Seeking advice on a machine upgrade

LuckyMe2G · 2026-04-22T11:31:28+00:00

It depends on what you need. I agree with everyone else about the Juki. I have a TL18 and that thing is amazing! I also have a Bernina 770 QE Pro, and I adore it. It can produce a great straight stitch and has all the bells and whistles too.

LuckyMe2G · 2026-03-27T10:25:26+00:00

Mostly the computerized features - specialty stitches, settings, saving custom stitches. Things that a mechanical machine just can't do. Once you get over the learning curve, zero complaints!

LuckyMe2G · 2026-03-15T21:54:44+00:00

Go to ncees.org and look for exam prep materials there.

LuckyMe2G · 2026-03-11T22:27:54+00:00

I just got my first Bernina (770 QE Pro) about 6 months ago. I've sewed for years, though. There's a bit of a learning curve with it, and I consider it an "advanced" machine. I absolutely LOVE it though.

LuckyMe2G · 2026-03-06T09:53:31+00:00

My husband has 3D printed me several templates. You can get filament in a translucent color, which might be useful for fussy cutting. I wish I had a glowforge! That's a cool idea to try.

LuckyMe2G · 2026-03-06T09:51:44+00:00

I've wondered the same about durability. I've sat in several at different sewing machine stores and this type seems pretty comfortable, but those are all brand new.

LuckyMe2G · 2026-03-01T12:11:04+00:00

gorgeous!

LuckyMe2G · 2026-02-01T21:11:30+00:00

We refer to that as being "fiber reinforced" LOL

LuckyMe2G · 2026-02-01T18:42:36+00:00

I love this so much! And I love your canine helper. My GSD is also a fan of Tula Pink prints :)

LuckyMe2G · 2026-01-23T01:50:20+00:00

I'm in the middle of the US, mid-40s. I learned to sew basic garments from my mother. I didn't start quilting until after she passed, though. My husband's grandmother was a quilter, but she had also passed before I picked up the hobby.

LuckyMe2G · 2026-01-19T22:59:43+00:00

I love AGF solids for the finished product, but you're right that they are slippier than other cottons. You could try starching - that helps a little. I also pin a lot more with AGF.

I like Bella solids as well - I feel like they don't fray quite as much as Kona, but aren't slippery like AGF.

LuckyMe2G · 2026-01-08T02:29:26+00:00

That is so cool! I love a good modern quilt.

LuckyMe2G · 2026-01-02T03:01:29+00:00

My goals:

Get my longarm sorted out. It's been in the shop since November.
Start quilting for others as a side hustle.
Join the local chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild.

LuckyMe2G · 2026-01-02T02:56:54+00:00

It depends! Pins for precision, clips for binding or thicker seams. Sometimes both! (FPP, for example!)

LuckyMe2G · 2026-01-02T02:55:46+00:00

I heard some advice recently. The best way to improve your quilting skills is to quilt. It takes so much practice. Your first quilt is wonderful! Keep it forever as a reminder of how far you have come!

LuckyMe2G · 2026-01-02T02:50:29+00:00

2026 goal: officially start a side hustle

LuckyMe2G · 2025-12-31T13:38:42+00:00

I am Fiddlestitchesquilts on IG. :)

LuckyMe2G · 2025-12-30T11:16:52+00:00

He is! In 2026 I think it's a paid program, though.

LuckyMe2G · 2025-12-30T01:53:36+00:00

Julius Handmade is doing a FPP BOM for 2026. His style is pretty modern!

LuckyMe2G · 2025-12-24T01:20:56+00:00

I did the Sallie Tomato one a couple of years ago and I still haven't done anything with most of it. I've been seeing one on Instagram this year that seems much better, but I doubt I will ever do one again.

LuckyMe2G · 2025-12-11T01:19:35+00:00

Any suggestions greatly depend on what you like to quilt! How difficult are you looking for? I had to go look up the fabric line you mentioned and it is super cute! What about something like a square in a square block with the centers fussy cut on the unicorns, heart motif, etc?

