When choosing the best sewing machines for quilting, you need to consider a number of things because although any sewing machine can be used for quilting, there is no denying that a machine designed specifically for quilting will offer a quilter some beneficial extra features .
Since quilting can involve working on very large pieces of fabric, it pays to find a dedicated sewing machine that can provide a larger workspace, known as longarm quilting machines. Because quilting involves stitching through multiple layers of material that must be fed through the machine at once, you’ll want to find a machine with great feed dogs and the appropriate feet to help glide your quilting. The best sewing machines tend to be computer controlled too, as they can store an impressive number of stitch designs, giving you unlimited creative options.
Below are my five favorite sewing machines for quilting. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first machine or an award-winning quilter, there’s a sewing machine to suit your needs or budget. If you need a more general machine, check out my guide to the best sewing machines. If you are new to sewing, I also have a guide to the best sewing machines for beginners. For more information on our review process, see our How We Review Craft & Sewing Machines guide.
The best sewing machines for quilting: available now
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The Brother CS700X is the best sewing machine for quilters if you are new to quilting and want to buy your first machine. This sewing machine has everything you need to get started at a great price.
Aside from what’s included for the price, this sewing machine is also a great first machine as it’s easy to use and carry. The Brother CS700X is light enough to take to a class and you can expand the workspace with the included extension table, which is one of the many useful features for quilters that surprised me it was included for the price.
Other benefits of this sewing machine include a very impressive range of feet, including the all-important walking foot for sewing through layers. I like that you can adjust the needle stop position and that the machine has automatic reinforcement stitching, all features that make sewing easier and faster for a quilter.
As the name suggests, the Singer Patchwork 7285 was designed for quilters, but is still a great machine for all sewing tasks. It also comes with lots of good extras including a quality canvas cover and an extension table bag for safe storage.
I was impressed by the number of useful features for quilters that are included for the price, such as: It was also pleasantly surprising that the machine comes with an excellent range of feet, including helpful feet for quilting such as B. a ¼ inch foot, a walking foot and a darning foot.
The Singer Patchwork 7285Q is easy to set up and navigate, making it a great machine for beginners and those new to quilting on a sewing machine, but there’s still plenty here to keep advanced quilters engaged, excited, and sewing with ease.
The Bernette B38 remains a popular choice among beginners and intermediates and it’s easy to see why. This is one of the best sewing machines for quilting if you are looking for a well-made machine that will last.
While the Bernette B38 is compact enough to easily transport to a quilting group or class, the roomy extension table that comes with it makes for a fantastic workspace. I like the clear and plentiful plate markings and the handy scissor button for cutting your threads.
It’s easy to choose your stitch from the wealth of built-in stitches, which include a wide range of utility stitches as well as the more decorative and alphabetical options. With options to control both your speed and working pressure, the Bernette B38 is a sewing machine ideal for quilting.
The Janome Memory Craft 6650 is the best sewing machine for quilting if you’re looking for a fast machine that can do it all and is built to last, not just mechanically but in terms of your skills – this sewing machine gets better as you get better .
The machine’s 10-inch, all-metal flatbed not only provides plenty of room for free-motion embroidery work, but also serves as a stable support when sewing at 1,000 stitches per minute. While you may never use all of the 170 built-in stitches, there are many other added benefits for quilters with this machine, such as: B. the 7-point feeding system that offers better contact with your work.
I particularly like the extra high lift on the presser foot so you can easily attach a quilt underneath and dial in the pressure that will hold your project in place. The Janome 6650 is an expensive piece of kit, but with a 25-year warranty on its mechanical parts, it’s a good investment.
Committed quilter? Then the Janome Memory Craft Horizon 8200QCP Special Edition is the machine for you, but it’s an investment. If you know you’ll be spending hours and hours enjoying the craft you love, then you might be willing to spend some serious money for a full-featured dream machine.
I love the Janome Memory Craft Horizon 8200QCP Special Edition for the fantastic light and space it offers for all your quilting needs. Five ultra-bright LED lights make it easy to see your work, and there’s an impressive 11″ of space to the right of the needle to make working on larger quilts easier.
The high-resolution LSD touchscreen makes programming the 170 built-in stitches a breeze, and you can control the speed up to 1,000 stitches per minute, making it a machine that’s both fast and easy to use.
The best sewing machines for quilting: Q&A
What makes a quilting machine unique?
The best quilting machines have a larger sewing surface, often with a long arm for quilting; This means they are extra long so there is more room to the right of the needle for large materials.
Quite often, quilter sewing machines have more foot attachments, and you will need a 1/4 inch foot and walking foot. Quilting sewing machines can also have stronger needles, be more powerful, and have a toggle lever to give you two hands free. Also look out for “free motion sewing” for artistic embroidery and quilting.
Can any sewing machine be used for quilting?
Technically yes, but you’ll soon find that you need a larger machine to fit your heavy material, and standard sewing machines are only good for straight line quilting (basic quilting). For more complex projects, you’ll need free motion sewing, which only quilting machines generally provide.
Quilting on a sewing machine is heavy and demanding work, so standard sewing machines and cheap sewing machines may overheat and fail more often.
Do I need a special needle for quilting?
Yes, ideally, sewing machines for quilting use thin and pointed needles, which are often stronger than standard needles (they have to pierce through many layers of fabric). Use a 90/14 needle for regular or heavy quilting and a 70/10 or 80/12 needle for detailed work.
What is a walking foot and is it essential for quilting?
Yes, you need a walking foot for quilting and always make sure you have a sewing machine with you; For example, some sewing machines labeled patchwork machines often do not have one. So what is a walking foot? This is a foot attachment that pinches two layers of fabric together and moves them together under the needle at the same speed. As you might expect, quilts need this as they are made of two layers of fabric with batting in the middle making them heavy and difficult to move around.
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