Hello you lovely quilters! I'm new here at the QB and am happy to join you all. I'm a quilter, knitter, stamper and just general craft lover. I'm mom to 3 lovely boys, wife one very patient man, and as such I wear a variety of hats!
Here is my issue. I am in need of a new sewing machine. I purchased a Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 875 in 2013. Biggest mistake of ALL TIME. >:/ It has had ongoing tension problems.
So, my dilemma? What machine should I get? I know that machines are a very personal thing, what one loves, another doesn't, but I really need some advice or thoughts.
When I first looked into machines I fell in love with the Janome 8900. I mean like, when I walked in, it was speaking to me like Barry White. My hubs almost died of sticker shock.....who could blame him? So he talked me into the machine that is now the bane of our existence....
The shop is willing to give me $1,000 for my machine and are selling the Janome 8900 for $3,999...that would make it's cost to me $2999. I thought the $3999 was high as that was the price 2 years ago!
In the meantime, I have found Juki. I really like the looks and reviews (and price!) of the Juki HZL F600 and the Juki 2010. Both of these machines together total less that the Janome, even with my trade in! They also offer me more options for quilting. The problem? I can't go and test drive them anywhere within a reasonable drive. The closest place is over 3 hrs away.
So, I can either go with the Janome I originally loved but have read in some places it's not that great for FMQ and I would still want to get the Juki 2010.....someday...probably not for many years because I just spent a ton of money on the Janome. *sigh*
OR, I can buy the two Juki's but am taking a chance I will not like them then what? Pay to ship it back? Yikes! Have no idea how finicky they really are or are not. I mean, my Viking was "raved" about online and it truly is awful.
OR I can consider maybe a smaller Janome for piecing and so forth and get the JUKI 2010 for FMQ.
I finally can get what I want (within reason) but just am not sure which direction to go. Please don't suggest Pfaff's, Elna's or whatever. At this point these are the only two options I'm willing to consider. I know Bernina's are great but they are even more expensive and I don't have a dealer near by. Pfaff is also owned by SVP company (same as Viking) and they are now having the same tension issues as my machine.
Thanks ladies! I appreciate your thoughts!
Bethany