, a Brother PX 100, which she has for necessity, rather than hobby purposes.  I pinched it to go to my first quilting class three years ago and didn't look (or give it) back.  I bought the relevant feet and off we went, merrily quilting away.

Over this time, as an avid reader of quilting blogs, I have become aware or all the amazing features on machines which can make your quilting life easier.  Dictating whether the needle stops in the up or down position, more speed control, knee lifts for the presser foot and large throat/harp space - they all sound mighty useful.  

Actually, I'm not sure why being able to lift the presser foot with your knee is good - but I'll take everyone's word for it.

It is with heavy heart (and a bit of grovelling to my Mum) that I've had to admit defeat with this particular Brother machine.  Truth is, it had a bit of an accident a while back (gravity related) and then when finishing Ugly Bug Ball I noticed the light bulb was melting the casing from the inside. 

YIKES!  

I was ready to leap into the world of the aforementioned fancy features and purchase my "I'm definitely into this quilting malarky for the long haul and need a machine for serious quilting - I'll use it, I promise" machine.

I started a bit of online research and long story short - there is a lot of information out there.  It has been so helpful for me in choosing my new sewing machine.

My specifications were:

• Larger throat space
• Automatic needle down
• Preferably with feet (not a deal breaker)

This post is really a public service announcement, and I have compiled a list of all the blog posts I have found which have been really helpful in making THE decision.  Which machine?

Multi Machine Reviews

• Stitched in Colour
• Diary of a Quilter - the comments on this post are a treasure trove of hints and tips
• Freshly Pieced

Janome 7700

Claire E Poppins brought this machine to my attention first, but it turns out I was REALLY late to the party.  Read all about it at:

• Lee at Freshly Pieced (also a really good review of other machines)
• Jaclyn Quilts
• Leah Day of the Free Motion Quilting Project (also includes a really helpful video of her using the machine, explaining what settings she uses and for what purpose)
• Quilted with Love - not everyone loves the 7700, but this review really takes you through the features

Janome 8900

• Making Rebecca Lynne

I also tried this in the shop - loved it.  It is apparently the step up from the 7700, but only in so far as it has extra stitches.  

JUKI TL2010Q

Excellent reviews from:

• Rachel of Stitched in Colour
• Danny at Mommy For Reals (also includes a review of the JUKI HZL F600)
• Making Rebecca Lynne
• Sew Sweetness

JUKI TL-98P

• Adrianne of On the Windy Side fame has provided a review of her machine.
• Also the machine choice of Molli Sparkles.

JUKI HZL F600

Florence of Flossie Teacakes has one.  

Reader, I married him.

So why this machine? A great quality, quilting friendly machine which has all the features I set my heart on and more!  However, I have also been really impressed with Janome in general and looking at other machines, it seems a few of the things I really like are replicated in other, less pricey models too.

In the end, I went for this machine because there was an excellent deal on a refurbished machine on the day I went into the shop. It made me think that so much of the decision must come down to geography, timing, and luck.  I have certainly been very lucky and see a happy future ahead of me with the Janome (both this machine and the brand). 

Then it made me think that I was definitely over analysing it, it wasn't the most important decision of my life - it is a machine for my hobby.  Ha!

I've been using the machine for a year now and absolutely love it.  I am really grateful to the conscientious bloggers who have put together such extensive research so that others might have a slightly easier time of it.  I intend to keep this blog post updated with any new reviews of machines I come across.  If you've written a review of your machine, and would like to be added to this list, please let me know!  

Fun in the oven

I've run out of sewing steam a little bit recently.  Since completing the triangle quilt, I've not quite managed to get back into the other large projects I had on the go.

These mainly consisted of two wedding quilts for dear pals who got married at the end of June and the beginning of July.  Despite having thought about it for months, one of them is still half done and the other isn't even started!  I just couldn't seem to get into it and then between hen parties and weddings, I just ran out of time and had to admit they were not going to happen for the big days.

