New machine time - need help choosing

Hey, what better gift to myself for finishing my MBA than a new machine, right?

I've read at least 90% of the posts regarding new machines since I joined in May, and am ready to go buy. I would like to spend under $1500.

I currently have a Brother, its mechanical, and has a 5" throat. Common issues are that the thread has a tendency to come off of the think that goes up and down on the front of the machine - last step before needle, the feed dogs don't drop, there are no thread snips, there is no down needle, there is no tie-off function, it doesn't like bulky seams (like corners of binding) and it will feed top and bottom differently, even with the walking foot. I was raised on a Singer, but I'm not being held to any brand.

What I would like: 10" throat (approx), thread snips, down needle, down dogs, clear bobbin area, 1/4" foot capability, FMQ capability, ability to sew thick items (maybe the extra high presser foot), good lighting, most likely computerized. Stitches I use most often are straight and zig zag, but I also like some decorative stitches - I seem to have alot of baby quilts on my UFO list, and like to machine sew the bindings, so decorative stitches would be great. I don't sew clothing, ever, so serging, etc, is not a necessity. An alphabet/limited embroidery would be nice for mug rugs, placemats, coasters and quilt labels.

I have looked at Baby Lock, but the closest retailer, and therefore repair shop, is 3 hours away. Within 20 minutes of home I have Pfaff, Janome, and Bernina at LQS', and Husqvarna and Viking at JoAnns. I was also just told that Kenmore machines are Janome, but it seems that Kenmore has stopped production, from my Google research. I am willing to look at Juki, Singer and Brother are also OK if they meet the list.

Specific Machines I am considering are:
Baby Lock Melody
Juki F600 $1049 on Amazon
Janome 6300P $1199 on Amazon
Janome 6500P $1499 on Amazon
Janome 6600 - seems like the only difference is a few more stitches, and the accufeed system, and its about $1699
Pfaff Ambition 1.5
This is not an exhaustive list - feel free to suggest others.

So, from the wealth of knowledge held by all the amazing quilters on M*, what information can you give me? What machine basically meets the list above that you would qualify as a great machine, where I can hope one day of getting the results as beautiful as the quilts you make? Thanks!

Go to sewingmachinesplus.com, you can get the Juki 2010Q for $999. It pieces and quilts beautifully from what I understand. You could also get the Juki 600 much cheaper from them and their customer service is amazing.

From my experience purchasing a new machine is to Find a dealer near you and go test drive the machine. A plus from buying a machine from a dealer is that they normally can do work on your machine right there and it won't have to be sent out. Meaning you won't have to go through the symptoms of withdrawal from not quilting as long. ;) congrats on your MBA!!!

You will get good advice here - I love my Janome but wish I could upgrade too.
Here's a thought - if you really want the Babylock and can afford it, but need a backup machine in case the babylock has to go in for service - there are a lot of machines that could be a back-up for around $100

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Originally Posted by bkthomas

You will get good advice here - I love my Janome but wish I could upgrade too.
Here's a thought - if you really want the Babylock and can afford it, but need a backup machine in case the babylock has to go in for service - there are a lot of machines that could be a back-up for around $100

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I will be keeping my Brother, and also have my Mom's Singer as backups.

as you may know from all your research, Singer, Pfaff, and Viking are all made by the same company. ( that is why you see the initials of the three anywhere on the boxes of each) I haven't tried a viking but do have various Singers and one Pfaff and love them all.

I have only had Pfaffs (except for one no name that I had, which was great for sewing simple things-it only cost $60.00 in the 1960's. My dd used that one in college I would still have it if it hadn't gotten ruined when we had water in the basement one time). Anyway I don't think you can beat the IDT on the Pfaffs, and all of them make wonderful stitches; that is about all I can offer.

The Juki 2010 does only a straight stitch and nothing more. My big machine is a Singer Futura Quartet which I bought off of HSN. I have only had one problem with it (by my own doing), but now know who to take care of that (because yes, it happened more than once!!) and really like it. The throat area is only 9", but that is more than enough for me. The only thing it does not have is an automatice thread cutter, but at the time, I didn't know about those!

I have yet to try the embroidery part....came w/the table and two sizes of hoops, but I have never played with them and I'll have it two years this fall.

My class machine is the Babylock Audrey, which I bought for it's weight, which is 12 pounds. It does basically all the same my big Singer does not counting the embroidery.

Have fun in your test drives!

I suggest a Pfaff Expression. The 3.2 should be in your price range.

You will LOVE the IDT! It has excellent lighting, and the ability to taper the stitches.

I would not get a machine off the internet without checking with the manufacturer about the warranty. A lot of companies will not honor the warranty if the machine is not bought from an authorized dealer, and they will not honor it if the machine is shipped.

All of the brands you listed make excellent machines, I'd go with the dealer you get the best service from.

Have to agree with Pfaff. I love mine and would never sew on anything else. Even though singer, Pfaff and Viking have the same parent company they are by far very different machines. You absolutely can not be a pfaff for its IDT. I worked for viking at one point so sewed on singer and viking everyday at work.... couldn't wait to get home to my Pfaff. Even had to wait till I was home for some things that I just did not like how the viking Topaz, diamond or ruby did. Pfaff all the way!!!! ok off my commercial.

