I see lots of questions on board right now about embroidery machines. I'm questioning just "regular" machines. I've searched the threads and read everything I can get my hands on about both Bernina and Janome.

Here's my story, though. I'd love to hear your input!

I have two dealers in town. One sells Bernina, one sells Janome. I originally wanted the Bernina so have been there twice to test drive and talk to the salesperson. I have a dislike for the store in general, just due to some past experience I've had there, but I guess the Bernina employees solely handle the Bernina part and you don't have to deal with the "regular" personnel. I thought I had decided on the Aurora 430. It did concern me that I went 2 days in a row and talked to 2 different people, the first of whom really wasn't impressive.

Today I went to my "favorite" quilt shop to look at Janomes. The owner herself sat down with me and spent a good 45 minutes going over the 6600P and letting me test drive it. She was very nice, answered all my questions, just had customer service down pat.

So, my question is, looking at the whole big picture, which machine do I go with? Figuring that this is a major investment and that I will likely have dealings in the future with them, having the machine serviced, etc, makes me want to go with the Janome just because I like the people better. In addition, I take quilting classes there and likely buy most of my fabric there.

But, will I regret not getting a Bernina while I had the chance??? I guess I have just not heard one single bad thing about Bernina, while there seem to have been a few glitches with the Janome....

Thanks for sticking with me and reading through all this! I'd love any input at all you can give me...

I love my Bernina and wouldn't give it up for anything. Any issues I had were, as the sales lady jokingly (and correctly) stated "Located between the seat and the machine" :-D .

My favorite lqs is also a Janome dealer and I know she really believes the Janome is a better machine, but for me there is only the Bernina.

I love my janome and have yet to have an issue with it. (6600P) If it were me I would look at the features of the machine, they probly have a few things different about them and go with the one that you really want. Just because that Bernina dealer is not very user friendly does not mean that you couldnt find another shop that is. Even if it means a drive, because thats an investment worth making.

What features does the Aurora have that the 6600P have that the other doesn't? And vice-versa? I've never had any problems with my Janome. I think if you look for problems you'll find them with ANY brand, including Bernina and Janome.

you said you were looking for an embroidery machine. i am wildly in love with my Janome 6600p, but it doesn't do embroidery. there are some letters built in for monogramming, but no embroidery.

you sound to me as though you've already decided which machine you want. you are now trying to choose between the people who sell them. neither of them is coming home with you to be a part of your family and sew with you as the years roll on.

if the Bernina is the one that makes your heart go pitty-pat and you can afford it, then that's the one you should get. just make sure to tell the sales people they almost lost the sale and why. their next customer might benefit from your input.

If the shop you buy from happens to close, which has the closest dealer to go to? That would be one consideration. Bernina's have a great reputation. I haven't heard one negative about any of their machines. Janome is a great brand too but I think Janome manufacturers in mass quantity compared to the Bernina so some glitches will be in more machines. It would be a hard decision but one I don't the opportunity to make!

Thanks everyone for your input so far. In actuality, I am not looking for an embroidery machine. First and foremost I am looking for a machine for quilting, and I'm not sure how much I would use the embroidery features. The Bernina has lots of embroidery features on it, which is a bonus if that's what I decide I like doing, but that's an unknown for me now....

Ugh...decisions decisions...it's kind of like trying to choose between the red or black car :)

do they both have the different kinds of feet that you would be interested in?
are any additional parts comparable in price? can the dealers supply them for you?
how long does it take to get parts? i ask this because on the viking, the dealer i use says he gets the parts from europe and they take forever to get here.
i don't believe the first part, but i do believe the second part. (i only needed a foot pedal. i burned out the first one and the viking has a special one, of course)

do they both have differential feed? test drive them a lot and see what feels good.

if you're truly on the fence, i would go with the janome.

the main reason being the economic recession and since you love that shop you might want to support them during these difficult times.

the other reason would be if you don't plan on using the embroidery features that often it at all why pay the extra money for it.

i don't know what the prices you were quoted for both machines and if there is a big difference in the price point.

I think I would go with the Janome. I would feel better buying from a shop I feel at ease in.

I have 4 Berninas. Two sewing machines a serger and an embroidery machine. I purchased my 1260 while I was an employee of a Bernina dealer. I had to have the computer replaced about 5 years ago but the machine certainly doesn't owe me anything. I like having a seperate embroidery machine first because it was less expensive, it is basically a Brother machine as they held the patent when it was made. I can also be running something on it while I am sewing on the other machines. I also hate having to dismantle parts of one machine to make it do other functions. That is the reason I spent more for a serger that would also do the rolled hem with just the push of a button rather than changing the plates etc. I am not interested in a Bernina that sews and embroiders even though it would be able to do the 7 inch designs. The decorative stitches that came with my machine are more than I can ever use now.

