The verdict in short
- Piecing and quilting only: a straight-stitch machine. The six documented here sew one stitch, at top speeds of 1,500 or 1,600 stitches per minute.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
- One machine for everything: an all-round machine, which also covers garments, mending and buttonholes. The two documented here have 28 and 200 built-in stitches, at up to 1,000 stitches per minute.[7][8]
- Thick quilt layers: the specialists document more feeding help, such as a feed pin instead of feed dogs on two models and an even feed foot included on two others.[1][2][3][5]
- Throat space: it does not decide between the two types, because makers measure it from different points. Compare a shortlist the same way.
Side-by-side facts
| Straight-stitch machines | All-round machines | |
|---|---|---|
| Stitches[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] | One: a straight stitch | 28 (Baby Lock Jazz II) and 200 (Baby Lock Allegro) |
| Buttonholes[7][8] | None | One-step buttonhole on both; 11 one-step styles on the Allegro |
| Top speed listed by the maker[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] | 1,500 or 1,600 stitches per minute | 1,000 stitches per minute |
| Feeding thick layers[1][2][3][5][7][8] | Feed pin instead of feed dogs (Brother PQ1600S, Baby Lock Accomplish 2); even feed foot included and feed dogs dropped by a switch (both JUKI models) | Retractable feed dogs (Allegro); feed system not stated (Jazz II) |
| Large extension table[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] | Included on five; optional on the Janome HD9 Professional | Optional on both |
| Knee lift[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] | Listed on all six | Listed on both |
| Thread trimming[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] | Built in on all six (button, automatic or foot pedal) | Automatic on the Allegro; side cutter on the Jazz II |
Where they really differ
Stitches are the real dividing line. A straight stitch is all that piecing a quilt top and quilting it require, and the six specialists sew nothing else. The Baby Lock Jazz II has 28 built-in stitches, including a one-step buttonhole; the Baby Lock Allegro has 200, including 56 utility stitches with 11 one-step buttonhole styles and 144 decorative stitch patterns.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Speed comes with the specialisation. The Brother PQ1600S, both JUKI models and the Baby Lock Accomplish 2 list a top speed of 1,500 stitches per minute, the Janome HD9 Professional and the bernette b08 list 1,600, and both all-round machines list 1,000.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Our reading: top speed matters most on long seams and when stitching a large quilt; for careful free-motion work, being able to set a slower speed matters more, and some of the specialists document a speed slider or an adjustable speed.[3][4][6]
Feeding thick layers is where the specialists add hardware. The Brother PQ1600S and the Baby Lock Accomplish 2 can feed with a single pin instead of feed dogs, and both JUKI models include an even feed foot and drop their feed dogs with a switch for free-motion quilting. The Allegro lists retractable feed dogs; Baby Lock does not state how the Jazz II feeds.[1][2][3][5][7][8]
Throat space does not separate the two types. Brother measures needle to arm, Baby Lock the distance from the needle to the right of the machine, Janome a workspace width and height, so a larger figure on one maker's page does not prove a larger opening than on another's.[1][4][7]
Which one to choose
Our reading: if you only piece and quilt, or you already own a machine for garments and repairs, a straight-stitch machine is the simpler and faster tool.
Our reading: if one machine has to do everything, from quilts to clothes, repairs and buttonholes, an all-round machine is the practical choice, and its lower top speed is the trade-off.
Our reading: if you plan to quilt large quilts on the machine, look at feeding and table support before speed. A feed pin or an included even feed foot, and a large extension table, are the documented differences that help most with thick layers.
The machines documented here are dedicated quilting models, priced above entry level; lower-priced first machines are outside this comparison.
Whichever type you choose, try it on quilt layers at a dealer if you can: how a machine feeds and handles is not in any specification.
Questions readers ask
Can a regular sewing machine quilt?
Yes. Both all-round machines documented here, the Baby Lock Jazz II and the Baby Lock Allegro, are sold for sewing and quilting, with a knee lift and 12" of space to the right of the needle. What they give up against the specialists is top speed, 1,000 stitches per minute against 1,500 or 1,600, not the ability to quilt.[1][4][7][8]
Sources
- Brother PQ1600S Straight Stitch Sewing & Quilting Machine — Brother USA — checked 2026-10-22
- JUKI TL-2000Qi — JUKI America — checked 2026-10-22
- JUKI TL-2010Q — JUKI America — checked 2026-10-22
- Janome HD9 Professional — Janome America — checked 2026-10-22
- Baby Lock Accomplish 2 quilting machine — Baby Lock — checked 2026-10-22
- bernette b08 Straight Stitch — bernette USA — checked 2026-10-22
- Baby Lock Jazz II quilting and sewing machine — Baby Lock — checked 2026-10-22
- Baby Lock Allegro quilting and sewing machine — Baby Lock — checked 2026-10-22