AboutConnie Hester Expertise Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/
BS,MS
See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
Expert: Connie Hester Date: 3/27/2007 Subject: The best machine and quilting frame
Question Hi,
I have enjoyed making quilts for the last few years and now due to my hands hurting i can no longer do the hand stitching....so i am thinking of getting a new machine and POSSIBLY a quilting frame to attach...What are your thought on these?? I have two machines that are really just basic machines with the quilting feet...not really a true quilting machine...so i am thinking why waste money on another one unless i am going to get the best that maybe will be all i need in the future...Do you think one that also embroiders is a good choice?? And would one of my plain singers be good to use on the frame instead of switching them out...THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY INPUT YOU CAN GIVE....
Answer Hi, Deborah,
It is hard for me to know how you feel about gadgets and equipment in general. I am of the "keep it simple" philosophy - as long as I can achieve what I am trying to produce!
I exclusively free-motion quilt. I use a darning foot rather than a walking foot. Free-motion quilting is very easy to do on almost any home sewing machine (with practice) without any expensive gadgetry (just a darning foot; they don't even need to be capable of lowering the feed dogs.). I have 3 requirements, myself.
1. I want the needle to stop in the needle-down position. This makes it easier to creep around tight curves, if I have to. It also makes it easier to follow any lines I may have drawn.
2. I want the stitching to stop IMMEDIATELY when I take my foot off of the pedal. Some machines take 1-2 stitches after the foot pedal is released. This can create stitches in places I do not want them (especially on tight curves where I may be creeping along, one stitch at a time) - and further, require that I stop stitching, pick those stitches out, bury the threads, and start over. Very annoying.
3. I also want the initial stitches, when I hit the foot pedal, to be smooth, not lurching.
I mention these things because I have sewn and quilted on machines which do not meet these 3 requirements and have thus learned their importance.
I use a Janome/New Home 9000. Over the years, I have used their 7000 and 8000 as well. I LOVE the smoothness in which these machines stitch. No lurching as the stitching begins. Smooth as butter. Gently stitches when I am forced to creep along for any reason.
I have never felt a need to use a frame with my sewing machine. I will say, I am a stickler for basting about 1 1/2" - 2" apart all over the surface of a quilt before I begin to quilt. (I don't want to dodge safety pins.) Much as I hate this task, taking the time to do this completely stabilizes the layers before I begin.
As for embroidery, I would ask what you plan to do with it. Heavy embroidery would totally flatten areas which were heavily embroidered upon (unless you were planning to create embroidered "appliques" and then apply them to the surface of the quilt top). If you love crazy quilts, though, you might like the decorative stitches. I just don't happen to use machine embroidery on my work. Any fancy stitching I do is done as free-motion embroidery with the darning foot, whether on the quilt top alone or through all layers as I quilt.
I hope my thoughts have been helpful to you. If I can be of further help, please let me know.
