I'm newish here and have run into a problem that I wish for some advice on.

My sewing machine died over the weekend (making Mum's mother's day present) and I am now looking at getting a new machine.

So far, with the Mother's day sales on I have found two machines I like.

Elna 7300
Janome 6600p (comes with an inset table but $500 more. Don't like the table as it is cheap and nasty looking)

Anyone have any advice on these machines? I am a quilter first and don't sew clothes. I LOVE FMQ!!! and this is my main use for the machine.

Hubby likes the Elna and reviews favour it more. I'd love any advice especially from Aussie's that may have dealt with these companies before.

I have a Janome DC21010 at the moment and I like it. I had Elnas (a 1980s SU, an old 1940s one and still have a 1950s/60s model) prior to the Janome. My mum worked for Elna, and the Elna was great. The Janome 1/4 inch foot is flimsy and has to be used as a guide, rather than an edger, as you can with the Elna.
However, if I had the $$$, I would have gone with a Pfaff or a Husqvarna, not either of the above.

i've never seen or used an elna so can't compare. i can tell you, however, that the 1/4" foot on the 6600p is not flimsy at all and was never designed to be an edger. also the extension table is very sturdy and not cheap or nasty at all.

thanks Patrice - I will be at the dealers for a good foot ASAP! The one that came with my Janome is very flimsy, so I will get an upgrade.

Thanks Rainy Day. The way my budget is at the moment these are the two models I've narrowed it down to. I have a Pfaff and have had so man problems with it that I am really over the brand.

The other choice is a Husqvarna Sapphire, but it is slightly out of my price range.

Thanks Patrice for your input. I've only seen a tiny picture of the table and event the sales assistant thought it was not really suitable in her opinion. She did say she hasn't seen one in person though.

Hello....I am only experienced with Singers and Pinnock. My mother (non-quilter but very experienced sewer) has a Janome, which she really wishes she hadn't bought. She has often upgraded over the years and says this is the only one she has been really disappointed with. She finds it quite noisy and seems to have had more than the usual problems with it, she likes Husqvarna and Elna, but her favourite is Singer. Hope that helps.

I have the Janome 6600 and have to agree with Patrice. I find the table very sturdy and not at all cheap or nasty looking! The supplied 1/4" foot is great too but I bought the acufeed 1/4" foot as an extra and use that mostly to piece, only because I like the even feed for keeping the fabric smooth as I hate pinning. I'd also recommend the blue dot bobbin and metal foot if you'll be doing a lot of FMQ although again, the supplied FMQ foot works fine. I have to stress that these 'extras' are NOT essentials.

I agree with Patrice and K3N. I too have the 6600 and there is nothing flimsy or nasty looking with mine! Tks. GiGi

I do not have the 6600 but do have three Janomes. There is nothing cheap or flimsy about any part of the machines. Never had a problem with them and they all serve my purpose quilt well.

I also have the 6600P that I purchase maybe 2 months ago. The table, are you talking about the ext. table that comes with it or the one that the machine sits into? If its the one that the machine sits into I agree, I would not pay that amount for it either. The ext. table that comes with the machine is plastic, but is very sturdy. I also have both 1/4" feet for my machine.

This is one of the important reasons that I got the 6600. My husband works for a mfg. company and knows about machining and the 6600 is made with ball bearings, not the bush and castings that a lot of them have or the plastic interiors. He told me that it was the sturdiest machine that we looked at. We looked at all kinds and test drove them. There were some with more bells and whistles, but when I'm going to put out that amount of $$$ I wanted something that would last.

Besides that, it is a totally awesome machine!!!! I love the attached walking foot and the accu feed system is a dream!!! I can just sit there and feed it. Very user friendly machine.

I feel like a salesman, I'm not!! I just am very pleased with my purchase.

Good Luck!!!