Help me spend my money wisely.
 

Hi every one.
Went to the sewing shop here in town to look for a new machine.
Walked out of there so confused .
Looking at a brother NQ700 for $999.00
or a Brother NQ900 for $1199.00 comes with the table.
Looked at a Brother PQ1500s but don,t think I want it as just straight sewing.
So can some one tell me what the better machine is to use for my quilting?
They have a good warranty 25 years.
Is the NQ900 worth the extra $200 ?

So excited for a new machine but want to make sure i,m getting a fair deal.
Thanks
Tom

Buy the Brother 1500 and then buy the on the shelf Brother for the decorative stitches. Brother Cs6000i, about $150 and a great second machine and backup.

You can't go wrong with the The Brother 1500.

I LOVE my Brother 1500 even though it only does straight stitching. A GREAT machine. I used it on my Grace machine frame for 9 years to do quilting........got a quilting machine...but I still use the Brother for sewing and would still use it for quilting if I hadn't gotten the new one.

I do not have advice other than to say enjoy your new machine when you finally decide.

The Brother PQ 1500 is a lot more money .
$1499.00

I paid $599 for my Brother 1500 about 2 years ago, at Amazon. Love it!

I'm probably the oddball on this board as I have 1 machine. I really can't advise you on the Brother machines but why buy 2 machines if you can get 1 you love that does what you want it to and has all the features you want. Go back to the store, take some quilt sandwiches or even a small quilt to make sure you have enough throat space, and try each machine again. Focus on what you like/don't like with each one.

I went several times and tried several machines a few times before I settled on my Juki. I preferred it over a few others because it was quiet, sewed well, good harp/throat space, and had all the features I was looking for. I don't make bed-size quilts right now but if that's what you want to make, I would consider 2 machines ... 1 with a really large throat to just quilt with. Good luck. You will find the machine that feels right for you and that's the one to buy.

What? I just saw a brand new one at a dealer here for $799 with all the feet and extension table just last week. I know they are cheaper online but she offers classes.

Guess it is the Canadian dollar . Our dollar is really low right now.
And the 3 machines have about the same opening from the needle to the right side.
Part of the trouble is there is only one dealer for sewing machines here so want to stay to the brand they service also.Will save me shipping it out of town.
Tom

The Brother website lists all specifications and included accessories for those two models. I'd recommend looking at them side by side and then see what the differences are. Are they worth the difference in price to you? For example, how much would the extension table cost if you had to buy it?

I agree wholeheartedly. And I bought mine gently used WITH a frame for $400.

Did you sew on the machines? What are the features that you can't live without? Do both of the machines have those features?

Don't rush into making a decision. I did that once and ended up regretting it.

Also, look at online reviews of the machines you are looking at.

Good luck.

You are smart to buy a machine that can be serviced locally. If you have a problem, you can go to the local dealer and get help. When you said the NQ900 comes with the table, did you mean the slide on "table" or an actual table that the machine can sit down in? That would help me make my decision if I were looking at both machines. And as others have said, you should give them both a trial run at the shop and see which one you like best. Good luck with you decision.

I can,t try the machines as they have to order them in for me. So I,m buying on trust I guess
Tom

I cannot adviser you ,however it is wonderful for you to be buying a new machine. Congrats!

Make a couple quilt sandwiches and take them to the sewing shop and try out the machines only you can judge if it is what you want.

My advice would be not to go with a straight stitch only machine. I use the zigzag and blanket stitch a lot.

The only real difference between the 700 and 900 are 60 stitch patterns and the larger table. I'd look at those stitches and really consider if I'd use them... the work table was about $45 US when I bought mine... don't know what the current price is... so I'd consider the cost of the table and those 60 stitch patterns vs. how much I think I'd use them. I'd most likely purchase the 700 of those 3, but I also sew garments and other projects as well as quilting. If I only pieced and quilted I could very easily be tempted by the 1500.


Just did some poking around and it looks like the table is now in the $100 neighborhood... so the real cost difference is roughly $100.... hmm.. makes the 900 more attractive if more than one or two of those extra stitch patterns are attractive....

I have the Brother 1300, slightly slower than the 1500 but otherwise the same. I used it for a couple years as my primary machine with a cheap Brother for decorative stitches. It worked, but I am so happy to have my Juki F600 now that does everything in one machine. Personally I would go with the 900 in your situation. Or since you have to order it without trying it first, you might as well shop around online.

I would check out the price of a Janome 6600. They are real workhorses....they are made for quilting.....has the accufeed foot so you don't have to bother with the bulky walking foot. If you PM me I can provide a dealer in PA that I have purchased numerous machines from....not affiliated with them....I have plenty of dealers in Texas, but now buy machines from the on un PA. Great prices, great used machines, incredible customer service. You can't go wrong with a Janome. 25 or more year warranties. Go to the Janome.Com site and compare. Go to a dealer and try one. Best wishes in your quest.

You just have to compare price with what you want your machine to be able to do. Was one more quiet than another, did one have more stitches that you want? Maybe just make a list of what each machine brings to the table and see which one has more pluses.

I bought a straight stitch machine once as I already had one with fancy stitches on it and thought I would use it when I wanted a zig zag or what ever. I did not like having to go between two machines so did not keep it long.

The Brother PQ1500 SL, is on e-bay for $649.00 or maybe $699.00 with free shipping

I have a Brother 1500D that has embroidery. It's a good machine but the quarter inch foot has a long toe that makes it difficult to use for curved piecing (like drunkard's path). Also a walking foot is needed for binding. Since I am part of a nonprofit that makes quilts, I use my Pfaff for piecing and binding. Brother is a very good company, the machines are made in Taiwan rather than China.

