Budget Sewing and Quilting Machine
 

Sorry I don't think that is going to happen for under $400. You might want to rethink that .

you could only hope to find a used one at an estate sale, or try this one from wallmart https://www.walmart.com/ip/Brother-2...S3109/54789739
welcome to the board and good luck

I have a Singer Confidence 7470 that my daughter bought for me on one of the shopping networks as a retirement gift 8 years ago. I learned to quilt on it. It's my only machine, I use it all the time and I still LOVE it. I see it selling for between $300 and $400. I quilt with a group of women who have mostly the very expensive machines and I absolutely keep up with them in every way. Additionally, the accessories are much less expensive than the ones for those machines.

Machines are expensive. I love Janomes. I have one that I can't believe I bought it cost so much and 2 other small ones that are much cheaper. They are great machines. I highly recommend them.

the small ones don't have the auto thread cutter and I can't say that I have FMQd on the small ones.. because I just go to my big machine for that. They do have the auto needle threader

Amazon does have my smaller machines for $399... but I have only bought from my local Janome dealer. I don't know how a machine handles being shipped - - - but I guess they had to be shipped to my local shop


https://smile.amazon.com/Janome-7330...A2GCBRHRQM6XX1

Am so happy I have my 401 with the desk cabinet and it does everything.

The Brother Laura Ashley models are feature laden and have received great reviews on Amazon. They come with lots of feet and can handle heavier fabrics. Although some machines go on sale for Christmas, they're usually the "best sellers" so to speak for Amazon. For example, Brother CS6000i or Brother Serger 1034D.

If you're looking for something right now, the most inexpensive options are CX155LA and CX205LA. I purchased the CX310LA earlier this summer. It was at a historically low price of $234. If you have your eye on a certain model set up a price tracker through Camel. That's how I scored the deal on mine. :)

In respect to shipping, the machine arrives in the same packaging the manufacturer used when delivering it to Amazon. I've purchased my sewing machine and serger through Amazon and both were well protected. Brother made certain they were well secured.

You have greater options if you can do without the auto thread-cutter...that feature drives price up but Janome and Brother both have everything on your list at $399 or less without cutter.

of the "cool" features, I'd opt out of the thread cutter and instead make sure that you get a Needle up/needle down feature and an auto-lock stitch. I have a Singer H74 that I bought at Tues Morning (actually got one for my daughter and one for me for travel machine) that has all those features and bought for $300. I did have to make adjustments to the drop in bobbin, but after that it's been fine. I also had a very cheap Brother ($80) from Walmart (gave to DIL) that didn't have those features but FMQ great--feed dogs would drop, hopping foot worked fine, etc. So I'l also say look at the Brother machines that Walmart carries too.

I would recommend the Brother pc420. I have the older model before it became a 420 Project Runway Model. It's excellent, has auto thread cutter, great applique stitches, auto needle threader, speed control and knee lift. Mine cost $250 brand new on Ebay. The PRW model is under $400. It's easy to set the default to be center instead of far left. Also needle up/down. Every feature on my must have list is on this machine. It's not a big machine and easy to move around.

I have a Brother 1500
A Bernina
A Janome
Singer FW and Singer Quantum and 301.

So my review of the Brother PC420 is not based on having this one machine.

Ladies you have been great! I have brought it down to the janome 7330 or brother pc420. Thank you so much for your input. When you are on a budget and yet wanting some good things for your machine to do, it can become head spinning. You have made it so much better for me. Once I get my machine and supplies, first off I want to tackle a sunbonnet sue, an attic window, a log cabin, etc, etc, etc ;) I love them all~~~I love the pictures of all the quilts you all are or have made. They are beautiful.

good luck on your quilting journey - you are going to love it! I can't wait to see pictures of your quilts!!

Just a thought - look at your local shops to see if they have any of their floor models for sale. I got a $700 Janome for $400 because it had been a floor model. Has everything you mentioned except the thread cutter! It also has needle up/down and speed control.
Good luck, IMO you can't go wrong with a Janome or Brother.

You might try to find an older, proven machine. I have a workhorse of a machine--a 1958 Singer 401A. It comes with cams which will do almost anything the newer machines will do for around 250-400.

I have a brother Laura Ashley, it does the two specialty stitches you mentioned (applique and free motion), it has an needle threader that is easy enough to use. It has many other specialty stitches, it can stitch a simple alphabet, but that feature is nothing to write home about, very utilitarian. It has a thread cutter, built on the side that you have to draw your thread across I don't know if that is what you mean or some fancy automatic one? Anyway it is under $400 and mine has been sewing well for me for several years now.

Have you investigated used machines. A reliable dealer will be able to help.

I live in a small town, closest town with a dealer is more than and less than a hour away. We do have a walmart close by so I decided in the end going for the Brother XS3109 that the moderator mentioned. Reason for that was because it had many of the same features as the Brother PC420PRW but around 150. cheaper. Instead of being sold by a 3rd party through Walmart, it is sold solely by Walmart if I have any problems and can take it back there. Last sewing machine I have bought is a Singer and around 30 years old. I also chose the 3109 because it has the wide table for quilts where the 420 does not.

Doesn't make a difference if bought through Walmart site. Same thing as buying from the shelf. Congratulations on your new machine.

I would look fro a Brother 1500. They sometimes sell used on Ebay for the price point you indicated. They are straight stitch and you will not have an applique stitch, but your price range makes you give up something and at least you would be getting something of quality. I personally prefer a Juki but even the great but old model 98 usually sells for more than 400.

I too have the Brother Laura Ashley, have found it to be very sufficient for my needs. I hand quilt, don' t do much machine quilting though. The price is right on it too.

just wondering if you have good luck with FMQ on this machine? I have one but haven't tried it for that except a practice stitch or two