I checked out our new Joanns today and they had about 15 Husky's on display (floor models) and they were on sale. The lady said during the Memorial sale they were another 10% off. They are really beautiful machines but I did not know how the quality was. We have the lawn mowers, chain saws and weedeaters and they are great. How are the machines?

They are highly respected machines, and have been for years, more commonly known by "Viking". I have a Sapphire 870Q and I love it, and use it heavily. My sister has two Vikings and loves them. There was a long thread on the same subject last week, with lots of comments. Just search for Viking and find a recent date. I'll look too, and send the link if I can find it.

Love mine. However as with any of the big name machines, everything you buy to go with it is expensive! Still LOVE mine!
Kat

take a test drive ;-)

In truth.... when were these manufactured... a lot of the machines that are under thousands of dollars, are no longer made in Sweden... where they originally got their great reputation... this is info i've been told.. i'm not a rep, but just wanted to pass along the info...
Truth, for me the Janome machines are far superior... what are you looking for.. ?

I have sewed on nothing but Vikings for the last 11 years. I think they are the best on the market. I have 2 viking roses, a huskystar and I had a mega quilter( sold it only to upgrade to Gammill)( and miss it). My mom has the rose also. I have a Janome that my brother found someone was selling cheap so I bought it. It is a nice machine but doesn't compare to the vikings. You won't be sorry to buy a Husqvarna! Good luck.

I like mine too. I have had it for about 5 years. It is the SE...would I buy it again...probably not since I didn't really use the embroidery part. But it sews GREAT.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-124714-1.htm
This is the link to the discussion last week. There are lots of opinions expressed here.

I've got a Husky and a Janome. I like the way the Husky sews better but use the Janome more mostly because of the accufeed system (I do a lot of 1" strip piecing). My Husky is about 7 years old back when they were still made in Sweden.

My Husky dealer though has quit carrying them just recently. His main reason is that he said that since they were bought out by Singer and moved production to Japan he has had a very hard time getting parts. He did not say that the quality had degraded - just that he can't get parts and if he can't service a machine that he sells he's not going to sell it anymore. I personally had experienced some of the difficulty getting parts, waited MONTHS for a simple dual feed foot before it finally came in. Absolutely no reason for that. He's going to stock up on the most common parts before he 'quits' them so that he doesn't have to wait for parts on the machines he's committed to servicing (ie MINE <G>).

So whileI wouldn't disregard their quality, if a problem does happen it would be nice to know you can get parts. Bear in mind though, being sold out and moving production to another country could happen to any manufacturer you buy a product from.

Have a serger and the Sapphire. Love 'em both, use 'em a LOT!

I have a Lilly 550 that is about 11 years old and I love it. It sews so smooth and never had any problems.

Have the Designer 1, bought second hand a couple of years ago...great machine, love that I can do embroidery too.
Have the Pfaff for patchwork piecing though love the IDT walking foot.
If the Husqvarna had an integral walking foot would be the best machine on the market !!!!

Love my Sapphire!

I have Husquvarna Rose, Designer I, 905 Serger and a 910 serger I love them all (would love the new designer diamond)
I also have a Janome Gem that I take to classes and on vacation love that too

I love mine it is from 87 and has never been in the shop the shop I go to to get feet said that the older ones are work horses

I have had mine for several years and really enjoy it!

I started with the Plus One 30 years ago. Then a few years ago I bought a Sapphire 850 then up graded to a diamond 3 years ago. I never want another machine. It is perfect . they have come up with a new diamond that is an upgrade to mine. Haven't seen it yet but it can't be bad. I would buy mine again in a second.

Do a search here on SVP using the button above.( the Singer Viking Pfaff buy-out). There's lots of info. on those threads.

