I am looking at buying a new sewing machine.
What should I buy and why.

I enjoy sewing and quilting and I currently have a Brother.

First ask yourself what do you want your machine to do? Are you quilting, embroidering, do you want decorative stitches, ect....I'd go try different brands, sew on them, see what you like...it's all personal choice....Check out the warranties, their customer service, ect...I have a Bernina 1090 that is approximately 25 years old and she still sews like a workhorse...Love my Bernina, but there are many great brands out there like Viking, Pfaff, Baby Lock, Elna and Brother...just to name a few...It's best to buy through a dealer, as opposed to Walmart or other similiar chain stores......Hope this helps...

Don't forget Juki. Think that'll be my next choice for quilting.
Right now I have a Janome9700 sew/emb machine. Nice machine, but I don't really like having to set it up for emb & then break it down for sewing. Also the throat is really small, and it's got lots of stuff I never use.

good luck with your search,
ava

Go to every dealer near you. Are they friendly, do they have an on-site repair person, do you get lessons with your machine purchase. Try different machines and visualize what you are going to want your machine to do - check out lower and higher priced machines than you are willing to pay. Look at "pre-loved" machines (i.e. ones traded in for newer models).

I agree buy through a dealer. I bought my brother, my first at walmart and had problems and had to go pay to fix it. I recently bought my memory craft Janome and bought it at meisners an awesome sewing machine store and had a problem and they fixed it free and threw in a cleaning. Also free sewing lessons!

I would suggest trying them all out...I had two main things I was looking for....Needle up or needle down button and needle threader ....sure haven't regreated it....I have got a White from online at "All Brands" ....has been reworked...but since I worked in a factory all are reworked items actually were better than others because we tore the unit completley down and started new....was only 189...have had 10 years only complaint is the lighting...good luck in your choice and take your time in choosing....

I agree. research them all. I went to a Janome event at the LQS and sewed on the 6600 ($1600) I Love it.. But I think if buy a Janome I am going to go with the 6300 ($900) because it is about 700 dollars cheaper. It is basically the same machine with less stiches. I have not bought one because $$ are tight and I still would like to sew on the Pfaff and Babylock (I have not priced babylock yet) before I make my final decision. Oh also I know features are key for me. I do alot of paper piecing so I want a machine with auto thread cutter. I love the feature on the Pfaff 4.0 ($2200) where the pressure foot auto raises for pivoting. But there are alot of people on here who love thier babylocks.. I am using a brother NX400 and really like it but it has a smaller throat space so I really want and upgrade. Oh and it isnt quite the workhorse I need
Oh Geez. what a decision. Good Luck to you I know I am struggling with my decision

I like the Pfaff becouse of the built in walking foot ( they have a special name for it - can't remember it)

I love the BERNINA's that I grew up on.

Like my Brother embrodery machine with a 1/4 inch quilting foot put on it. This one is digital - love that feature.

Dreaming of a new machine ---- toooooo (I want - I want - but I don't need)

Thanks for all the good info.
looks like alot of sales this weekend, so this could be it.

I checked out a sewing and embrodery machine today and i Really like it. wish me luck!

Janome would be my choice. Good service from the dealer, never a problem with them, a lot of options and prices vary according to what you want in a machine

I have 2 brother embroidery machines that i love ...not a problem yet...and I have 2 Babylock machines I love. I bought 3 of them on Craigslist...talked to the owner, tried them out throughly and not a problem. One Babylock I bought from my local dealer....