Readers Respond: What features make a sewing machine an excellent tool?

Responses: 307

By Janet Wickell, About.com Guide

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I love the needle up and down feature, also the ability to move the needle to the left or right by small increments. The speed control lever is great when you want to sew slowly, but with full power on the needle shaft. Would love to have a machine with a larger harp area, though. You need to buy a machine from a good dealer who is close by.
—so4u2

I have a Bernina 1260 and I love it. Any Bernina from that line is great. Knee lift, needle down/up, metal parts, a WORKHORSE if i have ever had one. I also have a Bernina 165 with the embroidery unit, but I don't like it as much for piecing and quilting. Tension is way better on the older Berninas.
—Guest quiltingmama

I am frustrated! The cheap ones - under three hundred dollars - are junk and the ones that have all feet needed to quilt are $2500 and up in price!
—booksandbuttonslover

I've been searching online and at shops for a reasonably priced yet quality sewing machine. I've made mistakes in the past buying cheap sewing machines to quilt with and ended up tossing them out. I am still searching for a quality, quilt friendly machine - in the quilting stores they have quality machines but at a starting price of 4,500 (which is the price of a used car). I have yet to find "the one."
—Guest booksandbuttonslover@gmail.com

The brother innovis 600 is a brilliant machine. Automatic needle threader, needle up/down, knee lifter, quiet, different sewing speeds, thread cutter etc.
—Guest Janet

When I first started quilting in 2004, not knowing much about it, I purchased my first sewing machine, a Brother CS8072, at WalMart. 150 quilts later, the wonder machine simply stopped working last year (probably from exhaustion). I then purchased the Babylock Espire, which has been fantastic too. I especially appreciate the automatic thread cutter, excellent lighting, separate bobbin winder, hundreds of regular and decorative stitches, large computer screen with trouble-shooting info and easy updates from the Babylock website. It does have the knee lift thing which I don't use, and an additional table attachment if needed. It's a marvelous machine with a very smooth operation and a number of useful features and functions. It might even do dishes if I asked nicely. Overall, I would emphasize getting a certified or qualified technician to service any sewing machine. Mine put the wrong oil or lubricant in the machine, so I am reluctant to trust them again.
—Guest LilyBee in SC

I sew on a Janome P6500, which has many great features at a reasonable price. My favorite feature though has been the needle threader! ...once I learned how to use it that is. lol I do wish tho I had a speed regulator and the AccuFeed features. Guess that's something I need on my next machine!
—Guest Buttercup_ca

My favorite is the trustie Featherweight. It is light and easy to carry to classes. Granted it doesen't zigzag but when our mothers sewed quilts they just did a straight stitch. This way you can stay stitch to secure your end seams.
—Guest Burnie

Gretchen my Pfaff has a light that comes on and buzzes to let you know the bobbin thread is low. It stays on until you put a new one in. I cannot do without the open toe foot and the 1/4" foot on my Pfaff, either.
—Guest Sue Martin

I am making my quilts on a 3 year old Singer machine that was advertised as made for high school home ec classes. It is a GREAT machine, all gear driven with no electronics. BUT, if I could afford my dream machine it would have ALL of the features the other posters have noted. It just seems that the "CONS" of most of the dream machines is the PRICE. I do wish that a good machine manufacturer would look at the general quilting public and manufacture a machine geared to them that does not cost many thousands of dollars. Example is the new Bernina, with a list price of $12,000. How nuts is that?? My husband and I still, even with the devastated economy, make a really good living, but I could no more buy a 12K sewing machine, or even a 5K sewing machine, than I could spend 10K on a tummy tuck. All manufacturers MUST bring their prices down to reasonable levels.
—davis2se

I love my Bernina QE440 - The needle down - the threader - knee lift - stitch regulator and embroidery stitches - the adaptable extras that fit my machine, and as a member of the Bernina Club - all the updated info that keep us on top of everything. Rhonda Joy
—MaxysMum

There are several things that I definitely must have in a sewing machine: 1. knee lift so that I have more control with my hands to pivot, etc. 2. great lighting with no shadows 3. easily controlled speed 4. tension flexibility of the bobbin, which is great for decorative stitches, etc. 5. heavy duty machine with all metal parts
—Guest Jac Kilgo

Singer with a knee lift. It is easy to use and it sews fast. My mother taught me to sew on that machine.
—Guest marlene57

I think the needle down button is an excellent tool for quilterss sewing machines.
—Guest Maria Grazia

I have sewn on a Bernina since 1983 after using Singer since 1951. Sit and test drive all the machines and go with the one you are most confortable with (and fits you budget). I could not be without the kneelift and needle down features. I currently sew on a Bernina 440QE and am quite happy with it. This is my fourth Bernina and two previous machines reside with my two daughters. I design Art Quilts and do machine embellishment and machine quilting.
—answerperson

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Janet Wickell
Quilting Guide