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!

Just like KINKAJOU, I love the IDT built in walking foot which I believe is unique to Pfaff machines. I had a Husqvarna 750, which was a really nice machine, but I traded it for a Pfaff Expression 2038, simply because I wanted that built in walking foot. It is an amazing feature. I believe I paid about $1600 for my Pfaff in Fall 2007. Then I recently purchased the Pfaff Fab-U-Motion table with stitch regulator for machine quilting. It attaches to my machine and makes free motion quilting very "do-able". Nita

I love my elna Quilter's Dream 7200. Large throat, thread cutter, up/down feature, automatic threader(I don't use, don't like them)although I'm way over 30, lots of stitches, etc.

I agree that you need to go to different shops and try them out. Features on a machine are what sell me. I too, love the auto needle threader. And the needle down feature is a must for me. Large throat is great if you are going to do alot of machine quilting. I've been thru many brands and have to say, I've loved them all. I sew about 10-12 hours a day.

Hi Tricia, I thot I was the only one who sewed till the wee hours of the morning. Living alone, I can sleep till noon if I like.

Since this is a business for me, I work constantly. I'm starting to get to a point where special orders are about 4-5 weeks out. I mailed 7 packages of items today and last week about 20 went out. That seems to take up as much time as the quilting does anymore!! I try to quit sewing around 10:30 - 11:00 at nite. Then I sit in front of the tv and try to get some of the hand stuff done!!! I'm so glad I love it.

cheapest runs great at wm say 189.00 i know sometimes that's high but keep her clean and she's as good a quilter as any of them and I have mmmmm, Lots that cost more but my handsome park ranger Brother is a wonder to behold& does the quilting too if wanted and is computerized needle up/down, like i say I Love him and also his Brother in my art studio even though I have soooo much to choose from. His Brother did cost more and I do quilting in there. 8)

Sewing machines are like car's everyone likes theirs. I have had many different machines over the years.

White, Singer, Elna, Brothers and now I have (3) baby locks.
One is the Decorators Choice, that I take to my classes, love it. Then I have the Quilter's choice that I use for most of my sewing at home. Also have my big machine the Baby Lock Ellisimo, love that one also. I do mostly embroidery on that, since I have two machines in my sewing room, it is easier not to have to change the foot on my big machine to sew.

It is best to go to different shop's try out all the various types, see what feels right to you.

Most of the people that I go to quilt class with have Bernina's Jermone, a lot of them have the little baby feather weight's. Everyone loves their machines.

For me, it is Baby Lock, but for you it might be something else.

I would recommend the Janome 6600, or the Horizon by Janome. Both have the larger harp and has all the bells and whistles you could ask for.

I have a Janome 6600 Similar to the 6500. It is a workhorse. I've never seen a bad review on it. Takes all threads. It has a larger throat 9", Needle threader, cutter, needle up and down an integrated walking foot. . Has some many decorative stitches that I probably could do without, although i do have fun with them. I can very highly recommend it.

Hands down best machine for features and price, Janome. The other machines you mentioned are great machines, but to stay in your price range, you would have to give it in some features that come on the Janome. When I was looking, I talked with two machine technicians......janomes are well made and don't show up in repair shop as often as other brands. I purchased a Janome 15000 and love it. I also have a Skyline 7 with auto foot lift..love that one too. Happy hunting!

The quoted post is a SPAMMER. Reported. Do not click their link.

My advise would be to find machines that have what you want and then try them out, kind of like when you buy a car. If you can't find one in your price range, maybe you could find a good used machine.

I just reported the above post as spam. I've noticed lately that a spammer will revive an old thread. If this isn't a spammer the moderator will know.

I have the Janome 6600 Professional. It has all the bells and whistles that I may ever need. I do all my own FMQ, even king size. I feel I have paid for that machine just what I have saved completing my quilts all myself. Try different ones out and you should find the right one for you. Kind of like buying a car.