This poster lives here in Canada, so if they buy from the US, they not only have to pay shipping, they have to pay the difference on the dollar (Almost FORTY cents on the dollar right now!), then they have to pay 13% tax to import, based on the US $ price, THEN they may have to pay a duty on the entire amount. (Which you likely won't know until it's too late unless you're a really good researcher.)
I loved it when the US and Canadian dollar was at par but right now it's almost out of the question to buy from a US distributor or from E-Bay.

Is there a quilting guild in your city that can give you advice on any of these machines?

Watson

There are 2 Guilds in town but I have never been to them .
I was watching a machine on ebay that is in Canada is a Brother 8500 very nice machine but only 3 hours to bid and now its going crazy . lol
But i,m still watching it you never know.
And yes with the are dollar and all the ad ons the price would kill me .
I just feel better about buying local for the service and repairs on the machine and helping a local busness out a little .
There is a place that sells
Jonome machines here also so going to look there . Just thought that a Jonome machine is on the high side.
Tom

sometimes you can get a deal on the floor model. You can always ask.

25 year warranty. Read it so you aren't under any false illusions.

You can't go wrong with brother machines-they are fantastic & buying from a dealer you trust near you is wise.
I looked up the machines you mentioned and I have a PQ 1500 that is great for Free Motion quilting, and has a 9 inch bed that helps with quilting a large quilt. Both of the other 2 have 8.3 beds so not a huge difference but smaller.
I personally feel go with the most machine you can afford, even if it has more features than you use now you will grow into them, making quilt labels with the machine font is fun.
And the poster who suggested the 1500 for quilting & then a separate machine for decorative stitches and piecing has a good idea. Actually I have several machines that I use for different purposes & love my set up that I was able to do after all our children grown, & college & weddings paid off, then I was able to treat myself.
But if I were young & just starting out & able to afford any of the machines you mentioned I would go for the NQ 900

Which machine does your heart REALLY WANT? If you think about it, $200.00 isn't that much money when it comes to sewing machines. Does the more expensive machine offer more bells and whistles than the other machine? I personally don't see the necessity of having two machines. One just sits and collects dust while the warranty fades away. I would go with the machine that offered me more options for the small amount of $200.00. I'm quite sure your family would say you are worth it. (Think about it, most people will drop more money than $200.00 getting drunk or at the casinos over the weekend)

Thanks so true .
Guess i could be a drinker or some one that hangs out at bars.
I,m leaning to the 900 did some looking on the web and some calls to other dealers and my dealer in town has the best price and will be there for me for service and to help me out .
And like talking with his wife about quilting and stuff.
Have to go look at so Janomes this week . The store is in town so i,ll go and look but every thing i see on the web is a lot more then $1200 for what i get from the brother.
I will let you know
If I get it I think i will bring it home and play and read the manual then go back and get my training once i feel relaxed with it .
Thanks every one for your help .
Making me feel better about spending the money on it . After all I could golf every weekend or just blow my money on some thing this way my wife and kids get lots of quilts lol.
Tom

You mentioned that your local dealer does not have either machine in stock for you to try out. Would you be able to go to a show or another dealer somewhere else to test drive the different machines? If that is possible I think you would feel much better about your decision.

I bought my Brother PQ1500s about three yrs. ago for around $600, free shipping from Amazon. I bought it for quilting only as I have a Janome for fancy stitches and piecing. Well, I still use the Janome for fancy stitches, but for piecing, I find I use only the Brother anymore. I can get a much more accurate quarter inch with it than the Janome with the side bar foot. Can't say enough good things about that 1500.

The closest Dealer that maybe have one is 120km away and i,d have to phone to see if they have them . And don,t really like driving in this winter weather.
Tom

I just looked on amazon and it,s $1395 here.

Well I just went out and spent my money.
I ended up getting a Husqvarna 650 . I found a sewing store in town that sells and services them and the price was right.A very nice lady and also included 6 classes for me that run from 9am until 4 pm. That in it,s self is a good bonus.
Is the machine ever neat so much faster and sews so straight for me.
Could have got the brother for a little more but no classes and got turned off a little when he told me i had to order two day or the sale was off . I don,t like to be pressured into stuff.
Well i,m off to sew got my new machine and a bag of wine gums and lots of fabric.
Thanks every one for your help and support.
Tom

Quote: Brother Cs6000i, about $150 and a great second machine and backup. Hello, Piker 6. The starting point is what you need a machine for. Will you be doing quilting on your domestic machine? Will you do free motion quilting on it? If so, then buy the machine with a wider throat than six or seven inches. Go for the widest throat you can afford. Do you plan to do fancy stitches or machine embroideries as your top priority? If embroidery is your passion then compare what you can get for your dollars. The Brother machines recommend Authorized Service Centers if you need repairs. Do you have an authorized repair center handy to you? As for me, I went with the Brother Cs6000i, about $150, five years ago. It has never once needed repair. I am still finding delight in its special features, and little things you may never consider as important. For example, the plastic cover over the bobbin is CLEAR so I can see my bobbin moving around. There is automatic threader built in, which is wonderful with my aging eyes. And you never oil this machine, because it is sealed. The lubricant is silicon. And I have some 70 decorative stitches, plus the alphabet in small block letters. And in contrast to your $999 machine? I have over $800 in my pocket. Big Smile here.

Well there is one time I wish I was from the states.
You could send me a gift of a sewing machine lol
Dollar is just killing every thing here.
Wanted to order fabric from onepiecer on the board here but the exchange is to high.
Tom

I live in Saskatchewan and I checked out the machine in Saskatoon some time ago. It was $1499.00 then. I wanted it for a grace frame. I get excellent service from my local dealer and try to support the store but.... I love my Brother NX2000 and so I just can't justify another machine right now.