Hello from Seattle
 

I have been sewing and quilting for most of my life. The two machines I used over the last 50 years have served me well. However, I wanted to be a part in the Quilt for Valor program and I just volunteered to make a quilt for my niece's fundraiser auction. Hand quilting these projects is too time consuming and my trusty Kenmore is acting up. So, today as I took my sewing machine for repair, I started looking at new machines with the capabilities to give a great 1/4 inch mark for piecing, automatic needle threader, and allow for machine quilting. I was shown the Baby lock Crescendo and Aria. These have all I was looking for but wondered if there was another less expensive brand or model with similar features. Thanks, Barbara

Welcome from Nebraska. My machine is a Pfaff 2134 that I bought about 6 years ago when I first started quilting. I'm very pleased with it. My advice would be to get the best or "most" machine that you can comfortably afford. If the Baby Lock has everything you were looking for, then that might be the right machine for you. If you have access to dealers of other good brands, you could try some out in the shops, just to be sure. But you probably can't go wrong with the Baby Lock. They seem like very good machines from what I read. You will probably find that there are many people on this board that are very loyal to their machines:)

Welcome from Southern California!

Check the brand Brother - they make Baby Lock or Baby Lock makes them, not sure which way it goes.

Hello and welcome to the board from New Hampshire.

Welcome -- Janome is less expensive than Baby Loc -- I think Brother is too as well as Singer. The Juki has some good machines too. It all depends on how much you want to spend. I have the Janome 7700 (it has a large harp, free are and a lot of great stitches) but I am lusting for the 8900. (The harp is the space under the arm and a big harm means you can quilt a big quilt on your home machine.) When you try a machine, take your own fabric and put the machines in the store through their paces. (the sample fabric at the stores is usually stiff as a board and does not always give a good idea of how the machine would work for you).

Welcome from Texas!

I'm sorry. I don't know anything about the Baby Lock machines, except that our local Bernina dealership carries them. I just wanted to welcome you from the beautiful mountains of western NC.

Welcome from Michigan!:)

Welcome Barbara from Southern California. Can you send some of your rain down here?? I wish I could help you but I am still quilting on my Bernina 1530. Be sure to test drive both machines and ask the dealer to show you others that are lower cost. I bought both of my Bernina at quilt shows. You can test out numerous models and get discounted prices at the end of the show. Good luck and have fun shopping.

:) welcome from se TX

Welcome from Indiana!

I test drove several different machines but like suern3, get the best you can comfortably afford. If you buy through a LQS they usually come with owners lessons and it's nice to have a place to go to for questions or problems. I ended up with a Viking Emerald because of the features and feet that came with it. Both Baby Lock and, Janome have really good reputations so I don't think you can go wrong. They aren't cheap so take your time and pick out what suits you best. Have fun and welcome!

Waving wildly from the other side of the State of Washington. :thumbup: Welcome!

Hi and welcome :o) I have a baby Lock Sofia II for taking with me because she has tons of bells and whistles and she's an embroidery machine also, she is small, couldn't quilt a quilt on her but for piecing and embroidering and quilting small table toppers or maybe baby quilts she's perfect. My main machine is a Janome, she has a bigger neck and has all the bells and whistles I wanted and then some but she was a fraction of the price of the other machines. I've been sewing on Janome now for 5 years and I love it! Check out everything and see what you like best. I was on a small budget but still got a great machine that I am very happy with :o)
Tina

Welcome from NJ. I'm a Viking/Husqvarna girl myself. VERY happy with my machine - about 10 yrs old now. Don't know how comparable they are to what you are looking at or price differences but would highly recommend them for the features you mention.

Hi Barbara welcome from NE Ohio.

Welcome from OHIO! :wave: My advice would be to make a list of the features that are most important to you and then try out different machines that have those features.

Waving hello from Maryland! If I need to get a new machine, I shall probably go with BabyLock, have FW, Sears Kenmore purchased in 1970 while in high school ( the only new machine I've ever had) used Bernina with embroidery (which I love) Husky serger ( given to me since the other person wanted it so much ha ha ha) The Kenmore has been a workhorse.

Welcome from Vermont!

Welcome from western NY and happy quilting :)

Hello from Snohomish. I bought my last machine (Pfaff) from Quality Sewing and Vacuum. They have large variety of machines to chose from and experienced staff to help you. I used their website to compare before I shopped so I narrowed choices down. They took the time to let me try machines and answer my questions. They also provided free instruction to help me after I bought my machine.