Thinking a purchasing a Machine just for sewing and quilting. What would you all recommend?
Usually when this question comes up, the most common answer is to get a machine that has a dealer near you. It makes a big difference to have a dealer near by who not only can answer questions, and give lessons, but who will honor the warranty should any problems arise.
Patti
Chiliwist Valley
I agree with Patti, and be sure you can try out the different machines and like them.
I agree with Patti and Sandy.
I bought a Janome 6600 a few weeks ago and just finished piecing a quilt top on it. So far I'm very happy with it. It has a longer arm than my Bernina which will be nice when I quilt the top.
This may be a good time to be shopping for a machine with all of the sales during National Sewing Month :)
get one with as big a throat space as you can afford for quilting
gini in north idaho
I bought the Janome Memory Craft Professional 6600 about a year and a half ago. Overall, I'm very happy. It is the nicest machine I've ever owned. It came with three years free service.
These are my favorite things about it:
Thread cutter Button (no more clipping threads from the back of the quilt)
Built-in heavy duty Dual Feed Sewing Foot (It works like a dream.)
Great assortment of attachments (Super buttonhole attachment)
Wide throat area
Built in needle threader
Plenty of decorative & utility stitches
Programmable Monogramming (but it is tricky to learn)
The foot control is easy to use. You can remove it and sew with the start button- which works well on long runs when making curtains.
Things I don't like:
Knee lift is made wrong. Too uncomfortable to use.
Mine is a flat bed. I believe they have come out with a free arm.
Bobbin Winds too slowly and not evenly. (I need to have the repair man take a look at it.)
Things I wished it had:
Stitch regulator for free motion quilting.
I've made and quilted several quilts, made curtains, and hemmed and repaired garments. I still don't know how to use everything.
I have a Bernina 435 that I love but the throat space is too small to quilt a large quilt. Too much pulling and shoving to get the quilt under the throat. I also have a Janome Horizon 7700 which has a large throat space and is much easier to do my quilting. Even king size. Both are great machines.
I do recommend that you buy the most machine that you can afford. I also highly recommend that you find a dealer close to you with good service. All of the big brand machines....Pfaff, Viking, Babylock, Janome, Bernina.... are excellent machines. Just try to decide what the must haves are for you and look for a close reputable dealer.
Vinton, Virginia
I love my Janome 6600 too. I really like the needle threader and the thread cutter. I miss the free arm a little, but I have one on my other machine. I also don't like the knee lift, but my bobbin winds fine. I also like the ability to sew with a button rather than a pedal. As I am learning to FMQ, I keep forgetting to keep the pressure from my foot even and the button does that for me.
Melissa http://ardeasnest.blogspot.com"Love isn't what makes the world go round, it's what makes the ride worthwhile."
I bit the bullet and bought the Janome Horizon. Played around with it this afternoon and really like it so far. It's a dream sewing.
Selling my Ellegante 2 since I have a professional embroidery machine now.
I had the 6600 then upgraded to the 7700 love them both, but I do think the 6600 sewed better
[Ava, Missouri
I researched a lot on quilting and sewing forums on the internet and read a lot of reviews and opinions. I bought a Baby Lock Decorator's Choice because I wanted a user friendly machine with a needle threader and thread cutter. I'm enjoying it so far.