craftyone27

I am going to have the option in the near future to invest in a dream sewing machine. I have wanted a longarm for years and would love to one day be good enough to do longarm quilting as a small business. I have limited space for a table but could manage a 10' or 12' in my sewing room. I went into my LQS this week and was looking at their new machines. The new Bernina 830 looks like a fantastic machine with lots of throat space for quilting and the stitch regulator as well as an embroidery module. I have never had an embroidery machine but if I were to buy the Bernina I would opt for the machine with that module. The Bernina 830 runs about $11,000 and they do have an option to add a table and computerized quilt program that I could possibly add later. I already have a Bernina - but it is an older model machine, a Virtuosa 155 that I bought used 6 years ago. It is a good machine and runs like new but it has a small throat space and no stitch regulator. Sewing on my machine is great but I have a miserable time whenever I actually do any quilting and FMQ is nearly impossible on it, at least for me.

So here is the dilemma - since I can only buy one or the other - which would you choose? Top of the line Bernina with an embroidery module or a lower end longarm machine? Pros and cons from both sides appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris aka Crafty