#need to finish more mini projects so I can free up space for quilting

[staffatemyblog]

Give me opportunity for minimalism and I will kill it with clutter and color. My room was driving me crazy while it was empty, I'm so happy to have it (mostly) put back together now

[cleantidyhub]

Oliso M2 Pro Mini Project Iron Review [Buying Guide!]

In some situations, you may not feel happy with the size of your iron. Am I right? If the answer is yes, you may look at Oliso M2 Pro Mini Iron. It can be the perfect choice because of its tiny size and lightweight.

A traveler or digital nomad (like me!) can easily place this small appliance in his luggage. Not only that, it is highly efficient, has a convenient soleplate and universal voltage.

So, does this iron seem interesting to you? Then, read this article to know the features, specifications, pros, and cons of M2 pro mini.  

Oliso M2 Pro Mini: A General Overview

According to the manufacturer, Oliso M2 pro mini steam iron is designed especially for sewing, quilting, traveling, and decorative works.

This mini iron has Ceramic Soleplate that can glide over the clothes. Its precision tip comfortably processes tough-to-reach spots of fabrics. To ensure safety, Oliso has a Solemate to rest iron safely to prevent scorch and burn marks.

In addition, its unique Solemate allows you to leave iron on garments without burning them.

To let your iron during traveling, it has universal voltage with 1000 watts of power. Moreover, with its fabric selector feature, you can easily iron almost any fabric.

Interestingly, steaming feature of Oliso is easy and quick because of its one-press steam control.

Lastly, it has an 8-foot long 180-degree pivot cord that letting you iron without making any obstacle. So, no more headache about storing iron and cord anymore.

Features

Diamond Coated Ceramic soleplate

Diamond-coated ceramic soleplate is suitable for all ironing projects. If you’re a big fan of quilting and crafting, this iron is a must-buy.

This unique soleplate lets you smooth corners and tight spots of garments. So, don’t worry about wrinkle-free clothes anymore. After all, you will get better ironing results like full-size iron.

My wife uses this iron for quilting, and its detailer tip can easily polish small ¼ “seams. Most importantly, the overall finishing is praiseworthy.  

Solemate

M2 pro mini iron comes with a dual purpose Solemate to make storage and travel simple.

When you’re going to iron many clothes, you may feel tired after a while. Sometimes, you need to rest the iron. However, such practices may burn your favorite dresses. That’s why this iron serves you with a Solemate to protect clothes from burn and scorch marks.  

High Power

Because of its tiny size, you shouldn’t expect M2 Pro to have too high power. However, it comes with 1000 watts of power. As a result, it can reach the highest level of temperature in just 45 seconds! Amazing!

So, this small iron offers you the advantages of a full-sized iron. Most importantly, its small footprint can make room by your sewing machine or in your luggage easily.

Universal voltage

Moreover, it comes with a dual voltage option- 120V and 240V. Utilize 120 V while in the US and 240V when you travel outside of the US. This option makes it ideal for traveling.

Interestingly, many expensive irons may not have universal voltage features. So, if you’re going to travel very recently, purchase this iron right now. Oh, don’t forget to pick a scissor or screwdriver to change the voltage.

8 feet cord with 180-degree pivot cord

With a regular cord, you may face difficulty in handling it. So, if you live in a rented small space, this 8 foot 180-degree swivel cord may give you some comfort.

However, it’s not that long. So, it will help if you restrict iron to a specific area of your iron. Or, you may use an extension cord to solve this problem.  

Manual Fabric selector

This feature allows you to set the perfect temperature for fabric. It’s located on the handle to access it without any trouble.

This selector has three settings. The first one, low temperature, is for synthetics. The second and third one is medium temperature and high temperature. The medium setting is suitable for wool and silk, while the high is for linen and cotton.

There is a blue light around the dial, and the light will turn solid light when it achieved the desired temperature.

Steam burst

With this Mini Project Iron, you’ll get steam burst also. Spraying steam over clothes is super easy. Just use one-press steam button located on the side of the iron. When steam is ready, lights on the steam button will be lit up.

To produce steam perfectly, set the fabric selector to second or third settings. Then, utilize the steam button located on the side of iron.

