Quote Originally Posted by dr1987 View Post
I also want a foot with guide it makes life easier, just need to figure out which one will work for me. Did you notice a huge difference in your sewing when you switched machines?
I'm a firm believer in, "It is you and not the machine you sit behind that makes for quality work" but I think many things are easier to do well on this machine than my old one. I would almost compare it to knowing how to drive a manual transmission car then buying an automatic. I'm glad I learned to sew on a machine that had manual tension adjustments and no automatic needle down position but I'm also quite happy to use those functions now that they are available to me.

To be honest, when I first got it home, I didn't really like the new machine. The people who sold it to me did not offer me any instruction on how to use it they just gathered [most of] the accessories it was supposed to come with and handed me a copy of the manual and I was out the door. It wasn't anything with the machine itself, I was just overwhelmed with all the different buttons and settings and frustrated that I knew the machine was capable of cool stuff but I didn't know how to work it all.

Now I love it though! I still hate how expensive all the accessories are for it but that deep throat is awesome when it comes time to quilt. I have also started exploring some of the other stitch functions. The button-holer is amazing because the "easy button-holer" on my old Brother machine was almost impossible to use but this new machine will make round, keyhole, or traditional button holes in any size easily and with a high degree of repeat-ability.

I've used it for about 5-6 quilts, some table runners, and some other general sewing projects like baby clothes and I feel much more comfortable with it now. I still want to grab for a manual foot lifter and I'm not sure I'll ever get used to buttons for that but it stitches beautifully. I have no found (as some have reported) that it is too finicky about type or size of thread. I will say to keep your bobbin case area clean with the little brush or you'll have tension issues but it only takes a second to clean while changing bobbins.

On the "To Buy" list for it: the 1/4" piecing foot with guide (4129141-46) and the SITD foot for the walking foot (4131555-45) (because I already own the walking foot that it is compatible with)