Hello,
I just joined QCA. I have sewn for years and now since semi-retired making/ sewing quilt tops. I would like to have a machine which as a few more features and runs quieter then the Singer 9410 I currently own. It is a nice solid machine, can even khandle leather, but not much other than straight stich and zigzag and somewhat noisy.
I don't want to go real expensive and would like to perhaps be able to quilt small quilts such as baby quilts. I have been researching some machines, ie. Brother and Janome on the web, but would appreciate any recommendations, help you would be willing to share.
Thanks and happy sewing!
Cindy
I have the Janome Horizon 7700 and love it because of the larger throat space....about 11 1/2 in. This makes it much easier to quilt the larger quilts. I think others on here also have Brother machines.
Vinton, Virginia
hi cyndy, welcome to the group. buy as much machine as you can afford with as big a throat space as you can get. i wouldn't be without a needle threader , a needle up/down positioner, a dealer close by, and make sure the feet and the needle are easy to change.
gini in north idaho
gini:a needle up/down positioner, a dealer close by, and make sure the feet and the needle are easy to change.
I agree with Gini. I love the needle up/down, the stop and the fix. But my biggest consideration was having a good dealer. They show you how to use all the features on your machine and are there for questions. And, In the first few months after buying my Viking, I had lots of questions.
In the beautiful Pacific Northwest!
Cindy,
Welcome to the group. I have the Janome 6600 and I really love it. Large throat space and needle up/down are must haves!! I also second the advice Gini gave you regarding important features to look for as well as dealer service.
I have a Janome 6600 and I love it , I agree with everything the rest of the glas have said . and a good dealer close by. Barbara
EAT!! SLEEP !! QUILT!!
Cindy--
You've already received excellent advice so I'll just second everything that has been offered and add Welcome to the group.
Kissimmee, FL
Cindy welcome to QCA.
Margaret
Cindy - welcome to the club. You have received some excellent advice here. I, like Barbara, have a Janome 6600 and love it but would love the larger throat space that the 7700 has.
Griffin, GA
http://quiltinggallery.com/2012/03/22/what-to-look-for-in-a-sewing-machine/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Hexagons%2C+Milo%27s+Quilted+Bed+and+more+FUN%21&utm_campaign=Hexagons%2C+Milo%27s+Quilted+Bed+and+more+FUN%21&utm_term=buying+a+new+sewing+machine
good info on buying a machine
Welcome to QCA Cindy - I am not sure today that you can find a very reasonable priced machine - they are all over priced IMHO - but that is just me... I own a Janome 6500 which is the most reasonably priced machine that I own. I do love it for sewing and use it for quilting - it has a 9" throat which is big enough at this time for me - some day I might upgrade to the 7700 Janome but not sure if that day will come.
I also own a Pfaff 2170 which is a sewing / embroidery machine - I love the stitch but am unhappy overall with the new Pfaff machines - they seem to have more problems then they should...
You really need to have a very good technician today to keep your machine in tip top shape and one that knows the specific machine that you have... no one today can work on all sewing machines - each one is made differently and there are different courses that the techs need to take... if you have someone that knows Janome they probably do not know how to work on a Pfaff...
The Viking is another good machine - but again they are now mostly made in China and Malaysia so you take your chances...
I can do without needle down but love a good scissor tool on my machine - needle down - I grew up turning the dial to put the needle down so it doesn't bother me to work on a machine that doesn't have it...
I would say though that most of the machines are close and that the topper would be a good technician... right now I send my machine to California and I live in Oklahoma - only because I have a real good technician out there that is just awesome and after the tech here said my expensive Pfaff was done for it was revived and works better then the day I bought it now because of the tech in California - expensive to send it out there but for me worth it... wish I had a tech here that I could trust!
Hi cyndyc6,
Welcome to the club. I know you'll enjoy all the information and help you can get here. I have a Bernina 140 Patchwork. I love it, however, to purchase additional parts and feet, they are pretty expensive. I have learned that Bernina is made is Switzerland and are made for precision sewing. Any way, I would consider the expense of new attachments and add on's also. I hope that helped a little.
Georgetown, CA I'd Rather Be Quilting
Melissa
Bernina is my favorite machine but to get the big throat space you have to go all the way up to the 800 series which is so very expensive. I have my Bernina set up for embroidery and use my Janome 7700 with the larger throat for my quilting. It is also really nice to have a good backup machine. Maybe someday I can just get the Bernina 830 and not need but one machine to do it all...LOL>
Nana,
I agree. I recently looked at the longer throat 800 series and I was shocked at the price. My step mother left me my Bernina when she passed. Right now I am saving my pennies to buy one. It's almost as much as a car. Someday maybe. I am definitely addicted to quilting.
Thanks soo much for your response. I'll check look into the Horizon 7700 machine.