A Different machine
 

I need a different sewing machine. 9 years ago I bought a Janome 10001. Now is it worth practically nothing even in trade. It was never very usable for me. I lost my right hand in a lumber mill accident in 1998. I loved to hand piece and sew quilt blocks. OK so now I am trying to take a quilt as you go class. I am having to turn my piece around in the very small throat of my Janome. What I have so far is so crooked that its gross. I never knew there were machines that would automatically cut thread and lift the presser foot. That would be awesome. I have been looking at machines and cannot make up what little is left of my mind. I love the Baby Lock Symphony which is a discontinued model. Found used no warranty for about $1500. The needle threader on the Baby Lock machines are the best on the market. They thread themselves. Feature that I love because with only a left hand with a lot of machines getting the darn thing threaded takes for ever and its always on the wrong side. Nothing is made for left handed people. The other one I am looking at is the Viking 930. Used at $800 which is more like what I want to spend. The needle threader is not near as good and will take me a lot of time fiddling with. I just want to sew. Both machines have the auto foot up which I love and the thread cutting. I don't know but the Baby Lock just seemed a more substantial machine when I was sewing with it. Over all I liked it better. But it's twice as much money. I like the shop and people better at the Viking store way better place to do business. No pressure just let the machine sell itself. The other is total pressure. It would be great if anyone has these two machines to let me know how you like them. Thank you everyone for listening. Judy in Oregon

Good luck to you. I know nothing about either machine, but I am sure there are folks who know about each. My only advice is to test drive the machines, but it sounds like you already know that. Buying a new sewing machine is sort of like buying a new car, and the sales representatives differ a lot with those purchases too. :)

Dina

I have the babylock espire which is the model that the symphony replaced. According to my dealer they are pretty much the same. I love it and use it for piecing, sewing and FMQ.
Don't know anything about the other machine you are contemplating.

Judy, I piece on an old Bernina 1530 so I don't have any of the whistles or bells on my baby. I wish you the best of luck on your search for the machine that will assist you with your piecing.

Hi Judy. I will be watching this thread. My second DGD was born missing the lower portion of her right arm. She is only 4 but at some point I know she will want to learn how to use Nana's machine like her big sister. Threading the needle was something I had never thought about. If and when I get the girls their own machine I will have to do a lot of re-thinking. Thanks for the heads up.

Oh I have a Pfaff Precision 5.0 which has the thread cutter, needle/presser foot up/down, and dual feed. But the needle threader is pretty well a two handed operation and I find the bobbin housing is very finicky to replace after cleaning. I love the machine and am still learning all the things it can do, but boy do I see your dilemma!

Don't know if this would be an option but if you are just wanting a straight stitch for quilting look at the Juki 2000. It does have a needle threader, but the needle threads from left to right. I don't use the threader but thread it with my left hand-I'm righthanded- easily.

I don't know about either. I just bought a Bernina 350 new. I have a neurological condition that makes it difficult for me to use my right arm & right leg (which is frustrating since I am right handed). All Berninas from 210 and up have an optional knee lift. From 350 up they include the knee lift. My 350 has a semi-automatic needle threader. You put it in this contraption to the left of the needle & it threads the needle for you. It does not have an auto cutter, but the cutter is on the left side of the machine & I can easily use it with my left (non-dominant) hand.

It also has push button sewing which I love. It means I can still sew basic straight seams even when my right arm has gone completely numb. You just load the fabric, set the machine for the slowest sewing speed, press the needle down button, lower the presser foot with the knee lift & the press the start/stop button while gently feeding the fabric. I'm waiting on an edge guide for my new machine, but I'm assuming based on past experience that the edge guide will help even more, especially with the push button start while I'm moving my hand down to the fabric. One of the nicest features is that you can program the machine to only take one stitch (or only a set number of stitches; or the same number of stitches it took the last time you sewed something & saved that stitching lines as a "pattern"), but on the slowest speed, it is super easy to just take one stitch to pull up the bobbin thread. I have changed out the bobbin one-handed, but it's not especially easy. Probably the hardest thing is threading the machine, but that's do-able.

It comes with an extension table to help support the left-hand side of fabric. Might be something worth checking out. They retail for $1899, but my local dealer took my 1970's trade it and gave me a $300 trade in value for it, making the 350 a reasonable price, especially with the full warranty.

I also used to own this machine before upgrade. It was a wonderful machine. Just do your research because some of the viking saphire models did have some issues so if you go that route make sure it is not the number you are getting. I never had any issues with my babylock espire while I had her she did wonderful work

Do you know anyone who has purchased from the Babylock dealer? I have 2 BLs, the Unity and the Elizabeth and I love them! The Symphony seems to have the features most helpful to you, but being happy with your dealer is very important too. Some people just aren't good at salesmanship, but you don't want someone who is going to give you poor service once the purchase is completed. I would really try to speak with some of their other clients. I would also tell them you are considering the machine, but the pressure you have felt to buy while researching may be a deal breaker. Good luck!

There is a BERNINA model that is just being discontinued, the 710. 10" throat, knee lift, auto cutter, auto threaders, auto pressers foot lift, awesome LED lighting. I think I have seen them around $2800. They might have a good deal at the state fair through tomorrow. I'm in Oregon too, in Keizer.