I went to the Janome store yesterday and they have a brand new machine 6300 which just came out last month. Price is $999. It is exactly the same as the 6600 except it doesn't have the acuquilt (i think thats what its called--built in even feed ) and it has 90 or 100 built in stitches but no alphabet or numbers. The 6600 is $1499. Is the even feed thing and the alphabet worth the extra $500 in your opinion? I know i could always use a walking foot but a not sure what you all do with the alpha and numbers. My birthday is Sat. and that will be my gift from DH, MIL and DS and DD. Thanks for your opinions. Love this board.

i have a viking designer one and use my specialty stitches all the time...i wish i had dual feed but that was not offered back when i bought mine.

I also have a Designer 1, I bought the walking foot!

I use it all the time for wedding quilts and baby quilts. I like to stitch their names around the inner borders.

I have the 6600 and love the acu-feed. I think it makes it easier to finish my quilts. I would go for the 6600 personally if you can afford it.

Every time I finish a quilt - That's how I make my labels.

I use the fancy stitches sometimes but not usually the alphabet, of course I have an embroidery machine that does a better job than my machine, I do use the built in walking foot.

Just got a Brother Innovis 2000 in November with the alphabets and numbers and I really like having them, especially for baby gifts. Everyone likes their baby's name on things. If you plan on keeping your machine a while, get what you really want. No regrets!

I have a Pfaff with the dual feed & I love it & use it all of the time- for quilting & things other than quilting as well. The thing I really like about the dual feed is that I can use it with my 1/4" foot & my SID foot too. I do use my alphabet. Just made a quilt label with it yesterday.

Have the disigner1 use the alphabt, but no numbers , I also have the euro-pro 9110 it has the alphab, and the numbers but i dont use them either. i also bought the walking foot for both machines, i think the euro -pro is made by janome ,,,,,a lot of the same things on the machines match . Dottie Bug