Free personal help choosing a sewing machine
Looking for The One? Meet Your Machine Matchmaker.
No-pressure, personal help finding the right sewing machine for the way you actually sew. In our Louisville showroom, or by video from wherever you sew.
Tell us what you love to sew, what you wish were easier, and where you would like your sewing to take you next. We will help you narrow the field.
Personal. No pressure to buy. In person or by video. With a little Quilt Fairy Magic.
Two ways to meet
Your sewing room can be here or 800 miles away.
We can still play Matchmaker.
Same conversation, same personal attention. Pick whichever fits your life.
Best if you can visit us in person
Meet Us In Louisville
Visit Quilted Joy in Middletown and talk with a Machine Matchmaker face-to-face. Sit down and sew on machines, compare how they feel under your hands, and ask questions as they come to you. When you are ready, we can schedule a test drive.
Best if Louisville is a little too far for a Saturday drive
Meet Us By Video
Schedule a personal video consultation with a Machine Matchmaker. Tell us what you sew, talk through what you need, and narrow the choices together, all from your own sewing room. Face-to-face, just through a screen.
Either way, it starts with the same short form below. You can decide how to meet later.
Personal guidance
A real Quilt Fairy learns how you sew before recommending a machine.
Try or explore the right machines
Local customers can sit down and sew. Remote customers can talk through options with their Matchmaker by video.
No pressure
Some customers buy a machine. Some leave knowing what they want to think about or save for. Both are fine.
Support after the match
Our in-house Fix-It Fairies service machines right here in Louisville.
Every machine has a personality
So, what is your type?
Maybe one of these sounds familiar. Maybe you are a little bit of all five. That is why we start with a conversation.
Polly Piecer
Machine profile no. 1
A quiet little overachiever who pieces beautifully.
If most of what you make is quilt tops, this is your type. A dependable straight stitch, a quarter-inch foot you can trust, and a good set of decorative stitches and lettering when you want them. No drama. Just accurate, over and over, for years.
Wendy Workhorse
Machine profile no. 2
An all-metal powerhouse who handles heavy denim without crying and makes bags all night.
If your projects come with rivets, zippers, canvas, denim, and seams with some real heft to them, this is your kind of workhorse. She does one thing very well: straight stitching. Drop the feed dogs, and she’s perfectly happy to free-motion quilt until you lose track of time.
Fiona Finisher
Machine profile no. 3
A fast finisher who gets a thrill from a flawless hem.
Edges that will not fray, seams that stretch without popping, and on the machines that coverstitch, a hem so clean it looks ready-to-wear. If you sew garments, gifts, or anything with a deadline, she keeps the momentum going and makes the finish the best part.
Mona Monogram
Machine profile no. 4
A hopeless romantic who believes plain is just a starting point.
If you like giving things that could not have come from a store, this is your type. Monograms on towels. Names on quilt labels. Florals on a bag nobody else owns. She takes something useful and turns it into somebody's favorite thing, and that is the part they remember.
Sally Starter
Machine profile no. 5
A patient type who doesn't mind if you ghost her for a few weeks.
Easy to thread, easy to learn, and ready to grow with you. A straight stitch, a zigzag, and a buttonhole waiting for the day you want one. She makes the first stitches simple. She may not be the last machine you own, but she is a very good first one.
Not sure which one is your type? That is exactly what a Machine Matchmaker is for.
Meet My Machine MatchmakerThe Quilt Fairies behind the matchmaking
Real people make better matches.
Your Matchmaker is a real Quilted Joy team member who sews, quilts, and genuinely loves this stuff.
Angela
Chief Quilt Fairy
Co-host of PBS' Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting national television show and founder of Quilted Joy. Mother of triplets and cat fabric horder.
Loves to sew: Traditional quilt blocks using contemporary techniques and fabrics.
Matchmaker specialty: Long arm machine quilting and computerized quilting systems. International quilting educator.
Jessica
Mistress of Machine Magic
“Retired” homeschool mom and self-taught quilter who believes quilting should be fun, approachable, and not nearly as intimidating as it sometimes seems.
Loves to sew: Fun, simple quilts with a little something extra, especially appliqué and techniques that make each quilt feel achievable and enjoyable.
Matchmaker specialty: Helping quilters find the right machine for their skill level and needs, from beginner-friendly sewing machines to quilting machines and computerized quilting systems.
Zachary
Master of Machine Magic
Recent University of Alabama graduate with a bachelor’s degree in apparel design. Former fashion stylist and model casting director for 1956 Magazine, now Sixty-Three Magazine.
