If you had about $2000-$3000 to spend on a sewing machine that you can quilt on, which machine would you buy? I don't really care much about applique (a little would be nice) my primary wish is for the quilting. Don't think I could find a Bernina in that price range, but what about a Husqvarna? I want the wider throat on any machine I would buy.
Thanks,

There are Bernina's in that range! I would visit a dealer.

Babylock--Quilter's choice.

I love my Pfaff. Used mainly for quilting, although has the embroidery feature which I haven't used much. I do FWQ with it without any problems. I got it at LQS about 2 years ago. It was a discontinued model that had been used as a floor sample, but was like new. It was a great buy for about 1400, I think.

I would check the Janome dealer, I did, and bought one that was a demonstrator and I love it. Got it at a good price 2 yrs ago

The Husqvarna Topaz 30 has the 10" throat and is wonderful. There is also a Topaz 20, might be what you are looking for. I love my "Miss Topaz". I also have the Designer Diamond, has the large throat, but a lot more money and mainly embroidery machine.

I love my Janome 6600 but if I had $3000 to spend I would buy the 11000! But then I'm partial to Janomes. I think you can find a Bernina in that price range though.

What she said.

I would try the popular makes and see which I felt most comfortable with. I personally like Viking, but we are all different.

My vote is for a Babylock Symphony!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Symphony! Even traded in a Bernina to get it. Then traded in a Bernina serger to get the Enlighten

Pfaff are not made like they used to be. They do not stand behind their machine. Not made in Germany anymore.

I got the Babylock Espire which is now marketed as the Symphonie. Gave up a Pfaff for mine and LOVE LOVE LOVE mine too.

I love, love, love my Babylock Espire.

But, before making a decision involving that much money, I would suggest you test-drive as many of the above machines as possible. We are almost all partial to our own brand /model, so trying out a variety would give you a feel for the capabilities of several.

Good luck and have fun with the search.

I think you can get a Bernina QE for under 3,000. I don't know if that price includes a BSR. Let us know what you end up with

definitely.

I have the same machine as SMTP, Babylock--Quilter's choice. It does a great job. Good luck

Hubs bought me a Sears machine many years ago (15 perhaps) and I have not had the first problem with it. It has some of the fancy stitches and alphas, too. But it's not the easiest to quilt on. Don't think I can drop the feed dogs so that is an issue. Hubs has a Harley, pretty sure I want a Bernina. Is that a comparison or what? But would settle for Husq or Baby Lock. ha I really appreciate all the info you've shared, especially about the Janome as I was giving that some thought, too.

Whatever you get, Congratulations! It will be like riding a Harley ;-)

I love my Janome Horizon 7700. It has all the bells and whistles of a regular machine - over 200 stitches, but it has a 11" throat which is FANTASTIC for quilting.

I own 2 Bernina's.One is 1230 and other older one is 830.Both are old machines and I love both for quilting.Throat plate is 7" pab

I sold my jet ski & bought a husquarna mega quilter & frame. Saves me money on quilting plus I quilt for the public.I have been looking at the Singer on HSN. I need something to Hem on

Janome 6600P or just about any other machine with the extended harp area. Makes FMQ so much easier!

Check out the Bernina Activa 240 I bought mine 5 years ago for around 1700.00 I love it and have never had any problems with it.In fact I wish I had went ahead and bought the more expensive Artista it has the embroidery unit that you can load quilting designs into .I bought this machine recently but could have saved myself some money if I had bought the machine I really wanted in the first place. I use both machines all the time While embroidery machine is busy I work with other machine. Bernina dealers are having great sales right now you might want to check it out. What ever machine you get make sure it comes with everything you want .My Artista is a quilters edition and came with a free BSR foot for free motion quilting ,still learning but it's a lot of fun have fun shopping.There are some great machines out there .

I, too, love my Pfaff - Quilt Expression 4.0 - around $2,500.

I have a Janome Horizon and love it.

I have the Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 875, its about $2400. It has 175 stitches,5 alphabets(includes Cyrilic & Japanese). 10" throat space, needle up /down,thread cutter and lots of other wonderful things. I've had mine for a year now and like it better all the time.
Another option is the Husq. Mega quilter, straight stitch only,
9" throat and is great for both FM and walking foot quilting.
I've sewn several quilts with this model, I worked for Husqvarna Viking for almost 2 years.

I love all my Pfaff's! and they were made in Germany! I have 3- 7570's and would not trade them for anything, They do all I ask of them and do it so nicly and are so quite, and love the IDT love, love, love them!

I was thinking about buying the Babylock Symphony, but was wondering about how much they were. I would gladly trade in my Bernina for one...Eleanor Burns advertizes this one.

What features do you like about the Symphony?

I just bought the Brother NX-650Q sewing/quilting machine on sale last year for $999.99. I just happened to go to our local dealer and caught it on the last day of the sale. It is usually $1500-$1700. It comes with a wide table, quilting arm to lower and raise the foot. It also comes with the motion foot for machine stippling.
I absolutely love it. I am on my 2nd quilt. I would have made more by now, but I've been very busy making corn hole bags for a local sporting goods company.

I am now looking to purchase the Brother PR-650 embroidery machine to add to my services. I have been unemployed since March of this year and have decided to go into business for myself.

Good luck, I've attached the link to the Brother website.
http://www.brother-usa.com/HomeSewin...oductID=NX650Q

I guiltily admit to having Vikings, Berninas, Pfaffs, Elnas and a Janome and, if I had to pick one, it would be a Pfaff. I just love the IDT feature on my Pfaffs.

Janome Horizon with the 11" plate and 5 wonderful lights.

yes, what they said!!

You can definitely get a Bernina in that range. If you don't mind a gently used, go to a dealer and see what you can find. I got my first Bernina, a 440 QE with BSR for $1900 used. Went back 3 weeks later and got the embroidery module for $500 more.

I can use foot pedal, or not...
I can use knee lift lever, button, or the old fashioned lift lever for the presser foot...
Snap on feet, meaning more options...
Machine will not sew with presser foot up...
Self-adjusting pressed foot pressure...
Auto-needle down and foot up for pivoting...
Auto anchor sts at beginning and end of sewing...
Thread cutting with the touch of a button...
LOL I could go on and on...

Sorcha

You can compare Janomes here:
http://content.janome.com/index.cfm/...ewing-Quilting

If your interested in just the quilting, straight stitch, i would get the janome 1600, around $800 i think

i have the janome 6600, ($1,300.) love it. 9" throat. but i would not trade her for anything.

they just came out with a new janome, 6300 ..$1000.,not as many belles and whistles as the 6000, but it looks like a great machine..

if i had the money to spend, i would get the 7700,new horizon.

I was able to get a Bernina floor model for just under $2000. It doesn't have the BSR, but you can get that for under $1000 if you wish. All the quilt shop folks I spoke with (except Bernina) said practice was the key to free motion. I love my Bernina 430.
tp

I just bought a Pfaff Expression 2 in Brisbane, Australia, $1600.

It is perfect for quilting. Has a 10" throat. I quilt King size quilts on it.

A Babylock Symphony, under 2000.00 I love mine. It comes with alot of attachments, including a couple of free motion feet.