Congrats on converting DH - would love some tips.

Congratulations! Happy for you! My suggestions:
Test ALL features of the machine using your fabrics, sandwiches, decorative threads, etc. Check the machine's quilt features, pivoting abilities, piecing, hand look quilting, decorative stitches such as feather stitches and stippling. Make sure the stitching is uniform all around, including tension. Ask yourself how comfortable the threading is--does it seem easy for you? Also take a good look at the bobbin area--top load vs front or side load--how do those measure up for the type of sewing you will do with this new baby. Check the pricing of accessories--feet for some makes and models are terribly expensive! Now, for embroidery: check the ease in hooping, can the machine switch back and forth from utility sewing to embroidery mode without taking off the embroidery arm(mine can switch from sewing to embroidery with no movement of the arm once it is plugged into the machine--it spoils me!!) I also like a machine with separate bobbin winding function so that I can sew and wind thread onto bobbins while working--a time saver!! Also, you want to look at the computerized navigation features of the machine you choose--is the format going to be user-friendly for you? Make certain that you get at least a YEAR of freebie classes on your machine, in addition to user orientations. This is essential!! Pricewise, I would push for about half of the sticker retail price of the new machine--this has been my rule of thumb, which has pretty much held up.

Brands: Babylock, Bernina, and Janome are my picks, Viking is pretty good, but I think are stinkers to thread--at least for their sergers. Which 3 are you considering, btw??
Let us know what you choose, maybe send a picture of it when you get it. Best of luck to you! So happy for you. I guess I would tell DH you need the right tools to do the kinds of sewing you want to do, and that cheaper machines don't quite provide that ability with good results.

Great advice! Just what I needed. Thank you so much for being specific. I'm taking my time to explore, but hope to be using my new machine within the next 6 to 8 months. My husband encouraged me to sell a piece of exercise equipment (for which we don't have room, but won in a drawing for turning in a health form at work) and use the money to get a better sewing machine. With that in mind, I'm going for the best to do the kind of sewing I've always wanted to do: quilting and embroidery. I figure his toy (a 1936 Hudson) is a good leverage point for my getting a good sewing machine. He also knows that a quilt for the back seat of his Hudson is the next quilt in line that I plan to do.

goody goody for you. Yea you can wait.

Wow thats great good for you and happy quilting when you get it.

I'd be interested is knowing what 3 you are looking at ... I will be needing to upgrade too... my machine is almost 20 yrs old.. won't part with it but need more for quilting..

Well, I couldn't wait and went test driving yesterday. My top three choices: Pfaff Expressions 4, Babylock Symphony, and the Bernina Auroa 440 QE.

I test drove an Elna, Babylock Symphony, Brother Laura Ashley, and the Bernina. I loved the babylock and the Bernina.

The Bernina was a tad over my budget at $3200. It had the stitch regulator - which was a blast to play with, great even stitches and was really quiet. The Babylock has so many built-in stitches, has the fabric sensor, LARGE quitling area, great stitches, and was also quiet. I liked the built in tutorial. The babylock dealer offered me $1400 off the MSP. That price is good until Monday at 9pm. The dealer said prices change on Tuesdays and Fridays. I still can put down $10 to hold the price. Also, if it is offered at a lower price at the fair, they will refund the difference.

I haven't test drove the Pfaff yet.

I'm really leaning towards the Babylock. It comes with 17 different feet and the feet I use for my current machine will fit the Babylock. I went on foot buying frenzy a couple of years ago and bought about 20 different feet. I serioulsy don't think I will need any additional accessories for the babylock.

The Bernina dealer told me that Bernina has discontinued the 440QE and what they have is all they are going to get.

We are off to the races today. I'm putting all of my research into my bag and will make up my mind. Aghhhh- my brain hurts alreadY!

You should be able to get a really good price on the 440QE because the 500 series has just been released that replaces the 400 series. Quite a lot of people will probably be trading theirs in. So, you could always consider a gently used machine. But, don't let the dealer try to make you think the 440QE is more "valuable" because they're discontinued. The price for these should go down and not up, to sell them and get them out of inventory.

I'm excited for you!! What machines are you considering?
I have been using a simple Pfaff with IDT. Last year while shopping in Geneva I bought a BabyLock Espire and haven't taken the cover off much less travel back there to take the two classes!! I take care of my grandson during the week (now 8 mos) and it has been one thing after the other - with the most recent being my moms diagnosis of stage4 metastatic colon cancer. I actually took the manual out yesterday morning to read while having coffee and I was so overwhelmed. Maybe if I have the machine in front of me while going through the book I'll be able to process what I'm reading.

Sorry for going on & on.