I have the Viking Mega Quilter and I just love it. Do all my FMQ on it. I wanted one to do the fancy stitches and simple blanket stitch so I bought the Sapphire. I hated that machine from week one. I just sent it to my sister who's machine died and she can not afford to buy one. I picked up an old Singer 401 for the fancy stitches and I love it, love it.

take a test drive ~ I have the quilting Sapphire 850 and wouldn't trade it for the world... then I also have the Designer I ESS embroidery, which is about 2 models before the Diamond. Love it, its been a workhorse since 2002 for me!

i have a designer SE LE...LOVE it...it was one of the last one's made in Sweden. If you decided to buy one though i would highly suggest you go to an LQS dealer. You will get a much better deal ( the guys in Joanns can't wheel and deal) and much better customer service. I paid 3600 for my floor model that had only 21 hours on it (that's nothing for these machines) I got all the gooddies, plus...one on one training until i learned how to use the machine, she threw in 3 extra feet, bobbins, needles, ect. plus has "fixed" the BTM&C errors ( between the machine and chair). I love my machine. I wont be getting rid of it until it sews its last stitch.

I had a lovely Husqvarna Prelude 350 with the acrylic table and walking foot in a great carrying case to use for classes. It's a great machine and has a better stitch and tension than my Janome 6500. It's also the machine that DD has "borrowed" to stitch dog stuff. She loves it and no longer wants a new machine. Now I'm taking my Featherweight to classes!

I believe that Husqavarna Sewing Machines are the best! I've had my Viking for two years now; I also have a Brother LX-3125 for my basic sewing, I wouldn't give anything for my Husqavarna. It withstands all problems Ive ever had and my LQS can usually fix any problems I may have. (which is rare).
Stephanie

Ditto

I have a designer1 and I also have the SE i love them both. I too would love having the diamond .. In my next life perhaps.

I have 3 Vikings and I love the way they sew. The only downside to Viking was stated earlier in this topic---parts.

It takes a long time for the dealer to get the needed parts. Both myself and my friend were involved in about a 9 month wait. I had another machine to sew on, she went into the shop and used one there.

Jean

I have all Vikings that I regularly use. From the Diamond, Topaz 30, SE, D1, and a Viva no longer made. And I just got their 18/8 Mega quilter. Love them all and would never have anything else. The old addage applies here, you get what you pay for.

I have an Emerald 203 because all I do is sew - no embroidery - and a Huskylock serger. I would not trade either of them for anything!!! Every single time I've I've had a problem with one of them it has turned out to be "user error". Hmmmm........

Not true. My dealer is in Joann's. They just rent the space, have nothing to do with Joann's. The deals are set by Husqvarna Viking. I have been dealing with this particular dealer for well over 10 years, have never had a problem with parts availability or repair. And I have never had to pay for a repair yet, all have been while machines were under warranty. Never had a problem with any of them after warranty was up.

I have a Designer I for the past 7 years. The machine sews beautifully, however, I have had nothing but problems with the touch screen. It has been replaced 3 times and now it is acting up again, when I touch something nothing happens, total frustration.

They are really great little work horses. I work in a Viking shop and have sold many of them. Never had an unhappy buyer. Jump on the deal.

I have a Daisy, a Designer 1 and the 905 serger...won't buy another brand!!! Love it...hoping for a new Diamond (guess I will keep dreaming!!)

I upgraded to an HClass 500e after 40 years on a Kenmore with cams. Loved it! Loved it so much so that I upgraded to HClass 600e in March. What a wonderful machine - classes at Joann's are terrific! Now my DH teases me about upgrading to a Designer Ruby?!

Love my Viking Designer SE LE.

I have a Designer1 and like the machine, but have found that the trade-in value of Viking is not as good as the Bernina. My $6500 Machine that was only worth $200 in trade two years ago. Boo-Hoo. Needless to say, no trade, I'm keeping it.

The Viking was going to be my retirement gift to self..I bought the "Lilly 555" I have hated it since day 1..lol..got the same deal your looking at..bought a "Brother" from a Wal-mart to carry back and forth to group and use it all the time..it cost a lot less..to be fair..2 members of my group use Vikings and love theirs..I'm looking for a new one this year..going to try out a few before this purchase!!

Do you know when they bought them out? I have a Husgavarna Designer Topaz 30 which I bought new a year ago.

Do you know when they bought them out? I have a Husgavarna Designer Topaz 30 which I bought new a year ago.

I have two vintage Vikings---think the quality has improved the last few years, but I will stick to my old ones made in Sweden!

I have had the Interlude for 7 years and LOVE it....never been in the shop except for regular cleaning/maintenance.