LOL Bisque!! Well this new elna is a huge step up for me. I am currently on a very Old janome. I did try bernina and high end brothers but I just wasnt feeling the love.

elna is supposed to be a bit better than janome, like babylock is to brother. I am sure I will be happy. This dealer said I have a year to upgrade if I choose to do so. And she sells everything :)

That sounds really great, I do hope you like it, I only had one that I didn't like and that was a White, and I always wanted a White, finally got one, the dealer came to my home and brought a second new one, thinking I had a lemon, he couldn't get the second new one to work properly, there was a problem with the bobbins! I traded it for the Janome and I still have it. I do love my Bernina, I never gave Elna a thought, but I have Ellen Burns books on quilting and I also thought the Viking looked interesting. I think my next one maybe the BabyLock Long Arm quilter, not sure if I can find a space to put it! Came really close a few times to taking one home. So far quilting on my Bernina takes time, but works well for me and I made three queen and one king size. Enjoy your machine and happy quilting to you. We live on top of the mountain and we still have 16" of snow in the back yard. Loving the seasons.

I test drove this elna at a Very expensive Dealer, thought it was nice. found it online, had to jump on it. None of my dealers are any good. They seem to know less than i do! lol

I had a basic machine that I absolutely hated. It was very difficult to get the needle threaded right, and it wouldn't sew a straight seam. By that I mean that the stitches weren't nice and straight--they kind of went every which way. It was very tempermental and even when everything was set up right, I'd still sometimes get a big mess on the bottom side--some problem with the bobbin. It drove me crazy. I replaced it with a Bernina last summer, and now I'm in love.

i had an activa but no way I would spend 1600 on an aurora.

Well, I just bought the Juki TL98Q the other day but haven't recieved it yet.

You will love that!! Where did you get it?

From ebay, here it is http://cgi.ebay.com/Juki-TL-98Q-High...item45f09eacbf

let me know how it is!! I always wanted one, :)

I've had a Janome MC4000 for about 15 years. I love it. It has needle down feature as well as capabilities to move the needle side to side. Doesn't have the feature that cuts threads or the knee operated presser foot lift, but that's the breaks. Sometimes I could use a larger throat (Is that called the harp?)

I have one -- you will love it. BTW I did have to put a piece of styrofoam for a stopper under the foot feed so I didnt go sooooooo fast :)

lyn

Jared,
I've had a MQ 4800 for several years - great basic machine, nice stitches, runs well, etc. I just bought the new machine - the 1100 with the ability to quilt and embroider - LOVE it! Sews very well through all layers, even stitches. Very easy to do free motion quilting, too.

Phoebe

I bought a Janome 6600 last spring after my husband jerry-rigged a new motor on my lifelong favorite sewing machine, my trusty Bernina 831. He was afraid we couldn't find a new motor again, and urged me to get a second machine to fill my needs. I love the needle down, the decorative stitches, the larger area to the right of the foot, the built in auto feed option, the 1/4 inch foot, the knee lift lever. The machine has been quite good for me and my sewing needs are nearly 100% patchwork and quilting. I am happy to have a reliable dealer near me as a resource. I would like the auto needle threading feature if I could just get the hang of it - it is a little frustrating. The thing I like the least is how hard it is to change feet and needles- my Bernina spoiled me, I guess, because everything was so accessible and easy to get to. Good luck and Happy sewing!

I bought my machine about 8 years ago. I was looking at the Janome Memory Craft 4000 at the time and the dealer had marked it down from $1200 to $999. It had 150+ built in stitches plus many more great features and I was very tempted, but decided to wait and see if I wanted it badly enough to spend the money. My mother loved her Kenmore so I decided to see what Sears had to offer.... I found a Kenmore with the same features for $599. Had no idea at the time that Janome made the Kenmore machines. Anyway what I'm trying to say is find a Janome that you love and then see how it compares to Kenmore. I absolutely love mine. Good Luck!

When you said that Elna was a step above Janome, I think they're made by the same manufacturer, just like the Kenmore. That's why many of the reader/writers and emboridery cards etc. are interchangeable. So, I don't think Elna is better than Janome. Just my 2 cents... all 3 of the brands are made with basically the same parts and design.

Anyone looking at a new machine should also check to see how much the accessories are. The additional feet for some machines can cost a FORTUNE ! ! ! One good thing about Janome is that they usually come with almost all of the additional feet.

I love my Janome with a deep throat. Which is very nice when you are quilting. There are other nice little thing that is nice. The thread cutter is a good one and it has a lot of build in pattern. Check it out. Crafty

I got a new Janome6600 as an early Christmas present. My only complaint is the crowded area where your fingers have to go to change needles or feet. The snap on feet are no problem.I do wish the light source on the machine was better too. I use this machine everyday.I love the 1/4" foot, the thread cutter, and the push button control to run the machine without the foot pedal. This is really great for doing fmq.I keep my instruction book by the machine so I can learn all the things it can do!
Any new machine has some learning curve involved, but this was probably the easiest machine to adapt to.



Ditter

And it's nice that Janome feet are really not that expensive compared to Bernina feet.

