All you need to sew a quilt top is a basic straight stitch. How you want to quilt the top and if you choose to embellish it can determine the kind of sewing machine you buy. Machines range from $99 to over $7000. You have decisions to make concerning the machine you want versus the machine you need.

Ask yourself the following questions and be honest with yourself about your needs.

Do you do a lot of sewing? If so, you can justify a more expensive machine because you are quilting more. Sewing machines come in all shapes and sizes, in every price range. Do you just sew quilts or do you also make garments? Weekend sewing or every day? Basic sewing or fancy embellishments? The more you do, the more additional features on a machine might be for you. Remember, you can always trade up if you find yourself moving in different directions with your sewing.

On what machine did you learn to sew? Sometimes that first machine is a brand with which we feel very comfortable. Each of the major brands have machines in every price range, from basic to fancy. What did you like about the first sewing machine? What would you like to change? You can "test drive" a sewing machine. In fact, do not buy without sewing on the machine first. Bring a basic piece of sewing with you and see if your new machine does what you want. How does it feel? Does it seem easy to operate? Is it more than you actually need?

What would you like to be able to do in your quilting? Just quilt tops? Machine quilting? Embellishing? Sewing with unique threads and beads? Incorporate embroidery? Many machines are multifunctional; higher end machines include an embroidery component, allowing you to use pre-designed cards to add embroidery to your quilts. Want to design your own embroideries? Higher-end machines come with computer hook-ups to your PC so that you can digitize your own designs.

Do you have significant problems getting your machine to do what you want? Does thread break on a regular basis? Does your tension slip? Can you even adjust your tension yourself? Before you think about a new machine, you need to ask yourself just how well you've been taking care of your current machine. Have you changed a needle recently or are you still using the needle your mom did when she was making you dresses? Have you had your machine serviced regularly? Before you spend the money, ask yourself if your machine truly is too old to do what you want.

What type of machine are you looking for? You can get a basic workhorse sewing machine if all you want are straight and zigzag stitches. Lower-end models still allow you to put feed dogs down in order to do free-motion quilting. Do you want a machine geared more for quilters? Are there specific things you want, like "needle down position" and stitch regulator?

There are lots of bells and whistles available on higher-end machines that sound wonderful, but you might not truly need them. Do you want a serger, a machine that cuts and finishes at the same time? Sergers can be useful for decorative stitching and binding, but if you only want it to finish a seam, the machine may be more than you need.

Test drive. Visit several dealers. Ask about warranties and servicing. What is the typical waiting period to have your machine in for servicing? Ask about sewing classes. These are particularly helpful so that you can learn all the capabilities of your new machine. What feet come with the machine? If you do a lot of machine quilting, will you need a walking foot or is one built in to the machine? Keep in mind additional feet for your machine can be very expensive.

Don't let a sales pitch convince you until you actually use the machine. Tempting though it is, consider only what you actually need in a sewing machine, not all the other fancy stitches and feet that sound wonderful but sit idle.

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