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Sewing machine for quilting

Hi all! My partner has taken up quilting since she's retired. She does most of it by hand, but there seems to be a sewing machine component in the process too. Her old Bernina is struggling - I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a good quilting sewing machine?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

PS - to the lady who was in such distress over Xmas - it is possible to train your family to understand that Christmas as we know it now is a massive scam driven by lies and greed. It frazzles the nerves, depletes the bank balance, enlarges the waistline, and fills the closet with unwanted junk. It has taken a few years, but now it's the quietest day of the year for us. We dine on baked beans on toast washed down with a can of beer, go for a walk on the beach, - and look forward to seeing the rest of the family in small groups in a few weeks time.

It CAN be done - just takes a bit of courage and perserverance.

Reply to
UuuuuuummmmmmM
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Well. You said 'any suggestions' so here's mine. It is very likely that your partner's struggling Bernina can be tuned up to good as new by a Bernina dealer. A double bargain - it won't cost nearly much as a decent sewing machine and your buddy won't have to learn the how's and where's of a new or new(er) one. Unless she's been using it for an anchor, chances are that it can be made 'good as new' ... or nearly. Since she's comfortable with Bernina, the Bernina 155 and the 440QE are grand quilters' sewing machines. She would probably enjoy the knee-lift, needle-down and maybe the BSR. We always urge the quilter to test drive a new machine HERSELF. Choosing one for someone else is risky business. And, wouldn't you like to introduce yourself? Uumm isn't much of a name. Polly

"UuuuuuummmmmmM" Hi all!

Reply to
Polly Esther

If giving the gift of service for the existing Bernina include in the offer your delivery and pick-up services. Lugging a machine to a service center is major work. If you are planning to purchase a new machine, please give a gift certificate. As others have already written, purchasing a new machine is like buying shoes---to insure a good fit they must be tried-on and walked in for more than just a few steps.

Susan

Reply to
Susan Laity Price

I second Polly's motion!

I love the needle-down/needle-up but the knee lift causes me distress, I learned to sew on machine's in cabinets, they always had the knee actuated go "peddle" and my knee wants to use the knee lift to go even though I have my foot on the peddle! The BSR might be nice for free motion quilting, but my Bernina 160 is doing just fine and I have at least eight working old Singers as back-up. Only need them when Bernie is in for annual check-up.

Bonnie, in Middletown, VA

Reply to
Bonnie Patterson

LOL, Bonnie, my friend. I understand about knees having a mind of their own. My knee tries really hard to raise the foot on the serger. It never works but the knee never quits trying. As to the BSR, I never bother with it unless I've been walking/standing too much for this old body and my feet need to be propped up. It's a hoot to put my feet on a little foot stool and let the BSR be the accelerator. If only I could teach the BSR to go on without me like the embroidery machine does. Wouldn't that be cool? Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

One day it will, Polly - one day ... . In message , Polly Esther writes

Reply to
Pat S

On Tue, 7 Dec 2010 17:56:21 -0600, UuuuuuummmmmmM wrote (in article ):

I tend to think sewing machines are a lot like cars. What suits me, may not suit her. People here use Vikings, Berninas, Janomes, and Pfaffs. They all have their merits. (Though I'd run away from any of the new Singers.)

She really needs to decide what features she wants/needs and what her price range is, and what she can live without. For example, needle up/down is a necessity for me. But I can (and do) live happily without a knee lift. Others here love their knee lifts.

Then I'd take her around and let her test drive various machines.

I'm happily sewing and quilting on a Viking Designer 1 handed down to me by MSM when she bought her new machine last year. I love it. It just works for me. I've test driven Pfaffs, and while they are very nice machines, the buttons just always end up in the wrong place for me.

Again, like driving a car. Imagine if you had a great car, but the radio button was in the wrong place for you. It would drive you crazy every single day.

Maureen

P.S. I'm the lady with the crazy Xmas. It's working out. And now DSis is planning a family Xmas extravangza. I'm afraid we won't be able to attend all the events. :-)

Reply to
Maureen Wozniak

I am SO glad to find another person with this exact same problem and fit of machines! Never met a Husqvarna I couldn't use automagially, never met a Pfaff (other than Ursula's aunt's wholly mechanical one!) that I didn't have to hunt for everything on and couln'nt find it then!

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH PFAFFS! They just don't fit...

Love Berninas as well. Janome's give me a headache! Or hurt - especially the serger that danced off the table into my lap!

Old Singers of the black cast iron persuasion: excellent! Anything newer than about 1964 has to be a free gift, coz I ain't paying for it! Some work surprisingly well, considering (like Little Sis's Samba 4, a

6212C), but others are just sooooo wrong they are painful.

Event overload! Just hibernate with the sewing machine! ;)

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

On Thu, 9 Dec 2010 08:41:25 -0600, Kate XXXXXX wrote (in article ):

It is nice to know when you are not alone!

Maureen

Reply to
Maureen Wozniak

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