However, those who have arthritis or carpal tunnel problem may feel pretty problem operating this button. Moreover, its steam isn’t that powerful compared to regular and high-prized irons like Rowenta DW7180.

Water tank

Its tiny water tank can hold almost a quarter cup of water. You can fill this tank with a cup or directly from tap. So, you don’t need to buy any fill cups.

There is a window on the side to observe the water level. You don’t need to use distilled water or bottled fountain water. Instead, use tap water.

The thing about the water tank that fascinated me is that it doesn’t drip. I enjoy this while ironing.

Warranty Description

This iron comes with a three years limited warranty from the manufacturer directly. To know more information, visit the manufacturer’s website.

Unlike most irons, this iron is manufactured in the US. So, you can put your trust easily in it and improve your ironing experience.

Ergonomic Handle

This little iron comes with a comfortable and ergonomic handle. When you extend your hand on it, you feel like you are working with a computer mouse. Because of that, this iron is comfortable than ever.  

The temperature dial is on the button. All buttons are easy to read and suitable for all ages.

However, the handle may be a little bit warm, provided that you use it for a longer duration.

To read more, visit https://cleantidyhub.com/oliso-m2-pro-mini-project-iron-review/

[inquiringquilter]

QAL By the Sea - Block 2 Turtle

Hi! Welcome to Block 2 of QAL By the Sea. This time it’s my block!

You’ll find the details of the quilt along on the QAL By the Sea page. Here’s the short version: we’re presenting the blocks for this quilt along in segments. To win a prize, make all the blocks from that segment, then upload a photo of them at the end of that segment.

This is Block 2 in the quilt along and the second block in Segment 1. There will be four blocks in this segment, released every week on Tuesday. To enter for the Segment 1 prize, you must finish all four Segment 1 blocks and post a photo of them at the end of Segment 1. The prize winner for Segment 1 will be announced on September 8th. Click here to view the QAL schedule and to learn more about it.

To enter for the Grand Prize at the end of the quilt along, you’ll need to make all 12 blocks in the quilt along. You don’t need to make a quilt or any other project using the blocks although we’d love for you to! At the end of the quilt along, we will provide several setting suggestions if you’d like to make a quilt. I will also be providing links to project suggestions if you’d rather make smaller projects.

After you make my block, please share it online by using the hashtags #inquiringquilter and #terrytheturtleblock. Be sure to tag me too @inquiringquilter.

Block 2: Turtle

This week’s block is a turtle. You can download the pattern by clicking the button above. The pattern will remain free through the end of the quilt along.

Here’s my version of the block. I’m calling this guy Terry the Turtle.

I know. He’s applique and a lot of it. I knew this block might be a bit intimidating so I made this video to help. I also knew that you can do this because I’ve seen you tackle blocks like this before in our previous quilt alongs.

So take a deep breath and let’s step through this one bit at a time.

Note: After watching the video, be sure to read My Tips and Tutorials for Making This Block for more tips!

My Tips and Tutorials for Making This Block

Here are my tips for making the Terry the Turtle block.

my Fabric Pull

I’m using Island Batiks for this quilt along because they provide such realism and depth of color. I highly recommend batiks for Terry, or solids/tone on tones so you don’t lose the cute little details.

That being said, you can simplify Terry from the get go if you chose to leave off his markings. This is what my original block might look like if I’d left off the face and arm markings. Without his markings he’s not as expressive to me, but he’s a whole lot easier to stitch! If you are a beginner at machine applique, feel free to leave the markings off— you won’t offend me and you’ll make it a lot easier on yourself because you’ll have a lot less pieces to stitch down.

And if you decide after fusing everything down that you want to add more detail, you still can! That’s the beauty of applique. You can always add more.

I made a second version of my block in wild, bright colors just to give him a whimsical look. I also left the markings off my second version just for fun. To add the detail I craved, I used textured prints that provided a similar look.

For the fabric pull for my original block I started with the background, looking for just the right combination of colors to suggest the sea.

Next, I chose the head and arm fabrics. These need to stand out against the background so Terry doesn’t get lost. I chose light green for these.

