bearisgray

I have a friend that bought an embroidery machine - she embroidered a bunch of aprons for her garden club - and then decided that embroidering was boooorrrriiiinnng - and sold the machine to her sister and bought the non-embroidery version of the same brand of machine for herself.

Have any of you ever bought a machine with "all" the bells/whistles/features available - and then end up using a "simpler/less complicated" machine for most of your sewing?

luvstoquilt

Yes I have. I am simply a quilter and I don't need all those bells and whistles. I bought a Viking Sapphire and am still not sure why. I love my Featherweight!

KalamaQuilts

I could kick myself all around the room for buying my Janome 8900. I'd spent 3 years away from home caring for my father in law through dementia. I wanted to do something good for myself. And I'd loved my previous high end Janome.
Not taking into account I was no longer the girl of the 90s doing art quilts and using all the features. I use my machine for patchwork. I could have just pulled out my featherweight. So a mental downgrade

I do love the lights and the thread cutter and the smooth running. But I certainly didn't need it.

DJ

I'd have to answer probably not. Although when making a recent tote bag, my new, smarter machine kept telling me the material was too thick and refused to sew through it. I got out my older machine which wasn't smart enough to know the fabric was too thick, and it sewed it just fine! LOL

Geri B

Well, good to know I'm not the only one with a "smart aleck" machine that refuses to sew thru thickness.....thank giodness for my old Viking, would sew thru railroad ties if I asked it! And to think I paid for the aggravation!

Tothill

I have no retreats at all. I purchased my Janome 11000 as a demo machine and love her to bits. I have not done any embroidery in a few years, but like having the options available. The needle threader, buttonholed etc, are such an upgrade over my 1980’s Kenmore.

SusieQOH

I have a fancy Bernina but I really don't use most of the functions. It's a great machine though and I have no regrets buying it.

MarionsQuilts

I have a fancy Brother and while I haven't used all the features yet, I plan my quilts so that I can use them all!

Barb2018

I started with a Bernina 750 but at the time did not get the embroidery attachment. I used lots of the features. Last year I decided I wanted to embroider so I was able to trade it in and get the 880 with the embroidery attachment. I may not use every feature now, but my curiosity and knowledge keep me exploring. As I grow in skill I don't have to worry that what I want to do is unavailable. I don't regret it for a second.

SillySusan

Yes. I bought a fancy Viking several years ago and didn't use the fancy stuff. I used it until the feed dogs decided not to work. I called around to get it fixed and it was going to cost a fortune because it was a fancy machine. I bought a heavy duty mechanical Singer from Walmart. Cheap and regular and I love it. It just keeps on ticking!!