HOW TO QUILT WITH A SEWING MACHINE FOR BEGINNERS
Sewing machine for quilting for beginners. An increasing number of quilters use machine quilting as their primary quilting method. Quilters have many options to choose from, from intricate patterns to straight machine quilting stitches. There are two basic types of machine quilting that can be easily done on most sewing machines – straight and free motion. Straight quilting is the easier of the two techniques, but both require some practice.
There are so many different types of sewing machines available that you may not even know which type to get. If you’re not sure what type of sewing machine to buy and want to make sure it’s a good quilting sewing machine, here are some tips.
There are some sewing machines that say they are specifically quilting sewing machines. Some models say they are for quilters, and you might wonder if you need them. How is a quilting sewing machine different from a “regular” sewing machine? First, many times it has a larger sewing area because when you make quilts you sometimes have to sew a lot of fabric. They also include special sewing pedals that make it easy to sew multiple layers of fabric at once. They also usually have several different stitches so you can choose which stitch you want for different parts of your quilt.
Many of these “quilting sewing machines” are very expensive. We’re talking over $1,000 each. Are they doing a good job? Of course yes. But do you need them? I would have to say no there. To make a really nice quilt, of course you want a decent sewing machine. But the truth is, you don’t need much imagination. Even many of the sewing machines you can buy now that cost around $100 or less has many great features.
QUILTING OPTIONS ON THE SEWING MACHINE FOR BEGINNERS
- Direct machine sewing
Direct machine quilting is best done by replacing the regular presser foot with a walking foot, often called an even feed foot. A walking foot is a specialized presser foot that grips the top of the quilt and moves it through the machine at the same speed as the back of the quilt touches and is moved by the feed of the sewing machine.
The machine’s uniform advance of the quilt prevents the quilt layers from shifting as the quilt is sewn, reducing warping and folding that can occur when one quilt layer is out of sync with the other layers. Subtle curves are possible with a walking foot, but complex designs require free-motion machine quilting techniques.
- Free Motion Machine Quilting
Machine quilting designs can be just as intricate as designs used for hand quilting, but creating stitches takes practice, even if you’re using a sewing machine that includes specialized machine quilting equipment. When using the free motion machine quilting technique, the machine feeds are reduced so there is nothing under the quilt sandwich to guide it. The quilter has complete control over the movement. The speed of your movements and the speed at which the sewing machine runs work together to determine the stitch length. The special legs resemble a darning leg but have much larger holes.
- Watch for new machine quilting options
The demand for sewing machines that make quilting easier has increased in recent years, so manufacturers have introduced new models to satisfy sewing wants and needs. Bernina’s Stetch Regulator is one feature that helps even novice machine quilters sew evenly spaced, free-motion stitches. Other sewing machine manufacturers have developed special presser feet to help quilters use their machines more easily as well.
Keep in mind that while high-end machines are fantastic, you can quilt with almost any sewing machine. Common walking feet and are available for most sewing machines, as well as their free motion counterparts. Rotary cutting techniques, an endless selection of fabrics made with dyes that do not bleed or fade, threads for every need, plus sewing machines full of features that save time and increase creativity.
POINTS TO REMEMBER BEFORE CHOOSING THE BEST SEWING MACHINE FOR QUILTING
Sewing machine for quilting for beginners. Choosing the best quilting machine requires a lot of care, there are many different machines that claim to be good for quilting but simply because they claim they are not. The problem is that what is right for one person may not be right for another. Why? Because there are a lot more variables than most people realize. Budget is probably one of the first and most important, there is such a variety of machines and many of them are priced out of the budget of the average consumer.
Experience level and how much you quilt will also play a big part in your decision, if you’ve been quilting for a long time then you’ll have some ideas of what you need and want from a machine. This opinion will be based on the type of work you do, how complex it is, as well as what machines you’ve had in the past and where they either fell short or left you feeling spoiled.
Beginners are likely to be overwhelmed by a machine that may seem perfect for an experienced sewing machine, which doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad machine for a sewing machine that knows what they want, but a beginner would prefer a simpler sewing machine. They can learn to use and learn to quilt at the same time. The best beginner quilting machine will have the features you need for quilting without overdoing it with fancy features you may not need or use.
