Originally Posted by
running4
I learned how to sew from my grandmother in the 70's. Now, all of these years later - I knit, crochet, weave and spin. I really want to also sew after all of these years as my friends that also do it all quilt and sew. I have checked out a few machines - one that I can grow into and keep forever and am looking at:
Babylock Lyric
Janome skyline S5
Viking Opal 690Q
Does anyone have any advice on these machines since they all seem similar? I want to know which one you think is the highest mechanical quality and that will last the longest with the lease problems. I saw a listing on ebay for a used Janome at 1/2 the usual price if new and want to know your thoughts on buying a used machine online. Thank you everyone! I am excited to get sewing again.
BTW - I am from Northern CA - in the "wine Country."
I tend to hold on to my equipment and my initial budget I was thinking would be up to $1500. The store that I have nearby says that if I buy one of their machines (Pfaff, Viking Juki) then at the one year anniversary if I wanted to upgrade that they would credit the entire cost of the machine I purchased toward the upgraded model - that is a pretty good thing. I already know that I will love sewing again and am excited to get started so there is no worry that I will be plunking my hard earned money into something that will collect dust. I want quality and something I can grow into and was thinking that the above machines would be good to start with .
The Janome dealer is a very very small ma and pa shop and so if I get a Janome it will be one that I won't be able to trade up but will have to sustain me. I like the ease of use of the screen and how to navigate around but the Viking Opal has a long memory for - let's say labels I may want to print, etc...