Thanks, another vote for Pfaff AND it will cost me less than the Bernina! I too have loved my Pfaffs over the years: I have a 2144 in Germany and a 2140 in France. Bought them when they were the latest and greatest and they both serve well.

I own the Bernina 830. I love it. I wouldn't buy a new Pfaff or Viking since the merger with Singer. My two cents.

Just found a great website called Quiltbug.com. I was actually trying to find out what the devil bottom weight thread is. They didn't answer that but they do have a list of all threads and which ones to use when......http://quiltbug.com/articles/thread-theory.htm
So Judith I still need your help in understanding bottom weight thread. Have this sinking feeling to know is vital.....

Ah a merger with Singer: that I did not know and that explains a lot. Thanks Candace. Oh dear back to the drawing board!!! I don't need embroidery which means the 820 and not the 830: I guess they are as good as each other, I read somewhere that the 820 came out after the 830 as a machine designed for quilters.

Go to a quilt/sewing store, which carries the various machines. You can see each one, up close, and learn about the different features. I recently chose a Janome Horizon, after researching online and seeing the actual machine.

I have purchased a Pfaff since that merger and the quality is still there - I have an older Pfaff also to compare it to. I also have a mid-range Viking bought since that merger and it too is a great machine. Have no idea why merger seems to mean bad things on this board.

I am no expert. I buy from one dealer because I like her and she is very supportive-working very hard to make customers happy. She sells Janome, Brother and Bernina. I own a Bernina 380 (sewing), a Brother NX 2000 (sewing) and a Brother PR 620 (this one is embroidery only). I also have a Brother serger.

I love all my machines but am a little partial to the Brother machines. While I love my Bernina- the Brother machines are so user friendly. I am just trying to learn FMQ and chose to do this on my Brother NX 2000. It came with a large table, has great speed controls and wow, it was so much fun to try the FMQ on this machine. It has so many options- thread cutter, threader, so many stitches, etc. It's just an easy machine to use as is my Brother embroidery machine.

I really think that knowing your dealer and feeling confident in their knowledge and support are so important. I would not have bothered looking into learning new stitching skills if she had not been supportive. Of course, she has sold me several machines but it has been a win-win situation really. She does business and I get great machines and support.

As I said, I am no expert and you will find your machine. I have read so many threads about different machine brands. New ones certainly aren't the heavy duty, all metal machines of years gone. I do also have a little featherweight and 1950's Necchi if I need that. The day I decided on my Brother NX 2000, I was actually looking at the Janome Horizon and the Bernina 820. Once I sat with my machine, I knew it was my machine. We have bonded. Good luck!

All, some people use a lighter weight thread in their bobbins. A couple that I have used are from Superior Threads: So Fine, this is a 50wt but is finer than the 50wts we use to piece with and Bottom Line which is a 60wt. Both of these are Polyester so in case that bothers you - it doesn't me and the So Fine doesn't look like a poly. I have a long arm and use it in my bobbins most of the time.

I agree that the merger should have nothing to do with anything; companies merge all the time and most don't know about it. Maybe all this means is now there will be good Singers on the market again. I just bought a Viking this past year and it is still made in Sweden and I love my machine. I'd own a Pfaff before I'd own a Bernina no matter what. But you need to go to the stores offering the machines and see what the staff is like and if the support is strong and do you get classes. The Bernina store here, even though has great looking fabric I don't care for the staff (including owner) and rarely get good service when I go in so why would I get it with a machine. My Viking store I get free classes and added support if I need it and there is always help available. Check out the dealers and the machines to see which ones fit you better. You'll always find someone for or against any machine when you ask this question so you need to research both options involved.

Pfaff! I love the dual feed!