Help me buy a new sewing machine.
 

I'd appreciate your suggestion as to what make, and why. number one I'd like it to be a good quilting machine, but I also want it for everyday use. Thank you sew much!

First and foremost buy it from a reputable dealer...ask questions about where to go for service.

Sorry, but need more information:

Do you plan to FMQ or quilt with a walking foot? Or to piece the tops and quilt by check? Are you interested in embroidery on your quilt or quilting in the hoop? What size(s) quilts do you plan to do?

Are you also planning on garment sewing? Other home decor quilting?

What stitches do you need on the machine? Straight stitch, yes, but what others? Zig-zag? Buttonhole? Fancy stitches? Stitch out an alphabet for monograms? Read/stitch digitized designs?

Automatic needle threader? Needle up/down? Start/stop button on the machine? Knee lift?

Finally, how much do you want to spend?

This is such a loaded question - a feature that one person loves, another one doesn't. Same thing with brand.
I think the best advice first and foremost is as oksewglad said is to ensure it's a reputable dealer who will provide good service.
Second bit - have your list of "must have features" . If you already have one and are replacing it, what are the wants and dislikes of that particular machine. And the final one I like to throw at the dealer - why should I buy this machine vs any other in the store - what makes it special.
I was recently at a dealer's who has the brand of machine I like. I asked what the differences were between my current model, and the newer version of it. The changes/ new features weren't significant enough for me to want to spend my money.

What's your budget and what are you wanting to make? What do you long for in terms of features? What can you live without? Do you like your current machine brand?

Do you have a machine already?

If yes, what do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?

When you say you’d “like it to be a good quilting machine” do you mean you intend to use it for free motion quilting, or you want a machine you can use for piecing quilt tops together?

We definitely need far more information, like your experience, the features you feel are most important, your intended use, as well as your budget.

We each have a favorite of course. So that is most likely what one would say. We need more information on what you plan to do i.e. Straight sewing, quilting, embroidery etc. Price range would also help. Nothing worse than suggesting machines that are way outside your price range and being disappointed.

If someone is new to sewing/quilting, and has no experience with sewing machines, it is hard to answer these questions.

When we went to buy a computer, the first thing we were asked was " what do you want to do with it?".

I knew e- mail and the internet, but beyond that, I really had no idea.

The questions are a good starting point.

I love my 40 year old Bernina.

Buy two. A straight stitch only machine will be the best for quilting and also for piecing. I like Brother 1500 and the Juki straight stitch for quilting. Both are excellent. For piecing and sewing I use a variety of my machines. I have a Brother, Bernina, Janome and Eversewn Sparrow 30. i really like the Eversewn Sparrow 30 because it has every feature of a high end machine and was under $400. Really for sewing/decorative stitching any brand will do fine. Get one that has the features you like at the price you want to pay.

I think you scared the poster off. My guess is they are new to quilting, and didn't realize there were so many "features" available and the huge variable in cost of machines. If I am right, then I suggest the poster tell us this, and we can better guide them. If it were me, and I was just venturing into quilting, and yet wanted a machine that offered features necessary for "everyday" sewing, I would purchase a Eversewn Sparrow 30 ($399.00)

This inquiry and search for a machine has been beat to death....lots of machine vendor websites to explore.....do the research on features and pricing then visit machine dealers.

I disagree. There are so many people on this board that many don't see what's been posted and need input from the others. A lot of topics get repeated but it may be a first time for some.

As others have said write down what you want and work within your price limit.
I have a Juki TL2010 Q that is great for machine quilting but is straight stitch only. My Bernina does all the other stuff.
However, I bought a new Bernina this past spring that does FMQ as well. Now I can have something that I'm quilting
and use the other one for piecing going at the same time.