No matter which machine you decide to buy, make sure you will be happy with it's features in a year. If you can upgrade to next model, few more stitches or what not, you will be happier in the long run. Buy the best you can for the money you want to spend.

You have to also look at the different features that come with each machine, is a walking foot included or how much do it cost separately? I like the Janome, personnaly. I have an older model. Is easy to work with and you can find different feet and accesoraries on line at a good price. I also have a Brother Quatro6000, and embroidery machine, and a small 11 pound Brother, which is great for classes. But you have to decide for your self, we are only adding our 2cents worth of information.

As tough as it might be, I would recommend considering the machines themselves and try not to think about the personalities of the salespeople. Companies go out of business, sell, or retire. Sales people come and go, and people sometimes move and take their machines along so that store relationship is less important than the machine. If you honestly evaluate machines, learn all you can, you’ll feel confident about the choice you make.

How much will you use your new machine for embroidery and how long would you like to be able to use the machine before you have to replace it?

Embroidery puts machines through a lot of use. A design with 5,000 thousand stitches is a small design. It's common to run designs of 20,000 stitches and easy to do 50,000 and more for a single design. It doesn't take a lot to run the total stitch count of a home sewing machine into millions of stitches a year. So how much use are home machines intended for? Real commercial embroidery machines such as Tajima or Barudan are designed to run reliably all day long for years with minimum maintenance. They are able do this because their moving parts are metal. So take a clue from their design, metal lasts and plastic fails over time.

The hook mechanism is the heart of the embroidery system. Take a look at what each brand offers, especially how easy it is to disassemble and clean the hook assembly area. I have not seen a Janome, so I can’t tell you what’s in there. Bernina caught my eye initially because it’s hook mechanism compares favorably to commercial embroidery machines that I run. I have a Bernina 630 as my home sewing machine, it has the same hook mechanism as the 430 you are considering.

Also, look at embroidery design stitch counts. You can see many designs, including their counts on the internet at various vendors. Think about what you'd like to be able to make over the years. Those stitch counts start adding up, and don’t forget to add in the regular sewing you also expect the machine to do and it becomes a lot of use. One machine may have a lower price initially, but if it is made of parts that wear out then low price turns into high cost.

Good luck and happy stitching with whatever choice you make!

I would not trade my Janome 6600 for any other machine on the market..mine doesn't have any glitches..i paid $1500. for mine. came with the extension table,white, and a cloth like cover,feet etc...I think one of the main things to consider when buying any machine, is your dealer..mine is wonderful..
how to the "feet" prices compare? check that out..

www.patternreview.com
has owner pros and cons and prices they paid for thier machines, tons of makes and models..and that part of the website is free.

You can buy the BSR (Bernina stitch regulator) for the 430. The Janome doesn't have one. That would be the deciding factor for me.

I had a Janome before I bought my Bernina 440 this last spring and before that I had a Bernina 930. I would never give up my Bernina. I don't miss the Janome at all. I figured I have never had a problem with my Bernina the 25 plus years I had it. My store wasn't very helpful either, but I have talked with other dealers and they have all been very helpful. Actually the person I bought mine from is a lot better now. I guess we just needed to get to know each other. I am in the process of buying the laptop I need for the 440QE. Can't wait, because there are many quilting and embroidery stitches I can utilize in my quilting.
I would go with the Bernina myself. PS I still have my 930 and would not give that one up either.

I have had my Janome 4800Quilter's Edition since 2001~love it. Never a problem.
I just bought my daugher a Janome Magnolia at a local shop where she lives so that she could have service,etc. and got her all the extra feet.
I've been very happy and never considered anything else.

What are the prices of any accessories/feet? I have the Janome 6600 and love the extra wide throat space. I don't know if the Bernina has that. Since I bought my machine, I have only been back to the dealer once or twice, and I bought it about 3 years ago.

I also found a group on Yahoo just for owners of the Janome MC6600 and have found useful tips there. Usually any glitches are operator error.

Either machine would probably do what you want them to once the final decision is made.

Why don't you compare warranties and how well their service departments work. That might help you with your decision.

I'm a Bernina girl myself.

My friend has a Janome and she can do everything with hers including Quilting and Embroidery both. She loves her and I love her Janome. I wish I had one and she has all the feet to go with hers too. Hers even has a button that you push to make the needle stay in your material so you don't lose your place when you stop. :)

I would go with your favorite shop .. and good service. I have two Janome 6600's .. one on the west coast and one on the east coast (I spend about 4-5 months back east). I love the 6600 .. best machine I have ever had. Does everything I would need. A work horse.

One thing to consider is that Bernina have special feet. If you want to purchase an open toe foot (for example), at your fabric shop, it won't fit on the Bernina unless you have a special attachment to attach to the foot itself. I sew on a Bernina at my job and know this to be true. The other day I was having trouble with fabric sliding and making a bubble at the end of a long seam. I don't have a walking foot at work, but do at home. I had to bring the curtain home to sew that seam in, on my home machine. Bernina is a good solid machine though.