I wanted to suggest the roughness of his shell so I played with that next finding an olive green I liked. It’s a little dark and you don’t see it much against the background but that makes his head and arms more important and I liked that. It’s the tilt of that head and the arms waving at me that I like best about this block which is why they are the lightest/brightest parts, along with his underbelly which is a bright golden yellow.

For the undershell (the middle section of his body I chose a medium yellow green. His neck is a lighter version of this same color which again makes his head and neck more important than his body.

I choose a dark color to make his eyes expressive. I used the same fabric for the nostrils since it was so dark. I also chose dark fabrics for the markings because that’s how markings on a turtle look to me. For his nose and chin I chose a happy teal to make him look bright and inviting.

Here’s my fabric pull. I’m so glad I’m an Island Batik Ambassador because I have an amazing collection of batiks for projects like these!

Here are the details:

Background

#111936865 Cheerios - Marbles Oceania (Magical Reef collection)

Terry

Head: BE28-G1 Foulard Apple (Blenders collection) Eyes and Nostrils: #121801686 Twigs Forest (Elk Lodge collection) Neck: Medium olive green mini-dot Nose and Chin: #121937603 Mottle B Parakeet (Jewel Box collection) Shell: #111902883 Turtle Shell Mardigras (Islander collection) Undershell: BE35-G1 Bubbles Sprout (Blenders collection) Underbelly: #111905131 Mini Bubbles Cornmeal (Magical Reef collection) Arms: Light green Arm Markings: #121806561 Antlers Teal (Elk Lodge collection) Face Markings: #111914610 Scales Bermuda (Magical Reef collection)

cut the background

Whenever I do an applique block, I like to start with a background square that’s larger than what I need. That way, after stitching around all the applique shapes, I can press the block flat and square it up.

So in my pattern, I ask you to start with a 13” square. You’ll trim the square to 12-1/2” after you’re finished with the applique.

Print out the templates

Start by printing out the templates on pages 5 to 9. Use the 1” square to ensure that the templates are the correct size. Print at 100% and DO NOT scale the pattern to fit.

Trace the Templates

Trace the templates onto fusible web, fuse the web onto the back of your fabrics, and cut them out on the line. I labeled my pieces for easier assembly.

I use either Heat n Bond Lite or Soft Fuse for my fusible applique.

For a softer block, cut out the middle of the fusible on large shapes, leaving only the outer edge. The outer edge is enough to fuse the piece into place and by leaving fusible out of the center, the shape remains soft and supple.

Fuse the Appliques

With applique blocks that contain a lot of pieces like this one, I find it easier to assemble each of the parts first (head, arms, body) and move them onto the block background for fusing later on.

Start by placing a pressing sheet on your ironing surface to prevent the bottom applique piece from fusing to it. If needed, cover your pieces with another pressing sheet when fusing to protect your iron as well.

Tip: If you don’t have a pressing sheet, parchment paper will do.

Tip: If you get any fusible on your iron, don’t fret. Unplug it and while it’s warm but not too hot, rub its surface with a used dryer sheet. I save my mine after laundry and keep them up by my iron for just such emergencies.

Fuse the head

Place the head (Template A) on your pressing sheet, and start fusing the parts onto it.

If you are adding the markings to your turtle, place and fuse the side face markings on the head first. Notice how they fit right along the edges.

Next, place the eyes. Notice that they slip into the eye socket area of the face, and hang just a little over the edge on each side. Be sure to leave room for the eye creases. Fuse them in place with the eyes.

Fuse the nose piece next. It should fit right between the open area between the eyes and the facial markings.

Add the chin next. Leave the space that makes him smile. Notice that part of the chin extends off the face. Fuse into place.

Place and fuse the chin markings if you’re adding them. The top edges of the chin markings continue the smile line.

Fuse the Arms

If you’re adding the markings, you’ll need to fuse them to the left and right arms. Again, place an arm on your pressing sheet (so it won’t stick to your ironing board) and fuse the markings to it.

For the left arm, simply arrange the markings along the left edge of the arm and about 1/4” apart.

For the right arm, start by placing the right most marking about 5/8” in from both the right and bottom edges. This will allow you room to trim later. Arrange the rest of the markings so they are 1/4” apart.

