BEST EMBROIDERY MACHINES FOR QUILTING
Best embroidery machines for quilting. Quilters who are new to machine embroidery can dive into the craft once they realize they could incorporate machine embroidery into their quilting. Embroidery is a traditional way to add special decorative elements to quilts. Whether by hand or machine, the quilter can enhance his creation with embroidered flowers or other accents. But today’s machine embroidery, for those willing to give it a try, can completely change quilting.
For example, a quilter can use a simple embroidery design to machine stitch a project. Simple solid color patterns work best, especially for beginners. If you want to try it, look for a simple embroidery design – one that you can imagine being sewn into a quilt. Some redwork inspired designs work well. Other simple patterns like flowers, circles, sun/moon, houses and hearts, there are all kinds of patterns to choose from that can work well as quilting stitches.
Many quilting professionals laugh at the idea, but sometimes we need a quick gift and want it to be personal. Lap blankets and baby blankets are very easy to create on an embroidery machine. Simply place the outer fabric, batting and backing fabric into the embroidery frame. Choose a design and get to work! Even if you are quilting solid color fabrics, you can complete a quick and beautiful quilt with an embroidery machine in no time.
THE BEST THRREE TYPES OF EMBROIDERY MACHINES FOR QUILTING
Best embroidery machines for quilting. Buying the right machine for your crafty ventures is not the easiest task (I wish it was).
Brother SE1900 embroidery machine
The SE1900 is probably the best sewing machine for quilting and embroidery. With its all-metal design and large work space, you can work on any embroidery project with this machine. This machine is the first embroidery machine. This is because of the large 5 X 7” working surface including the 5 X 7” hoop, 138 built-in designs and a large touch LCD display. You can set and preview designs before embroidering. Advanced features such as an improved needle threader, automatic reverse stitches, automatic thread trimming and automatic default tension setting help you get started quickly. When finished, you can use it as a regular oversized sewing machine. You can choose from almost 240 stitch patterns and you can always customize them. The Brother Quilting and embroidery machine sews at a speed of 850 revolutions per minute, which is quite impressive.
PROS
- Beginner friendly and easy to use
- Large work area
- Knee lifter for lifting the pressure leg without the use of hands
CONS
- Jump stitches cannot be cut
Brother SE600 embroidery machine
The SE600 is Brother’s entry-level combination machine. Although inferior to the SE1900, it is an excellent tool for embroidery and sewing in one device. The machine has seen significant improvements over the previous SE400 and is now much easier to use for sewing and embroidery. You have an automatic needle threader and an anti-jam top bobbin for quick setup in minutes. Choose one of the 80 built-in embroidery patterns on the 3.2″ LCD touch screen and start embroidering. Similarly, for sewing, there are 103 built-in options to choose from. Despite being a basic product, it has more neck space than regular sewing machines. Among the accessories, you get seven presser feet that you can use interchangeably according to project requirements. The Brother SE600 is the best quilting sewing machine under $500.
PROS
- Easy to use for beginners
- Large and sensitive touch screen
CONS
- Limited workspace
Bernette 79 embroidery machine
The Bernette 79 is the best combination machine in its class, surpassing almost all industry averages. Regardless of design, function or appearance, this machine is better than all of them. First you will notice the excessive area of the 6 x 10′ hoops. You can sew, sew and embroider larger, complex designs on a variety of fabrics. Another confirmation of the superiority of the 79 is the 500 built-in stitches. This includes 35 quilting stitches and 133 decorative stitches. You have 108 built-in stitches for embroidery. The Bernette 79 also has a double feed system that feeds the fabric evenly. At the time of review, Bernette was offering $500 worth of free embroidery with every purchase! Thanks to them, you can take your artwork to the next level.
PROS
- Compatible with almost all embroidery file formats
- Over 500 built-in stitches, including 35 quilting stitches
- Large work area
CONS
- Bulky
GREAT FEATURES OF THE BEST EMBROIDERY MACHINES FOR QUILTING
If you are new to sewing and embroidery, here is a list of sewing features to consider when choosing the best embroidery machine for quilting.
- Throat space
The throat area is the area to the right of the machine head where you could roll the quilt. If you plan to sew king size quilts, the larger neck area will accommodate larger quilts more easily.
- Dropping feed dogs
If you are still planning on a free range blanket, you need to stop feeding the dogs. These are the pointed metal pieces on the sewing machine plate that move the fabric. On most quilting and embroidery machines, the feeders are controlled by a switch. However, some older and cheaper machines require you to pull out the bar for cover. I’m not a big fan of added steps, especially when I’m in a rush to finish a project.
- Folding table
However, many machines offer this feature as an optional accessory. The purpose of the large wide table is to help keep bulky quilts to the left of the machine.
- Knee lifter
Knee lifts allow you to raise and lower the presser foot with your knee, hands-free. This will leave your hands free to place the fabric under the presser foot of the machine. This makes it easy to sew, for example, two ends of rubber bands together.
