Quilting is a rewarding hobby practiced all over the world. The opportunity to flex your creative muscles while making something that will last for years is a constant appeal of quilting. But, as with many creative pursuits, you need to have the right equipment, and a sewing machine should be first on your list. In this article, we’re examining the best sewing machines for quilting. We’ll give you a buyer’s guide for choosing the right sewing machine for you.
What is a Quilting Sewing Machine?
What exactly makes a sewing machine ideal for quilting? There are a few factors that make a sewing machine more ideal for quilting. And while you can use a regular sewing machine for quilting, you’ll probably want a machine that has more features suited to the job.
First and foremost, because quilts are so large, a quilting sewing machine should offer a spacious workspace. Quilters generally look for a long sewing machine with a large throat. Some quilting machines also offer extension table add-ons, which attach to the machine for a bigger workspace, and more guidelines/measurements.
Aside from the extra space, the machine needs to offer the functionality suited to quilting. You need fast, accurate stitching and feeding and the speed and stability to handle heavy-duty quilting projects. We’ll dive more into these factors below and the machines that offer them. The products on our list are ready to handle your quilting projects, but you still need to pick one machine that matches the quilting you want to do.
OUR TOP 3 RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Brother CS6000i
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2. Brother PQ1500SL
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3. Juki 2HZL F600
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Product Reviews
Let’s get into the best quilting sewing machines on the market. We’ve included plenty of variety in our top picks, so be sure to pick one that best matches your quilting style. We’ll start with one of the most popular machines on the market:
BEST BUDGET: Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine CS6000i
Product Overview
This product is one of the most popular machines on the market because it offers a fantastic blend of value and performance.
Upon first glance, you’ll notice it has a wide workspace, which is ideal for quilting. The extension table is big and roomy, giving you ample space for all sorts of quilting projects. There’s also a bright LED light to keep this work surface illuminated.
The machine won’t blow you away with any of its features, but it’s a well-built sewing machine that works reliably and efficiently. There’s an LCD to select from 60 different stitches. There are several decorative stitch options to choose from, which quilters will surely appreciate.
In terms of ease-of-use, we liked the auto needle-threader and the drop-in top bobbin. None of this is particularly ground-breaking, but you can’t expect that from the price tag. If you simply want a functional sewing machine built for quilting, you can’t go wrong here.
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Bottom Line
The CS6000i is a quality sewing machine for the price. It’s built for quilting (amongst other tasks) and is a great choice for hobbyists and beginners alike.
BEST OVERALL: Brother PQ1500SL Sewing and Quilting Machine
Product Overview
Above, we checked out Brother’s entry-level quilting sewing machine, so let’s jump right into their premium offering. The 1500SL offers quite a bit more functionality than the CS6000i, but it’s also quite a bit more expensive. We think it justifies the price for more serious quilters.
The 1500SL features a huge workspace, measuring in at 11” x 21.5” with a 5.7” x 8.6” needle to arm space. It’s suitable for all types of quilting projects. Also, note that the expansion table is fully removable if you need a normal sewing surface.
Functionally, there are lots of features worth mentioning. There’s a precision pin-feeding system to sew a wide variety of fabric thicknesses. There’s also an advanced needle threading system and a drop-in top bobbin. There are also numerous quality-of-life improvements, such as an automatic thread cutter, a thread tension control dial, a needle position pre-programmer, and much more.
You can customize this heavy-duty machine to quilt exactly how you want. There is a maximum sewing speed of 1500 stitches per minute, which means it can keep up with expert sewers. If you want a machine with more of the bells and whistles, look no further.
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Bottom Line
This quality home sewing machine is for serious quilt hobbyists. It can keep up with experienced quilters and has all the features you need to customize your quilts to exact specifications. Just be sure you can justify the price tag.
BEST PREMIUM: Juki 2HZL F600
Product Overview
Juki is a trusted brand in sewing machines, and the F600 is our top premium pick. It’s packed with features that quilters will find useful.
Like many quality sewing machines, this Juki sewing machine is a computerized machine. You can select stitches through an LCD screen, which allows the machine to pack in all sorts of stitch patterns (255 in total). Stitches range from basic to stretch to decorative and much more.
The machine features many quality-of-life improvements, including automatic needle threading, programmable needle positions, a drop-in top bobbin, and much more.