Assemble the Block

After fusing the various parts of the turtle together, assemble the block as instructed in the pattern. Here’s what to remember:

Fuse the Undershell (Template H) first, 3-1/2” up from the bottom and aligned along the left edge.

Fuse the Underbelly (Template J) next, 1/2” up from the bottom and aligned along the left edge.

Fuse the Shell (Template G) on top of the Underbelly (Template J) aligning the left edge of the shell with the left upper point of the underbelly. There should be about 1/4” overlap.

Add the arm pieces, aligning them along the edges of the background.

Add the neck, nestling it in the curve of the Underbelly. The top edge overlaps the bottom of the Shell by a tiny amount.

Finally, add the Head. Note the tilt of the head. Fuse everything in place.

Edge-stitch the appliques

Edge-stitch your appliques to finish the edges. I use a straight stitch and matching thread. I chose a straight stitch because it’s the easiest to execute. If you’ve never machine appliqued before, click here for a step by step photo tutorial.

Here are some tips:

Change to a very open foot with a good view of the needle.

Reduce the speed of your machine to give you more control.

Use a non-stick needle/sharp needle to stitch through the fusible more cleanly.

If you’re going to use a blanket stitch or satin stitch to finish the edges of the applique, you might find it easier to shorten your stitch length.

Be sure to tack/backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitching to secure it.

If you choose to satin stitch your applique edges, fuse a light weight stablizer to the back of your block to prevent puckering.

You can save parts of the edge stitching until you quilt your piece. For example, you might want to edge stitch the markings and facial details (eyes, nostrils, eye creases, nose and chin) now, and stitch around the body sections, arms, head, and neck later, to quilt the block.

Here are the threads I used for applique:

Aurifil #50 wt. #2885 (Medium Spruce) Aurifil #50 wt. #1148 (Light Jade) Aurifil #50 wt. #2884 (Green Yellow) Aurifil #50 wt. #1147 (Light Leaf Green) Aurifil #50 wt. #2902 (Light Laurel Green) Aurifil #50 wt. #2132 (Tarnished Gold) Aurifil #50 wt. #4644 (Smoke Blue)

Trim Your Block

After you’ve edge-stitched the applique, give your block a good pressing then trim to it’s final size—12-1/2”. I took 1/4” off each edge.

Thanks for the Tips! Where do I get the pattern?

You get the pattern here! Click the button below. After you make it, share it with me by using the hashtags #inquiringquilter and #terrytheturtleblock. Be sure to tag me too @inquiringquilter.

Here are the other quilt along hosts. Drop by their blogs to view their versions of this block and to read their tips for making it.

Abbie @ Sparkle On Becca @ Pretty Piney Jennifer @ Inquiring Quilter (that’s me!) Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels and Eats Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts Sherry @ Powered by Quilting Sandy @ SandyStar Designs

How Do I Enter the Giveaway?

First, you must be 18 years old to enter.

Unlike previous quilt alongs, you only need to make the blocks to enter the segment giveaways. Here’s how it works: First, make all the blocks in Segment 1 (there will be four blocks—this one is the first block in Segment 1). Then at the end of Segment 1, post a photo of all blocks in that Segment to enter the giveaway. If you want to see the schedule for the quilt along and the list of block designers, click here.

Segment 1 entries open on August 25, 2020 at 8 am EST and close on September 8, 2020 at 7:39 AM EST.

To enter, post a single photo of all the blocks in Segment 1 OR a single photo of each block in one single post (one single Facebook post or one single Instagram post—to link up to the linky you’ll need one photo of all the blocks) to one of the following places to enter the Segment giveaway:

On Instagram, with the hashtag #QALBytheSea and #PartnersinDesign

In our private Facebook group

To the linky on any of the host’s blogs

Remember, you don’t have to get the blocks done until it’s time to post a photo of all the blocks in Segment 1 and enter our Segment Prize giveaway. Personally though I’d make the blocks when they come out so you don’t fall behind.

Here’s what you might win by making all the Segment 1 blocks. There will be one US and one International winner chosen.

