Tell me what kind of machine you have.. I am fed up with mine.....

[irishrn]

I have the Janome 6600 and it is great. No low bobbin warning but it does all I need. I don't FMG at all so I can't speak to that!

[buckeyequilter]

I love my brother 1500. Has a nice large throat, easy for fmq. Has needle down, thread cutter, knee lift for presser foot, only does straight stitch but it is fast. It is about $600. It does not have the bobbin warning but I can always hear when it is about out. I don't care about the bobbin winding thing because I always wind a bunch of bobbins before I start quilting. I have been very happy with this machine and have quilted up to cal king size. I can't do anything fancy but it does what I want. I only use my singer if I decide to appliqué. It has 4 adjustments for feed dogs not just up or down. I also like that you can adjust the pressure of the presser foot. I bought needles, bobbins and thread but everything else that I need came with the machine.
I've never sewn on one of the expensive machines but I love what I have. I'm pretty sure it can be used with a grace frame if I ever want to do that.

I have the 1500 also and use it on my quilting frame. I don't know that I would want this to be my only machine because of the limitations.

[Nethernut]

I too have the Janome 6600 and love it, especially for FMQ as it has such a good sized throat. One thing I will say with the loops on bottom problem is that that is a tension problem. Try sewing in a straight line - do you have loops then? If you do adjust your top tension a little until the thread is even top & bottom. If you don't have loops when sewing straight then you have moving your material too quickly. Something we are all guilty at times especially on curves of any sort. Think of it like driving a car - slow down for the corners! Hope this helps.
Jan

[shermur]

I just purchased the Brother Simplicity SB3129; a very affordable dealer sewing machine! It does everything I wanted a machine to do! Here are the specs!

Basic Features
LCD Size (Horizontal x Vertical) inches 2.0 x 0.7
Stitch Select 10 Key
Screensaver No
On-Screen Help Yes
Built-in Languages No
Lighting 2 LED's
Needle Threading System Advanced
Independent Bobbin Winding Motor Yes
Thread Sensor No
Thread Sensor On/Off No
Automated Upper and Lower Thread Cutting Yes
Quick-Set™ Bobbin Yes
USB No
Computer Connectivity with Update Capability No
Memory Card No

Sewing Features back to top
Work Space (Height & Width) inches 4.1 x 7.4
Maximum Sewing Speed (Stitches Per Minute) 850
Knee Lifter No
Feed Dog 6
Back to Beginning Key No
Built-in Sewing Stitches (Includes Buttonhole Styles) 129
Buttonhole Styles 10 One-step
Built-in Sewing Lettering Fonts 3
Stitch Width 7mm
Stitch Length 5mm
My Custom Stitch™ Feature Yes
Sideways Sewing No
Start/Stop Button Yes
Speed Control Yes
Needle Position Key (Up/Down) Yes
Automatic Height Adjuster™ AHA® Feature No
Presser Foot Pressure Adjustment Yes
Presser Foot Leveling Yes
Pivot Function No
Drop Feed/Free Motion Yes
Free Motion Quilting Foot No
Built-in Quilting Stitches No
Included Quilting Feet Yes

Carton Contents back to top
Accessory Storage Built-in
Included Accessory Feet Buttonhole Foot, Overcasting Foot, Monogramming Foot, Zipper Foot, Zig Zag Foot, Blind Stitch Foot, Button Fitting Foot, Walking Foot, Quilting Foot
Other Included Accessories Knee lifter, accessory pouch with seam ripper, needle set, twin needle, cleaning brush, eyelet punch, screwdrivers (2), spool caps (3), extra spool pin, grid sheet set, power cord and operation manual

Other back to top
Warranty 1/3/25 year plus warranty. See plus warranty for details.
Machine Dimensions (H x W x D)

[LynQuilts]

I have a SInger QUantum 9960...and bought it 3 years ago. No problems but the constant threading issues. No matter how hard I try or check and double check...the threading issues always appear. I am FMQ'ing and start with a test piece, works fine..then I'll be FMQ'ing and it looks great on the top, machine sounds fine, but when done...the bottom nested the entire area I was FMQ'ing. So I guess in addition to the threading issues, this machine has NO warning signals. The bobbin will empty, and I'll be sewing for "miles"...before I notice there is no bobbin thread. No beep, no stopping, no nothing to say "bobbin empty". No warning signals for the threading issues, no warning signals for this nesting/thread problem.

I want a new machine. I know posts have gone about what is a good machine..I have read them, but as you know, there are so many machines to "know" about! So I was going to ask if everyone would like to just post the brand/name/model number of the machine they like the best and maybe your favorite reason you like your machine.