It’s got a big workspace (8” x 12.25”), but you might want to purchase an expansion table if that’s what you’re more comfortable with. Even without it, the workspace is much roomier than most sewing machines, and many quilters have attested that it works just fine without expansion.
Above all, the heavy duty sewing machine just works. It’s fast, stable, and efficient. It’s built for heavy workflows, reaching up to 900SPM on the highest setting, with a precision feeding system that keeps the work consistent throughout.
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Bottom Line
This functional, efficient sewing machine is ideal for quilting. It’s on the more expensive end, but it’s from a trusted brand used by many quilters. It has a big workspace, plenty of stitch patterns, and fast, consistent work.
Janome 4120QDC Sewing Machine with Expansion Table
Product Overview
We like this Janome sewing machine. Its wealth of features makes it suitable for any quilting or sewing projects.
This machine comes with an expansion table attachment to give you that roomy workspace necessary for quilting.
The 4120QDC is a computerized sewing machine with 120 built-in stitches to choose from, including basic stitches, decorative stitches, and even alphabet patterns. It’s easy to select between them all with the LCD screen.
The 4120QDC has all the ease-of-use functionality that you’d expect from a premium sewing machine. There’s an automatic needle threader and a jam-proof top-loading bobbin system. The machine also includes function buttons for different tasks, including thread cutting, reverse stitching, lock stitching, needle raising and lowering, and stopping and starting.
The machine works well. It’s consistent and reliable, and the speed is fully adjustable up to 820 SPM. Janome has a reputation for reliability, and this one is no exception.
We also appreciate that Janome packed this thing with accessories. There are several sewing feet, a needle set, extra spool pins, bobbins, a lint brush, a seam ripper, and different-sized spool holders. You even get an instructional DVD for beginners! That’s a lot of value in one pack.
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Bottom Line
This one is a quality choice for quilters and goes to show the wealth of choice available to sewers these days. Janome is a trusted brand, and this is but one of their quilting machines that we love. We chose the 4120QDC because it offers all the features and functionality you need without an overly exorbitant price tag.
Buyer’s Guide
As you can see from our list, there are many quality machines to choose from. But what’s important isn’t choosing the best quilting sewing machine, but the best machine for you. So before we wrap up this article, we’ll give you a buyer’s guide with the factors to consider in selecting the best quilting machine from our list:
Workspace
One of the most important considerations for quilting is the size of your workspace. Many quilters prefer a roomier workspace for such a large quilting project. Most quilters prefer a machine with a wide throat and a large work surface, which gives them ample space to operate and maneuver the quilt.
Many quilting machines (including the ones on our list) come with an expansion table attachment, which allows you to increase the workspace size as your quilting project requires.
Stitch Patterns
When it comes to quilting, the more stitch patterns, the better. Stitch patterns are ideal not only in a practical sense but also to get creative with your quilting. Most machines offer basic stitch patterns, but some go well beyond that. Some machines on our list offer well over 200 stitch patterns.
More specifically, look for how many decorative stitches they have. Since quilting is heavy on aesthetics, many quilters prefer a machine that allows them to show off their creativity, and there’s no better way to do this than with fun, decorative quilt patterns.
Ease-of-Use Features
Modern sewing machines have so many features that make the process easier than in days past. Features such as automatic needle-threaders, automatic thread-cutters, reverse stitch buttons, lock stitch buttons, etc. Our advice? Look for a machine that packs in all these features. Not only does it make sewing easier, but it also makes it much more efficient. In other words, you’ll get more projects done faster.
Accessories
Don’t forget to check out which features come included in the package. An extension table is a must for quilters. Many other machines come with needle kits, bobbins, spools, and much more. It’s not a necessity, because you can just as easily buy separately, but it’s always good value!
Speed & Stability
The above features and applications won’t mean anything if your sewing machine doesn’t work properly. And if you’re a serious quilter, you’ll probably want something that works fast. Look at the SPM (Stitches Per Minute) to determine how quickly the machine can sew. We’d recommend anything above 800SPM for regular quilters.
But speed doesn’t mean much if the machine isn’t stable and reliable. You want a machine that offers consistent performance across the board. We recommend choosing a machine from a trusted brand (like any brands on our list). Also, look for one with a comprehensive warranty, which is always a good indication of quality.
Conclusion
Thanks for checking out our guide to the best quilting sewing machine in 2021. As you can see, there are many quality options on the market, and quilters are blessed with plenty of choices. Use our buyer’s guide above to choose the best quilting machine for you!