US Winner

Dream Green 60" x 60" batting from Quilter's Dream. An earth friendly polyester batting made from 100% recycled plastic bottles! https://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/products/dream-green/ 

A Fat Quarter fabric bundle from the Island Batik Kismet collection This line by Tammy Silver of Tamarinis has a bohemian vibe with vibrant colors! https://islandbatik.com/product-category/cotton/fall-19/kismet/

International winner

A 6 month subscription to the e-magazine Make Modern. Make Modern is a magazine for quilters, by quilters, filled with beautiful patterns and articles to inspire quilters like us to make more modern quilts! https://www.makemodern.com.au/

A PDF pattern of your choice from each of these Partners in Design:

Becca @ Pretty Piney

Jennifer @ Inquiring Quilter (that’s me!)

Sherry @ Powered by Quilting ($10.00 credit in her shop)

Again to enter for the Segment 1 Prize Giveaway at the end of Segment 1, you need only make the four blocks in the segment. To enter our Grand Prize Giveaway at the end of the quilt along you’ll need to make all 12 blocks.

Thanks for stopping by! The next block will be released Tuesday, August 18th. Don’t miss it!

you might also like

Tell me…Have you ever seen a sea turtle in real life?

[sewingmachinesavvy]

Quilting Sewing Machines Under $600

I’ve had a few people ask me if you need a special machine to quilt and the answer is no.

Technically you can quilt with any good quality sewing machine but some machines just make it a little easier because of the features they have. So you may see these sewing machines referred to as quilting sewing machines.

Here are a few things to consider when you shop for a sewing machine for better quilting:

1. Needle up/Needle down – Most sewing machines stop with the needle up and out of the fabric. When you quilt it is actually easier if the needle stops down. Some machines have a specific feature where you can program it to stop down and this is helpful so you won’t have to adjust the needle every time. This will be listed as “programmable needle up / down”

2. Feed Dogs – If you don’t know what feed dogs are then here is a mini lesson because these things are important in all sewing. The feed dogs can be seen on the needle plate and look like metal teeth. They move back and forth in slots in a sewing machine’s needle plate, gently gripping and feeding the fabric to help it pass through the sewing machine.

When you free motion quilt (sewing the top, batting and backing together in a pattern – also known as a quilt sandwich) you need to be able to move the fabric freely under the needle. The feed dogs move the fabric in a single direction, so dropping them or covering them reduces the drag on the quilt.

Keep in mind that not all quilters drop the feed dogs. There are some very experience quilters who say you don’t even need to do it. They just set their stitch length to zero. Experiment for yourself to see what works best for you.

On modern machines there is a switch that lowers the feed dogs, while some older machines have a plate that is used to cover the feed dogs. If you don’t have this feature on your machine or if you find a machine you love but it is not specifically made for quilters then you can also use an index card or playing card to cover the feed dogs.

3. A Variety of Free Motion Feet. Just like you need different tools in your kitchen depending on what you are cooking, you will need a variety of presser feet depending on the quilting design, batting thickness, and the amount of piecing or applique. When shopping for a quilting sewing machine make sure it has options for various quilting feet. Examples are a 1/4 inch foot, which is what typical quilting calls for, a darning or free motion foot for free motion quilting, and a walking foot, which moves the fabric from above in about the same speed as the feed dogs.

6. Easily Changeable Presser Feet. – Speaking of various presser feet that you can use for quilting, you want to be able to change those feet quickly and easily. No one wants to have to pull out a screwdriver every time they want to change presser feet. Many modern machines have snap-on presser feet, which makes changing them a breeze.

7. Larger Work Space. – Many quilting sewing machines will have a larger working area or an extension table to accommodate big projects like quilts.

So these are features that you will typically see on a great quilting sewing machine. Although you can still make quilts without these features, many quilters will advance to a quilting specific machine to make their life easier and to make higher quality quilts.

Great Quilting Sewing Machines Under $600

With that said, let’s take a look at some great quilting sewing machines if you are on a budget.

I want to point out that I have done several articles on my blog about quilting machines and that is for a couple reasons. There are quilting machines that cost over $10,000! But you can easily find a great quilting sewing machine in the $300 to $1,000 range.

