I've read that some prefer the Singer15-91 to the 201 because the 15-91 bobbin is vertical rather than horizontal like the 201, and some think it is easier to FMQ. Also, I read that the 15-91 bobbin holds a bit more thread so you don't have to change it as often. There's lots of knowledgeable people at the Vintage Machines section of the board and great information on cleaning up your maching. Also, Sew-Classic.com has comparisons of the machines, parts and other information. Have fun!

"I would like to buy an inexpensive sewing machine with a wider (or longer) throat (I think that's what you call it.) I like to machine quilt and have no problems with a baby size one but with bigger quilts, it's just about impossible to get a good finish with the Brother I have. Now, I saw one at Hancocks for $800 but cannot spend that much right now. Anybody know of a less expensive one I get for now until I save up for the more expensive one? TIA."

You know you are in a great place to buy a new machine! In Texas!!! I have gone every year for the past 5 years to the Houston International Quilt Show. I have brought my BabyLock JewelLong Arm and a new Janome Horizon there the last 2 years in a row. I was looking at both brands for about a year and heard that you can get better deals there. they not only sell new ones but they sell the floor models too! I saved over $500.00 on the Janome and over $1000.00 on my LA.

If you can hold out til October, go to the show and see what deals you can get. also there you can try all makes & models of sewing machines!!

Good Luck on your buying adventure! I am happy for you! It is always nice to get something new!!!

You might also want to consider going to a Quilt Store and buying what your really want--and financing it. Many machine companies offer financing. That is how I bought mine--so I could get what I really wanted.

I was watching the Brother 1500S on AMAZON - what a great machine. You put it in your cart, and then click "Save for later" and then when you go to your cart from time to time the price changes are always in a yellow box on top for the very first hit on your cart. I watched the price go slowly down to 532, and then all of a sudden its now up to 699 again, but it WILL come down sooner or later. I won't be buying the Brother though because in the meantime, I got a great deal on a customer return of a Janome MC6300P at Sew Vac Direct in College Station TX. I have purchased several machines there over the years, all online, so I called when I saw this machine and it said "Call for pricing." Well, I did and I saved over 400 on that machine. And when it came it was pristine - no one even had unpacked it or its accessories at all. People do return things quite a bit - on the phone the very nice gentleman at SVD told me there are lots of reasons, some of which were amusing in a way. Well, anyhow, if you take your time, and watch for deals, you may get the machine you really want. I had wanted that MC6300 for over a year because it has everything I want and nothing I don't - nice variety of stitched without giving me a couple hundred I don't need, knee lift, and auto-cutter. I am really loving the machine. Quiet and powerful. I have another machine with all the bells and whistles that doesn't really FM as well as I want to, but is my favorite sewing machine for garments. However, now that I have the Janome 6300, I am using it for everything for awhile. Patience, and an eye on opportunity pays off. I waited almost 2 years to purchase my main garment sewing machine I previously mentioned (it's a Viking). No hurry, then the price fell as another model series replaced it, and I bit.

You might want to check out the "Sew Its for Sale" Yahoo Group. Lots of good things there. Yesterday there was a Singer 301 long bed listed for $150 (many here LOVE that machine for FMQ, believe the throat/harp space is larger than the typical plastic ones we see). Also, on August 3rd there was a Brother PQ1500 listed for $375. I don't know if either is still available, but really good deals on both!

I live in Eastern Canada.
Today, I e-mailed the Brother dealer in this area and asked about the price of the Brother 1500.
The reply was that she had a demo PQ1500S, high speed straight stitch machine with a throat space of approx. 6"x9".
Price...$1499.

Dawn, I signed up for the Yahoo Group Sew It's For Sale. Sounds like some really good deals on there. Just waiting for admins to approve it. Thanks for the point in that direction.

I hope you find a steal of a deal! Also - wanted to point you to All Brands (www.allbrands.com). The Brother PQ1500 is sold there for $599 with free shipping in the US. Might still be higher than what you can spend now - but they have the best deal out there that I have found. If you can find a dealer that has one that you can try out - then you would know if this machine is for you. I was going in that direction, and then ended up with a Singer 15-91, which I LOVE! Quilted a king sized quilt on it. No, throat/harp not as large as the Brother 1500 - but feels bigger than it is and just love how easy it feels to FMQ (always felt like I was fighting my Janome 4800). Class 15 bobbin too (larger than most). Straight stitch only, no auto anything - but I don't mind. Got mine for $150 with a cute table (many others get theirs for cheaper than this). I use a teflon coated oven sheet from Wal-Mart to help me with moving my fabric around for FMQing (would be the equivalent of the Supreme Slider - but 1/3 of the cost).

You'll have to post a picture of what you eventually end up with! :-)

Ranger - WOW!!! Sticker shock. :-(

The Baby Lock Quilter's Choice Professional sewing machine looks just like the Brother 1500. A used one just sold on ebay for $500. I have this machine and LOVE it!

The Pfaff Grand Quilter/Husquavarna Mega Quilter (Basically the same machine) both have a larger throat space, 9.5", and a high stitch rate but is only a straight stitch machine. I had mine on a Gracie II frame and found it very good for free motion quilting and pieceing and is very reasonably priced. Around £500 in the UK last year. I have now bought a Nolting 14" for the frame but still use the other machine for smaller jobs and pieceing. Perhaps a preowned one would be a good starting point.