BellaBoo

I have a 1/4" foot for mine but it does not have the guide. If your needle comes unthreaded when using the auto thread cutter, only thread through one hole of the three hole bar on top. I never thread more then one hole. The manual is about worthless but gives some info. It needs to be kept oiled, it uses a lot of oil as it is all mechanical. There is an adapter for it that will let you use the Brother snap on feet. It works fine. The bobbins I use are solid on one side and have the small grid of holes on the other side. I guess the solid side may go one way in the bobbin case but I never check which way mine goes. It sews fine either way.

jodimarie

this machine has been my go-to girl for about 10 years and she sews as well today as she did on day 1!! Keep her oiled and do your normal machine matience weekly and your girl will give you years of great sewing. I have done about a million quilts from start to finish and I love to FMQ....everything from baby size to King size without a frame....but that is just me!! Find a good sewing machine store and you can pick up metal bobbins for about a dollar apiece....just make sure they are made for the Brother machines. You found/got a GREAT DEAL on this workhorse of a machine. FWIW....I never sew petal to the metal, just a nice easy speed when I FMQ and have gotten great results...remember to drop the feed dogs!! Enjoy her....

nygal

[QUOTE=phranny;5700193]I have that machine and I love it. At 1500 st per minute, it really goes! I bought it with a frame similar to the one pictured above, but found the quilting area to be painfully small, especially once you start rolling the quilt.

phranny, I found the same problem with the frame I bought. I felt I was spending so much time rolling and unrolling than I was machine quilting!! I will have to get mine out and just get use to using it for my sewing.

Belfrybat

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I appreciate knowing the size of bobbins as I couldn't find that anywhere in the instruction book! And it never occurred to me it could be used in a frame, but I doubt I will as I want to learn FMQ either on her or the vintage Singer I bought a couple of weeks ago. <sigh> I am now sewing machine rich!

I tried the machine out today and am really happy with the way she sews. The only "ought" I have is the walking foot doesn't have the hole for a guide, and it appears the guide that comes with the machine can't be used with the walking foot (dumb if you ask me). The Janome does have the hole and it's so convenient to pop the guide in to follow a previous row of stitching -- up to 3" apaart. Does anyone have a suggestion for a work-around, as I really don't want to have to mark all those lines on the quilt.

Tomorrow I'm going to test the free-motion foot as it is different than others I've used in it has plastic in the circle with just a small hole in it.

Oh, and I need to name her. So far I have Jan (Janome), Bess (vintage Singer) and Lemon (modern Singer not even worth the price of lemonade).

snipforfun

My 1500 has a 1/4" foot which is actually a Juki foot and loves oil!

sewplease

nygal, can you please tell me what type of frame you have? I've got frame fever. :-) Thanks, Laura

Feathers-N-Fur

I bought a high shank adapter and 1/4 inch foot with guide from amazon. Been using it a year with no problem. I also paid $150 for mine from Craigslist. Mine came with an add on for the walking foot guide. It is just a holder for the guide that attaches to the back of the walking foot with double sticky tape. No idea where she got the adapter.

Xtgirl

That's a great deal!!! Congratulations

Dolphyngyrl

Will someone explain to me what pin feed actually is, just curious

sandy l

I also have the 1500 and it's a work horse. One of the best investments I ever made.