i've written SO many b------ about this machine that i'm sure you're all as sick of hearing about it as i am of using it! i have read so many tips onthis board,i am going to try ALL of them before taking it in for the THIRD time. i keerp telling myself that i'm NOTgoing to buy another,but it's so frustrating that i'mabout to that point.
the problem is money[what else?]the brother was pretty much top of bthe line when i bought it,12 yrs ago[hasn't been used for 10 yrs]that to get a machine thateven compareswill cost $2000.just to getwhat i already have on the brother.their are only 2 places to take it to,both owned by the same man. keep taking in samples,etc ,but it comes back doing the same thing
i am considering buying a refurbished janome sewing/emb.machine for about $700.00 looks like awinner,never had an emb.machine but would like to.theonly thing is,the biggest hoop is 5by 7.don't think i'd use emb often,but would it be a waste of money?any opinions?dar

I was thinking about getting an embroidery machine once because I thought it would be "cool" to have. Then I had to admit that I am really not a big fan of embroidery AND I would not be able to sew WHILE the embroidery unit did its thing. So I opted not to get one.

Must have missed the problems you are having. Do you think you got a lemon or is the machine wearing out?

Not sure what you are asking... Should you continue to try and get your current machine fixed ? gave you contacted Brother directly ? If you have taken it in for repair and it is still not right, call them , they will issue you an RA number send it to them and they will look at it.

If you want the new machine . How often will you use the embroidery, some use it a lot, others rarely or never. I use mine in spurts. I will work it hard for weeks and then it will sit there for months just waiting for the next burst.

I got a Pfaff embroidery/sewing machine combo. I use the embroidery some and the sewing all the time. I might have been better to go with a better regular sewing machine, but I appreciated the embroidery when I need it. I'm no help at all.

I don't have an embroidery machine, but its on my list of things to get. I know that some of the things I would like to do can wait awhile so no big hurry here. I also think that one day when I have grandchildren I'll use it more to make clothes and such with embroidery on them.

I've been looking into these combo units because of the size of the embroidery fields. I found out from someone that a lot of the larger hoops can be used on the smaller machines its just you have to adjust your pattern in the hoop to make a larger piece. I personally am thinking about getting a stand alone unit. That way I can sew and embroider at the same time. Hopefully, I'll be able to afford one with atleast 6 threads on it so there's not so much down time changing threads for a multiple color embelishment.

It is terrible when you can't get the darn things to work like you want them to, frustrating beyond words, I know.

Here is a suggestion: Pick up a good used OLD machine and then you will have something affordable to use while you get the kinks worked out of this one. I just read on here a lady picked one up yesterday for $10, I just got one from a Goodwill for less than $1.

It is nice to have a backup machine, but even better to have a couple set up for the new "project of the day". That way you can mend something quickly without having to rethread, move the needle over, change stitch length, ect, ect. Just a thought.

I had (still have in storage) am embroidery machine and the bells and whistles. Used it alot at first then fewer and fewer times. The grandkids grew up and I spent more time just sewing. Was alot of money and cant say I justified it for long.

I have a sewing / embroidery machine. I love it. Not that I use the embroidery much but it is there when I want it.

I know from experience that it is not good for machines to be stored for too long without being run occasionally. I guess that goes for any electrical appliance! My over locker and sewing machine were put into storage for five years when I went to live overseas, both needed servicing after that and neither of them went as well ever again!

I also think machine embroidery is not for everyone, you either like it or not, I personally think an embroidery machine is a lot of money for what you get, I would much prefer a machine which I could sew regular things on but which I could quilt my quilts on as well, these do fancy stitches too, so I got maximum use all round with it. it also depends a great deal on what you want to sew and how much sewing you actually do in a week or month etc.

Gal

I have both a dedicated sewing machine and my embroidery machine. I didn't see the sense in getting one that did both, why wear out the machine before it's time. When I had a sewing machine already.

Contact Brother's customer service and see what they can do.

A few years ago, when I added a new machine to the ones I already had, I wanted the embroidery feature. After much research, to get everything I wanted on my new machine, I chose a Janome 11000. Once I became interested and educated in M.E., I became a big spender ... on designs, thread, stabilizers, software, blah, blah, blah. Because the embroidery machine is also the machine I use for quilt piecing, I either do piecing for extended periods or I do embroidery for extended periods (embroidery that I plan to incorporate into quilts). I really enjoy everything about this machine. For me, choosing an embroidery project and the designs and thread colors is just as much fun as choosing a new quilt pattern and the fabrics that I'll use in it.

thanx!never thought about contacting brother !duh have the brother packed up & readyto go back & fight w/them again,but thinki'll wait until i contact brother.thank God ibought a janome while we were in paducah,never had a spare,but BOY am i glad i do now! i am not a patient person & waiting 2-3 wks for a machine would KILLme
i got a $500.00 janome on sale at the little shop accross from the museum,they even threw in the 1/4" foot.unless i get some satisfaction from brother,i'll probably buy a janome.was thinkingof sewing/emb,but after REALLYthinking it over & reading the ladies onthis board,i'm sure i wouldn't use it enough to justify the extra price.more of one of those toys you think you can't live w/o
i have also been wanting an accuquilt go,so maybe i can figure out to get both!!!

i contacted brother s suggested,you won't believe this...at least I didn't !in order to get a question answered, you must sign up for $9.00 a mo. for a year [first mo. free]or it's $12.99per question !am i just cheap'or is there something wrong w/this ???????

when consideringan emb .machine,NEVERthought how much you need to spend just to USEit! SEE how much money you ladies havesaved me?
also whatis giving me "cold feet" about the accuquilt!the strip cutters are the things i would want the most,&naturally the most expensive! think i'll stick w/ my j.t.shape cutter!

I can't believe your email with response from Brother - here in Oz, I have had excellent service over 4 years with Brother Innovis 4000D - bought shop used at reduced price, played up a few times and didn't like shopkeeper's attitude so contacted HO here and was told to take to any other Brother shop as still under warrantee; I did that and haven't had a problem for 3 years after 3 parts were replaced.

Carpel Tunnel etc in hands means I can't do much hand emb so I've been machine embroidering for 5-6 years, have little Brother machine for general sewing & patchwork whilst embroidery machine is doing it's own thing - definitely need two machines; embroidery is combined with patchwork these days Enjoy both types of sewing, there is magic in embroidery!!!!

OK Just went and pulled my paperwork from Brother. You want Customer service, and you don't pay for that . I started out with an email . they sent me an email back with suggestions to fix the problem :roll: LOL Then they gave me a number to call to follow up with 1-877-BROTHER (276-8437) I called them and we went back and forth a bit and then I got an RS to send the machine back in for them for further repair. have to still get it sent in :oops:
keep us posted :thumbup: