There are four long arm quilting machines currently being offered on TradeMe. For those who don’t know, TradeMe is an app here in New Zealand were we can buy and sell secondhand goods. So I have had the “long arm quilting machine” search term saved on my TradeMe for ages and recently, they’ve started appearing in my feed. Not that they were being hidden from me; just that they were never on there for sale very often!

The second-hand long arms range from $5,600 to $30,000. The fifth one was passed in without any bids the other week. It was the coveted Bernina Q24 for $17,500. It kinda makes all the Notlings and APQSs look janky and ancient. While I currently have a savings account dedicated to the purchase of a long arm quilting machine in my future, these tantalising TradeMe offerings keep my juices going.

I hope to be able to have a long arm quilting machine in my retirement which, as I look at my watch, is a lot closer than it’s ever been.

During Covid 2020 I purchased an old Janome MC 7700 on TradeMe that has a much wider throat than a domestic machine. It makes quilting at home so much easier. Those few extra inches right of the needle stops the whole “stuffing and fluffing” part of domestic sewing machine quilting that just drove me INSANE. Also it has a built-in walking foot which further reduces my frustration, pleated fabric and wonky straight lines. Between the extra working area and the built-in walking foot, coupled with with a teflon mat over the sewing bed really does make free-motion quilting so much easier.

But I do still want a long arm quilting machine one day.

In the mean time, I am quilting on my domestic machine. Here are seven things I have confirmed make domestic sewing machine quilting more successful:

1. Baste with spray adhesive - I’ve been a safety pin baster for most of my quilting life. I have tried thread and those plastic tags too, and nothing holds my quilts flatter or more secure than a basting spray. Follow the manufacturers in structions and watch some YouTube videos and you, too, will see many fewer pleats and puckers in your completed quilt.

2. Walking foot - there are walking foot attachments for most machine models; some of the newer ones have some sort of walking foot system built in. On my Janome it’s called “Acufeed”, “Duel Feed” on a Bernina. Once engaged it offers feed dogs on top and bottom of your work, thereby pulling all layers of your work through the machine at a more consistent way. Walking foot attachments can be purchased if the machine doesn’t have a built-in system and added; usually with screwing to the presser-foot post.

3. Teflon mat - the pudding proved itself with this one for me. Well worth the purchase and this slippery piece of adhesive plastic felt very expensive at the time. The Supreme Slider seems to be talked about on YouTube, but was very expensive here in New Zealand. I managed to find a cheaper version which works really well.

4. Sharp new needle - Change the needle after 8 hours of sewing because it makes life for you and your sewing machine so much easier. 

5. Rulers - using a ruler foot with an acrylic quilting ruler (not the kind you measure your fabric with) is a wonderful confidence-booster. Straight lines and gracious curves are well within your reach once you have the skills under your belt. 

6. Bigger machine throat - not always possible because of the price but I managed it by purchasing a second-hand, 20 year old sewing machine. Did I want a brand spanking new Janome? Sure, of course I did, but for a third of the price I was able to buy a machine that met all my current needs - that’s the beauty of quilting, we really only need a good straight stitch, plenty of light and a great big work area🙂

7. Pull up your bobbin thread - pulling up that bottom thread is such a good habit. Not only does it minimise thread nests underneath your work, but it also takes care of all those threads to keep the back of your quilt tidy.