Well to me it "felt" a bit fancier. I have a janome now, I know Elna and Janome are made in the same plant, but I like the way Elna looks.

AMEN to this!!! The feet for my Bernina are outrageous!!!

Well I bought it because of it's speed and I want to use it to quilt on mostly.

I'll let everyone know when I get it. i'm soooo excited!

I don't believe it's just the same plant. Janome makes Elna machines. Post a photo of your set-up!

Umm...like how much? I do like that Bernina feet are all metal whereas quite a few of my Janome feet are plastic:<

alot of my janome feet are metal.

Brother Makes Babylock.

They say Babylock has better specs. who knows.

Hmm. I've got the MC9000 and I'd venture at least 1/2 of the feet are plastic or have plastic pieces and parts. I just peeked in my foot box and here's what I've got:

1 darning foot/embroidery foot- all plastic
1 Beading foot-all plastic
1 larger Beading foot-all plastic
1 button foot-all plastic
1 button hole maker- metal with plastic
2 F feet- all plastic (1 foot notched out by dealer)
1 walking foot- metal encased in plastic
1 free motion foot- metal with plastic
1 roller foot- all plastic with metal roller

I do have an assortment of all metal feet, but I'd venture at least 1/4 to maybe even a 1/2 have plastic.

Maybe you have the newer accufeed type feet? I hope those are made with more metal than the older type feet. I've only had to replace a couple of feet over the years, but I guess my thinking is that I'd prefer to pay a few bucks more for all metal feet. But, I've not shopped for Bernina feet before, so I'd be curious as to a cost comparison.

I heard that within the next year ALL (no matter the brand) sewing machines will be made in China. I don't know if it's true or not but the woman that told me works for a Janome dealer and is a quilting instructor.

Most machines today ARE made in China or Taiwan ...
A lot of people think that Pfaffs are still "German made" but in truth they were sold to Viking Husquvarna years ago and now many Pfaffs are made in China. I was considering the Pfaff Expression (3.0 & 4.0, their "top of the line" $$$$ models) until I researched more and found they switched making them from Sweden to China. They are having tons of problems with them since. I'M SO VERY GLAD I did not buy this machine !!

I have an older Pfaff and a Viking and I won't part with them, they are workhorses. I MAY be tempted to buy the new Janome model coming out soon. A number of quilters I know have the 6600 & feel Janome gives the best value & quality for your $$$.

my janome is 10 years old, Its all metal inside, Even my needle threader is metal. Its not going anywhere. :)

Go try out machines from different manufacturers. If a shop has no machine to try - leave. I like my Viking Mega-Quilter and bought the Imperial frame for it but I just got a Bernina 440QE and FELL IN LOVE. Also have a 15-year Pfaff that works well and a Janome Magnolia that it too light weight for some things but functions as a good machine to take to a quilt class. Bottom line is try before you buy and try them all. Good luck. :-P

I have two Janome machines, one also embroiders. I LOVE both of them. I suggest you visit -
http://sewing.patternreview.com/SewingMachine/Reviews
and check out all the comments about all the Janome machines. Good luck!

I heard the same thing from two different dealers.

I have a Janome Memory Craft 4900.. I LOVE IT!!! I have different feet that I have bought & used..Enjoy using them an just playing around with them. It is about 5yrs. old. Hope you find what works for you. Good Luck :thumbup:

I have a Phaff 1473 that is 21 years old, a Juki 98E, a New Home Travel Mate (circa 1994) and a Janome 6500. I love all these machines, but would not buy a Phaff now because they are not made as well as they were years ago. My Phaff needs a new foot board, but I can still use it. I love the Juki for piecing and the Janome for both piecing and general sewing - the Travel Mate I use when I sew away from home. For the amount of features and price, I think the Janomes are your best bet. Of course, Vikings and Berninas are super machines, but too pricey for most pocketbooks.

I agree with patrice....which ever machine: the most important thing for me is the throat space: the bigger the better...
The best machine I own is the Brother PQ1500...absolutlly great but on my wish list is the Janome 6600 that has all the features the PQ1500 has plus the decorative stitches...... :thumbup:

Went for my test drive today!!! Went to Husqvarna and saw the Diamond and SE. Wonderful machines!! Then went to Janome and saw the MC11000 and 6600. DH was with me and is still alive!!!! Really didn't freak out as much as I assumed he would. Didn't know if I was going to have to use CPR on him. Was a very good duby!! I've been looking at the sewing/embroidery - very sweet. DH asked me if I'm really going to do embroidery? Don't know, I probably might do some, but how much vs. the cost. I do a lot by hand - applique & quilting and I think he really likes that. The 6600 is a very sweet machine! Now I'm really stumped!!

You'll be surprised how much you will use the embroidery if you get a combo! There is sooooo much you can do with it!

I went test driving yesterday, too. The 11000SE sure has a nice hoop area and the acufil quilting in the hoop looks wonderful. I fell in love with the Bernina 830, sigh....I've got a big anniversary and birthday coming up. Who needs a new car when I can buy a sewing machine that will clean my house and drive me anywhere I want to go

:) :)

Yeah the bernina 830 is really nice, but I bought a new car instead of that machine.