Besides embroidery and simple stitching, sewing machines do work on other projects. As your interest grows further in sewing and stitching, you will surely develop chaos for quilting too.
There are several queries that will arouse in your mind. For instance, Is it necessary to have a different or separate sewing machine for quilting? Or what makes a sewing machine perfect for quilting? Or maybe, which company offers the best sewing machine for quilting under your budget?
If you are up to quilting now and want to know the answers to all the above-mentioned issues then let us resolve this chaos for you. First things first, Quilting is a source of profitable earning which means that one can earn a handsome amount by just quilting.
Although quilting is a bulky work project that needs more throat and more harp space. We often see that a normal sewing machine has a five to eight inches throat space and this measurement can go up to 12″ to 17″ in mid-length arm sewing machines and up to 18″ or longer in long-arm machines.
There’s a lot to look for once you decide to make a purchase. So we have short-listed some of the best sewing machines for quilting under 500$.
Let’s check out the basics first,
What is Quilting?
Quilting is basically a procedure of stitching two layers of fabrics together leaving the inner space empty. Only to be filled with cotton later. This procedure utilizes several different patterns and designs. This is called three-layer quilting.
Times have changed the style of quilting a lot. Earlier, it was done by hand. But now, technology has shown so many advancements that a quilt can be easily made by using a sewing machine for quilting.
What is the difference between a simple sewing machine & sewing machine for quilting?
- Powerful motor: the sewing machines are more heavy-duty machines. These have powerful motors that support bulky fabrics and rapid stitches per minute.
- Huge size or extension table: The quilting machines mostly have extension tables. This means comparative to the work project the machine size is also huge with extra space through extension.
- Computerized: Again, computerized sewing machines are better at receiving commands and operating on them. Only simple clicks can make your decision and selection of options related to designs, styles, and patterns way more convenient.
- Stitch regulator: This one is a trending device and it supervises the speed and equal length of all stitches electronically. It usually comes with huge quilting machines.
- Add-on options: Darning or free-motion foot and Quarter-inch foot and walking foot, are all add-on options which are certainly best to avail when buying a sewing machine for quilting.
- Workspace: sewing machines with quilting features offer more space than normal sewing machines. This means more spacious leisure time.
- Stitching Speed: Many of the sewing machines specifically for quilting by Janome offer 1600 stitches per minute.
- Number of Stitches: Janome offers almost 200 built-in stitch styles to enhance your creativity with quilt designs.
Above mentioned are some of the important features of a sewing machine for quilting that make it different from a normal sewing machine. Now, without further, let’s check the best sewing machines for quilting under 500$.
Review of the Best Sewing Machine for Quilting Under $500
1. Brother sewing and quilting machine CS6000i
Features:
- LCD Display: Simple button clicks can show your selected options on the LCD display.
- Wide Extension Table: Key feature of quilting is its wide table.
- Sewing feet: Including accessories, there are 10 different sewing feet.
- Automatic needle threader and drop-in top bobbin: The thread is smoothly pushed through the needle automatically with help of this feature. And also it has a drop-in top bobbin that is jam resistant.
- Needle Set: The machine comes with a needle set of twin needles.
- Included accessories: A hard aluminum protective case, 3 bobbins, 10 sewing feet etc.
Pro:
Brother has been given a 25-year limited warranty with free technical support for the life of the machine.
Con:
The sewing machine is perfect for quilting and none of its users have left any bad reviews on the website.
Best Sewing Machines For Quilting Under 500
2. SINGER 9960 Sewing & Quilting Machine Best Sewing Machines For Quilting Under 500
This metal framed, the electric corded robot is a multi-use device for sewing as well as quilting. It has been badged as Amazon’s choice.
Features:
- Computerized: A number of options to select from a large number of stitches either basic, stretch, or decorative. And all these options are displayed on the little LCD display.
- Built-in stitches: 600 built-in stitches to select from and that includes 5 alphanumeric fonts, so you can personalize any project. And it also had 13 built-in 1-step buttonhole options and mirror imaging and stitch elongation too. You can do fashion stitching, home décor, quilt sewing, and crafting.
