Compare cs6000i, pc420 PRW, & 9960 Quantum Stylist
 

Hi! I'm completely new to this board. I haven't found a general sewing forum that seemed as easy to navigate as this site!:o (If someone has a favorite general sewing forum site, please let me know!) I've reading just about every thread here that I can, trying to make a machine decision! I've been sewing on a Brother LS1217 since I began (it misbehaves), and want to upgrade a little--max. $450 or so, so that I have more variety and could try quilting without frustration. But alot of what we do (daughter) also is clothing and doll clothes (hense the interest in some fun decorative stitches). We are 1 1/2 hours from sewing stores, so trying out a machine is difficult.

My first plan was to get a less expensive machine to try together with my daughter and call "hers". Then, after seeing what I liked, get myself an upgrade in the $400-600 range. So, after much research, I was just about ready to jump on the cs6000i--except for the small throat space (does anyone have a measurement on that???), difficulty in sewing thru layers, and a couple comments on it "blowing up". Then, I started considering the pc420 PRW which comes with a fantastic array of accessories (except table), but it is ranked like 83rd right now on Amaz.?!?! It has a good star rating, and doesn't seem to have great complaints. Lastly, I see the Singer 9960 Quant. Styl., ranked 19th--again, great accessories, probably excessive stitches, comes with table and is $70 less than the 420, but folks talk about Singer "low end" recent machines being "plastic junk".

I welcome anyone who considered these machines or has them to please let me know pros, cons, opinions! If anyone has a different suggestion, I welcome that, too. I get a bit lost in the world of "janome, viking, juki"...Thank you so much!!

My DD has had the 6000i for several years now. she has make quilts with it-not FMQ - but piecing them. also a garment bag out of decorator fabric. It sewed thru that heavy material, several layers without issue. As far as the others, can't really say except that my friend and her DD both have newer singers-singer confidence quilter- and love them. They are both quilters.

Like you, I get lost when it comes to considering a new machine. I really like my weighs-a-ton vintage machines, but since they are mostly straight stitch only, I wanted more. DH got me a Singer CE-350 for Christmas in 2009, and that machine was nothing but trouble. It finally got so bad I went to the dealer and said "I either want the machine fixed correctly, or I want my $$ back." That got their attention. We ended up trading it in on a Singer XL-400. I've only had it a couple of months, so I can't comment on how great a machine it will be. So far it seems to be working fine, but given that these machines have plastic gears, who knows how long that will last.

From what I've read and heard from people, Janome and Bernina seem to be really good machines, but they do come with higher pricetags. I was able to use a Janome 7700 during a machine quilting class recently, and it was a very nice machine, performing well. I was tempted to buy it, since they were selling them at discounted prices, but even the discounted price was out of the question, particularly with Christmas coming and 5 grandkids to buy for. Good luck with your search.

I have had the cs6000i for two years and I love, love, love it !!!! It is a workhorse and I use it every day making charity quilt tops. The throat space is approximately 6-1/2 ". I only handquilt so the throat space doesn't concern me. I paid about $150 for it and think it is a phenomenal buy for the money.

Get the CS6000i and use it for awhile. Get spoiled by all the cool features, thread cutter, needle up and down, sewing without a foot control and speed control. Once you are drawn in by all those things, give it to your daughter and go buy yourself another machine. After using the CS6000i you will know what you do and don't want in a sewing machine. It is a great machine for the money. I wouldn't try making a winter coat on it but with the right needles and threads for your projects it will perform admirably.

Thank you so far for these replies! I esp. appreciate your words, "Mitch's mom". Good idea. I see the throat measure from the one gal. Is that right at the flat surface then, coz it sort of curves up and away rather than a square shape. Also, what is the height? Thank you!

I have the cs6000i..have made about 40 quilts on it ,piece ,FMQ, from kg size to small runners! Just quilted the larger quilts in quarters! I clean and oil it regularly..still buzzing along! Can't afford the more expensive machines!

I have the CS6000i and love it. Just sewed on it last night.

I think I did a good deed yesterday in Hancocks. As I was browsing, I saw a gentleman walking back and forth between two machines...one the new version of the CS6000i and the other the Brother 9500. I stuck my nose in and asked if he was considering a sewing machine and he said yes so I proceeded to tell him about the 2 models he was looking at. He said his wife was "legally blind" and wanted a machine that that self-threaded and would do some monogramming so I showed him the "details" of each machine. Only the 9500 had the monogramming feature. Then his wife appeared and I talked with her a few minutes. Her vision is just about like mine...don't take our glasses away!!!

There was no price on the machines and I had my Hancock's sale paper and showed them the price. $199.00..I then walked away so they could ponder. They thanked me and thanked me for my help!!! Then I saw the husband picked up the machine and take it to the register. I felt a little like "Santa"!!

i have the cs6000i and love the portability and the way it forms good, tight stitches.

The width of the throat space from the curve to the needle is just slightly over 5-1/2". The height of the throat space is 4-3/8ths". Hope this helps.

The pc420 is mostly metal more durable and stronger than cs6000i which will be much more what you are leaning towards. They get excellent ratings a lady on my brother yahoo group bought a similar higher priced model and returned it for the one off amazon because she liked it more.

Thanx again for all your replies. I sure do appreciate your experience with these machines. Thank you for the throat measurements! Dolphyngyrl, are you saying the person returned a higher priced model and liked the pc420 (i.e. off amazon) more?? I'll keep adding everything you all contribute about any of these three machines into my "think tank", so please keep your opinions coming, esp. if there is anyone who has some particularly strong pros/experience with the pc420 or Q.S. 9960.

Yes she bought a similar more expensive model at a dealer then bought the 420 off amazon and liked it better and returned the dealer one.

The 420 also has a lot more features, the presser foot pressure adjustment, automatic thread cutter, the needle threader is also more advanced than the cs6000i. It has a lot of the features that were on my babylock espire for a 1/4 of the price. You will love those features and wonder how you lived without them. I'd still consider the cs6000i as a side/class machine because it is a great little machine and as I said the pc420 is mostly metal frame so it will be a great deal heavier than you lx model. going computerized from your mechanical will be a step up but I do think you can grow more with the pc-420. or you can always get the cs6000i and get a straight stitch PQ1500s,they run about 500 and that has a 9 inch harp more than enough for FMQ, not sure on the harp size of the 420

I have had mine for about 3 years now and I love, love, love it!!!! also. The throat space is not much of a problem for lap throws, charity quilts, baby quilts, etc but I think it would be a bit cumbersome for anything larger than a twin size quilt. However, all of my charity quilts are 40 x 55 so I have no problem. I have found that it quilts much better using a size 11 needle.

Sewing without a foot control? I can do that? I love my csi6000, I have a confident singer thats been sitting unused
for years...since getting the csi6000! But I love my vintage singers!

Don't forget to check out the machines at www.allbrands.com

I own three Brother machines and bought all three from them. The shipping is FREE and the delivery is super fast. Their prices are very good.

The Brother 420 is a higher quality machine, made with a metal frame, and will last longer. There is a reason that it costs twice as much as the cs6000i. Why not buy the best you can afford?

That was so nice of you! I hope you walked away with a little warm and fuzzy feeling inside. :)