I would recommend going to your local dealer and test drive everything in your price range. I looked on line for weeks and the machine I thought I wanted wasn't the one I ended up liking the most when I test drive all the different machines. I ended up with the Janome MC6300 and really like it. I has a 9" throat, snippers, needle up/down, automatic threader, double-needle/thread capability, and about 60 different stitches. For me, that is plenty. It also came standard with a walking foot and quilting/darning foot, the feed dawgs drop, and it has a knee lifter for the presser foot. You can also change the pressure on the foot, especially when you FMQ. It has guides that come standard on it as well. Best thing from buying from a dealer, whatever machine you chose, is that they generally service them on site, and they provide you with several hours of lessons on how to use your machine and its accessories for free. I believe mine cost about $1100 on sale from my dealer. When it came in, they even took it out of the box and made sure all the parts that were supposed to be there were there before turning it over to me. Oh, and it also came with an extender table that I love using. Also something else to keep in mind: some manufacturers will void the machine warranty unless you buy from a dealer. In other words, if you buy your machine from amazon.com, your warranty may be void, you won't get service from them, and you won't get any lessons on how to use your new machine. Whatever you decide, best wishes on finding the one you like.

I personally love my brother. I don't have the same issues with mine.

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Originally Posted by bubba

The Juki 2010 does only a straight stitch and nothing more. My big machine is a Singer Futura Quartet which I bought off of HSN. I have only had one problem with it (by my own doing), but now know who to take care of that (because yes, it happened more than once!!) and really like it. The throat area is only 9", but that is more than enough for me. The only thing it does not have is an automatice thread cutter, but at the time, I didn't know about those!

I have yet to try the embroidery part....came w/the table and two sizes of hoops, but I have never played with them and I'll have it two years this fall.

My class machine is the Babylock Audrey, which I bought for it's weight, which is 12 pounds. It does basically all the same my big Singer does not counting the embroidery.

Have fun in your test drives!

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For piecing and quilting the Juki 2010Q is perfect, I have a ce-350 for embroidery and decorative stitches. You must try the embroidery. It is so fun. Oh the possibilities.

I have an Elna excellence 740 quilting/sewing machine and I love it. It has a dual feed integrated adjustable feeding device with walking foot that is so easy to use for quilting. It also comes with many presser feet and has 11 inch throat space. It also has the knee lift lever to raise and lower pressure foot.

I love my Janome 6500. You wouldn't go wrong with it.

I went to the big JoAnns in Albany tonight. Turns out that the sewing machine department closed at 7 :( But, I was able to determine online the price range for various Husqvarna machine and realized that only one was in my price range - but the throat space was way too small. I did look at the Juki 2010 online, and have eliminated it - it's not really what I want. But I am going to two LQS tomorrow, and will look at Janome and Pfaff. The Juki F600 I would buy from sewingmachinesplus.com, with a five year warranty, and that is a dealer.

Choose the one you love and you won't go wrong.

I don't know much about different brands of machines, but I have used Janome machines for well over 20 years and love them. My newest one is the 9500, which sews and embroiders. Before Janome I had an electronic Singer and it spent more time being repaired than it did at home. Baby Locks are also very good machines. I hear good things about Juki machines but I also hear you have to clean them a LOT!

Sewingmachines : Singer, Brother, Janome : Industrial Overlock Machines : Sewing Machines for Sale : SewingMachinesPlus.com carries a wide range of machines and it's a good starting point for pricing and comparing features.

Good luck in your search...

I don't have much to add - my machine is 25 year old Kenmore workhorse. The repair/service lady I use says to hang on to it - it is one of the last ones that is all metal inside. She is very emphatic about staying away from newer Singers - she sees way too many of them with major problems because they are very cheaply made nowadays.

My wish list for when/if I ever get a new machine is pretty simple. A basic alphabet for labels and a serpentine stitch are what I really want.

I just went to one LQS - the other said online that they were open Sundays 12-4, but the door said Sundays are closed. The one I went to only has Pfaff. I got there, told the sales clerk what I was basically looking for, and my price range. She showed me a floor model Pfaff Expression 150th Anniversary Edition, on sale for $1199. It does have the IDT, and a large throat. What it doesn't have (specifically) from the wish list is an alphabet function, thread snips, or an easy way to thread - the "automatic threader" is more complicated than the one on my Brother right now. She also didn't know much about the machine, even though it had been in the store for over a year - just kept saying that the 4.2 was better because of this and this and this, but its out of price range. The other thing is that the price doesn't include any accessories, the extension table is $200, and new user classes have to be paid for. Plus, the repair program sends machines out for repair - there isn't anyone on site. I said I would think about it, and then asked to look at the Christmas fabric for the NQ3 swap - but they had about 10 bolts left. I need one more, so more shopping must be done tomorrow.

Janome and the Juki F600 are still on the list - more reviews to come.

If your interested in a used machine, I know on the Yahoo Janome groups (6500, 6600 and the 7700,8900), folks advertise their machines for sale when they upgrade. I think it is the first two days of each month that folks are allowed to advertise.
Maybe the other machines your looking at have the same setup on Yahoo.

I bought a 7700 from a dealer not far from my home at a really great price but my second choice would have been the 6600. I believe this month they are having the Janome dealers convention where the new models will be shown. Perhaps prices will come down on the older models.

Whatever you choose, enjoy.

Julia - I'll check that out, thanks!

I bought an expensive machine then sold it and bought a Kenmore from Sears for under $200.00. Love it. Instead I put my money into an Inspira quilt frame with a Husquvarna machine combo. Now I can make a quilt from start to finish. No more quilt tops laying around unfinished. I am limited somewhat to the size of quilting patterns but don't seem to have a problem with that.

Just a quick update - I just bought a Juki F600!

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Originally Posted by nyscpa2be

Just a quick update - I just bought a Juki F600!

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Congratulations! I am going with the 2010Q because I have an embroidery machine that does all the fancy stitches and didn't need that but really need the large throat for quilting large quilts. I know you will be thrilled. I am really so excited for you!

Congratulations. Hope you enjoy your new machine.

Marion