Brother Simplicity Sewing Machine, models SB3129 or SB700T
 

Just looking to see if there is any feedback or personal reviews on either of these. I am a beginning quilter and am looking for a few extra features than my Janome Gem 2 offers, needle up/down, speed control (adjust it so that when I step all the way down on the pedal it isn't at max speed), drop the feed dogs.....

I am really questioning whether I should a machine now - nicer features make sewing more enjoyable or just keep going with what I have and if I stick with it to buy something then.... anyway that is just my own dilemma.

If you have any other machine recommendations I'd love to hear those as well. Looking to spend no more than $400.

Thanks!

I have the Brother SE400 which is a combo embroidery/sewing. This machine is great! It does have a foot pedal, but also a start button on the panel. I never use the pedal. The speed control is right in front. Feed dogs can be raised or lowered by reaching right through the machine and sliding it. It has an automatic threader and cutter.

I bought it from Amazon for about $359.00. Right now it's on sale for $304.00

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-SE400-.../dp/B003AVMZA4

I have a Brother as does my other 6 friends that I sew with and find it to be a very good machine for piecing and sometimes when I want a fancy seam or to sew binding from back to front I use one of the fancy stitches.

delma

Ihave a Brother cs6000i..great machine.....no thread cutter but does everything else I need it to do..needle down..drop feed dogs..didn't cost an arm and a leg! I've done 50+ quilts with it from kings to wall hangings!

I would go with the 3129 it looks similar to the pc-420 off of amazon, the 700t looks similar to cs60001 or sq9050 feature wise. The pc-420 off amazon runs around 400 so the sb3129 will probably be a little more since it is a dealer machine. Check out the pc-420 off amazon, those are very popular and have a lot of nice features for 400, and get good reviews

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-PC420P...brother+pc-420