WOW thanks for all the replies! Went to Worthington today and tried out the Bernina Aurora 440 QE. And brought it home. So, now I have my Harley just like my hubs. Bernina. Harley. Bernina same same. right? I got the Stitch regulator with mine and the other feet as well. Also ordered the embroidery module in case I want to delve into embroidery someday. Great deal on this particular machine, but I don't know how long it will last. $2899 without the module. Also I will be getting lessons for both. I've arrived. Now if only they had a leather bernina jacket. ha (referring to the Harley of hubs again)

You can always embroider the Harley part on a leather jacket once you learn that part of it!!!

every time i go to my lqs and see that 7700 i just slobber all over it - i want it so bad but gotta wait another year or so.

My favorite is the QC-1000 price about $2000. Think the Laura Ashley Limited edition replaces this model.
Also have a NX450 - smaller,although the table is quite big, approx 60 stitches, 3 alphabets, just as easy to use - approx $1500.

I just got a Brother, Laura Ashley Limited Edition. It's under 2000, but not much. It has the larger throat, all sorts of stitches. It cuts the thread, the needle threader is a dream (I'm still in the Honeymoon stage) Brother makes the Babylock guts. My other machine is a Bernina Aurora 440 and I like the Brother better.

There are def. Berninas in that price range. I just bought a brand new 380 that has tons of bells and whistles and it sews as well as my 730. I bought the 380 for travel and to have at DS's house when I take care of my beautiful new baby grand-daughter. Check them out. Also check out pre-loved machines that were originally at a higher price point...they come with full warantees. Good luck!

You are going to LOVE the Bernina 440 QE!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE mine and I have the embroidery module for it too. Sews AND embroiders like a dream!

Any Berninas w/ 9+ inches to right of needle except the $$$ TOLs? And btw, does anyone know know what a Bernina 350 PE goes for?

I just bought a Janome Horizon and I love it. The main reason I bought it because of the extra width that makes it easier to machine quilt. I use it to piece, it has over two hundred spcialty stitches, letters, and numbers in 2 or 3 fonts. I love, love the thread cutter. It has all the goodies you could ask for if you are in to quilting. Check it out on line and test drive it at a dealer.

My other main machine is a 20+ year old Janome 8000, an embroidrey machine, which has been a work horse.

Congratulations on your new Harley ;-)

The Designer 1 was bought several years ago by my nephew's mother-in-law and she was elderly and wasn't able to master it. I bought it with the idea that it would be nice to download embroidery designs to a floppy disk then insert it in the machine to sew out. I wasn't aware that it needed to go through the software first to get it in the right format. I opened the software and looked at the book and decided I'm not capable of doing that either. I took the machine to a dealer/repairman and asked him to tell me how many hours it had been used and he said 69 minutes so it's like new. I have a friend who has a machine like it and she loves it; they do embroider beautifully but I sew on a Bernina and have an older Brother that I still use for embroidering. It just sits here unused.

I would also talk to a well-known sewing machine repair person. They seem to know about quality and manufacturers.

How wonderful. Good Luck!!

I had the 850 and loved it, upgraded to diamond and i can't imagine another machine as wonderful. i have heard the new emerald is having lots of problems.

Check Bernina if you are looking for a good basic machine. Bernina has brought out two new lower-price models to replace their Activa line. Their current Activas are being sold at large discounts. I just purchased an Activa PE 230 (quilting model), new, listed at $1,600 for $950 at my local LQS. Doesn't do embroidery but has 70 stitches, is relatively lightweight and sews beautifully.

Me, too!

I love my Phaff,l

I would try out any that I could but also consider the service and reception of the store selling the item. Do you sincerely feel you will get extra assistance if you have trouble with the machine or just don't understand how to do something. Will they do it free or charge you for their time each time you ask to be shown something? I live in a relatively small area and so bought a Husky serger 60 miles a way. They will give free lessons but I hate the drive. I bought a Baby Lock quilter and love it. It was a demo used in classes at a quilt expo so got it half price. E Burns had taught and there were several new machines for the class to use and then sold 1/2 off with financing free for 12 months. I really like it. Love the 3 stich in place start up, push a button at end of seam and it locks the stitch ( 3 stitches in place), thread cut off button, presser foot lift button. Lots of auxillary stitches and lettering. Good Luck. Let us know what you get.

The Janome Horizon is a superb machine, I love it. It has an 11" throat, thread cutter, built in walking foot, so many nice features that I can't list them. I had a Bernina QE with the stitch regulator and sold it because it did not sew fast enough for me, had a short work space and I found I could do free motion better without the BSR. I would absolutely get the Horizon. Check out the Janome website.

I started out with Viking Topaz 20, 3-months later, upgraded to Viking Designer Diamond (costs more).
I do so much quilting and designing on quilts, I am
so very happy with it. Just go to different stores that
handle different models, ask for a demo. GOOD LUCK!

I agree!!

I have been drooling over the new Janome Horizon. Go to a dealer and try one. Big throat.

I really like my new Viking Sapphire with the 10" throat and have been FMQ on it. I purchased it locally to save the hassle of having to drive for 2 hours to get a machine serviced so keep that in mind when making your purchase.

My Janome 4000 has the same lock stitch at beginning and end. Wish I had the thread cut off thingy and the presser foot lift.

Which dealer is closest to you? How good are they with service after the sale? I own 4 Viking machines and love every one- bought the first because I could not get the Bernina dealer to wait on me and seel me a machine - and I have NEVER regretted this for a second. Many of the machines in that price range have similar features....but the classes and service that you get with the sale are so very important.

