Ongoing Quilt Projects, Continued from the "No Appreciation...." Thread

[DuckLady]

They're crazy expensive to buy a cabinet, like several hundred bucks up to a couple thousand, more than my machine costs. I want to buy a table at a thrift store and cut a hole to make one. Lots of folks have done it. Would cost 1/10 of what a commercial cabinet would and have more flat space around the machine.

Depending on the machine I am getting, I might get a cabinet for it. I saw on Quilt in a Day on you tube where they made a sewing machine cabinet out of a farm dining table. Starting at time 12:00
Costco has a table that might be able to be modified easily here https://www.costco.com/basyx-by-HON-72"W-Rectangle-Conference-Table,-Medium-Cherry.product.100018942.html. It's probably pressboard, so while strong and heavy, may not be friendly for modifications.

 

[21hens-incharge]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FVAHDK...t=&hvlocphy=9028904&hvtargid=pla-272888908213

I was looking at this sewing machine table.

Not sure if its even close to being a decent one.

 

[speckledhen]

Depending on the machine I am getting, I might get a cabinet for it. I saw on Quilt in a Day on you tube where they made a sewing machine cabinet out of a farm dining table. Starting at time 12:00
Costco has a table that might be able to be modified easily here https://www.costco.com/basyx-by-HON-72"W-Rectangle-Conference-Table,-Medium-Cherry.product.100018942.html. It's probably pressboard, so while strong and heavy, may not be friendly for modifications.

I am using our former farm-type dining table now for my machine. This would work perfectly, thanks, Terrie! The conference table is too expensive to cut into and you're right, probably pressboard anyway.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FVAHDK...t=&hvlocphy=9028904&hvtargid=pla-272888908213

I was looking at this sewing machine table.

Not sure if its even close to being a decent one.

Seems a huge diversity of opinion on the reviews, but if you get one that isn't damaged or mismanufactured, it would be okay, I'd think.

 

[speckledhen]

Now, I'm in a gripey mood. I showed DH the video and he was thinking he was going to "fit" my machine in the table snugly. Well, the bobbin loads from the side, not the top so that can't happen. He acts like he's never know my bobbin was a side-load bobbin, as if he's not seen me change a bobbin at all in the two years I've had this machine. And as I was trying to free motion today, tugging and pushing the quilt through the throat space (remind me to never do a bed quilt again), he was playing music. I mean practicing his fiddle and trying to play along with something on the computer. I loathe bluegrass music and screechy fiddle music, especially when I'm frustrated with something and trying to concentrate. He is not a gifted musician, though he wants to be. Then, he puts that down and keeps playing all sorts of music in the other room. We have a small, open plan house and there is nowhere to get away from that caterwauling, ack! I NEED QUIET!

And it's wet and cold outside and we have no more firewood. Pouting here.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Well I went ahead and bought a machine.
Not a GREAT unit but I feel it will be a good one.
The throat space is small but for learning should be OK since I will keep things small.....for now.

I got the Singer Confidence 7640.

http://www.singerco.com/products/2844/7640-confidence

Now, I'm in a gripey mood. I showed DH the video and he was thinking he was going to "fit" my machine in the table snugly. Well, the bobbin loads from the side, not the top so that can't happen. He acts like he's never know my bobbin was a side-load bobbin, as if he's not seen me change a bobbin at all in the two years I've had this machine. And as I was trying to free motion today, tugging and pushing the quilt through the throat space (remind me to never do a bed quilt again), he was playing music. I mean practicing his fiddle and trying to play along with something on the computer. I loathe bluegrass music and screechy fiddle music, especially when I'm frustrated with something and trying to concentrate. He is not a gifted musician, though he wants to be. Then, he puts that down and keeps playing all sorts of music in the other room. We have a small, open plan house and there is nowhere to get away from that caterwauling, ack! I NEED QUIET!

And it's wet and cold outside and we have no more firewood. Pouting here.

I totally get the need for quiet, especially when doing frustrating things.


With 2 puppies wanting to rough house inside it gets crazy here.

 

[speckledhen]

Well I went ahead and bought a machine.
Not a GREAT unit but I feel it will be a good one.
The throat space is small but for learning should be OK since I will keep things small.....for now.

I got the Singer Confidence 7640.

http://www.singerco.com/products/2844/7640-confidence



I totally get the need for quiet, especially when doing frustrating things.


With 2 puppies wanting to rough house inside it gets crazy here.

Hope you like your new machine.

Yeah, I was just so frustrated and tired and I was getting overheated even in this cool house. It wasn't his fault, he was just killing time and enjoying his music. I really want a machine with 11"+ throat space, but you get into big bucks when you get those. Why don't they make a mechanical machine with larger harp space less than $3K? I guess I'm asking a lot, huh?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hope you like your new machine.

Yeah, I was just so frustrated and tired and I was getting overheated even in this cool house. It wasn't his fault, he was just killing time and enjoying his music. I really want a machine with 11"+ throat space, but you get into big bucks when you get those. Why don't they make a mechanical machine with larger harp space less than $3K? I guess I'm asking a lot, huh?

I don't think its asking to much at all.

All the computerized stuff to me is just another thing that can get all buggered up.

 

[speckledhen]

I don't think its asking to much at all.

All the computerized stuff to me is just another thing that can get all buggered up.

That's exactly what my husband, the electronic design technician says. The less electronics, the better!

 

[speckledhen]

This is very tempting, being a normally about $3000 machine, only $1799 with free shipping, however, this part is interesting. Though the throat space is 11" wide, it's only 4.7" high. My Brother 1500 has a 9" wide throat, but it's 6" high. So, hmm, makes you wonder which is more important. Can you deal with a less high space if it's 2" wider?
The only dealers in my area are Janome and BabyLock. Anything else and I'd have to go over an hour away, I think. I believe the quilt shop in Ellijay, about 45 minutes south of me, is an Elna dealer. Who makes Elna? I can't remember.

 

[User395221]

Elna was a Swiss company, but anything could have happened in the last however-many-years. Could have been taken over by martians.
What would you experienced quilters say are "must haves" as to features for a machine to quilt with?
Large/r throat space, accessible bobbin, decent-sized extension table, what else?
I saw one with a laser beam that saves you having to draw lines on everything. I can see the value in that, but it only seems to come with high end embroidery machines which cost an absolute bomb.
EDIT: I watched Angela Walters quilting a Tula Pink quilt. Her machine with the frame would be a dream to use compared to a normal machine.