I wanted to give them something though, and in my family we've a thing about oven gloves and hen parties.  I bought some Warm Company insulated batting years ago with the intention of making oven gloves at some point, so this seemed the perfect opportunity to have a go!

I used this tutorial from We All Sew.

These were really simple to make and made great presents.  Much as I loved gifting a large quilt, sometimes it is nice to just finish something quickly.

Anyone got any quick pattern recommendations for "instant gratification" sewing?

Triangle Quilt - DONE!

I finished the quilt for my husband, a gift for our first wedding anniversary, at about 15:30 on the day itself, having been locked away in the sewing room for much of the week.  Not ideal, but I got there in the end!

In the final week I completed the top,



basted,









quilted,












squared up,

and bound the whole thing!

Basting was the first time I got to see the whole thing at once, and I was suddenly pretty intimidated with an overwhelming feeling I'd bitten off more than I could chew.  I ploughed on though and was pretty chuffed with the results.  This is the largest quilt I've made and although there were lots of learning curves (next post - right now I'm just reveling in the positives) I'm delighted with how it turned out.

 It's too big to photograph!

Linking up with everyone this week:

Cottoned On

Over the last month I have been working away at my quilt for my husband in a desperate bid to get it finished by next weekend.  At this point, I have no idea whether I'm going to make it or not, but I think I can get close enough.  Has anyone ever handed over a quilt with no binding, or with safety pins still securing the layers?  Right, I better get on with it....

Here's how progress has gone so far:

I chain pieced every triangle to another one, just so there was a more manageable number of units to work with in the layout.

Next I laid out the rows.  It's hard to keep it random and my natural instinct was to create patterns.  The quilt is also so big  I've laid it out in two parts, so the first time I see the whole thing together will be when I baste it.  This is partly because I'm really struggling to keep this away from my husband.  Every time I need the big picture, he's in the house and probably in the room most suitable for spreading out!

 

I sewed the triangle units into rows and then sewed the rows together.

I plan on writing a more technical post about this quilt but for now I'll say, despite their stretchy sides, triangles have not been as daunting as I thought and have provided more perfect points than any other shape.

 

I bought extra wide backing fabric and some queen sized wadding to baste this weekend, so this morning's job is to sew the last three rows together and BASTE!  I'm torn between straight line quilting and stippling - any thoughts?

540

I've sewn all 540 triangles to a partner in the first round of sewing the quilt for my husband.

The hardest part was trying to keep the pairings random so the overall effect won't look ordered.  I can't wait to arrange them all and decide on the layout. The other element of making this quilt which is proving very tricky is keeping it secret!

Linking up with:

WIP Wednesday 

Lets Bee Social

Needle and Thread Thursday

Brown Paper Packages - 11

This week I started making a quilt for my husband.  I had been collecting fabric to make us a quilt on and off, with no real deadline in mind.



Well, I set the deadline, decided on the pattern and jolly well had to ramp up the fabric buying to make sure I had enough.

He's pretty into yellow and green as a colour scheme, so I adapted it slightly to mustard and teal.

The pile above is from My Bearpaw in Edinburgh, where I spent a very happy half an hour pulling bolts off the shelves while my Christmas gift vouchers burned a hole in my pocket.

This is Teal by Carolyn Friedlander from Botanics and a joy.  I'm already considering buying more just because I love it so.

As I mentioned in my previous post, the quilt is made up of 540 (!!) triangles of various teal and mustard fabric.  Cutting 540 triangles was a daunting prospect, but I got through it faster than anticipated.

I've started chain piecing these together, starting with the edges.

I've got a horrible feeling I've not let enough room between the selvage and the edge, but we'll see.  I've got lots of these edge peices left over so am confident I'll be able to replace a few where it looks a bit tight.  The one on the top of the photo above has already met with the unpicker!

 Linking up with Sunday Stash at Molli Sparkles