Originally Posted by veronda.47
I don't know if that model is a knockoff, but I looked at the
Janome 7330 at a local quilting store for $349.00. Also,
at Joann's Fabric store I looked at a Singer 7469Q that was
supposed to go on sale on 2/21 for $299.00. Does anyone
know if those are good quilting machines?
New Singer machines (with the exception of some of the higher-priced top-of-the-line embroidery models) have a bad reputation. I would stay away from those.
If I were on a budget, I would be looking at the Sears Kenmore machines. They are supposed to be branded Janomes.
In terms of basic functions you need on a machine, the very minimum is infinite stitch length adjustment and infinie stitch width adjustment. Stay away from machines that have fixed length/width stitch selections; they become very limiting.
I would also want a minimum of the needle-down function (allows you to set machine to stop always in the needle-down position) and several needle position adjustments (so you can move the needle left and right of center).