Sewing machine recommendation for beginners?

IAWTP!!!!

Exactly what I was thinking ... and to boot, I don't want to be the one they remember as "talking them into" such a large purchase!!

You put it perfectly, John! Especially the part about "auspicious beginnings and early exits!!" :)

I went looney over getting my DD a sewing machine for her B-day. She swore that she wanted to sew and quilt ... but I had distinct fears that the idea would be more exciting than the reality - leaving me with a machine I didn't want (her chosen machine - yes, she test drove hers - was not one I would have chosen for myself. Luckily for me, though, it's been several months and she STILL loves it (her SM is plugged in and whirring nearly as often as mine!!)!!

Again, thanks John!! :)

Hugs!! Connie :)

I use a 6*24 for strips, I find I rarely cut wider than that, but on the odd occasion I do I crave the wider one. Until recently I think the I used a 4.5inch square, closely followed by a 6.5inch square. A couple of months ago I got a small rectangular one free at BOM, I think it's

3.5*9.5 and it's very much in favour with me right now, I think I've only used the squares very occasionally since I got it. I have 9.5 and 12.5 inch squares. A bigger square ruler is higher on my priority list than a wider 24" ruler. Cheers anne

In which case, I think I'd go for a mechanical only machine and skip all the computer bits and bobs. If she's ever used a sewing machine for, then the controls are likely to be fairly familiar and it should be good enough for her to get a feel for whether she really does like quilting before spending some more money. My first sewing machine was an unasked for gift from my MIL, I'd been muttering about wanting one for a while, it was great, I had to learn to use a sewing machine at school and had also used my mothers ancient one, so I essentially knew how to use it, it was just a matter of looking up exactly how to thread it etc. I just got a new sewing machine on Friday, having used the original for a bit over 4 years.

Cheers Anne

you expressed it so much better than me! As I said, my first sewing machine was a gift and it was perfect, having to choose my own within the same budget would have been much more difficult.

Anne

If he is insisting about getting a machine, then I suggest asking a lot of questions at the store, in his presence, about their return/exchange policy. Perhaps you could even get them to discuss thier experiences with people having someone else select a machine for them, depending on how pushy they are being about making an immediate sale.

Mary

6 1/2 inch square 10 1/2 inch square 12 1/2 inch square 24 X 3 inch long Newest favorite 18 X 5 inch long with a lip at one end Debra in VA See my quilts at

What size square(s) are you wanting, Anne?

I'm thinking about several between 15.5 to 24.5. I like making big blocks Debra in VA See my quilts at

I think you're right, Polly. One time my DH was home with a broken leg spending way too much time watching the Shopping Channel. He actually bought me a Euro Pro sewing machine. He was so excited. He goes, "It'll do this, and that, and you can make this, and that, etc. etc.". Well, the Euro Pro came via UPS a few days later. I absolutely hated the stupid thing. I might as well have tried to sew on the tiny music box machine you spoke of! I finally, kindly, said, this is a total piece of crapola and I'm selling it to the first person to show up with $25 in their hand. It was a really sweet gesture on his part, and that made it even harder to admit to him that I hated it.

Sherry

On Dec 4, 4:23 pm, "SewVeryCreative" wrote:

There are several models of machines available made by Janome....I personally have the 4800 QC and LOVE it....that being said, when my good friend finally decided she was going to begin quilting, I helped her choose a new Janome, mechanical, machine about $300. I thought it would be much easier for her to learn on.....well it took about a year for her to decide she wanted something "better". Our dealer would have been happy to take it in on a trade, against a fancier machine, as it went though she couldn't part with the first machine! They (her and her machine) were in love, but she did get a used Kenmore that is made by Janome, that is IDENTICAL to my 4800 for about $350 also garaunteed by the dealer. A friend I sew with just bought a new Kenmore(can't remember model number) and it has a nice amount of stitches, and VERY similar to the Janome 3000.....about $250..... So I guess what I am saying is that he could buy her a machine, for under $400 that would service her for a year getting started quilting, yet still be a useful family tool if she chose not to continue quilting. I personally could not live without a drop in bobbin, needle down feature, nice Janome buttonhole stitch, and needle position adjustment....Tools got to have that 6-6.5 square ruler, one of my new favorites is a 6 x 12 ruler, and the Companion angle, a 45mm rotary cutter, the auto close one,18 x 24 cuttting mat. I also like the 18 mm cutter, it is not as intimidating for a beginner. And a good beginning book, like Fons and Porter's Complete Book of quilting.

Mauvice in central WI Mauvice in central WI.

I have a 6" x 24" ruler and a 6 1/2" x 24 1/2" ruler. I also have a

20" x 20" which is really nice for squaring up larger blocks and cutting strips wider than 6 1/2". I also have a ruler that will cut 45 degree triangles and 60 degree triangles. These 4 rulers have covered all my needs thus far....

-- Jo in Scotland

Don't forget that if you become emotionally attached to a ruler and the lines wear off that you can replace them. A few lines on my favorite ruler needed help. I carefully (make that VERY carefully) replaced them with a fine line of a Sharpie Twin Tip. The first couple of lines I replaced wore off very quickly. I suspected that either hand lotion or chocolate were eroding them so (lightbulb moment) I put the new lines on the underside. The ruler I'm so bent on using has a hefty lip / ledge and holds firmly to the cutting mat. They were rather stingy making the newer versions so I cling tenaciously to my favorite old ruler friend. Polly

My fave rulers are my 8.5X24, the 6.5 square, a 6X12 and the 12.5 square. I also have 4.5 square, 2.5 square, 6 in. square, 1X12, 1X6, 16.5 square, several with 45 degree ends on them, several triangles, a 8 in. square with a 4 in. square cut-out in the center(???), two 4X24, a 3X36 (handy but too floppy- why did they make the longest ruler also the skinniest one???), 2.5 X something.... gee, I know I have several others! But the first four are set out on my cutting table while all the others languish in the storage rack- only brought out for 'special occasions'.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

I don't have that many, but I do use two you don't - an aluminium metre rule (from one of Lidl's DIY specials, it also has spirit levels which are not hugely useful for quilting) and an eight-foot length of aluminium shelf bracket mounting strip, as a straightedge for when I want to make a very long cut in one go.

============== j-c ====== @ ====== purr . demon . co . uk ============== Jack Campin: 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland | tel 0131 660 4760 for CD-ROMs and free | fax 0870 0554 975 stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, & Mac logic fonts | mob 07800 739 557

Prince Charles says all rulers have 12 inches.

Rulers.... sigh. I have a bunch of rulers and rotary cutting "templates" and do seem to use most of them at some time. The ones I use most often are the 4"x14" and 6"x12" ones. But also have:

3x18, 6 1/2x13, and 2x8. Also have a 6x24 as well as the 1" by 6" and 1"x12" >

How come a 15.5 ruler is too small for 15.5 blocks? You can buy a 16.5 square ruler that should take care of most blocks. You can also set rulers side-by-side of they aren't large enough. Example- Cutting 8 in strips with a 6 in. ruler- just lay a second ruler at the 2 in. mark beside the 6 in. ruler.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

I wasn't really thinking of a specific size, I don't find I need to have the exact same size, it just has to be at least as big. I have made some blocks that have been 15.5 finished, so at 15.5 ruler would have been too small for them. I big square would be useful for squaring up between quilting and binding.

Cheers Anne

15.5" finished, so 16" unfinished.

I've done the laying rulers side by side trick, I usually prefer that to using markings on a cutting mat.

Cheers Anne