When someone says they are making a quilt, what they are actually doing is making a quilt top. Any machine can be used to make the top, as it is simply sewing the pieces together to make the top for a quilt. Machines for the actual quilting is another whole story. Many manufacturers make what is called a long arm machine, meaning the space from the motor to the needle is longer than a regular machine to accommodate the quilt as you roll it up.

Some of the best machines, according to sewers, include the Bernina brand, which has a stitch regulator for quilting. Janome has the Jem Gold 660, which is a favorite of quilters, and Baby Lock has the Jewel Long Arm. Many quilters swear by the Husqvana Viking. If you have trouble keeping your material moving and wrinkle free, there is a walking foot that will fit most machines and will solve that problem. Pfaff has a machine called Grand Quilter that has a larger sewing area to lay the material out on for the quilting operation. You can see it at their website.

If you are going to be doing a lot of quilting, there are machines with a frame on them on which to lay the material. The Tin Lizzie 18 long arm machine is a good machine for those who either can't or don't want to do their own quilting by hand. It has every feature you will ever need, with a built in bobbin winder, stitch regulator, speed control, and goose neck lamp. Consew has a couple of machines worth looking at, including the Model 1709Q and the 2611BG, both free arm machines.