I bought a Viking D1 that was a trade in for an upgrade. I love it. It has been great. I did have a New Home and loved it too. However, I hear Bernina is a family based company and still makes their machines right here in the USA. So that might make a difference to you. Trying out different machines would help you see the difference.

I think it really depends what you want to do with it. Knowing yourself and your quilting is the first step. I would not trade my straight stitch Juki for any machine with fancy stitches or embroidery, but that is because I know I wouldn't use it to its capacity. I love to piece, and even more, I love to machine quilt, so i have an absolutely simple, non computerized machine that does those things superbly.

Also, if you are looking for a workhorse machine without lots of bells and whistles, I would suggest a vintage machine. My go to back-up is a 1961 Atlas. I think it would sew through rhinocerous if it had to, and again, simple to maintain and fix. (Also $45. on eBay, with the able assistance of Lostn51 (Billy) who I ran my choices by and asked questions of. There is a vintage machine thread and the folks there know everything! Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions if deciding on that route.

if I could afford it, I would buy another Juki 98Q- one for piecing and one on the frame at all times.

Try out lots, think about what it is you want to do with it, and then decide.

I replaced my machine with a Bernina 440QE demo last year and got a good deal on it. Then I got the embroidery module off ebay for Christmas--another good deal. I love both, but the embroidery module had me in tears until I could find a class to learn how to use it. I like it now, and I recommend doing it separately if you're going to do it. The seperate module means you use a laptop for your work, but it's a much bigger screen to work from than the tiny screen on the sewing machine. My preference.

I have the stitch regulator, and I like it okay, but I'm not sold on whether it's terribly useful. I find myself using my walking foot just as often.

If you can, buy a good machine--the best you can afford--and it will give you years of good use. You may end up ahead in the very long run.

Baby Loc--has thread cutter that is great time saving!

y hubby bought me a Janome 66002 years ago and I wasn't very impresses with it even though itis supposed to be for quilting. Then I found out that
both the company and the dealer were terrible to work with. Find out before hand that the company and dealer are honest and reliable. I had a Bernina before the Janome and it served me well.

I agree: first set your budget limitations, then look at the floor models or ones the dealer is willling to make a deal on.

Find a machine you can bond with, as this varies with different people. Of my quilting friends we each love our machines and have different makes.

I love my Pfaff due to the dual feed or IDT. It is the easiest to work with as my arthritis in my fingers and hands makes it difficult to work with some of the other brands. If you can't bond with a machine ... or if it doesn't seem compatible to your way of sewing then forget that others like it .... get what suits you. Is the machine going to be for quilting, sewing, and/or embroidery?

Some of our LQS's have relatibvely new used machines for sale because the owners wanted to trade up. the deals are out there.

Since I take my machine to all sorts of quilting days I like having a machine I didn't pay too much for for this. I do however, have the Pfaff Creative Vision and that is for home use only. No traveling for the $$$ machine.

Why not take the $$$ one with me? Well, I remember all too well when I went for a quilting day and two ladies at the table next to mine decided to move the table I was at. They just shoved the table over the carpet. When I returned to my table the table collapsed and my machine went down with the table. I dearly love my quilting friends but realize they may not all have the same concerns I do. Others have had problems when someone accidentally trips on their machine cords or falls into their machines.

Enjoy the process ... make it fun and you will be pleased with the results.

ali

Wow, I never expected so many replies. Thanks to everyone
for their input and advice.

To answer one question: The machine I am looking for is
for piecing quilts tops as well as other sewing.

I would love the needle up and down feature for sure.
And you all are so right when you say...go to each dealer
and try try try them. I just thought one would be better
than the other's. But if you are happy with yours and have not have too many problems with them...That is the same one
I want...I wish I could buy the high end one..but I live
on SS and my budget is limited...I think I have to up
the anty a bit...too around 500 to 800 dollars to get a better quality. My old Singer has sewn allot to quilts to date. Several Queen Size and many full size and of course
many many baby quilts...I hand quilt them..I love the feel
of the needle and fabric, etc.
I have also did machine quilting on my old singer.
but I wore the poor thing out...HAHAHA
I love the idea that I can even look into trade and ask for a discount too.?? I also have watched the newspaper ads
I call on one (sadly ..someone's GrandMother passed away
and had a 3 year old Pfaff with a sewing cabinet to boot.
But someone beat me too it..I was down for weeks.
No one in that family...wanted it. Darn it all anyway.
So, I am still looking ..
I Thank each and everyone who responded with such advice.
I truly appreciate everyone for taking the time to respond.
and so quickly too...That was great...!!!!

From one Hooked on Quilting to Another.

Many Many Thanks - Happy Quilting...!!!!

i up graded to a janome sewist 521 that I got second hand. was at the dealer and they wanted to sell it to me for 200 and it was a floor model. I love my Janome. I think that if I ever have to get another one I might try out the huskvarna that my hubbys step-grandma has. She loves it. Jo Anns sells husvarna here. just go around to the different shops and see what you like. Just make sure that when you do find the model that you want to look around for a good deal. don't just jump and hope that it is a good deal. do the research.

On the high end of cost I would highly recommend a Juki. It has a 9" throat which is good for quilting and does an absolutely beautiful straight stitch. On the down side, it only has a straight stitch. I bought the Juki TL-98 for $3,000 4 years ago.

On the low end of cost, I had an old Necchi 535FA in my storage building that a son-in-law picked up off the curb. It still looks like new and I have had it for over 8 years. Of course, I never used it until a week or so ago. It is a wonderful old machine, take thick seams like they are nothing, you can drop the feed dogs for FMQ and has several different feet for sewing. I'm sure you can get one of these at a local shop that sells their traded in machines.

Not sure who told you about Bernina, but Bernina is a swiss company - nothing made here in the us. They sadly, are also farming their production to Thailand & such.
Juki has been an Industrial machine maker and a darn good one. The Juki 98Q is a quilters staple, but is straight stitch only. Juki has now come out with machines with more stitches and reasonable. I have the Exceed F-600 a wonderful, beautiful , strong sewing machine. It outsews any machine I ever had, and that's quite a few Bernina's, Pfaff's, Vikings, Elna's. If you can find a dealer go sew on them. They have a stronger motor and zip over seams & such.