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Thread: In the market for a new machine!

  1. #1
    Tanyafmq is offline Junior Member
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    Question In the market for a new machine!

    I'm very new to sewing let alone quilting! I just started two weeks ago and have already completed two quilts! My hand-me-down Singer is not quilter friendly and I was just looking for some advice for the ideal quilting/sewing machine...any suggestions? Any comments about the Juki 600?

  2. #2
    K. McEuen's Avatar K. McEuen is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: In the market for a new machine!

    There are so many different sewing machines available now and at so many different price ranges. The lower end machines won't give you as much throat space or bells and whistles as the more expensive ones. Many here use Janome, Brother or Pfaff machines. I know some users have Juki machines. Maybe some of them will speak up.

    Bottom line, test drive the machines, make a list of what you want from it and go shopping!
    K is for Karen

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  3. #3
    Grandma G's Avatar Grandma G is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: In the market for a new machine!

    Tanya - I don't know anything about a Juki but Karen is so right. There are so many machines out there with price points from very inexpensive to over the top expensive. I started with a Brother 6000i back in February. When I realized how much I loved quilting I decided I wanted a little higher end machine. Don't get me wrong, my Brother still is a little workhorse and can still do the job but I wanted more bells and whistles. So I started doing some research. I kept a pad and pen by my computer and when different people on this forum wrote about their machines and the features they loved I made note of the machine and what it could do. I also kept notes of the times someone would have problems and what they were. From all those notes I made a list of the machines I was interested in and what I liked about them. I am fortunate to have a Sewing & Vacuum Warehouse that handles all of the machines I was interested in very close to my house. I Googled to get their phone number and see what else I could learn. I signed up for their newsletter and in a matter of a couple of weeks I received an email about a huge sale they were having. With my notes in hand I drove to the store. It was like being a kid walking into a candy factory. The staff were able to address all my questions and I walked out of there with a very beautiful machine that I was able to buy at a great price. I will not part with my Brother because she will always be a backup for me.

    Bottom line - do some research. You can type in sewing machines or specific sewing machine names in the "search the forum" window here and you should get lots of info to start you on your journey. You can also Google the specific brand and get a lot of information about each machine and compare that way, too.

    Hope this was helpful. Good luck.
    Gerri

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  4. #4
    VickiJ's Avatar VickiJ is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: In the market for a new machine!

    I have this same problem. I need something quick and right now. LOL I actually have two machines, my Singer Curvy 8770 I loved for the brief time I got to play with it before I had to put it in storage to prepare for our move. I bought that after my first purchase - a EuroPro something or other - just kept giving me fits. I wasn't an experienced sewer at the time - in fact, I bought it because I was taking a class so I could learn to sew and I constantly had trouble with the bobbin and the stitches - all of which could have completely been USER error. I just didn't know. I remember being very disappointed because it was highly recommended by a sewing friend.

    Bottom line, both machines are still in storage - as we are still living with family and not in our own home, and my mom has expressed an interest in getting herself a machine so she can start to sew again. This is the machine that I will be using to get all this quilting I CAN NOT WAIT to do done.

    She really doesn't know what she wants and has been taking too long to make up her mind. LOL - I'm thinking of just going and getting her something so I can start sewing. There is a mug rug calling my name...and hand sewing does NOT appeal to me at all.
    Lisapc likes this.
    Vicki
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  5. #5
    SallyO'Sews's Avatar SallyO'Sews is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: In the market for a new machine!

    Welcome, Tanya and Vicki! Hope you really enjoy this forum as much as all of us do. This is a GREAT place to learn about everything quilty!

    I own a Husqvarna-Viking that I've had for at least 16 years that I absolutely love. I had sewn for many years before I ever got turned on to quilting... erroneously thought that cutting all those tiny pieces would drive me nuts. And then I had to finish some quilts that my DH's aunt started before she passed away, so I went online to figure out how to do them, stumbled on Jenny and M*QC, and have been hooked ever since!

    Turns out my trusty Husqvarna has a lot of features that I never used before, but do now. I agree with the "try before you buy" policy. For me, ease of operation (drop-in bobbin with a see-through plate that shows me how much thread is left on it, for example) is very important, but it might not be for you. Maybe a really large throat space or fancy button-hole stitch is more to your liking.

    Hope you're able to get sewing soon - don't forget to post pics of what you get and what you make!

    Blessings, ~ Sally \0/

  6. #6
    Annav's Avatar Annav is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: In the market for a new machine!

    I would recommend that you visit a dealer, especially one that sells several brands of machines at various price points/features. You can sit down and try them all if you would like, ask questions, and most dealers will give you free classes to learn to use the machine you purchase from them. I did just that and I am so happy I did. I looked on line, but there is nothing like sitting down and getting hands on before you decide on the machine you will take home.

  7. #7
    New York Sue's Avatar New York Sue is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: In the market for a new machine!

    My repair girl speaks VERY highly of Juki. The company's roots are in industrial sewing, if that's worth anything. I test-drove one, and she was a beauty. But over my price point....
    Lisapc likes this.
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  8. #8
    nyscpa2be's Avatar nyscpa2be is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: In the market for a new machine!

    Commenting so I remember to follow this thread - my Brother is OK for now, but I have noticed three issues so far - the thread can somehow fall off the last loop before the needle, the feed dogs dont always like the bottom layer, and FMQ is a huge pain. Its ok for occasional, simple sewing, but I think I need more of a workhorse for heavy duty quilting. Don't get me wrong - its a good machine, and I was raised on a Singer, but not for heavy duty use. Its a low end machine from WalMart.
    Amy

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