A suitable quilting machine can cost you from below $200 to well above $10,000 based upon how much quilting you will do along with how much time you intend to devote. Fortunately, sewing machines towards the lower end are more than sufficient for all but the most avid quilters. Some quilters don't use any machine at all. Although very time consuming a few people stick with the traditional all hand-stitched approach. Beyond this, many ordinary sewing machines can handle several, perhaps all, of the stages of making a quilt. From there you might step up to a long-arm quilting machine. They typically cost around $1000 to $2000. Frames, which move the quilt and machine, roughly double that cost. Top of the line quilters and frames are mechanized as well as computerized and can complete a quilt virtually without any assistance.
As further background, here's the 3 primary stages of quilt making and the sewing machine features they need.
Make the Squares
The first step is creating the individual squares. These can actually be almost any shape, and lots of people consider this to be the most creative step. Their design includes the choice of fabric color and pattern, as well as other options that include applique and embroidery.
Making squares puts the least requirements on the sewing machine. Just about any good quality sewing machine is going to be fine. If you're especially creative you might make some or even all of your squares by hand. On the other hand, a machine that can do embroidery can provide lovely personal touches very quickly. Although more expensive compared to a simple machine, nowadays the extra cost is reasonably small and these machines are quite simple to use.
Piecing
The next stage consists of putting all the pieces (squares) together. This is also really quite artistic as you put together colors and textures into patterns for the entire quilt. Most general-purpose sewing machines will also be good for piecing, and therefore are a great help as the actual stitching can be tedious. With the squares coming together into a large quilt, a bed-extension can often be useful in handling things. A long-arm quilting machine can be a bit more handy here, but not an enormous benefit.
Quilting
The final phase sews together a backing cloth layer, the batting, along with the top layer of pieced squares. This is actually the operation the term quilting in fact means. It takes a huge number of stitches and so nowadays it's hardly ever accomplished by hand. Almost everybody does machine quilting here. A quilting sewing machine will need to satisfy a few particular requirements for this phase. Most, although not all sewing machines can perform the final quilting. Most importantly the machine will need to have a quilting foot in addition to a quilting stitch. Quilting feet can be bought as accessories for most sewing machines.
Handling the large amount of fabric is usually time consuming as well as a bit tricky on a standard machine. Final quilting is a lot quicker as well as less complicated using a long-arm quilter. Having a frame that moves your machine one way and also rolls your quilt the other way will make this last phase a breeze. Here's where you get into the 1000s of dollars. And that means you need to always be sewing many, many quilts to make a case for the price tag. It's common to pay for another person having a long-arm set up to complete the final quilting after you have completed your squares and piecing yourself.
Which Machine?
As you might be expecting, most people will opt for the less expensive machines. It's important to select a brand name and unit that is dependable, rugged, and features the stitches as well as feet you'll need. The best known manufacturer is, needless to say, Singer. Additional manufacturers offering very good products with regard to quilting include Brother, Janome, Juki, and Pfaff. A quilting machine must also have enough power to manage the thick stack of front fabric, batting, and backing. Again most machines will be alright, however it is especially good when they are proven to do well on hefty tasks for example sewing denim. Take a close look at consumer critiques in addition to the manufacturer's information.
As further background, here's the 3 primary stages of quilt making and the sewing machine features they need.
Make the Squares
The first step is creating the individual squares. These can actually be almost any shape, and lots of people consider this to be the most creative step. Their design includes the choice of fabric color and pattern, as well as other options that include applique and embroidery.
Making squares puts the least requirements on the sewing machine. Just about any good quality sewing machine is going to be fine. If you're especially creative you might make some or even all of your squares by hand. On the other hand, a machine that can do embroidery can provide lovely personal touches very quickly. Although more expensive compared to a simple machine, nowadays the extra cost is reasonably small and these machines are quite simple to use.
Piecing
The next stage consists of putting all the pieces (squares) together. This is also really quite artistic as you put together colors and textures into patterns for the entire quilt. Most general-purpose sewing machines will also be good for piecing, and therefore are a great help as the actual stitching can be tedious. With the squares coming together into a large quilt, a bed-extension can often be useful in handling things. A long-arm quilting machine can be a bit more handy here, but not an enormous benefit.
Quilting
The final phase sews together a backing cloth layer, the batting, along with the top layer of pieced squares. This is actually the operation the term quilting in fact means. It takes a huge number of stitches and so nowadays it's hardly ever accomplished by hand. Almost everybody does machine quilting here. A quilting sewing machine will need to satisfy a few particular requirements for this phase. Most, although not all sewing machines can perform the final quilting. Most importantly the machine will need to have a quilting foot in addition to a quilting stitch. Quilting feet can be bought as accessories for most sewing machines.
Handling the large amount of fabric is usually time consuming as well as a bit tricky on a standard machine. Final quilting is a lot quicker as well as less complicated using a long-arm quilter. Having a frame that moves your machine one way and also rolls your quilt the other way will make this last phase a breeze. Here's where you get into the 1000s of dollars. And that means you need to always be sewing many, many quilts to make a case for the price tag. It's common to pay for another person having a long-arm set up to complete the final quilting after you have completed your squares and piecing yourself.
Which Machine?
As you might be expecting, most people will opt for the less expensive machines. It's important to select a brand name and unit that is dependable, rugged, and features the stitches as well as feet you'll need. The best known manufacturer is, needless to say, Singer. Additional manufacturers offering very good products with regard to quilting include Brother, Janome, Juki, and Pfaff. A quilting machine must also have enough power to manage the thick stack of front fabric, batting, and backing. Again most machines will be alright, however it is especially good when they are proven to do well on hefty tasks for example sewing denim. Take a close look at consumer critiques in addition to the manufacturer's information.
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