Love my Janome 6600P - and some day I hope to upgrade to Janome 8900.....This machine is my favorite....

I agree with most of these Janome gals. I had the 6600 and upgraded to the 7700, and then upgraded once more to the 8900. I would not hesitate to recommend the 6600 or the 8900. The things I like about the 8900 (that the 7700 does not have) are the snap off needle plate, and snap on feet for the accufeed foot. When I am quilting I go between free motion and stitch in the ditch, and it is handy not to get out my screwdriver. I like the larger harp and the wider stitch width. If the budget is an issue, I could also recommend the 6600. It is just a good machine and I would snatch one up in a second.

I have a Janome Memorycraft 9000 which I got several years ago. One point I would make is although I don't often embroider, you can also do automatic quilting with the embroidery feature. I've used mine to quilt small designs such as flowers and butterflies on small quilts. There are also feather designs that you can use but I've never taken the time to figure out how to use them. If anyone already has an embroidery machine you might consider what you can do using the quilting designs.

I've had mine for some time, it's a MC4800. Love it but would really love it more if it had more throat space. So be sure that is one thing to watch for.

Thank you everyone for your input! My head is no longer spinning. I've made my list of questions, and I've plotted out the dealers I want to go to. I feel now like I need to try several machines in addition to the Janome so I'm on a mission to do so. I plan to try out a new Brother, Juki, Bernina, Baby Lock, Viking, and of course the Janomes I want to check out. I just feel I have to "check out the field" in order to make sure I get the machine that I love the most, and also to know there's nothing better out there that I'd rather have. I talked to a quilting friend, and she sent me to a different Janome dealer where she goes and says she receives perfect customer service. And if I get a salesman on a "rant", I'm going to shut him/her up and ask for someone else to help me. I guess I just wasn't prepared for that initial experience, but I am now. So a big Thank you to everyone!

I have the 6600 as do several of my GF and I would not trade this machines for anything. Not even my hubby or children and I LOVE them too! :)

If you want a good Janome for sewing and quilting I would suggest the Janome 1600P-QC. is a straight stitch professional machine. I have on my quilting frame a straight Janome 1600P on my quilting frame. I don't have any problems with it.

I sold my Janome 6600 to buy the Pfaff Performance 5.0 with IDT. The IDT is wonderful. No screwdriver needed to engage or disengage. It works with most feet. The Accufeed was cumbersome and had limited feet.

My Janome dealer also was a pain. Love my new Pfaff dealer!

Debbie

Hi Mary,
I was wondering if you use the AcuFil Quilt part of your 11000. I have a new 12000 and am having a devil of a time getting any classes on how to use it, either from the shop I bought it from or a LQS. Also need help with the Horizon Link software. But I don't believe that is on the 11000.

The 8200 came out without much fanfare shortly after the 8900 and doesn't have the magnifying glass and as many decorative stitches but still the larger harp, the snap up plate and the price is much more reasonable. I traded my 6500 in on it and have no regrets.