3 Features to Consider When Buying a Sewing Machine for Quilting

Quilting is a wonderful hobby that can be developed as a source of income and has business potential. It’s not just something you can do to pass the time or an activity to counteract boredom. Quilting is also considered an art and a labor of love by many, which is why quilts and other quilted items are prized and highly appreciated. If you are considering speeding up your creation of quilts of converting your hobby into a business, you can buy a sewing machine that has a quilting function or a quilting machine. 

But before you dig out from your pocket and buy one, you need to consider some essential things when you buy a sewing machine for quilting.

1. Package and Price

The price of the product will always figure at the top of things to consider when it comes to making purchase decisions. It’s no different when it comes to sewing machines for quilting. Your price consideration may be influenced by a number of factors such as your current budget, your current proficiency level and your purpose for switching to machine quilting. If you are testing the waters for a business quilting venture, you can start out with an affordable yet reliable entry level sewing machine such as Brother CS6000i. This machine is also great for beginner and novice quilters who prefer to operate a sewing machine for quilting. Versatile and reasonably priced sewing machines are good options for quilting hobbyists who want to shift from hand quilting to machine quilting. Most importantly, the sewing machine’s value should match its overall package and features.

2. Automations

When it comes to efficiency and quality of output of quilted products, much of it depends on the level of automation in a sewing machine. Features like automatic anchor stitch, automatic needle up/down and automatic cut-off of the lower and upper threads are high on the list among avid quilters. This is why Anita HartCaroll, a quilting enthusiast and author of Best Sewing Machine for Quilting wrote an extensive guide for novice quilters to help them choose the right machine for both entry-level quilting and for business startups. These features not only speed up the quilting process, they also help you save on materials such as fabric and threads. Automation of some or most of the quilting steps can also reduce the number of errors and redos when you make quilts by hand.

3. Size

When it comes to sewing machines for quilting, the concept of  “bigger is better” applies. This is because a bigger package comes with bigger parts, which are important for handling different kinds of threads and fabrics. One particular part you should take note of is the harp or the opening under the arm area. The larger the harp, the more you can handle larger quilts and thicker fabrics. The preferred harp size should start from 6.5 inches and higher. If the machine you find has a lower measure than 6.5 inches, you may have limited options for handling large quilts. Another reason for choosing a large harp size is maneuverability. Quilters prefer to have the freedom of movement and easy placement of large quilts without having the need to stop and adjust the fabric entry. This speeds up the quilting and makes the process seamless.

Making beautiful works of art called quilts is now made even easier with sewing machines that have quilting functions. Also, quilting as a business may have seemed impossible years ago, but they can now be realized thanks to these machines. Still, these machines come in varying prices and features, so you need to do some research and also be sure of what feature you really need for a quilting machine. Making wise and informed purchase decisions can help you choose a quilting machine that suits your needs best.