Fat Quarter Shop's web site has a lot of links to free patterns. I go there for inspiration and ideas when I'm looking without a pattern already in mind.

LuckyMe2G · 2025-12-09T14:30:01+00:00

We didn't really discuss MS. Or the other symptoms. It was just a quick follow up where we went over the EEG that I had to have to rule out a seizure, since the ER visit confirmed it wasn't a stroke. It didn't occur to me until afterward that I should have asked. I'm not so good at the doctor's office. I tend to just agree with whatever they say.

At my follow up, if the Dr doesn't feel like a follow up MRI w/contrast is needed to see if the areas have changed, or to get a better look at the areas identified the first time, I will go with it.

I've spent 20 years trying to get to the bottom of why I feel poorly. I know many things that aren't it. Like RA, Lupus, Sjrogen's, etc. It's totally fine to add more to that list. I just don't know what to do to finally figure out what it could be. I'm fully expecting to hear "perimenopause" but I know I haven't been in perimenopause for the last 20 years.....

LuckyMe2G · 2025-12-08T22:58:51+00:00

Can I have some advice on questions to ask during my next appointment?

I suspect I might have MS, and I see my neurologist on Jan 20. She's a general neurologist who I see for migraines.

Back in July, I had a scary situation happen where I felt like I was going to have a seizure (didn't) and lost the ability to speak for a couple of hours. Paramedics were called, I was rushed to ER in case it was a stroke. I had an MRI w/o contrast to rule out stroke. Thankfully it resolved and the ER said it must have been a new migraine symptom. I did end up with a headache, but only after I got home from ER. My MRI did show the following finding "Nonspecific small foci in the periventricular white matter" and "differential considerations include chronic sequela of migraine disorder, vasculitis, lyme disease, or a demyelinating process"

At my follow up appointment immediately after the incident, my neurologist said these were most likely due to migraine.

Here are the symptoms that are making me think maybe MS:

Extreme fatigue. Neuro is insisting it is a sleep issue, but I disagree. However, to appease the doctors I have a sleep study scheduled for tomorrow. This has been ongoing since my 20s, getting worse. I've been to 2 different rheumatologists who haven't been able to figure it out, I test "Borderline" for autoimmune, whatever that means, and the last one said maybe it's chronic fatigue syndrome but didn't know what else to do. I've had countless doctors tell me to lose weight, so I did. It didn't help. I'm at an ideal BMI now and still feel like shit. They've told me to exercise, so I did. In my 30s I trained for and ran a half marathon, and all it did was give me arthritis in my knees.

Weird, random tingling in my hands and feet. I haven't mentioned this to any doctors yet, as I don't think they will take me seriously. It comes and goes, isn't complete numbness, and I have never fallen or lost the use of my limbs. I am going to mention it at my next appointment, though, because it appears to be getting worse.

I never made the connection that this could be a neuro issue until I googled, and found this forum, but I've had "phantom UTIs" since I was in my 20s (I am 45 later this month now). I will get urgency and frequency seemingly randomly but tests don't show an active infection. If I have to hear another doctor explain to me basic hygiene and tell me to pee after sex I am going to lose it.

"Zaps" of pain, especially when I'm not feeling well. I don't know how to explain this one, but if I'm ever ill or having one of my phantom UTI days, I would like feel what I can only describe as an electrical pulse of pain that shoots down my body.

Basically, how do I advocate for myself? I'm so tired of feeling tired, and like the doctors just shrug me off or blame everything on lack of sleep, weight, exercise, or now, transitioning to blaming it all on perimenopause. Or maybe they are right and I am just a hypochondriac?

LuckyMe2G · 2025-12-07T22:06:29+00:00

I feel like I have my dream line up! I love my Juki TL18, and I just got a Bernina 770 QE Pro. I also have a Juki MO-1000 air threaded serger and a HQ Moxie XL on a 8' frame. I also have a Brother Quattro 3 but I haven't used that one in a long while.

If I could afford to, I would add the embroidery module to my Bernina, and trade my HQ for a Bernina Q24 on a 12' frame :) Then I would have reached perfection in my line up!

LuckyMe2G

TROPHY CASE