Ok ladies I need all your input---I have a wonderful Janome 6600 that I bought mainly for applique and quilting.
The problem is that I bought it after I had bought a Brother 1500Q. I loved the Brother for quilting but it is only a straight stitch machine so I had to drag out my Bernina 930 just to do applique. I truely love that machine also but it is sooooo heavy and for just one chore it's loads of work. After using the Janome 6600 to quilt, I realized I had gotten spoiled to the speed of the Brother quilter so I now drag it out to quilt. I am thinking of selling the Janome and the Bernina, my husband say's he will believe it when it happens, and buying a machine just for applique. I really want one that does great applique for raw edge and turned edge and it would be great if it was easy to handle. I really would like a stop/start button, auto thread clip and needle down postion.
I know I'm not asking for much, :) so bring it on. Oh yes money is an object but I really want that great stitch and hope this will be a last purchase.
THX in advance,

Try a Singer Confidence.

I have a Pfaff 2140 does everything you need.
Why do you have trouble with your machine when doing applique? Could it be the stitch setting? These machine should do the required job.

I have the Brother CS6000i - light weight , portable and 60 built in stitches - My mom, sis and friend have the Brother 9000 and love it also - both under 200.00

I have a brother quattro 6000D and it does it all. Applique, Embroidery, quilting. I have a long arm so I don't use it for quilting but it can do that. It comes with a suitcase for travel if you like to go to groups to sew. It even threads the needle. I love it!

I don't understand why the Janome 6600 isn't sufficient for applique?

Geesh, how efficient are you that you have mastered the art of speed-applique? I crawl when I do the blanket stitch - particularly around curves (innies and outies).

I have a Babylock Espire (now Symphonie) and she is my everything machine. Wouldn't trade her!

Really your wanting to do 1500 APPLIQUE stitches a minute?

I have a brother 1500 and use it ONLY for quilting, I also have a (little) brother elcheapo for all my other "work" wether it be piecing, applique, sewing clothes, whatever the case is it better do it or else!

I guess if I did a lot of applique it would be NICE to have a zillion stitches to choose from but such is life. lol

Keep the Bernina! The older ones can be workhorses of machines. Even though it's heavy, keep it as a back up.

I don't know anything about the other machines, sorry.

I would have thought the 6600 would have been great for applique...I have the 7700 and the 6600 is the next one down and I love mine for applique. Is it that you can't have both your machines set up at the same time?