- Font selection: You can select fonts that appear in LCD displays. Its alpha-numeric fonts are a plus to this device.
- Automatic needle threader: If inserting a needle manually gives you eye strains then its feature of automatic needle threader is a problem solver for you.
- High-Speed sewing machine: 850 stitches per minute is a good speed for quilting.
- Included Accessories: Several presser feet include an All-purpose foot, Zipper foot, Button-hole foot, Overcasting foot, Blind hem foot, Satin Stitch foot, Open Toe foot, Straight stitch/quilting foot, Walking foot/Even feed, Buttonhole with underplate.
- Electronic Auto-Pilot Mode.
- Extended space for quilting.
Pro:
This device is designed with so many ease to-use features and is portable too. The quality of the material and its versatility is much easier to use.
Con:
The only con I find with this machine is its versatility as it might confuse a beginner.
3. Brother HC 1850 Sewing and Quilting Machine:
Brother has too much to offer when it comes to sewing machines. This one is a metal manufactured material-wise. And it is treadle powered.
Features:
- Built-in Stitches: This HC1850 includes 185 different built-in stitches that include 130 sewing stitches and 55 alphanumeric stitches and 8 auto-size buttonholes styles. Its font variation gives a boost to your customization of gifts and garments.
- Advanced needle threader: The advanced needle threader works with a simple press of the lever that results in the easy insertion of thread through the needle simple and smoothly.
- Drop-in top bobbin: Again its drop-in top bobbin is jam resistant.
- LCD screen: You can easily select options through simple clicks and your selected options appear on the LCD display.
- Included Accessories: the included accessories include a wide table, good for bulky projects related to quilting. Also an instructional DVD and manual for easy tutorials of machines.
Pro:
It’s surely a masterpiece for quilting right under your budget.
Con:
Its limited accessories are somehow not appreciated by pro-level sewers and quilters.
4. Janome 2212 Sewing and Quilting Machine:
A simple and more basic sewing and quilting machine are Janome 2023.
Features:
- Built-in stitches: With a maximum stitch length of 4mm, Janome 2212 provides 12 built-in stitches including one 4-step buttonhole.
- Drop Feed: 5-piece feed dog and a free arm enhance its versatility to work on different projects.
- Dial Pattern Selection: This ensures ease as you can adjust length and width as per your choice with the help of a dial pattern.
- Portable: its light weight makes it easier to use and portable too.
- Beginner friendly: it’s perfect for beginners and the price just goes well with the benefits of the machine.
- Two retractable, vertical spool pins: are the included accessories.
Pro:
This device is a perfect working robot for beginners with its simple and limited options.
Con:
The limitations can be a con to pro-users.
5. SINGER 7258, sewing and quilting machine:
The singer has designed it as simple, basic, and more beginner-friendly as Janome. The machine often comes pre-threaded to make your first project easier and more convenient.
Features:
- Built-in stitches: 203 stitches for any kind of fabric either basic, stretchable, or decorative. You can do quilting easily with these variations of built-in stitches.
- Automatic Needle threader: This feature avoids the eye strain that you get from inserting the thread into the needle.
- Fast Drop and Sew Bobbin: This feature makes the pick up of thread easy as per bobbin placement.
- Easy one-step buttonhole: No more 4-step procedure for buttonhole creation.
- Customized stitches: A variety of stitches to customize your stitches that display on LCD where you can adjust the length of the stitch and the width is adjusted accordingly.
- Maximum stitching speed: the stitching speed can be made according to choice by pressing the lever and that’s what we call the speed control lever.
Pro:
Again a budget and beginner-friendly sewing machine just like the one by Janome. Also, it comes with several included accessories that help out a lot as this saves you lots of money.
Con:
It might seem a bit basic for professional quilters.
All these machines are good for basic to pro-level sewing and quilting but the main part is that all come under a 500$ budget. Good for users!