How to Choose a Sewing Machine for Quilting
Plus One Affordable and Lightweight Recommendation!
As with all tools you use often, it pays to purchase the best sewing machine you can afford. Dedicated quilters will love the big Babylocks, Berninas, Vikings, Pfaff and other top of the line machines.
However, for someone who’s just starting out, or those who want a second machine (or one for travel and classes), there’s a new kid on the block that seems designed just for quilters.
But first, before you select a machine, look through the following articles. The first one, written by Rachel Hauser, offers insights into what to look for in a machine that you’ll use for general purpose quilting and sewing.
The next article provides tips about what to look for in a machine you’ll use for free-motion quilting. The article, by Christa Watson, does a nice job of outlining key features that will make the job easier.
Once you have an idea of what features to look for, decide which ones are most important to you. While you’ll need to invest a good chunk of money to get all the features listed in the two articles, that new kid we mentioned comes close at affordable pricing. It’s well worth considering.
The EverSewn Sparrow 20 Sewing Machine is a good entry level machine that’s lightweight for travel (13 lbs.). It makes beautiful stitches and has an impressive array of features that quilters will appreciate without unnecessary bells and whistles. Plus, it’s affordable at $280.
Alex Anderson has done a thorough review in the following video.
Click here to watch the video on YouTube if it doesn’t play on your device.
The harp space, that area between the needle and the vertical body of the machine to the right, is 6 3/8 inches. That’s a little small for free motion quilting but it’s certainly workable. And, machines with a larger harp space can cost $1000 and more.
Otherwise, this machine has a solid feel and excellent stitch quality with a good selection of features for quilting. If you’re looking for a lower end machine, be sure to consider the EverSewn Sparrow 20.
If you have a different set of features on your must-have list, consider the other EverSewn models or take a careful look at other machines in your price range. It shouldn’t take long to find just the right machine for you.
