I've really been interested in buying either a vintage sewing machine (probably a Husqvarna Viking 6460 or 6000 series) or a quilter machine with a large bed and work area (Juki TL98QE). The local sewing shop is able to get both of these for me but the guy there is really pushing a Janome (especially the Sewist 500) on me.

It does seem to be a decent machine and has a lot of features that I think I would like BUT I'm not really able to find any user reviews online.

If anyone can give me some feedback or advice on these machines or it would be really helpful.

thanks!

I don't have any of the 3 machines you listed, but I can give you my two cents! :D

Here is some info on it: http://janome.com/index.cfm/Machines...ing/Sewist_500

It looks like a basic sewing machine. Is that what you're looking for? Have you decided what features you need to have and what features would be nice-to-have? I need to have a needle threader because I can't see the eye of a needle any more! :D So that's one feature I need to have in a sewing machine. I also like having a bobbin indicator for when the bobbin gets low. I don't use a lot of decorative stitches, so I wouldn't be looking for those in a new sewing machines.

Those are just a few of the things you will want to think about before buying a new machine.

Good luck!

I would be a little leery of this machine, if he is doing a hard sell there might be a reason. Do your research, it took me to weeks to decide to buy my Janmone 11543.

I have a Janome that is about five or six years old. I absoluely love it. I got talked into getting an Elna many years ago by the teacher my first quilting class. I disliked it so much I actually quit sewing for a while. I got a Bernina, which I like and starting sewing again. Then I went to the Women's Show one year and saw the Janomes. I love this machine.

I just bought the Janome 6600. Before I bought this one I made a list of which features I wanted. It was between the Janome or a Pfaff. The Pfaff was several $$$$ more and further away. I also have a Pfaff and love it so it's not that it was a stranger to me. I really do like the Janome. My first thought about buying a sewing machine is the dealer. They have got to be dependable and reliable. I had used the Janome dealer before to buy two different Phaffs. He doesn't sell Pfaff anymore. I think Viking owns Pfaff now.

decide what features you want..that is most important. if i were to be in the market to buy a new machine and knowing what I know now and didnt know then.. I would be going for the Juki..a big throat space is in my opinion the most important thing when buying a machine as when you are quilting a quilt it is so hard to wrestle with a quilt in a small throat space. I bought a used Bernina (got talked into it by salesman when a newbie to quilting) which I love but have not used even half the stitches on so would go with a tough machine that can handle sewing over seams etc with ease. There is really one other feature that I love and that is the needle up/down feature but again it depends on what you want/need. You can always buy a second machine with more bells and whistles if you need it later. Let us know what you decide. Also see what you can get thrown into the deal as a walking foot is expensive...

Oh yea, always ask for extras. When I bought my Janome I ask for the open toe foot and extra bobbins.

i have two Janomes (MC11000 and 6600P) and i LOVE both of them. they are both packed with features and performance that cost loads more in other brands. they both perform well.

the only thing i don't like about them is that it'll be 20 years before i can justify buying another machine. and i am such a sewing machine junkie! it will kill me to be sensible. :lol:

i would cry if i had to go back to a machine with a standard throat. (mine both have 9" to the right of the needle.)

the wider machines are a lot more expensive, though. i would never try to talk you into spending more than you think wise. but, if you have the $$$ to spare, then wide is definitely the way to go.

I love my Janome, but have a hard time telling people to buy one. Such a personal choice.

I love my Janome as well...and just like the previous person...I dont want to tell you what to buy...but I will say this...with the mc6600 there are alot more bells and whistles to which I would really miss if I went with the one you are getting. and if its a money issue...it is worth the wait to save!!

I have 3 Janomes and love all of them for different reasons. But your dealer is the most important person, because you will rely on him for the up keep of themachine. Good Luck

I have the GrandQuilter which is equivalent to the Juki and it is a machine that ONLY goes forward or backwards. If you are looking for JUST a quilting machine, then that is fine but if you ever need to do any zigzag or blanket stitch or anything other than forward or backward (and you will) then go with a regular machine.

Don't know anything about vintage. To me that is just another name for "old" but I mean no offense with that statement.

Both colleagues at work are Janome fans and I am in the process of ditching my new Pfaff for a Janome. I will have to pick Patrice's brain a bit because she has both models I am investigating.

I agree with whoever wrote that you should identify what you NEED to have and what you WANT to have. Then compare the features. Being unhappy with a sewing machine is not like a bad haircut - it won't grow out, it will just grow moew frustrating.

What makes a machine Vintage? I bought a New Home Memory Craft in 1986. It has been a wonderful machine. 20+ years of sewing has been a delight.

About a year ago it occured to me that I might be wise to get a machine for back-up, in case my faithful machine stopped.

After a lot of research, I went to eBay - and to make a long story short - over a period of 6 months I bought 2 of the exact same machine, each one had seen very little use. I spent about $400 and got 2 great machines. I gave one to my daughter who has pestered me for my machine (when I quit sewing!) I would say I saved about $1000 - Not quite vintage - but maybe some day. if I live long enough!