- Useful quilting feet
While you can quilt with your everyday zigzag foot, a few special quilting feet can make your job easier. Sew perfect narrow 1/4″ seams with this foot. It is suitable for beginners who have not yet learned to sew precise seams. If you are sewing multiple layers together, a walking foot or even a feed foot helps feed all layers of fabric at the same speed.
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING THE BEST EMBROIDERY MACHINES FOR QUILTING
- Space for sewing the throat
Best embroidery machines for quilting. The sewing space should be large enough for the blanket. You will find that this area will determine whether the machine is a long, medium or short arm. The bigger the space the better especially for quilting and it will make quilting easier. Short arm machines are the cheapest compared to others. Mid and Long-arm can also handle larger blankets.
- Sensitive stitch regulator
The sensitive stitch control allows you to control the stitch speed. You can do this without a sewing regulator, by moving your hands with the quilt and controlling the needle speed. It’s best when you can have precise control over the stitch speed.
- Needle speed or SPM
Stitches per minute, or SPM, is a trick many manufacturers use to trick consumers into thinking they can quilt faster. Quilting requires precise speed control and you need to be able to set the needle speed to a speed you can control.
- Knitting and needle threading
Self-winders are ideal; an automatic spool winder will save you time and frustration. While not a necessity, these two features will speed up the start of quilting.
- Vibration
Vibrations during long-term quilting are very unpleasant. You will find that stitch adjusters can make these vibrations worse. When the vibrations are high, it is difficult to track them, and one method to avoid this is with felt pads. When browsing the reviews, see if anyone mentions vibration from the machine. The vibrations make it difficult for the new quilter to follow the path. You can also purchase vibration pads which are best if you are trying to reduce the vibration level of your machine. High performance sewing machines stay in place while working.
TOP TWO RECOMMENDED EMBROIDERY MACHINES FOR QUILTING
Janome 9850 embroidery machine
Best embroidery machines for quilting. The Janome 9850 comes from one of the most trusted sewing machine brands in the world. This machine offers incredible embroidery patterns and its extra high presser foot lift makes it perfect for quilting projects. It is stable and robust for demanding jobs such as quilting and working with thick fabrics such as denim. With this machine you can also work with the finest fabrics and create beautiful intricate embroidery. The Janome 9850 is a super-fast machine that produces 1000 stitches per minute. It will allow you to complete your projects at a super-fast speed and complete large projects in less time. This machine has a new generation processor which makes it very easy to understand and use. You’ll have fun being creative with projects big and small. This machine makes quilting very easy with its sturdy construction, tall presser feet, and huge working space – 8.1 x 4.7 inches. In this machine, Janome also offers a USB slot that can be used to import multiple sewing and embroidery styles.
PROS
- A robust machine
- Great embroidery features
- Extra high presser foot stroke
- Impressive features
- Sewing speed 1000 pages/min
CONS
- The hoop size is small
- Bland built-in designs
Brother embroidery machine with Star Wars faceplates
If you’re a Star Wars fan, the Brother LB 5000s is the perfect machine for you. This machine comes with replaceable faceplates. Out of 10 options, 3 faceplates are R2D2, Darth Vader and Princess Leia. In addition, this machine also has a Star Wars inspired design and 10 other space inspired designs. This machine comes with an impressive array of built-in patterns and stitches. You get 103 stitches and 80 built-in patterns. There are also 10 auto-sized buttonholes and 9 built-in designs. You can use these options to create different designs. You can see your design on the panel and use your fingers to edit it to your liking. This machine has a solid construction and can be used for quilting. The only slight downside is that it has a smaller standard work area of 4″ x 4″, so you’ll need to work in small batches for quilting and even embroidery. The LB 5000s has a USB port that allows you to import as many types of embroidery as you want and be creative with them. The embroidery segment of this sewing machine lets you unleash your creativity.
PROS
- 10 Star Wars designs with interchangeable faceplates
- 10 space themed designs
- Easy to use touch screen
- More than 100 sewing stitches
- 80 built-in designs
CONS
- Small embroidery frame
- More expensive than other options
CONCLUSION
Best embroidery machines for quilting. Embroidery is an art and also requires a lot of skills. First you need to learn how to use an embroidery machine and how to create beautiful designs. Once you are sure that you are ready to work with the quilt, you must first place the quilt in the embroidery frame. This is the area where you want to create a design and then just hit the pedal and do the magic. To create an asymmetrical design, you first need to figure out the patterns you want to create and their placement in the quilt. You can embroider using a quilting machine. Most quilting machines come with an embroidery option. They are two in one. You must know that you can sew with a sewing machine, but you cannot embroider with a sewing machine. Embroidery requires special features that are not available only in sewing machines. So if your goal is to quilt and embroider, you need to choose a machine that is loaded with embroidery features.