Loves to sew: Fashion that goes beyond the ordinary and brings a new world of creativity to life.
Matchmaker specialty: Serger sewing and machine embroidery.
Simple, friendly, and all about you
Here is how Machine Matchmaking works.
Tell us about your sewing
Tell your Matchmaker what you love to make, what you wish were easier, what you sew on now, and where you hope your sewing goes next. No wrong answers, promise.
We narrow the field
Instead of asking you to compare every machine on the planet, we focus on the machines and features that make sense for your sewing. Think of it as skipping straight to the good first dates.
Meet your possibilities
In person: sit down and sew on the machines yourself.
By video: talk through the machines and features with your Matchmaker, see demonstrations when practical, and ask questions in real time.
Trusted by Sewists from Coast to Coast
The store is beautiful and is a quilter's dream! The customer service is top notch. My second trip there yesterday and I bought a new Juki sewing machine. Let the Fairies assist you and make you feel special.Vicki T. · Google review
I wanted to make certain I was making the best decision. I did not feel rushed, and she supported me with information to make a good decision. Even though I am not local to the shop, I have no doubt I will have the necessary support.Rebecca H. · Google review
Angela is always willing to answer questions very patiently, no matter how small, and she explains things in a way that is easy to understand. She gave great recommendations about what extras are worth getting at the beginning, and which ones to wait on.Allana B. · Google review
I wasn't sure if I wanted to purchase a computerized system, and even if I did, which one to purchase. After speaking with Angela, I was able to determine which would work best for me. Angela has been available when I've needed anything.Teresa H. · Google review
As a new quilter, they have made me feel so welcome and have been incredibly patient with me every step of the way. The quilt fairies truly are amazing.Ella S. · Google review
You and all the quilt fairies have really made my decision on purchasing so much easier. Thank you for all you have done.Leanna L. · Google review
Service after the sale
A good match should still be there for you after the honeymoon.
Quilted Joy does not disappear once you have chosen a machine. Our Fix-It Fairies service Baby Lock, Pfaff, Juki, Janome, Brother, and most of what else comes through the door, right here in Louisville off Shelbyville Road in Middletown. So when you buy a machine, the people who will take care of her already know her.
“She answered all my questions and was never pushy towards me buying a machine right now. Two years later when I was finally ready to buy it, she once again was there to answer any questions.”I Say Sew Quilting · Google review
Start the conversation
Tell Your Matchmaker a Little About You
There are no wrong answers here. The better we understand how you like to sew, the better we can prepare for your conversation.
After you send this, you can choose a time to meet your Machine Matchmaker in person or by video.
Machine Matchmaker questions, answered
If you do not see your question here, ask it in the form above. Your Matchmaker will have an answer.
Is Machine Matchmaking really free?
Yes. The conversation, the questions, and the browsing are all free. There is no fee and no obligation.
Do I have to buy a sewing machine?
No. Some people meet their match right away. Some leave knowing exactly what they want to think about or save for. Both are perfectly good outcomes, and your Matchmaker will never make you feel otherwise.
Can I meet with a Matchmaker if I do not live near Louisville?
Yes! Video consultations are made for exactly this. You can have a personal conversation with a real Machine Matchmaker from your own sewing room, wherever that happens to be.
What happens during a video consultation?
Your Matchmaker learns about your sewing, talks through the features and machine options that may fit you, shows you machines by video when practical, answers your questions, and helps narrow the field so the decision feels manageable instead of overwhelming.
Can I actually try machines if I come to the shop?
Yes. In our Louisville showroom you can sit down at sewing machines, sew for yourself, feel the differences between them, and ask questions in real time. When you are ready, we can schedule a test drive.
I am a beginner. Is this for me?
Absolutely. You do not need to know a single machine feature to start. Beginners are some of our favorite matches, because getting the first machine right makes everything that follows more fun.
I have not sewn in years. Is this for me?
Yes. Machines have changed a lot, and catching up is much easier with a friendly guide. Tell your Matchmaker what you used to sew and what brought you back. She will take it from there.
What if I already have two or three machines in mind?
Perfect. Bring your list. A Matchmaker can help you compare them based on how you actually sew, so you can decide with confidence instead of another late night of tabs and reviews.
How long does an appointment take?
Plan for a relaxed, unhurried conversation. If you are working around a schedule, just tell your Matchmaker and she will make the time work for you.
Where is Quilted Joy?
12316 Shelbyville Road in Middletown, the east end of Louisville, Kentucky.
Ready to meet your Matchmaker?
Tell us a little about the way you sew. We will take it from there.
