Janome 8900QCP versus Babylock Journey
 

I went to local dealers yesterday looking for a machine I could do free motion quilting and while I was there, the dealer had Janome 8900QCP on sale for $2400. Elna excellence 730 for $2300, and all floor models of Babylock were 1/2 price. The Babylock Journey was $3499 which is also embroidery machine. I like the Elna but my problem with this there is only one dealer in the Cincinnati area so I am shying away from this one. My problem is trying to decide what way to go. I like the way Babylock lets you know when the bobbin thread is low and Janome is quiet machine like the Elna. Anyone have any experience with these machines.

Love my Janome 8900. FMQ is easy on this machine. Don't know anything about the others.

The Elna 730 is the twin of the Janome 8200, so fewer stitches than the 8900. The Elna equivalent to the 8900 is the 760.

Now, there are updates to both sets of twins. The "SE" versions of the 8900 and 8200 are twins with the "Pro" versions of the 760 and 730 Elnas. These have improvements in the bobbin/needle plates.

$100 more for a Janome 8900 vs an Elna 730 is a no-brainer to me. Unfortunately I can't speak to the Babylock machines.

Michelle

It should really come down to what you are looking for. I recently bought a Janome 8900, but considered the Babylock Aria, Bernina 740 and Brother DreamCreator. For me, the most important thing was free motion quilting, so I went to various dealers with quilt sandwiches and tried the free motion. I made my decision based on the quality of free motion that I got.

I own a Janome 8900 and love it. Haven't used the others to compare, but the 8900 sews everything I throw at it and isn't fussy on thread.

I love my dreamweaver which is a step above the journey it FMQ beautifully

I own the Janome 8900, and it is wonderful for quilting! I don't know about the others.