kellen46

I so most of my sewing on a Bernina 440 and I am happy with that machine. However I have been trying to do my own machine quilting as I can no longer afford to send it out to a commercial Long Armer and I have no room to put a large machine. I need a straight stitch, free motion machine with a harp area larger than 7 inches which is what I have now. What I am finding newer machines is that you would have to pay about a $1000 for a new machine with about a 9" harp but I don't need all the extra features as I have that now. I checked out the Baileys home quilt machine but it only does free motion. I have been looking at the Singer 201 (on e-bay) and it does seem to be in my price range but I cannot find what the size of the harp is. In giving dimensions sellers often do not include this measurement. Can someone tell me what the harp size is and/or recommend another machine for quilting.

kathy

not sure what you mean that the Bailey can only do free motion
what do you want to do? zig zag or fancy stitches?
I have a Bailey's and love it

BRGranma

I have a Juki TL98Q that is a real workhorse. It does only a straight stitch which is all I want for quilting. From the head of the machine to the needle is 9 inches.

Charlee

The harp on a 201 is about 7x9 inches...going from my memory as I don't have time to open the cabinet and check for sure....LOVE it for FMQ!! :)

kellen46

I was in contact with the company and that is what I was told. It had the space I needed, it was free standing so I could sew at the kitchen table and while a bit over budget I could swing it. They told me it only did free motion and that is why I did not buy it. I don't need embroidery, I only need straight stitch for stitch in the ditch and free motion for meandering. If you have a model that does that what is it so I can again check with Baileys.

SueSew

I just asked the same Q as I have 6 1/2" harp. the old singers have about 7.
I got lot of good suggestions in this post
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-138639-1.htm

And I looked at the Janome 1600. But I want one used!!!

kathy

the bailey only has straight stitch, there are no feed dogs, if you do not have it on a frame you would move the fabric just like on a domestic machine, the stitch regulator works off the frame so you would not be able to use it if you're sewing on a table

kellen46

On the 201, have you done a queen size either FMQ or SID and if so how did it go for you. I have some experience as I have done up to single size on my 440 and does that extra two inches make any real difference? I have six full to king size tops basted and waiting to go but my whole body is dreading the shove and sew....shove and sew ordeal

kellen46

I was looking at the Bailey's free standing, no room at all for a frame. I was in communication with them on all the specifications I would need and the fact that it is basically free motion only was a deal breaker for me. How do you do stitch in the ditch with out feed-dogs? I am not that good at FMQ that I could just wing a very straight stitch without feed dogs. In addition it would be nice if I had a machine I could hook up a walking foot for SID.

feline fanatic

This means there are no feed dogs on the machine. It does only do a straight stitch but 100% relies on YOU to move the fabric, IOW only FMQ. But there is no reason you can't use your Bernina to do the straight line quilting with the feed dogs and use the Baily for everything else.