Sewing machine – Janome 11590 – is this good for quilt/applique?
Hi All,
My husband is getting me a sewing machine for my birthday and I’ve been eyeing this one on eBay as it seems a good price. I will be using it for making quilts and appliques.
Does anyone know of any much needed features on this machine (for quilting and applique) that I may be aware of? I am still a newbee to sewing and these techniques so any advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!!
MM
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The fact that it’s not on the current Janome site and there are no reviews of it at patternreview.com makes me a tad nervous… I certainly wouldn’t consider it without sewing on it.
For piecing, any machine that can do a straight stitch will work fine. I’ve made (and quilted) lots of quilts on machines like a Singer 15 or an old White Dressmaker. Applique usually uses a zigzag stitch of some sort,,, a zigzag, a blindhem, a mock blanket stitch, or similar. Again, there are plenty of machines out there that can do it.
The things that I find most useful when quilting are a good sized harp (the space between the needle and the righthand pillar), servo or stepper motors, which give full punching force of the needle, even at very slow speeds (mechanicals can stall at low speed when you’re trying to talk them into doing something heavy), and selectable needle up or down on stopping. Multiple needle positions that you can use to fudge that scant quarter inch seam can also be helpful. These features would tend to push me towards electronic machines, which seem to be starting at about $350 new around here (I’m in the PNW). Used machines are fairly plentiful and a better bargain.
I’m going to suggest that you go to as many sewing machine dealers as you can reasonably do and try out some machines… new machines, used machines, mechanicals and electronics and look for a machine that "just feels right" to you. Don’t buy by number of stitches or stitch functions per dollar — but do consider if the machine seems sturdy, if it tends to bounce around when you’re sewing flat out, how convenient it is to use (you may want a knee lift presser foot lever), etc.
Also, there’s no reason why you can’t start with a basic machine and buy another when you grow into it. If you’re going to be doing lots of classes where you have to bring your own machine to class, you might want to look at one of the smaller basic machines, like the Janome Jem series — and then when the machine quilting bug hits you, buy a fancier one with a bigger harp. Most of us with a bad case of the sewing bug seem to have a couple of machines — that way, when one’s not behaving, you’ve got a backup. <g>
Whatever you buy, make sure it’s not going to frustrate you. Machines that "just work" are a pleasure to use — but the ones that fight you just take the fun out of sewing.