I want the largest neck area possible....minimum 7" like this Singer is so I can continue quilting FMQ'ing. I want warning signals for empty bobbins, threading problems and if possible, a bobbin you don't have to unthread the machine to wind. My old Singer 2010 did this. I still have this machine,b ut it doesn't FMQ very well. Works great on everything else and also beeps and a little red light when bobbin is low and runs out. I am in the $700 range...give or take. I quilt and sew other things. I don't do denim, heavy fabrics or slinky fabrics or double knits.

Thanks everyone for helping me out.

I have the perfect machine, the Elna 7200. It has a longer throat, and I have no problem FMQ on it. No problems at all, it is a workhorse! I purchased this several years ago, and it is now offered in an upgraded model that has a differential feed attached, the eXellence 720. Many decorative stitches and feet, easy threading and bobbin insertion.

[buckeyequilter]

I have a few machines...but this is my favorite. It is a Kenmore machine, made by Janome.

KENMORE 385-19233 Computerized Sewing Machine Review ? The Sewing Machine Lady

[Sandy Navas]

I've never heard of a "Low Bobbin" indicator.

My main machine has this . . .

Tell Martin you need an upgrade.

[easyquilts]

I researched sewing machines about a year before deciding on Lucy..... My Brother Simplicity Professional. She was about seven- fifty, so I had to trade in my older Janome DC2007LE in order go buy her....

I love this machine! It has the most baby for my buck.... Lots of great features. My two favorites are the auto-cut feature, and the drop in and sew bobbin.....no bringing up the thread..... It won't work if something isn't right....red light goes on. She's fairly quiet, and came with a full compliment of feet, including a walking foot and a FM. foot..... Threading is easy, as is bobbin winding, and there is an a one finger auto threader... I love Lucy, and am so glad I took the plunge and bought her....

I just finished quilting my first lap sized quilt on Lucy, and all went very well..... I use a thin batt, Mountain Mist Cream Rose, and spray baste, so I was able to quilt, using an N foot (required for the stitch I used) instead of the walking foot. I had no problems at all, and love how it looks.

Brother seems to give you more fearures for what you pay than other brands.... I'm a Janome fan, so it was a little hard to switch.... Especially when I had to trade my Janome in (I still have a Jem Platinum), but I am glad I did. I got the features I really wanted, at a reasonable price.... A Janome with the same features would have cost a lot more.

BTW.... I watched Mary Fons demo threading her Baby Loc, and the set up....including the auto threading were identical to my Simplicity.... I couldn't tell the difference.....

Good luck finding the right machine for yourself.... Take your time, and read a lot of reviews,..and shop at a dealer... I knew the minute I saw Lucy that I had to have her, and have not been one but sorry....

[buckeyequilter]

I researched sewing machines about a year before deciding on Lucy..... My Brother Simplicity Professional. She was about seven- fifty, so I had to trade in my older Janome DC2007LE in order go buy her....

I love this machine! It has the most baby for my buck.... Lots of great features. My two favorites are the auto-cut feature, and the drop in and sew bobbin.....no bringing up the thread..... It won't work if something isn't right....red light goes on. She's fairly quiet, and came with a full compliment of feet, including a walking foot and a FM. foot..... Threading is easy, as is bobbin winding, and there is an a one finger auto threader... I love Lucy, and am so glad I took the plunge and bought her....

I just finished quilting my first lap sized quilt on Lucy, and all went very well..... I use a thin batt, Mountain Mist Cream Rose, and spray baste, so I was able to quilt, using an N foot (required for the stitch I used) instead of the walking foot. I had no problems at all, and love how it looks.

Brother seems to give you more fearures for what you pay than other brands.... I'm a Janome fan, so it was a little hard to switch.... Especially when I had to trade my Janome in (I still have a Jem Platinum), but I am glad I did. I got the features I really wanted, at a reasonable price.... A Janome with the same features would have cost a lot more.

BTW.... I watched Mary Fons demo threading her Baby Loc, and the set up....including the auto threading were identical to my Simplicity.... I couldn't tell the difference.....

Good luck finding the right machine for yourself.... Take your time, and read a lot of reviews,..and shop at a dealer... I knew the minute I saw Lucy that I had to have her, and have not been one but sorry....

Brother machines do have some nice features - my PRW420 has that same threading system. Both my Brother machines have the bobbin feature that you don't have to pull the thread up.

[ozziepuppy]

I never have any tension problems with my older Bernina. It does not have some of the automatic features you want, but to me never having to worry about thread nesting or other tension issues is the most important thing. The other features are minor conveniences but tension is absolutely crucial. You might just consider an older Bernina if your dealer has one. Mine is a 1230 and I have never had any problems with it. Used 1230's go for around $600 I think. I got mine quite a while ago but it looks and sews like new.