Viking Designer I Embroidery Machine
 

I have been having a friend do any embroidery work I want on any of my quilts. I've reached the point I really like the embroidery work. Now I have the opportunity to purchase a used Viking Designer I Embroidery Machine for $1200. I've checked on the internet and this seems to be a fair price. I'm looking for information on the quality of the embroidery and any consistent problems with this machine - like tension, etc. I would appreciate any information/advise anyone could give me.

I have the D1 and the Rose.... I love them both...I use the Rose for my sewing/quilting and the D1 for my embroidery. I have never had any problems with either of them and I've had the D1 for about 6 years and the Rose for about 13-14 years.

I love mine!!! Had it for 5 or so years and no problems yet...Stitches out great...

I have one and I love it.

My mom and I bought one of these used about 3 yrs ago. Love it, no problems with it!

you will love it

I bought mine 8 years ago and have never used it to it's full potential. Shortly after that I bought the Janome MC 6500 for the larger harp so I use the Designer 1 only for the embroidery. This is a real waste of money because the Designer cost almost $6,000 at that time. I've kicked myself ever since for not just buying an excellent embroidery only machine. The only problem I have had with the embroidery unit is that a gear slipped off and caused a terrible bird's nest jumble so into the shop it went. It was still under warrently so no cost to me. It really does a great job embroidering, especially the designs from emblibrary .com. If you are also going to get the hoop that allows you to quilt you will have to have an adjustment to accomodate that hoop. I think I paid $35 for that. Make sure you get the dongle that goes with the embroidery unit!!! Keep in mind that this machine uses floppy disks which is pretty much stone age technology.

I am happy with mine and looking for a reasonably priced D1 or D2 for my backup machine. I have been following the prices on eBay for about a month. Many have sold for less than $1200 recently. Good luck.

Sorry i don't have a Viking but it sure is fun to download free embroidery designs.

i bought my Designer 1 in 2005- and have been quite happy with it- it has served it's purpose well. i have had it in to the dealer for service a couple times over the years- but nothing serious has been an issue.

My mom gave me hers because my machine broke. I have not used the embroidery part of it but she says it is wonderful.. She doesnt do much sewing anymore but she also upgraded to a Designer SE.. she said she like them for different reasons. I only use it for sewing and I think it is a great machine. from what I have seen on the internet that price seems right to me.

I have had my D1 for about 7 yrs. it was the first viking machine I had,I still think it is the best viking ever made,Ihave the designer SE and I don't care for it like I dothe D1.
the embordery for me has always come out beautiful,I gave over 6000 for mine new,I think you can find out how hours it has been used,I know on the SE it tells howmany hrs used.

d,swindle

I had a Designer 1 and loved it. I loved it so much I called to see if the Viking dealer still had it after I traded it in towards my SE.,.hehe My mom has one too. I highly recommend it :)

I have the Rose and 2 D1's...wonderful machines...just make sure you have a decent tech to clean and oil your machine, etc...I've had my 1st emb machine since 2001 and I have over 4,000 embroidery hours alone on it ! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me !

I had a D1 for a couple of years and loved it, but the quilt shop I worked for offered us an upgrade deal to the SE when it came out, so I upgraded and love my SE as well.....a dear friend found out I was trading in my D1 and bought it from the quilt shop before it ever got cool...she still uses it all the time in her quilting and monogramming business. HV machines are excellent machines, my only problem is that our nearest dealer now is about 100 miles away, so when it's time for service, I have to plan a trip to take her in and then another trip to go pick her up .

I started with the Rose then traded up to the D1. I had the D1 for about 10 years then traded for the Diamond. Loved all three. Sandy

I purchased my D1 in 2004.........love it. I just use it for embroidery now........stitches out beautifully. I use a single hole needle plate.