Oh thankyou-that is so helpful- I had read quite a bit about the Pfaffs-some people love them and others really hate them..it seems an awful lot of people on this board have Janome's and really love them. i wondered why the Pfaff was so much cheaper and my local dealer was steering me towards either the 6600 Janome or the 7700 if I could afford it. He is a really nice man said the Janomes would take a lot of 'hacking about'! he reckons them to be tough and sturdy for quilting.