Hi - I am a new quilter and would like to upgrade my old New Home. I have checked out Janome, Baby Lock, Pfaff, and Huskvarna and I am totally confused as which one would be the best. I would like to have a cojmputerized machine, but in the $!500-$2000 price range. Would really appreciate your help.

OMG! If I didn't have an auto threader, I'd never be sewing!
Can't see that little eye with my little eye!!

I'm 29! just ask my girls (1 will be 18 and the other will be 27) :)

I also like the needle down feature. I have a Husqvarna Platnium 750. It has a toe tap feature for needle up/down. It is great when quilting and piecing and pivoting!! I would be lost with that feature!

I am also considering looking at a new machine.. not for me but for my Mum. I am looking to surprise her with a brand new computerized sewing machine for Christmas. She has a Singer right now, but I am looking at the Quilter's edition of the computerized Janome. It has an extra long arm for the thick quilts to go through. It also has a detachable quilting table, footless sewing, speed adjustment, lots of embroidery stitches.

I am also looking at the Janome Embroidery stand alone machine. I might look at treating myself to one of those next Spring. By then I hope to have my house with my dream sewing studio and then have a place to put this little darling. The price is pretty good and seems I can use my little USB memory stick I can download as many embroidery designs as my little heart desires and embroider my little heart out!

I bought the Janone 6500 mostly because it has a deep throat, 9", for quilting. It also has a needle down button, thread cutter and needle threader which I love. I have a Grace quilting table and can make two long passes and sometimes three before rolling up. With my Bernina, I could only make one pass and sometimes two depending on the quilting stitch. I searched long and hard before I decided and am very happy with my Janome.

I have the H.Viking Saphire 830 with the 10 inch throat. I love having the extra room for quilting, makes a big difference when shoving a quilt thru.
It has needle down,threader, and best of all a stay stich for beginning and ending stiching. It was 1100 when I bought it but has come down in price since.
It has one problem, you need to get the edging foot instead of the 1/4 inch foot because of the wide feed dogs. It is computerized.

I just purchased a Pfaff 2048 and I LOVE it! The build in walking foot is amazing as well as the many other features.

I has several quilt stitches that I love and an array of presser feet for any job.

I was able to sit down and sew at both machines before making my final choice and I am glad that I did get that sewing time.

Good luck!

Just like Mar32428, I have the Janome 6500 and love the features she mentioned as well as the 'knot' feature at the end of stitching.

I did a bit of research b4 getting the Janome but the larger throat/neck area was what sold me cuz I hate trying to stuff a quilt for quilting in a smaller area.

Previously I had a Kenmore for over 35 yrs so I wasn't loyal to any particular brand.

As others have said, do your research, try out different brands and choose the one that is right for YOU.

good luck and happy quilting! ... sue

I also have the Janome embroidery machine and love it. I started with a Bernina Deco 500 several years ago and it was okey at the time. Problem for me was not the working of the machine but the constant updates Bernina made that never applied to my machine. They kept bringing out newer and newer madels but I couldn't afford them so I went to the Janome. Don't think you'll be disapointed.

Quilter's Review has reviews of many of the quilting machines. Here's the list: http://www.quiltersreview.com/welcome.asp They also have a forum where machines (and other products) are reviewed and discussed http://www.quiltersreview.com/forum/...sp?FORUM_ID=22.

You can also compare sewing machines (or most anything else) at websites such as consumersearch.com, bizrate.com, epinions.com, and nextag.com.

Happy hunting!