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.

I had a symphony and loved it. I sold it to a friend, and she is now loving it. I sold it for $950. I then bought the Crescendo, because of the lighting on it. My eyes need all the help they can get, which is the reason I upgraded. If you get the symphony, you won't be disappointed. Good luck to you.

Have you looked at the husqvanas viking machines? I used one at class it had needle threader but the foot went. Down when you pressed the foot pedal. It also had a built in walking foot.

Hi Judy, I have a Bernina 710....knee lift, auto threader on the left side, stop/start button, speed control, needle up/down, auto thread cut, auto presser foot lift and yes....wonderful lighting for my old eyes. If you can, have a look at one, they are the bottom of the range of the 7 series which has just lately brought out some newer models so you may be able to pick a 710 up at a reasonable price. I love mine even though coming from a 30 year old Janome it proved to be a very steep learning curve!

I agree that needle-threader on some of the brother machines streamlines that process so well you could do it blind-folded and it works every time. There are some brother/babylock dealer models that have all or most of the features you want but hover bumps you up to the higher cost models. Hover (auto pivot) is nice, but if the machine has a knee-lift, you accomplish the same thing. The Juki mentioned above might work very well for you also but just a straight-stitcher...even tho it does have knee lift and auto thread cutter. Brother/Babylock tho really simplifies your threading enough that you might just want to narrow the field within that brand and if you're able to accept a knee-lift to raise/lower the presser foot, you will have many more options.

I also have the Babylock Espire. I love the needle and foot up/down, auto cutter and auto threader. The only problem I have had sewing is when sewing through a very thick area(belt loop on a robe) it kept making long stitches. Finally had to do on another machine. Next time I will reconfigure belt loop area so not so thick. Also, I don't like some of the decorative stitches on the Espire but can do them on my older Kenmore so not a problem. Other decorative stitches are good and can be used mirror image and/or resized.

Overall, the Espire is a great machine.

, a knee lifter for lifting the presser foot so you can keep both hands on your work, and one of the greatest things every put on a sewing machine, an automatic thread cutter.

I have a Janome 6500 and it has a thread cutter and knee lifter. The threader works great too even after 11 yrs of continuous use. It has the auto foot up or down. The bed is also large and flat. You can maybe have some one cut a hole in an old table and then make something so you can drop the machine in it. this might aid your need too.

I owned this machine for 11 yrs and use it daily. It is also a wonderful go to for sit down quilting. I now have a long arm but I quilted 120 in. x 120 in. quilts on this machine.

http://www.amazon.com/Janome-6500P-M...KC93097E78SXDB

It looks like your other Janome was an embroidery machine? This one is especially for quilting.

I had a Brother NX-600. Great price ($599)(All Brands), very quite, has a knee lift to lift foot. needle treader & thread cutter and speed control. It can be set to sew square (to sew on label without moving fabric. Overall a great machine.

Just thought a bit about my Bernina 710..........the needle threader takes 2 hands to operate; one to hold the lever down and the other to hold the thread in position......sorry, didn't think that one through.

If you don't need all the bells and whistles check out the Brother 1500s. Straight stitch only, knee lift, auto threader and larger throat. Tons of people have this machine on this board including me. So easy to use and maintain. It's gonna be a long time before I purchase another machine if ever because I love this one.

One of my sisters-in-law was born without a left hand. She is now in her 50s and does anything she wants except fasten the back of her pierced earrings. Fortunately, she had a younger sister so she was not pampered as the baby of the family. She was expected to deal with situations when they came up. For a long time after I got to know her, she kept her left arm covered - in her pocket, by a sweater, etc. Now she is just as normal with it as anyone else. Best wishes to you and your family with your granddaughter.

After meeting someone at a knitting class who likes to sew, but has trouble threading the needle, I checked over the weekend and found sewing machine needles for people who cannot see to thread a machine. I imagine they would also work for those who have difficulties threading a machine of another nature.

Why not ask the Viking dealer you like for advice and assistance - she/he might know of a good used machine that would fit your needs. I find most people want to help when asked. I love my Vikings but agree you need two hands to use threader. Maybe use a separate needle threader. Good lock and happy sewing!

This won't help w your machine search but do you know that Schmetz makes a self threading machine needle? There is a slight opening right at the eye and the thread just slips right through. Most of the larger chain fabric stores carry them

Good luck in your search. Will be thinking about you. Check back and let us know what you finally decided on.

Read this as going out door --take a look at Brother Innovis 1500 D ---has all these features. Been in love with mine since 2007. Good luck whatever you decide.

I have two baby locks. I love them both. Their both now older models but both have so many stitches and both embroidered. Still getting the hang of the stableizers and placement. Not sorry I bought either one when I did. Good luck in choosing a new machine. I think one of the most important part of a new machine is finding an honest person to work with in answering all your questions and really helping you before and after you buy.not some one who just wants to make a sale.

I've heard from a couple of people that these needles UNthread as easily and they hated the fact that they didn't
know it had happened until they got to the end of the seam and realized there was NO seam!

Be wary of this machine. I have one and it does not have a nice straight stitch, and getting any stitch to look good requires lots of fiddling with tension and foot pressure. The needle threader is a real pain. They were discontnued after 2-3 years because Bernina realized that the first 700 series machines had quality problems. I feel cheated that I paid $3500 for this thing. To be honest, lots of people love their 700s, but a few have real problems that cannot be fixed. Just be careful.

QUOTE=Skyangel;7309317]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.[/QUOTE

I just bought a Babylock Crescendo in May this year. Love it!!!!

Needle threader is awesome. The machine has a boatload of push buttons and thread cutters. You can basically run it one handed. Actually, it just runs itself. All you have to do is insert the fabric.

It has a knee lift and you can get an optional foot controller which is programmable (I think) for another 3 options.

The foot controller would accomplish some of the tasks for which you might need your hands. Something worth looking into.

I haven't regretted my purchase for an instant. There isn't anything that the machine doesn't do. Just about everything is automated. An absolutely fabulous machine.

Hi. How's the Crescendo doing? I just bought one. Pick it up Friday. Can't wait. What do you like best about it? Use the Sensor Pen? Laser light?

I would really think hard on buying from a dealer you don't like. I didn't know I would dislike my dealer until after I had some problems now I just hate to think of having to take my machine in.