Your experience level will dictate what machine you look for. A beginning quilter is probably not going to spend $3,000 on a Janome Horizon Memory Craft 8900QCP but an advanced quilter might shop for a dream machine like that.

So I have my quilting reviews organized by budget and brand because I couldn’t review them all in one post. This article will focus on the best quilting sewing machines for beginners or mid-experienced sewers – a seamstress who is looking to upgrade from a home sewing machine and buy something with quilting features and all of these machines are $600 or less.

Here are three awesome sewing machines for quilting, with a more in-depth overview of each as you read on.

 Brother Designio Series DZ2400Janome Magnolia 7360 Singer 9960

Built-In Stitches18560600 Needle up / downYesYesYes Easy Buttonholes8, 1-step8, 1-step13, 1-step Needle ThreaderYesYesYes Slider Speed ControlYesYesYes Drop FeedYesYesYes Thread TensionAutomatic + ManualAutomatic + ManualAutomatic + Manual Thread CutterYesYesYes Max Speed850820850 Snap-on Presser FeetYesYesYes Presser Feet Included10719 Quilting Feet IncludedYesYesYes Extension TableYes, includedNoYes, Included Work SpaceW 5.7" x H 3.8"W 6.5" x H 4.2" Weight9.9 lbs18.3 lbs21.3 lbs Current Price

Brother Designio Series DZ2400

The Brother Designio Series DZ2400 is a value packed computerized quilting sewing machine with 185 built in stitches including 55 alphanumeric stitches.

It has all of the convenient quilting features mentioned above- needle up and down, drop feed, snap-on presser feet, and an extension table for a larger work space. 

This machine has 12 sewing and quilting feet included so you can get started on sewing and quilting projects right away.

You’ll get:

Zigzag foot (on machine)

Buttonhole foot

Zipper foot

Button sewing foot

Overcasting foot

Blind stitch foot

Monogramming foot

Quilting foot

Walking foot with quilt guide

1/4 ( piecing ) foot

One thing that stood out to me about the Designio DZ2400, besides all of the automatic features, is that it weighs under 10 lbs. It is very lightweight, which means it is easy to take to sewing classes and if you don’t have a dedicated sewing area, it is easy to put away and take out. It also has a built-in handle so if you need a quilting sewing machine that is easily portable, then this is the one for you.

Owners of this machine praise all of its features, pointing out how quiet it is and are happy with the stitch quality.

Overall this is a great option for a sewing machine with convenient quilting features, especially if you are on a budget. Brother is known for value and this is no exception.

Janome Magnolia 7360 Sewing Machine

The Janome Magnolia 7360 has a pretty flower on the front but don’t let that fool you – this is a powerful machine with dozens of convenient features for sewing and quilting. It is easy enough to use for a newbie seamstress, while it also has enough stitches and features to satisfy an experience quilter. This machines comes with a quilting bonus package that includes a walking foot and a 1/4″ foot.

Quick Buttons and Stitch Selection

The Janome Magnolia 7360 is a computerized sewing machine so most of its features can be controlled and changed with the touch of a button.

There is an easy to read LCD screen on the Magnolia 7360 and a convenient s

titch chart which shows the 60 built-in stitches this machine has. Simply choose by pressing the corresponding on the stitch chart.

Direct select buttons also allow you to change stitch width and length by pressing “plus” or “minus” to adjust.

There are Separate buttons to lock a stitch and sew in reverse, which allow you to create strong and professionally finished seams that won’t fray.

The Janome Magnolia 7360 also has variable speed control so you can speed up and slow down sewing using a  speed control slider. Whether you are new to sewing or have years of experience, this convenient feature lets you choose the best sewing pace depending on your skill or the project you are working on.

A couple more handy feature this machine offers is a memorized needle up/down button and a start/stop button. This eliminates the need for a foot pedal (but there is a foot pedal included if you prefer to use it).