Where would you be going for service on the Janome? Is that location local for you or a long drive? That would be a cosideration to think about too, as you'll probably bring your machine in at least once a year for routine maintenance.

Who will offer classes, what is the warranty like for each, who will you want to deal with later down the road should you want something?

I have a Janome 6600 P and love it. It came with all kinds of feet of which I have used all, buttonholer which is the easiest one I have ever used, I do alphabet embroidery, has a walking foot, an extension talble which I love, and many other features. I got mine on sale a year ago for around $1200.

I have a Bernina 730 with embroidery unit and the Janome 6600P - I can tell you from a quilting standpoint only, the Janome is my preference. It sews like a workhouse and is made just as good as the Bernina.

As I've said before, I LOVE my Bernina. That said, though, I think that one of the most important things to consider when buying is the dealer. If you have had a bad experience in the Bernina shop, general unease, whatever, then it's not the place for you. Remember, you won't be just buying the machine there. You want to be comfortable asking any and all questions you have, going to classes for machine features, and general tune-ups every now and again even if no repairs are needed.

The Bernina Aurora 430 and 440QE are regular sewing machines, unless you purchase the embroidery module. The 430 does not come with the BSR for FMQ (although you can purchase it later), the 440 QE does. I have had a 440QE since July and love it! It does whatever I ask of it. I personally have see the same model sew fur pelts together! I got mine used from a dealer at about 1/2 the price of a new machine (got the remaining 20 years on the warranty). It came with about 5 different feet. I never thought i would want to embroider, but I also went back 3 weeks later and got it and I am having a blast! Most dealers offer free classes for you to learn all that the machine can do. As far as classes, I take them at the Bernina dealer, but also am welcome at LQS's that deal with Viking, Janome and Brother.

I would say that you should buy the one that has the most features that you like. I would also consider the warranty and the trade-in value. I could go into the Bernina dealers today and pretty much get what I paid for it on trade-in. Good luck in whatever you decide.

I know how difficult it is to make a decision on a major purchase. I have two Berninas and love them. My first one was a QE153 quilting machine. There was an instant love for the walking foot. A few years later I decided I wanted a machine with a few more decorative stitches. I went back to my sewing machine shop and played around with the Bernina 440 (I think). It had lots of stitches that I wanted but then I saw the 640E that had decorative stitches in 9MM wide also and it had the embroidery module. I decided that if I was going to spend a bunch anyway, I should go ahead and get it all. I love the embroidery part also. So the message is, check out all the features that you like and then decide on the brand. I'm sure you won't go wrong with either machine. Have fun

great advice.

Thank you, so much, for all of your thoughts and input....I'm coming closer to a decision :) I hope to make the big purchase next weekend....

Definitely check out Pattern Review for ratings on sewing machines. They're great. http://sewing.patternreview.com/SewingMachine/

I love my Janome. She hasn't let me down :-P

I dont have either my machine is a Viking and I like alot about it especially the large throat area. After reading maney posts on this subject it seems everyone likes different brands. So go with one that has all the features you want at the price your budget allows.
One thing I really would like a Bernina for is the stitch regulator but they are the most expensive brand to buy.

I have two Janomes, one is the 6600, and the other is a 1600P on the NewJoy magic Quilting Frame.

The janome dealer I go to is family owned, and operated. When you call or stop by it's like being home. Whatever the need thay make the time for you, and if there is a problem they make it right. If you have to drop off your machine you will have it back the same day 99.9 % of the time, Dave knows how we go through withdrawals without our machines.

I love my dealer and my Janome's.

I have purchased several feet for my Bernina including an open toe foot and the walking foot and never needed a special attachment. What special attachment are you talking about?

Maribeth, Me too, I have purchased several additional feet for my machine and no attachment or adapter needed. May be that that was the older machines or a generic foot.

I have a Bernina and have never regretted it. I have the 1260 and keep up in quilting groups with all the ladies with the new Brothers and Janome. Employees at a store changes, and if you're like me, you'll relocated several times within the lifespan of the machine. I wouldn't suggest making a decision based on just the people in the store nearest you. I'd suggest going with the machine you're most comfortable with the feel and features.

There's a Janome ad in the newest Quilter's Newsletter that's saying they're coming out with a new model in April.

Dang, Scissor Queen! :~) I thought I had my mind made up and now I hear this!!! What's a girl to do??? I researched it a little on the Janome website and sure enough, something is coming out in April but they're not saying what. I don't want to wait!!!! Hmmmmmm........... :) Thanks for the heads up~~it would have really stunk to have learned that AFTER the purchase!

I know!! I've been planning on buying the 6600 this spring and now I think I'll wait until after the new model comes out. I may want the new model or the 6600 may drop in price.

Personally I think they're just torturing us!!