I am a new member and I am new to quilting...I am sewing on a Jem Gold and an Industrial Necchi....I am creating my second machine quilted quilt and am so excited.

My husband offered to buy me a new sewing machine....$1,000ish....Which machine do you suggest????

I want to learn how to free motion quilt.

I'd talk him into another $600 or so and wait a month or two and get the Janome MC660. It's an awesome machine!

Hi and welcome from the sunny state of FL. You'll get a lot of suggestions for the BEST machine, but I use a 1964 White sewing machine.

Hello and Welcome from Northern Indiana !

As for a new sewing machine.. you can use the search button on top and type in "new machine " and find lots of topics to get you started .

Also make a list of "your" must haves on a new machine, for example, needle up/down, feed dogs drop, how many fancy stitches ( if you even want or need them ) What do you want the machine to be able to do ?

Also go to any local dealers and talk to them , test drive the machine, play with them and have fun :mrgreen:

Sorry Phyllis can't help you here. I'm using my mom's old Kenmore. It works just fine for now so I haven't looked at new lines at all.

But welcome to the forum!

i am most in love with my Janome MC660P. my second love is my MC11000 because it also embroiders.

the only other machine on the market right now that interests me is the newest Singer. it's their answer to the 6600, except their version of the AccuFeed feet snap on, which i would love. however, i don't know where i could see one and test it, so can't give a worthwhile opinion.

i have the MC 6600 it does every thing you would need i love it then i have a combo Machine for emb and sewing it also has every thing and all the stitches you would need its a MC 11000
both by janome.

i hope the machine you get is just what your hoping for

memathomas

I would love to have the Viking Sapphire. A big huge neck are to roll you quilt to machine quilt, lots of stitches, needle positions, needle up needle down. A needle threader... awsome machines... I have the bigger Vikings but would love this one to take to classes so I didnt have to carry my big machine


ConnieF

About 1-2 months ago I got the Janome 6600 for 1049! Its a real sweet machine!! There's a new one coming out to replace this one so there are many good deals on them. The new ones, I was told (which is a guesstamate) would run between 8-900 more.

You won't be sorry!!

nice

I have the Bernina 1230 and it's 20 yrs old now. I still love it. I got it second hand in 1996 and I will never have anything else but a Bernina.

Welcome to the board! I have a Jem Platinum that I love. I also have a Janome 9000, which is about 14 years old and I will probably never give that up. Just this past weekend, I got a Bernina 180E to do quilting with. Seems to be a good machine.

There is at least one new Janome coming out on May 1st (Saturday). You can see it on their website, I think it's the 7700 model. Looks like a very nice machine.

Being new into quilting, you might not know yet what features you would like to have. I have "over 40 eyes" and can't see the eye of a needle anymore, so a needle threader is a must for me. I also love the knee lift lever, which lifts the presser foot so you can keep both your hands on your fabric. A sensor to tell you when the bobbin is running low is handy. Some machines offer a thread cutter; you push a button when you're done with stitching a line and the machine cuts the thread for you. That's a nice feature to eliminate thread tails.

If you have a sewing machine dealer near you, the best thing is to go to that place and play with the machines. You will figure out which features you want. Also do some research on the internet, there is a ton of information there. It's not going to be an easy decision to make! :)

Good luck and be sure to share what you got!

Be sure to check out the Berninas. If the new ones are out of your price range don't forget to look at used ones. Bernina owners love their machines and you will seldom find used models. But they are well worth the wait.

I have the Viking Sapphire and it is a big machine. It has a 10 inch throat and needle down so it is nice for free motion. Now if it only had a stitch regulator.

You can find used Bernina's.....................because we keep trading in and upgrading to newer models! hehehehe

I thought that I would always be a Bernina user, too, until my MIL upgraded her Pfaff and gave me her Pfaff 2170 with embroidery machine. I am really enjoying it, especially the built-in walking foot.

Keep looking and trying machines. There are a lot of good ones out there and each of us has a favorite. Now I have two favorites, Bernina and Pfaff, but I would also be looking at the Viking if I were shopping today. And I know Janome is loved by many...

:-D :-D

I agree!!!!!!!! I actually wore out my first Bernina, then went to a Janome. I am now back to Bernina. I will never switch again!!

All the manufacturers mentioned are awesome! Have heard great things! Wanted to just throw out, as it's not been mentioned, that you might want to check into Babylock. Mine is many years old and not sure how it rates today compared to some of the above. I love it tho (Quilters choice). Had the crafters choice and traded up to the Quilters Choice. Lots of different stitches.. Needle threader is such an awesome feature. Lots of different feet/extended sew table, and knee lift lever. I swear it sews for me! I'm not a patient or good sewer, and constantly distracted by kids. It's taken good care of me yet you dont need to go to night school to figure out how to use. I was so excited I took a Babylock weekend course with Nancy Zieman and played with all their machines. Just really have loved the company and our local shop.. Think that's the HUGE key.. Find a shop that's been around awhile and not going anywhere and who stands by their product. At the Babylock weekend, I bought a serger and once again, after a short time using, upgraded (it's now been downgraded to corner of living room BUT I know when I'm ready I can go back to shop and take classes and brush up on my serger skills). Good luck.. Go play with a bunch of machines and see which fits your needs best!! Have fun!!
Leigh

I also have the Janome 6600P. It is an awesome machine.

I picked up a Janome 6600 for $1049 about a 1 1/2 mo. ago. very nice machine!!!! There's a new machine the Horizon 7700 coming out to replace this one so prices have been dropping.