Crickett, I have been researching and drooling over the Horizon too, so I went yesterday to closest dealer - tried it out and absolutely loved it. It came home with me! And it sews perfect stitches, I even can free motion with it & my stitches look better than they ever have with my other machine. I've had another brand for about 8 years, paid a lot for it, and this is far superior!
This was my Christmas present to me. :D

I bought Janome about 3 months ago just love it. I have the Horizon 7700. I looked At Babylock ,great machine but people at that store are not very welcoming. Looked at verizon, avery nice machine, but i've been to 4 stores in my area looking for help with my{used} embridery machine, they couldn't or wouldn't help because I didn't buy it from them.

I have the Husqvarna Viking Designer I, Designer II Quilting Machine and the Designer SE/LE. I quilt on all of them depending on what I am doing. I would not have bought the Designer II if I had known how good the Des. I and SE would do on quilting. On my heavier quilts I always bring out my old Bernine 1230 (25 yrs. old) and go to town. This machine is a work horse and has never let me down. I would look at several shops and fish for the best buy for your money. If you "test" drive all of the machines you will know the feel when you see it. With a budget of 2/3K you should be able to find a really good machine. I bought two of my machines second hand from dealers and didn't have a moments problem with either one of them. I would certainly shop price wise because there are a lot of machines out there and if quilting is all you really want a machine for you won't have to pay for all of the bells and whistles which come on a lot of the machines out there. I find myself doing only certain things on all of my machines and that way I don't have to adjust or readjust every time I sit down to sew. I wish you the very best on your journey to find just the right "girl" for you. Be sure to let us know what you find out there and what you decide on.

You sure can get a Bernina for around $3,000! I have a 440 QE (with BSR) that my husband bought me a year ago for that price. I didn't want the embroidery unit with it but if you did I think it's roughly another $1,000.

I really, really love my Bernina but I haven't used any other machines so don't have much to compare it to (other than the cheap Walmart Brother that I had before). I think what is really important is to go with a brand that you like that has a good dealer near you. You will need to go to them for servicing and other possible issues so you want someone you can easily get help from.

Good luck on your machine search!

Yep! I agree. My first Bernina was a 440QE and I loved her! I had the embroidery module also and once I started, I wanted to embroider anything that wasn't moving 8-) I now have a 730E with embroidery and the fund continues.

Congrats on your new machine! Enjoy!

I would, without a doubt, look at the Janome dealer and check out the new 7700 model. Upgraded from the 6600, there are a lot more features on this one and you can sew cuffs. The throat on this machine is longer so you are able to quilt with ease. It's not a long arm, but it certainly can do your quilting a lot better than any machine with a small throat. The work table is generous as well. Janomes are wonderful machines and considered workhorses. With the amount of quilting you plan to use it for, it will not disappoint you. I am not sure of the cost of this machine, but I certainly would aim at this model if you can buy it; maybe a layaway plan might help you afford this machine.

The fluke on the 6600 is that the base isn't removable to sew cuffs and pants hems. Not a problem for anyone who can sew because you can just figure out a way to do cuffs. I use my 6600 and feel spoiled because it's a superior machine from the 28 year old Kenmore I was working on. I feel privledged every time I turn it on and wouldn't give it up for anything unless I got the 7700.

Take your time looking for the right machine. You may even find the 6600 used at dealers and if you do, grab it. You won't be dissappointed with that machine either. Kenmore attachments fit the Janomes and so do some of the universal attachments and bobbins. No dealer will tell you that, but mine did. Also, if you have a good dealer who is willing to help you learn about the machine you buy, then you can expect good, honest repair service from them as well. Many dealers are just there for the sales and don't accommodate the buyer for anything else. If you are in the Lake City Florida area, check out Fabric Art Shop. The girls there will assist you with pleasure. They will also repair on site. That's where I got my machine and they are very nice.

I agree with the Babylock espire, love love love it, or the Brother QC-1000 which is brothers model of the espire but you get the my custom stitch feature that isn't on the espire and it a little cheaper than the espire

I was wondering about a free arm on Janome 6600. It doesn't look like it has one. I'm no sure it would keep me from buying it but it is a small consideration. I'm in Gainesville not far from Lake City. There is a dealer there whose wife owns the 6600 and she is going to bring it in the store for me to try. Thanks for the input.

I all ready spent my money....bought a Babylock Symphony and I love it!
I have a Babylock Elegante 2 that I was using for quilting and embroidering, but I wanted to do both at the same time.
Now I can embroidery and quilt, I just pivot on my chair and change my threads for the embroidery project and back to my quilt project!
Really love my machines.

Bev

Janome Horizon - $3000 - lots of great features for quilting

I have three Janome's and I love then all they are sturdy machines do not have plastic parts easy to run and do everything I could possibly want. I fell for mine the minute I sat down to try them out.

I love my Elna Quilter's Dream II

Diannia

I am about to quilt my queen on the 7700 any tips??? I am a bit nervous about ruining my quilt...I do not want to do the stitch in the ditch. Think the free motion...

Mine was 2,400...with a ton of extras....what is hard is only a few dealers around so its hard to shop around unless you like driving...My husband bought it and he really, really liked the dealer/shop...he is not a shopper but he really liked this shop.

I love my Jamone 7700!!!! 11 inch throat and does things that I never dreamed I could do!