Kathy Russell 
Product – HQ Sweet Sixteen Quilting Machine
Price: $6,495.00 with special bonus package! (List Price: $8,532.00)
Website – Sewing Machines Plus
Laurel Barrus, the founder of the Handi Quilter company designs machines with the ethos: “Designed by a Quilter, for Quilters”®.
Rising in popularity at the moment, the long arm quilting machines trend looks set to continue. Designed so you can complete fabulous quilts more easily, they can save you LOTS of time. You’ll be able to produce more quality quilts in a shorter space of time with a long arm machine.
As opposed to a regular quilting machine a long arm machine will allow pieces up to 18 inches on a side. The long arm quilting table can be 10 to 14 feet wide making it easy to create a very large quilt. Long stitches and large patterns become simple when the piece is being sewn. It’s the machine that moves, the fabric remains in one place. You do need a dedicated space to set up one of these machines; they are not fold up and put away items!
Described as “The Ultimate Crafters tool” Sizzix Big Shot Machine Starter Kit White & Grey is a cutting and embossing machine. You can use it for cutting your quilt pieces and there are a range of die shapes to choose from as optional extras. It also cuts paper and creates embossing effects. it works with most of the Sizzix products with the exception of Bigz Plus and Bigz Pro dies. My primary interest is in the fabric cutting capabilities of the Sizzix but it can also be used for home decor, scrap-booking, and card making .
The Singer Special Edition Sewing Machine is a glamorous looking sewing machine from Singer with a shiny metallic silver finish that certainly looks good! it won the Women’s Choice Award which is based on a national survey from over 5000 women.
Let’s look under the hood and see if beauty is only skin deep by checking out at all the functions and features this sewing machine has to offer.
My own recent troubles with backache prompted me to do some research into how to sew without getting backache! If you’ve suffered from this you’ll understand how painful it is, also frustrating when you have quilting projects you want to get on with. This article “Sewing Ergonomics – How to Sew Without Getting Backache” will get you back on track for pain-free sewing!
More and more people want to learn how to patchwork quilt, it’s a “trending” craft according to Google! There’s an overwhelming amount of info out there and there’s no definitive answer, however, first of all you should know some essentials.
Fabric – There are different layers to consider when choosing fabric, read this guide for more information on choosing fabrics for quilting.
Cutting – First understand what a rotary cutter is and how it can help. You can also use a fabric cutter which will quickly cut set shapes. Whatever you choose make sure to do some cutting practice first on scrap fabrics.
Quilting terms – become familiar with quilting terms and what they mean. For example, do you know what a quilting ruler is, or what batting is? Check out my glossary, there are simple explanations for each term.
The Juki tl 2000qilong arm quilting machine is not strictly a long arm machine but is classed as one for domestic use.
Juki is more well known for industrial machines and have produced theTL-2000Qi for the domestic market.
A Quilter’s Journal should be a must for all quilters. A lot of work goes into the quilts we make, from the first design idea to fabric choices and right through to the finishing touches. It makes sense to have a quilters journal book of all this hard work. Whether you keep the quilt for yourself or give it as a present it’s always good to be able to look back at previous projects. I’m sure you’ve sometimes thought “I wish I’d taken a picture,” a quilters journal will make sure you never have this thought again! I’ve done this for my other passion, knitting. I keep a record and refer to it if I’m looking for inspiration for a new project or am stuck on a technical aspect.
If you sell your quilts you can keep a record of who purchased and the price paid. Same with gifts, keep a note of the recipients.
Janome have a few memory craft models available, today I’m going to be looking at the Janome Memory Craft Horizon 8200QCP Special Edition With Exclusive Bundle
This is advertised as a machine for advanced sewing with advanced features and sewing speeds of up to 1000 stitches per minute. Many of the features are designed specifically for quilters including a 9” x 5” throat space. First let’s take a look at the functions and features.
Have you ever spent hours ironing bias seam binding with burnt fingers too!? If you like to make your own bias tape, and most quilters do, then the Simplicity Bias Tape Machine claims to makes the job easier and speed up the process.
