Does anybody have a Brother 1500?
 

I am looking for a second machine. It is between a Juki and the Brother 1500. I want a straight stitch, fast piecing machine with a auto trim. Had a Juki, loved it, sold it (don't ask, one of those life crisis things and caught me at a weak moment). So do you have a Brother 1500, do you like it, pros and cons.

Thanks

I bought one in Feb. I love it and so does my Sister. It's very fast has a great stitch. Plenty of room to do FM. I do wish it had a drop in bobbin so you can see when your running low. Doesn't seem to be picky about thread either. I feel it was worth the 599 I spent on it. There are more people on this board who have it too, so I'm sure they will chime in.

Love the 1500!!!

For more reviews, the Babylock Jane is the same machine. I don't have that model, but I love my brother sewing machine and serger.

Ditto for me!

I have a Brother 1500s. I use it on a Gracie II frame. I am on the lookout for another one, used. I would like it for FMQ on a table. I found a used one with a GQM, but she wanted $1000 for both. I passed the # to my sister and she got both for $400. What a deal . It runs so smooth and I do love it. It has a thread cutter but I don't know what you mean by 'auto trim'. I was looking at the Juki when I bought the Brother. The Brother dealer sold me when he compared the replacement cost for several parts, such as the thread cutter. It was appx $100 difference. The Juki has a few more gadgets like the knee lifter and foot pedel thread cutter, but also cost more. The Brother dosn't have the knee lifter option that I am aware of, but it does have a push button thread cutter.

I got the knee lifter with mine.

I just checked the parts with mine and the book shows the knee lift but it appears that the dealer did not include it. I bought the floor model and did not realize until now that it was an option. I will be calling the dealer. - Thanks for the heads up.

Love my 1500 - with the knee lift!

Love my 1500 too. I do all my piecing and quilting on it. Love the thread cutter & knee lift. The clear table came with mine too.

The knee lift is stored under the extension table.

I also have the Brother PQ1500, mine also has the knee lifter, and the auto thread cutter. As an aside, got it from Allbrands, best price I found at the time. I also got excellent customer service from them. I love the machine, so far have not had any problems with it. I just got a Grace frame to use with it, dh has the frame all together, but I haven't tried it out together yet...I think I am overwhelmed with actually putting a quilt on the frame and giving it a go...lol... Good luck with your new buy, whatever you choose...just have to "throw my hat in the ring" with good things about the 1500!
Regards,
Kif

Of all the machines I own, my favorite is the 1500! I also have a Janome 1600DB, which is essentially the same machine, but for some reason I like the 1500 better. I put the Janome on a New Joy frame and use the Brother as my piecing "daily driver".

I have the 1500. The only problem I have had is when using the tread cutter the needle would come unthreaded. It was frustrating. The dealer couldn't tell me why, she just kept wanting me to have a new thread cutter put in. Some one here told me to not thread through all the three holes of the thread guide on top. I thread through just one hole and that stopped the unthreading. One more thing, I haven 't figured out the color pressure guide or the pin feed. The dealer told me to keep it in the pin feed for all sewing.

Thanks for all the input. I see a Brother in my future. When I had my embroidery business I had 24 heads of Brother equipment and I loved my Brothers so I guess I need another kind of Brother. I want to use it to piece and put my Bernina 440 on a frame. Now does anybody have a Bernina 440 on a Frame???

Love mine to pieces! Got it last summer, then found a table on ebay for $12.00..the knee lift fits underneath. Like another tho, I just wish it had a drop in bobbin. Guess we can't have everything we want.

I have the Baby Lock Jane which is the same machine. Its set up on a long arm frame (Imperial).
I dont like it at all. Not simple to thread and hate the under the machine bobbin with case.
It was a bad investment and I do not recommend a domestic machine on a frame. Im constantley running back and forth around the frame just to lift the needle. Cant even pull the bobbin thread up.
I just bought a Brother light weight XL2600 for $80 and love this little machine. I can take it to meetings and it even has some fancy stitches and a drop in bobbin.
Love my Viking Shapphire the most though.

The Brother 1500 is one terrific machine!! I use it now solely for FMQ and love it. It also is good for straight seams. I don't think you would be disappointed.

My Daughter has the Bother 1500 and loves it. I have a Juki TL98QE and a Babylock Jane and love them both, All are about the same as the Brother 1500. It is much cheaper than a machine designed to be used on a frame. I think you will be highly impressed with it.

I checked the extension table and it was empty. It was still in the plastic bag without the knee lift. I called the dealer today and it is on the way. I did an inventory of parts and one other was missing and it will also be sent. I bought this machine over a year ago and the dealer went the extra mile to assist, no charge.

Good deal that the dealer has been and still is so good to work with you! You will love having the knee-lifter! I was taught to quilt by hand as a young girl...When I got re-interested in it again, was warmly welcomed by a great group of quilters at my lqs..they have me hooked on machine quilting, too. Anyways, at that time I didn't have a machine with the knee-lift or auto thread cut...I ended up buying the Brother PC-420 first...love it, too...and last year bought my 1500, to use on a frame... My 420 does great with the small fmq projects I have done. I was worried about burning up the motor if I tried using it on a frame, so that is why I also bought the 1500. One last thing I would say is the 1500 does have the exclusive pin-feed system..it really makes a difference on piecing quilts, especially chain piecing. I also have done some straight quilting with it, I don't even have to put the walking/even feed foot on, the pin feed just sails the quilt right on thru!
Take care all,
Kif

I wish you lived closer. I placed an ad for a 1500 with a gracie ii frame on my local craigslist right now.