Babylock Jane interest
 

I'm interested to know if anyone on the board has a Babylock Jane? It is a straight stitch only machine, but has some of the bells and whistles of the other models. What I want to know is what does this machine cost? I know that I can go to a dealer (20 miles away!) and find out, but I am handicapped and it is a big deal for me to get around to stores etc., and I don't want to bother if the thing costs an arm and a leg!!! I wish they would just list the cost online, but for some reason many of the machine companies don't do that. Thanks in advance for anyone's help!

Have you called the dealer to inquire about the cost? It may vary across the country, and maybe he has one on sale!

I hadn't called the dealer thinking that he might not want to give the price over the phone, but I have decided now that I will call the dealer and ask - what harm can that do :-). Thanks.

Babylocks do not allow their machines or products sold online, you can only get them through a dealer, it is a contract thing. I think the brother PQ1500S is essentially the same machine

What do you mean that she has the bells and whistles of the other models?

I took a look and it appears that she is the same basic machine as the Grandquilter (Pfaff) and there are assorted other machines out there with the same or similar features. She sews a straight stitch - forward and backward, but she does that at high speed. She is mechanical, which means you need to figure out the tension and you need to oil her regularly. She has a side-load bobbin which is rather large but awkward to load. The feed dogs most likely will not drop but there is cover plate for FMQ. The table is large and she has built-in scissors. The throat is large for quilting.

If that is the right kind of machine for you and the price is right, then you can't go wrong with Baby Lock. I'd suggest you compare prices with some of the other straight-stitch machines.

I have a Baby Lock jane, got it last year. It is a straight stitch only machine, has to be oiled, you can adjust the upper tension, if needed, feed dogs do drop, it has 4 settings for the feed dogs, it has a thread cutter that cuts bobbin and thread at the same time, it has an extension table and has an adjustment so needle will stop up or down. About 850.00 or 900.00
We just bought for a Daughter a Brother PQ 1500S and is about the same as the Jane. It is cheaper than the Jane. online for 600.00, there was a thread on here talking about the 1500S, some said it was about the same as the Juki and Jane and Juki was making them all and being sold under the other names.
I know all about these as I have them, I'm not guessing or making up anything. Just trying to help. Juki is more expensive than the Brother, more heavy duty feet. All FMQ very well and all are heavy machines. All of the above come with the FMQ foot and walking foot and a few more. I hope this helps.

I bought the Jane with an Imperial table so dont know what the machine alone costs. It is a primitive machine with no bells and whistles. It is the same machine as the Brother 1500. Strait stitch only with a complicated threading but a stitch regulator can be added when on a frame. The throat is only 9 inchs and it has an under the machine bobbin case which I hate.
Just wish I could afford a long arm machine instead because this machine is a hassle to use with a table. Constantly having to move from the back of the machine to the front and it runs out of bobbin thread fast when quilting on a table.

Thank you Jingle. I just found out about the Brother PQ1500S and am thinking very hard about getting one. My only problem with it is that it (and the Babylock as well) have the bobbin on the side and I wanted to drop the machine into my cabinet for a flatter sewing surface. Gotta do some serious thinking about that.

Frankly there are a number of features I like about the Brother PQ1500S which is essentially the same as the Babylock, and 'primitive' does not describe this machine. The threading looks to be about the same as what we older (primitive) sewers remember about our first machines and not at all complicated. The harp is 8.5 inches which is 3 inches bigger than my current machine and something I most definitely want. The fact that it only stitches straight stitches is why I am looking at it in the first place. I hate the way my electronic 'does everything but cook' machine's stitches can look sometimes. Love the idea of the thread cutter, the knee lift for the foot, the fact that it is so fast. My only problem with it is the placement of the bobbin. I want to put the machine into my cabinet, but that doesn't seem possible with the bobbin where it is.

I love my Viking Sapphire with simple threading and drop in bobbin.
The only reason I got a Jane was to put it on a frame and add a stitch regulator for long arm type sewing. Cant afford a big throat machine.
It is primitive compared to my Sapphire with a 10 inch throat.