Help with quilting machine purchase.
 

I want to purchase a new sewing machine. I have a very old Singer which I have pieced on for years. In the past I have always sent my quilts to be professionally quilted. However, I now want to try my hand at something more creative, like using a variety of decorative stitches and free motion quilting. I need some advice from someone more knowledgable than myself regarding which machine I should purchase. I am looking at a Janome Memory Craft 6600 and Janome Horizon Memory Craft 7700. What would be your advice? Do you know if either has a stitch regulator? Is a stitch regulator important for free motion quilting? I have also found a Singer L500 Quantum Premium that has several of the same features as the Janome as well as 401 different stitches. Is this a good machine? Does anyone use Singer for quilting? My current Singer is just a regular sewing machine with no special features. It has been dependable for 33 years, but I don't know if Singer has created a good machine for quilters. Thank you to anyone who has some advice!!

I "think" (I might be wrong) Bernina is the only sewing machine with a stitch regulator. My Viking Sapphire 855 has a large throat so I can free motion quilt. Unfortunately, the machine will not do the built-in fancy stitches on a quilt. This is my second Viking and neither would do all the decorative stitches with the thickness of the quilt. Otherwise I am very happy with the machine .

I have the Janome 6600 and have raved about it since I got it a year ago...wouldn't swop it for anything.

I know its not on your list but I love my babylock and it has some nice features, it just doesn't have the IDT like the janomes unless you get the quest or the serenade, but I have loved my espire and the stitch quality since I got it

I have the L500--have had it for 2 years and use it everyday without any problems. It has a 8 5/8 inch throat space, built in walking foot and I believe it sews 1100 stitches per minute. It does not have a stitch regulator. I'm just learning to fmq but it sews a great stitch when I can guide the fabric correctly:o. I can't speak to other machines, I just wanted to let you know of my experience with my Singer.

I have the 7700 I love the throat. I can do my own quilting, any size. I figure I have broken even with cost since I do not have to pay someone to FMQ it for me. I first few quilts I did I paid someone to quilt it and when I gave them my gift they loved it and then asked did you do this its awesome...meaning the stippling. I said No...and that is when I decided I wanted a machine that I could do the FMQ'ing myself. Now I when they ask....do you do that...I can say YUP...Just for you...they only thing I do not like about the 7700 is that it does not like thick seams. So when I machine stitch my binding it can be a pain at times. I may start using my treadle for the bindings.

I love my 6600! I have had it for just about a year now. She will be going in for yearly maintence soon. My only complaint about her is she leaves a little nest at every start--this issue will be addressed when I bring her in. Other than that she is fantastic. My 6600 came with an attachment to extend the surface to make FMQ easy, quilt just slides over it and there are pleny of fancy stitches.

Enjoy your shopping I am sure you will get plenty of opinions here.

I do my FMQing on my vintage Bernina Record 830. It does a terrific job, and has a few decorative stitches as well (although I've never used them, I'm not into that). A friend suggested this model to me for FMQing a couple of years ago and I started looking for one on eBay. It doesn't have the stitch regulator, but I've heard mixed reviews on that anyway. I just couldn't justify spending thousands of dollars on a machine when a good used machine does such a fine job! I have the added plus of being able to clean and troubleshoot on my own, since it is NOT a computerized machine.
Just a suggestion...

Oh, and Plumtree, about the nesting problem...are you bringing the bobbin thread to the top at the beginning? If so, are you holding onto the threads as you begin? That should eliminate any nests.

I have the Janome 7700 and love it, apart from shredding thread occasionally while FMQ (it doesn't like Mettler thread) it does everything I want and more. I have no trouble sewing on my binding and it goes over thick seam easily. I have been practicing FMQ and and getting much better without a stitch regulator.