Overall Convenient Features:

Top loading full rotary hook bobbin

60 built-in stitches

7 one-step buttonholes

Automatic thread tension control

One-hand needle threader

Snap-on presser feet

Memorized needle up/down

7 piece feed dog

Free arm

Drop feed

Start/stop button

Speed control slider

Locking stitch button

Easy reverse button

Auto-declutch bobbin winder

Extra high presser foot lift

Backlit LED screen with easy navigation keys

Maximum stitch width: 7mm

Maximum stitch length: 5mm

You’ll get the following presser feet:

¼ inch Seam Foot

Blind Hem foot G

Buttonhole Foot R (automatic)

Even Feed Foot (Walking foot)

Quilting Bar for walking foot

Satin Stitch Foot F

Zipper foot E

You will also get a cover / carrying case, which can easily save you $20+ and is a great way to protect your investment.

Owners of this machine praise its simplicity of use and appreciate how light it is, making it convenient to take to and from sewing classes.  Also the option to adjust the needle position from left to right makes it convenient to get the exact quarter inch seam allowance.

Overall the Magnolia 7360 is an affordable option if you want a quilting sewing machine but you are on a budget.

Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist

Up next is a quilting sewing machine from the trusted Singer brand – The Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist Sewing Machine has a mind-boggling 600 built-in stitches and a myriad of other electronic features like an automatic electronic thread trimmer, extra-large sewing space, and a wide array of presser feet.

      This is a phenomenal machine for sewing as well as quilting and the price is very affordable for most budgets. This amount of features, built-in stitches, and the included accessories and presser feet make this an exceptional value. I’ll go over some of the features in this article but I also have a full in-depth review that you can read here.

Singer 9960 LCD Screen and Control Panel

This machine has huge and crystal clear LCD screen, which is referred to as the ‘Digital Information Advisor’.

There are over 2 dozen buttons but it really is simple to use as you get to know it. The owners guide are very helpful in the beginning.

At the touch of a button you can quickly and easily select your desired stitch, length and width, and you will also see a recommended presser foot.

SINGER 9960 Quantum Stylist Built-In Stitches

The Singer 9960 has 600 built-in stitches, which may be intimidating for a beginning sewer, but keep in mind that you won’t be using that many stitches on a day-to-day basis. Most people use just a few stitches regularly. This includes me – 90% of the time I use a regular straight stitch :).

But the fact that is has so many stitches and different buttonholes means you will have a stitch for anything you could possibly want to do.

The stitches are printed on a chart in the upper lid of the machine, which you then select using the LCD and touch button controls. Here is a breakdown of the stitches:

103 built-in utility sewing stitches

13 styles of buttonholes

34 decorative sewing stitches

90 upper case, lower case, numbers, and characters in 5 different fonts (450 stitches in total)

Presser Feet and Included Accessories

The Singer 9960 has convenient snap-on presser feet, which makes changing presser feet ultra easy. There are 18 presser feet included, which is a big plus because presser feet can cost up to $30 each.

Adjustable bias binder foot

Single-welt cording foot

Braiding foot and guide

Stitch-in-the-ditch foot

Fancy-trim foot

Clear piping foot

Clearance plate

All-purpose foot

Zipper foot

Button sewing foot

Satin stitch foot

Buttonhole foot with underplate

Open toe foot

Blind hem foot

Overcasting foot

Narrow hem foot

Cording foot

1/4-inch foot

Darning & embroidery foot

Even feed foot

You will also get the following accessories: Needles, Bobbins (Class 15), Seam Ripper, Lint Brush, Spool Pin with Felt Washer, Screwdrivers, Spool Caps, Seam Guide, Quilting Bar, Power Cord, Foot Controller, Extra Wide Extension Table instructional DVD, and an operation manual. A hardcover carrying case is included, which is a nice addition that will easily save you $20+.

Overall, the Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist is quiet, sturdy, and has many features for all levels of sewing. It is also a very lightweight and compact machine, which makes it easily portable to and from sewing classes or great for someone who keeps their machine in a closet instead of having a dedicated workspace for it.

The Bottom Line

Keep in mind that there are dozens and dozens of quilting sewing machines on the market, in various price ranges. I think the saying that you get what you pay for rings true here as well – You can buy a $300 quilting machine or easily spend over $1,000 so your level of expertise, the type and size of quilts you need to do, and the mandatory features you require are variables to consider.

from Sewing Machine Savvy – Best Reviews and Comparisons http://www.sewingmachinesavvy.com/best-quilting-sewing-machines/