Did it.
 

Bought the Brother 1500S. That is really a nice machine. Stitches well, smooth, and isn't too much of a bear to set tension etc. on.

Tried some free motion. Did far better than the Pfaff and like having the extra room Mostly stayed on the lines - will have to learn to look ahead in all directions. Only real hiccups were when I moved the fabric up. At least you can see through that quilting foot. It goes slow enough to deal with right now. Will save a lot of time. I might have to get an open toe, as that is what I do stitch in the ditch with. I like being able to regulate the foot pressure. It helps with heavier fabric.

The fabric doesn't slide on the table as easily as I'd like - what cures that?

Length of the fabric usually won't matter as I do QAYG. I have no intention of getting a frame. No room for one, and I've tangled with getting a quilt on one and I don't care to do that again. You need six hands.

I have that machine and really enjoy it. I cut my FMQ foot off in the front so it is C shaped. That helped with the vision issues there. I SID with my walking foot.

I have used furniture polish on my table to help the fabric slide. Some days it still seems to stick when I do FMQ but I assume that's because I'm not much of an FMQ expert.

Congratulations, have fun:)

I only do fmq on my 1500, I love it! I bought some clear vinyl at Joanns and put that on the table I use for fmq, the fabric slides really easily over it.

get a sew slip or supreme silder and it will make the fabric slide on table easier

Congratulations! I know you're going to love it :)
I have a Juki 2000 which is also like the Brother. I use mine for piecing. She's a speed demon :D I love being able to piece faster. I get so much more done quicker!

I've got another brand of slider. I haven't looked, but think it will slop over the extension table. Do you cut it?

I started sewing with a mechanical Riccar, so the adjustments make sense. Does the pin work much the same as the Pfaff IDT? The machine does sew pretty straight. Unless the foot for the Pfaff doesn't have the IDT cutout, I sew with the IDT down.

I have books full of patterns. Can you transfer them to the quilt using freezer paper and sewing through it? Before stabilizers came out, you used adding machine tape for decorative machine stitching then ripped the tape off.
I don't like the pounce - it makes too much dust and I have sinus problems anyway. I can also draw on the computer for patterns. I have some stencils - I used the triple straight stitch and put the designs on quilted sweatshirts. I far prefer the simpler continuous line.

Is that thread cutter supposed to be noisy? I thought my 2170 Pfaff was noisy and loud - this tops it. The Pfaff also has a vertical bobbin and does the bobbin in the same way. Otherwise, the machine is quiet.

I suspect the little wire in the needle threader is bent. Do you take the threader off like a normal Brother machine?

Thanks

My Juki TL98QE and Babylock Jane are alot like your Brother. My Daughter has the Brother. They are all we use. I love my machines and she loves hers. I do mostly FMQ, a large stipple, she does SITD and FMQ. They are all great machines, just be sure to oil it like the manual says.

I have the 1500 a few months ago. I still love my regular Brother machine. So I haven't used it very much yet. I got a Supreme Slider and a Quilt Halo for Christmas. I plan to use both when I give FMQ a try with that machine.