Looking for the best sewing machine for quilting and embroidery at home? In this post, we reviewed the best quilting and embroidery machines available. These machines are generally deemed for ‘home use’, they are great for working on personal projects. These great quilt sewing machines would make excellent choices for your home projects, check them out!
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What is free motion quilting?
What is free motion quilting? Free motion quilting is a specific style of quilting with a machine. With free motion quilting, you use a special presser foot called a darning foot. This foot allows you to move the quilt in any direction as you sew. Moving the quilt in any direction as you sew allows you to create quite elaborate patterns in your quilt. This technique can be done on your home sewing machine or a specialized quilting machine. The important part is to use the correct presser foot and to be able to move the fabric easily in any direction as you sew.
Why are quilts called quilts?
Why are quilts called quilts? Quilts are called quilts because they have been quilted. Quilting is where you sew multiple layers of fabric together so that they act as one layer of fabric. You often see this in blankets where the top, bottom, and middle fluffy layer are laid flat and sewn together. This keeps the middle fluffy layer from shifting and moving over time. This technique is not limited to just blankets though. You can quilt jackets, bags, or pretty much anything else. Quilting also does not require you to sew small scraps of fabric together into a pattern! Since quilting is sewing the layers together so that the middle does not shift, you can do this with any size piece of fabric!
What is machine embroidery?
What is machine embroidery? Machine embroidery is where a machine uses decorative stitching techniques to replicate embroidery. Machine embroidery can be computerized and automatic or it can be a manual labor intensive process. Computerized machine embroidery can be limited to existing stitches on a machine. Depending on the embroidery machine, some can have patterns uploaded into them. This allows you to machine embroider practically anything you want.
How do you choose the best home quilting machine?
Choosing the best home quilting machine is different for each person. You need to first decide what type of quilts you want to make. Will your quilting primarily be baby blankets and smaller projects? Or will you be quilting California king sized quilts? If you are frequently doing larger projects, you probably want to switch to an industrial grade quilting machine instead of a home quilting machine. Similarly, if you are planning on quilting denim, you will want a heavier machine than a home grade quilting machine. Smaller pieces like baby blankets, pillows, and even twin size quilts are all quite do-able.
So, keep your projects in mind when you pick a new machine so you can choose the best home quilting machine!
Best sewing machine for quilting and free motion embroidery
Brother HC1850 Sewing and Quilting Machine
The Brother HC1850 computerized sewing machine is an excellent choice for a computerized quilting sewing machine. This reliable sewing and quilting machine is great for quilting, sewing, decorative stitching, and basic monogramming. This Brother quilting machine has 130 different stitches and an additional 55 alphanumeric stitches for basic monogramming. These stitches come on a built in stitch reference flip-chart. This machine also comes with 8 different presser feet, including a spring action quilting foot. It also includes a zigzag foot, buttonhole foot, monogramming foot, blind stitch foot, overcasting foot, and button sewing foot. It has an extra large quilting table attachment to make it easier to work on large projects. This machine is capable of doing free motion sewing and quilting. This machine has a large, backlit LCD display that makes it easy to select the correct stitch. It also easily lets you adjust stitch length and width here. It also includes an automatic threading system to make life easier and has a drop in bobbin. This machine is also capable of free arm sewing. This means you can easily remove the sewing machine table to allow you to wrap sleeve cuffs or shoulders around the bottom of the sewing machine, making it easier to sew these parts. It also has a super bright LED light over the sewing area, making it even easier to see what you are doing when you sew.
While this machine does great quilting and sewing normal weight fabrics. It does not handle thicker seams or heavier fabrics well, so if you are planning on sewing denim, leather or canvas this may not be the quilt sewing machine for you. This machine is not for heavy duty sewing.
Product Features:
- 185 Unique built-in stitches: The HC1850 includes 130 sewing stitches including 8 styles of auto-size buttonholes, plus 55 alphanumeric sewing stitches
- Includes a wide table, 8 feet, instructional DVD, manual and more
- Easily select your stitches with the touch of a button and view your selections on the LCD display
- Includes an advanced needle threading function that easily pushes thread through the needle with the press of a lever and a jam resistant drop-in top bobbin
Brother CS6000i Sewing and Quilting Machine
The Brother CS6000i is super highly rated, and for good reason! This computerized quilt sewing machine comes with many excellent features. It has 60 built in decorative stitches, including seven different auto-size button holes. It also comes with the extended working table attachment for when you are working on larger projects. Remove the table, and the machine is capable of doing free arm sewing for easily finishing sleeves, cuffs, and hemming pants. This machine comes with an automatic needle threader, and drop in bobbin to make getting started a snap. This computerized quilting and sewing machine can be operated by the included presser foot, or with the stop, start and reverse buttons. It also has a built in LED work light over the sewing area to make sure you can see everything that you are doing. This machine comes with nine different presser feet: a zigzag foot, zipper foot, blindstitch foot, button sewing foot, bottonhole foot, overcasting foot, monogramming foot, walking foot, and spring action quilting foot. Using the spring action quilting foot, you can do beautiful free motion embroidery with this machine. With it’s light weight and hard case, this machine makes an excellent portable sewing machine.
While this machine does great quilting and sewing normal weight fabrics. It does not handle thicker seams or heavier fabrics well, so if you are planning on sewing denim, leather or canvas this may not be the quilt sewing machine for you.
Product Features:
- Includes 60 built-in sewing stitches, including decorative stitches and 7 styles of auto-size buttonholes
- Automatic needle threader and drop-in top bobbin.
- Includes a hard protective case, wide table, 10 sewing feet, needle set including twin needle, 3 bobbins and more
- LCD Screen to easily select your stitches.
- 25 Year limited warranty with free technical support for the life of the product
Janome 4120QDC Computerized Sewing Machine
The Janome 4120 QDC is a great sewing machine for quilting and free motion embroidering. This machine comes with 120 different built in stitches and seven different buttonhole stitches. It also comes with a built in alphabet for monogramming your work. It has a backlit LCD screen that makes it super easy to pick the correct stitch and set it’s width and length. This Janome sewing machine also comes with a built in needle threader, drop in bobbin, and built in thread cutting. All great features on a sewing machine that make your life easier. It comes with an extra large attachment table that makes it much easier to work on large projects like quilts. This machine comes with a zig-zag food, buttonhole foot, satin stitch foot, blind hem foot, zipper foot and overedge foot. It also comes with a super bring LED light for your work area, making it easy to see what you are doing. Another nice feature of this machine is that you can limit the stitches per minute. This means you can slow down the sewing speed for delicate parts like free motion embroidery.
Note this machine does NOT come with a foot for doing free motion sewing, you would need to purchase that separately. Some versions of this machine are sold with a quilt making kit – a walking foot, seam guide, and more. So keep your eye out for that version!
Product Features:
- 120 Built-In Sewing Stitches with a Built-In Alphabet
- Built-In Automatic Needle Threader
- Easy to Use Control Panel with LCD Panel
- Jam Proof Easy-Set Top-Loading Bobbin System
In summary
If you’re looking for a new machine to do quilting and free motion embroidery on, these machines are all excellent with super high reviews. These machines all come with extra large sewing table attachments to make it easier to work on larger projects. They also come with multiple different decorative stitches. Check them out!
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