I want to help fellow quilters know that there is success to be had in this industry, and it’s not for the elite few. In a billion dollar industry, there’s room for everyone. With confidence, training, and guidance, a quilter can become a successful quilterpreneur.
Are you trying to pick the perfect sewing machine? I am sharing my sewing machine journey, what machine I use now, and how YOU can pick the perfect sewing machine for YOU.
When I started sewing, I had NO idea what to look for in a sewing machine. My budget felt huge at the time ($300.00). I went to me local JoAnn Fabric store and got what the sales lady recommended. It was a an H Class 100Q Husqvarna and I loved it! It had everything I needed as a beginning quilter.
The more I pieced and quilted, and the more I learned about sewing machines I learned of a few features my machine did not have that I desperately wanted. Namely:
It was time to upgrade, but I had NO IDEA what machine to get. Everyone was telling me, “Try this one! I love it!” or “No, this one! It’s amazing!” I’ll be honest, I kept hearing people say Bernina’s were the standard in sewing machines and I saw a quilter I love being advertised as a Bernina Brand Ambassador. So . . . I got a Bernina.
This was the Bernina that I purchased. It is a special Quilters Edition 570 and the cost was a whopping $5,000.00. I got a bit of a discount from a local quilt shop at the time. It runs for $5,399.00. I was THRILLED, and wanted to love it because everyone said I should. And dang, it was not cheap. It DID have some of the bells and whistles I wanted. But I’ll admit, when I sewed on it, it wasn’t smooth. I purchased some add-ons and the prices were pretty high. The machine was fine, but it was not the love story I dreamed of.
One day I had a friend over who is a quilter. When she saw my sewing machine, she commented on the throat size. I don’t remember the words exactly, but it made me look into similar priced sewing machines and what I could get for the price. I had also heard another friend talk about her sewing machine and how it sewed “like butter.” I knew I wanted a machine that was a better fit for me. DISCLAIMER: I know a LOT of people who love Bernina. There is nothing wrong with the company or machine. It is a matter of personal preference. And it turns out my preference is not for Bernina.
But what machine DID I want? I looked heavily at Juki, Janome, and Baby Lock. All three had great reviews, so I went to some local quilt shops (and some not so local – hello road trip!). It was important to me to sit down and try some machines to see what I liked. What felt good. How would it be to use the machine? What was included? How much would is cost to add extras in the future?
Having purchased a machine before, I knew what I wanted. And I found it all PLUS some in the Baby Lock Crescendo Machine.
This is my story, but we each look for different things in a sewing machine. What’s important to you in a sewing machine?
I created a checklist that you can download for free. Look over the features I listed. Mark the ones that are important to you. There’s also a place for notes. Take notes when you look for a sewing machine. And if possible, try them out first. Download Your Free Sewing Machine Checklist Guide!
Be sure to take a look at my other most popular blog posts and tutorials.
November 22, 2024
Why I Stopped Designing Fabric: My Honest Reasons and What’s Next Are you dreaming of designing or selling fabric? In this heartfelt episode, I share why I decided to step away from designing fabric and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’m breaking down my top six reasons for leaving the fabric design world: […]
Each week get insights on how to turn your craft into a successful career. With both guest speakers and tips from myself, you get valuable, free education on the Craft to Career podcast!
quilters_Candy
Quilters Candy helps you, the Quilterpreneur, grow your business through Memberships, the Quilt Pattern Writing Course, Quilt Pattern Templates, and more. As a quilterpreneur, I share what I've learned from publishing a book, writing quilt patterns, and designing fabric, to help YOU turn your craft into a successful career.