Once you pass the 500.00 mark for a regular sewing machine you are pretty much in the clear of getting a piece of junk with a bunch of problems. $1500.00 may not buy a "high end" machine but it will buy a darned nice machine that will have a good array of features quilters look for in a machine.
While you are shopoing for machines keep this in mind:
Singer, Pfaff, and Husqvarna/ Viking are all made by SVP holdings.
Janome makes Elna, and used to make Kenmore's with a 385. prefix before the model number.
Brother makes Babylock sewing machines.
Juki makes Juki.
Bernina makes Bernina but not Bernette for Bernina. I don't know who builds the Bernettes but they don't do a real good job of it, don't buy one.
I'm telling you this so you can compare apples to apples across some lines and be able to shop for the best deal on the same machine under a different brand name.
Have fun shopping!
Last edited by Mitch's mom; 05-23-2013 at 06:46 PM.