Help with machine selection
 

My current machine is terminal. It's a "big Box" Brother 9000 that has made 80+ quilts in the last 2 years and is now sewing only large basting-type stitches, running forward when you press the reverse button and taking more patience than I possess. (If you turn it off/on a few times and hold your tongue JUST right you might be able to get regular stitches. but ... sometimes not.)

My husband has called around and found a quilt shop 45 miles from us that has a Janome MC 6600 Pro for $1100. It is a demo that has been used 11 times. The lady will teach me its use and I can come in whenever I want for as long as I want. (Given that she will be running the shop around me.)

So what are our thoughts? I'm still getting him to get warranty information.

I don't know about the price because everything costs more here. However, I love
my Janome 6600. It's a real workhorse. If you take good care of it, it will take
good care of you. :) Hope you can find the right machine and get back to sewing
soon. How much would a brand new one cost?

The good thing about buying a demo is you should still get the warranty. I had a friend find out the hard way that buying a used one (even from a shop - demo's are different) the warranty is not transferable from the original owner. I believe that is the case on most if not all sewing machines. Who would have thought!

Think carefully about what you really need before you buy. I am the very unhappy owner of a Janome 6500. Even though this machine had wonderful reviews and many happy owners, mine should have been painted bright yellow. It just wouldn't do what I needed and my dealer was no help. I have recently bought a Juki TL98Q and this machine sews rings around my Janome. It has a beautiful even stitch, is fast and powerful, a dream for free motion and a foot and hand thread cutter button. It powers through my quilt tops and I have quilted three large quilts and one crib quilt this week, more than I would stitch in a month with my Janome. If you are quilting numerous quilts, this may be a better (and cheaper) machine for you.

I don't know that particular machine but I do love my Janome and it just purrs as it goes and goes

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me, who knows what the dealer "may throw in". Being able to go back for free help on sewing is worth something. I say go for it, I bet you will like it. Let us know...........seems like we hardly ever hear back from peeps on their new machines.

I bought my Janome 6600 brand new last year, paid about $1400 + for it but I really like her. She joined her 16 sisters and has been happy at my house...:)

1100 is a lot, you should try it before you buy to see if you like it. for that amount of money i would go to different places and try different machines, it is a big investment and you want to make the right decision

I have a Bernina Activa 210. It was a less expensive model but store assured me motors in all Bernina were similar and if I paid more, it would be to add extras. I know I will never use the extras so I got this model and i love it. Bernina is top quality. I asked about used and they said they sell as soon as they get them. I only say all this as you may want ton think about features you want/need on the machine along with quality. Cost seems like a lot to me. I agree with Dolphyngyrl. Most good shops offer free lessons and help when you need it. My shop also gave me 3 years of free cleaning which was nice.

I agree with the idea of putting more thought into exactly which features you will really use. I am more satisfied with the quality of the stitches on my vintage machines and all they do is straight stitch. A lot of features are nice but not necessary. The more features you have the more things that can go wrong. Buy for what type of sewing you plan to do instead of "eye candy" and you'll be happy. Definitely check out several other brands to see which seems right for you.

I've kept a running list of features I think I need. The biggest deal is the harp/throat size since I do my own quilting. That alone dictates features - like when you want one thing on a car and it only comes in a package. I use decorative stitches on every quilt - even if it's just to attach the binding - yes, I do that by machine. So a straight stitch machine won't do what I want it to. My current one is so light weight I chase it across my table - I sew on the dining table. So weight is a consideration. Sigh. This is hard! I see it as more important than a car purchase. I hope to have this machine more than the 10 years I now keep a car!

Be sure it has the features you want and test it out first!

I can't get there until Saturday, but will test drive several then. I have a quilt sandwich backed with Minky that I'm taking with me - that should be quite a test! At least I'm getting sandwiches made and pieces cut since I can't sew anything! Feb. 17 I need to have a full bed size quilt finished - right now I have 6/24 blocks made for that quilt so midnight oil is in my view.

I have the 6600, purchased it used last month. So far I like it. I agree putting together a list of must haves and then wants. While you are there try some other machines and other brands if the shop has them. Anyone who sews can sew on any working machine but we will all have machines we bond with and find easier to use.

I’m confused about the comments about it being expensive? While spending $1,100 is a lot of money for a sewing machine it is not a lot for THAT sewing machine. I have been watching Ebay for the last few months and the least amount the 6600 have sold for was about $850(that was only 1) most have been selling for $900-$1,300 and those are from unknown entities so you are taking a bigger risk. I purchased my 6600 on Ebay, with a great table as my closest dealer is almost a 2 hour drive and she did not have any used/show models.

post 2
 

Part 2, first post too long.

Some things I was happily surprised with were the auto cutter, I don’t know how I lived without it all these years and would never have a primary machine without it again and the extension table, why I did not get one for every machine I ever had I don’t know. As I said I did buy a table but the extension table has be wonderful while I was getting the other put together.

If you only quilt it may not matter to you but the 6600 doesn’t have a free arm.

It seems to have to trouble with heavy seams, I think a machine that has a MSRP of $2,500.00 should be able to go over a couple layers of denim without having a fit.

mgmsrk - thanks for the post. I know about the free arm and that originally took it off my list, but ... for this price for this machine I think I can live without it. I mainly quilt and have used a free arm exactly once in the last two years. The seam thing bothers me.... hmmmmm.