| Sewing machines have been transformed in
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| | hand-quilting techniques.
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| recent years. Manufacturers now offer
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| | Manual Tension Control
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| electronic and computerized machines that
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| | Some quilting machines are equipped with
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| are virtually trouble-free and much more
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| | a manual tension control. This control
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| reliable than previous versions. With the
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| | offers the quilter the ability to
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| addition of specialized features and
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| | regulate the top thread tension quickly
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| functions, users are now offered a
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| | and accurately. This offers an advantage
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| selection of machines suited to their
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| | over machines with automatic tension
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| sewing style.
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| | control. As quilters often use different
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| Quilting machines, in particular, are
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| | weights of thread in the top and bobbin,
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| specifically designed to make the
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| | proper tension control becomes critical.
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| quilting experience easy and
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| | With a manual control a quilter can
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| trouble-free, and also provide the
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| | easily and incrementally fine tune their
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| quilter with a machine that can give a
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| | top tension as they are stitching. With
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| professional finish to any project.
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| | an automatic control it is necessary to
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| A quilting machine has special features
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| | access the settings within the control
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| which include:
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| | panel of the machine which takes longer
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| Extended Bed Space
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| | and can be less accurate.
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| The bedspace is the working area located
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| | Manual Stitch Length/Width Control
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| between the needle and the inside of the
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| | As with the manual tension control, a
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| machine. An extended bed space offers an
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| | manual stitch length/width control is
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| area of approximately 8-9" wide by 5-6"
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| | also located on the front of the machine
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| high, which is larger than a standard
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| | and similar benefits apply.
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| sewing machine and provides more than
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| | Needle Up/Down
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| ample space for a quilter to maneuver
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| | A needle up/down setting allows the user
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| bulky quilts or large pieces of fabric
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| | to stop sewing with the needle in the
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| High Speed
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| | down position. This is an advantage when
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| Most top-of-the-line quilting machines
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| | working with heavy quilts or when doing
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| offer high speed stitching which is
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| | free motion quilting. When stopping with
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| usually around 1000 stitches per minute.
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| | the needle down, there is less chance of
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| The high speed rating is normally applied
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| | the quilt slipping providing a continuous
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| to the straight stitch only, with
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| | stitch line.
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| slightly reduced speed for decorative
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| | Auto thread cutter
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| stitches. This feature offers the quilter
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| | An automatic thread cutter is a very
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| the ability to quickly piece and quilt
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| | useful feature on a quilting machine.
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| their project.
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| | Cutting both the top thread and the
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| Stitch Regulator
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| | bobbin thread in one simple action, it
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| Some manufacturers offer an optional
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| | reduces both thread wastage and the time
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| attachment for their machines called a
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| | taken to manually trim thread tails.
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| stitch regulator. The purpose of the
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| | Feed Dogs Control
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| stitch regulator is to provide a
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| | Dropping the feed dogs allows your quilt
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| consistent stitch length when doing free
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| | to move easily when doing free motion
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| motion quilting, regardless of how slow
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| | quilting.
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| or fast the fabric is being moved.
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| | When deciding if a quilting machine is
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| Quilting Stitches
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| | right for you, shop around and visit your
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| Specialty quilting stitches, such as
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| | local sewing machine dealers. Try out two
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| buttonhole appliqué and faux
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| | or three models and then decide which one
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| hand-quilting stitches, offer a quick and
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| | is for you.
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| simple alternative to these traditional
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