Tammy-
I know how you feel. I LOVE looking at new machines and trying them out. I recently bought a Brother QC1000 and absolutely love it! BabyLock makes Brother and almost all their machines have comparable machines with either company name. HOWEVER, Brother is almost always cheaper and most dealers who sell BabyLock also sell Brother. It might be worth checking out. Also, check with your local quilting/fabric shop. Many times they have the name of someone who can help you out of jam with your machine without having to take it in to the dealer for servicing. Good luck and happy looking!
Lydia
Tammy: The last machine I bought was 30 years ago and 4 hours away. This time I bought a BabyLock Espire from a shop 7 hours away. Guess maintenance wasn't on my mind.
I like the Espire, I do have trouble with my material getting caught when I begin to sew. In the winter months I live in Yuma, AZ and there is a BabyLock dealer just three blocks away. She always gets me going when I have a problem. Usually self induced!!!
I"m so used to the old machines with their backup lever and being able to sew several stitches back and forth that I find not having a lever frustrates me some. But I have to tell you that if you tell the computer by pushing the right icons you'll get a lock stitch or whatever you need. I'm still learn something new every time I sew on the Espire.
I've mended jeans and made one jean quilt and am working on another. I think sewing jeans is the biggest and best test for any machine. The Espire passes. I do break needles. But not if I let the machine do the driving!!
Let me know how to sew that 3 corner tear. Back and forth and side to side. See I didn't know it would do that!
Thanks for reading!
Patty Mc
A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars.
Oregon & Arizona
Snowbird Quilter:Let me know how to sew that 3 corner tear. Back and forth and side to side. See I didn't know it would do that!
Ontario, Canada
I am thinking about purchasing the Quilters Choice.
Helen has given it such rave reviews and I then could leave my SE set up for embroidery.
Helen Bell:there shouold be a icon
Oh Helly: I need more info!
Tammy
Did you happen to notice what the Quilters Choice was going for or Quilters Professional.
I am thinking of buying one but do I need another Sewing machinE???????????
Snowbird Quilter: Helen Bell:there shouold be a icon Oh Helly: I need more info!
stitch # 68 and 69 are the straight stitch left and right
stitch #70 and 71 are the zigzag stitch left and right....hopefully you have an icon like one of those on your Espire...yours will be on a screen mine is just on the panel that sits on top of my machine
Hope this helps
Thanks Helly!!!!!
I found it. On the Espire it's on Tab 5. My word tab 5 does all kinds of things. Even diagonal. I've got to try those!!!!
I'm in the mood to hand out gold stars and I think you deserve one too Snowbird
Helen Bell:gold stars
Thanks Helly! I really need more time on that machine?!
Snowbird...the best thing you can do is sit at your machine and push buttons and look at your manual..not fun but it does help
Edith--They are around 1200-1500 I believe. I was so taken with the Espire that I lost my concentration!! They could be a tad bit more. With trade in I think it would be a good investment. I haven't decided as of yet. Have harvest to get through first. Hope I'm not leading you astray on the price.
Helen Bell: Snowbird...the best thing you can do is sit at your machine and push buttons and look at your manual..not fun but it does help
BabyLock Espire owners: I always clean my machine between quilts. I remove all the housing, needle plate, needle, shuttle and etc. Vacuum it out, and then use canned air to blow out what I've missed. That's why I remove the housing so the lent has a place to go -- out!
But when it came time to put it back together, I had a heck of a time. It wouldn't sew, just ball the thread up on the thread cutter. Well as Helly said get the book out and READ.
When I put it back together now, I install the housing first, then the needle plate, then the cover that butts next to the needle plate and then the shuttle, bobbin, bobbin cover and last the new needle. It was my putting the needle plate and the cover on at the same time that was making it not line up correctly and therefore unable to sew.
Also on the BL Espire when you put the needle plate on with the small needle hole designed for straight stitching only, it won't allow you to choose a zig zag stitch of any kind. So you don't have to worry about not changing the plate to the zig zag plate.
I hope on this forum we can exchange new things we learn about our BabyLock machines.
Lint on Lent! Also when I put the single hole needle plate on and fasten it down first, I can sew HST without the fabric getting caught in the machine. I also use bunnie ears to start and stop.
If you feel comfortable traveling 21/2 hrs for repairs it shouldn't be a problem. Especially if the machine is "the one" that you really want. I have heard lots of good things about the Babylock but haven't seriously looked into them because I'm not in the market for new machine right now.
Nana
Vinton, Virginia