Machine quality is an important consideration; no one wants a machine that won’t work or breaks before you finish your first quilt. However, it’s important to remember that you can get a quality machine at many different price points, so you don’t have to put off your desire to learn to quilt until you can afford an expensive machine. These machines are a dream for sure, but for beginners getting their feet wet, you can find a lower budget machine that will blow them away just fine, other times it’s time to dream of better machines.
SEWING MACHINE FEATURES FOR QUILTING – HOW TO QUILT WITH A SEWING MACHINE FOR BEGINNERS
Sewing machine for quilting for beginners’ .Part of what makes a sewing machine a great quilting machine is the features it has, yes it still has to be a good machine, but even the best quality machine won’t work if it doesn’t have the features you want for sewing. Of course, this is also subjective, as the more experienced you are, the more features you’ll likely want.
- A good straight stitch – While this may seem obvious, this is one of the top things that quilters list as an absolute must for a quilting machine. If you have had many sewing machines, you will also know that it is not automatic. This is the information you will need to look for in customer reviews and comments if you buy online and if you buy from a dealer there.
- 2. Your machine should be easy to thread – If you do a lot of sewing, you know how important this means that an automatic threader , thread cutter and bobbin winder can save time and make fun hobbies less tiring.
- 3. The machine should come with several different feet – Check that the machine you are considering has the right feet for the type of work you will be doing, some of the feet used in quilting include a trench quilting foot and straight line work, an open toe appliqué presser foot if you plan to applique, an edge stitching foot that creates a very precise 1/4 seam with a guide, and a patching foot for free stitching.
- Check the Stitches – While most machines have a wide variety of stitches built in, there are a few that you will really need for certain quilting tasks, the zig zag stitch and blind hem stitch along with the standard straight stitch are all you need.
- Ability to disconnect the feeders by folding or covering them – this allows you to free stitch, this option is often available on embroidery machines and on some quilting machines be sure to ask.
These are really just some of the features that quilters require and some of the most important ones to look out for. Dozens of other elegant features are available on the top models, which will make quilting a pleasure.
FIVE TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN QUILTING ON A SEWING MACHINE FOR BEGINNERS
Buying a sewing machine for quilting for beginners, especially when you are a beginner, is a daunting task; add to that the brands and their different models, it’s much more difficult.
- 1. Like with any other product, before buying a sewing machine you need to ask the purpose of why you need a sewing machine Jotting down the reasons why you need the machine may help you zero down to the one which is best suited for you.
- Questions: As a beginner, you may need to ask yourself the following:
- What is your budget? How much are you willing to pay for a sewing machine now?
- Do you want to choose a simple sewing machine or a computerized one?
- Will you be sewing simple home decor projects or fashion clothing?
- Will you be quilting?
- What about embroidery? Will you need to embroider often?
- Want a lighter and more portable sewing machine?
- Do you have enough space and room for a sewing machine at home or in your room?
- 3) Features: The minimum that a beginner should look for in their sewing machine is:
- very good straight stitch
- very good zigzag
- a simple way to make buttonholes
- adjustable foot pressure
- Stitch lengths from 0-6
- Price: A good sewing machine starts at $60 for a very basic model and can go up to thousands of dollars for technologically advanced models. If you’re a beginner, stick to basic models rather than feature-packed machines, although if you’re ambitious, it’s worth getting an all-in-one machine to have the features once you’re more experienced and familiar with them. Either way, consider all the options and ask yourself what you plan to use the machine for and choose accordingly.
- Machine: There are many brands of home sewing machines in the market, Singer, Brother, Juki, SewPro, Consew, Bernina, Simplicity, Viking Husqvarna and others. In the beginning, it’s a good idea to stick with a simple sewing machine like the Singer 4200 series or a Brother 25 stitch sewing machine or a Singer sewing machine with a 30 stitch function. If you want to buy for a child, we recommend Singer Zig Zag Sewing Machine and Singer Chain Stitch Sewing Machine.
CONCLUSION
The demand for sewing machines that make quilting easier has increased in recent years, so manufacturers have introduced new models to satisfy sewing wants and needs. Bernina’s Stitch Regulator is one feature that helps even novice machine quilters sew evenly spaced, free-motion stitches. Other sewing machine manufacturers have developed special presser feet to help quilters use their machines more easily as well.