I like the 3 Janome machines that I have.

Decide what you want a machine to do then purchase the one with as much more as your wallet will allow. Janome just today came out with two new machines that are supposed to be fantastic---high end machines with mid range pricing. One of them is $499 and the other is $799. The last one has an automatic thread cutter and a wide feed dog that allows for one finger guidance instead of two hands and only weighs around 16 lbs. Go to a fabric store that sells and displays Janome machines and try them out. Any good dealer will have several models on display and allow you to sew on all of them so that you can find the one that best suits you. I don't have a Janome yet but I'm planning to before the year ends. I know many, many quilters that wouldn't have anything else.

4-5 years ago, when I ventured into sewing, I bought the Janome Sew Precise which was about $300. I absolutely love it. It's a work horse, yet has plenty of patience with me (I am sure it 'rolls its eyes' at me alot!). Now, I'm looking at the Janome 6600 and hope to be able to save up and buy one by the end of the year. That being said, should I happen to have an unexpected windfall of money, I would probably get a Bernina. But the Bernina I want is way out of my price range in the foreseeable future.

Can I ask which Elna you had?

I might as well jump in here with the rest of the Janome advocates and say that I, too, love my Janomes. I have 3 (a basic model, 6600 & JemGold) and they all do exactly what I ask of them without complaint.

BUT - make a list of what you want and test sew as many machines as you can bear before deciding on what you want. I made potholder-size quilt sandwiches to take with me for testing on.

I've had a Janome 6600 for almost 3 years, and cannot fault it. Great machine for quilting, lots of features.

I have a Janome...and it is a great machine....I don't think I would ever switch brands...but i think everyone has their own opinions on sewing machines..it is all so subjective.

I've just got the 6600 and I LOVE it! Having quilted up til now on a standard machine, the wide throat, speed control, needle up/down, acufeed system are the things that spring to mind as huge improvements on what I had. I'm sure they'll be more, the more I use it. Even putting on a binding is way easier and more accurate. I haven't pieced on it yet - been FMQing a lot and the quality of my work has improved immensely! It was pretty straightforward to get to grips with as well - it has lots of features but to me seemed sensible and logical as to how everything worked - although I had some demos and lots of advice from Katrine who posted above so had a bit of a headstart! :-D

I have several Janome machines. My best and hardest worker is a Janome 7500 Memory Craft produced approx. 20 years ago. I have since purchased a Janome 300E embroidery machine. fantastic machine. I also have a Janome 8077 that I use when I need a machine to take with me. This machine has some nice new features I like. BUT, I have a Janome 1600P on a Grace frame. This machine is made for straight sewing and not motion sewing. If you would like to purchase my Janome 1600P I would make you a good deal so that I would have extra money to buy a Juki. I have friends with both machines and no one has had problems with the Jukis, only the Janomes.

If your wanting a larger work area, i would forget the sewist.

see what the dealer has used,maybe you can get a good deal on something larger...the 6600 has a 9" throat. have you gone in to try the sewist?
i don't care to deal with pushy salesmen..they will talk you inot something that either costs more than you can afford, or into something they are trying to get rid of, something you may be unhappy with later. it is such a big decision..for alot of us, it is a liftime one..i can't see buying another machine in the next 10 years or more.
i got the 6600 on 12 months same as cash.
i have two friends that have the janome new home..they are both over 20 years old..they love them. they are work horses. They both quilt on thiers too.

I'm also looking and this weekend I'm going out for some test drives!! I've got a machine that does great piecing, and it does have some embroidery stitches on it with different options. Its lasted me so far 15 yrs. Now I'm wanting to do different things and expand and wish I would have gotten something more than what I did so I could've grown into to get my creative juices running (does this make sense?). I'm pretty limited, but it has definitely served me well. Won't ever get rid of it. Its been a work horse.

make a couple quilting sandwiches before you go! take them and play with them on the machines!

I had bought a Janome about 5 years ago and I love it, however, I wanted the needle down function and have now purchased the Janome 6600 as well. This machine is a work horse and I absolutely love it. It does everything I need to do for my quilt projects plus more.

I have both--the Juki and 2 Janomes. Like them all lol. The Juki is really nice for FM and piecing. If you want anything other than a straight stitch go to Janome. I sit them side by side hoping to have "babies" with both qualities I love. lol

lyn

:lol: :lol: :lol: They must be a boy machine and a girl machine then!

I love my Janome and would buy another one in a second. I'm a relatively new quilter and mine has been terrific.
Nainice

If you're looking at the 6600 (like I was) check out the new machine that came on the market yesterday. It has a lot of the same features, some really cool new ones-like the wide feed dogs- and is only $799. I don't know the numbers but my local Janome dealer was telling about in on Tuesday. It also comes with one of those acrylic table top thingys to keep the item that you're sewing flat, all the feet you need, and a bunch of other things.

i decied on an elna this time around. Nicer stitches and they seem to be more precise. The elna 6600 I got has soo many feet and a cute compartment, I think that won me over. It has 200 stitches and was very affordable :)

Mine is due to arrive tomorrow, I will post pictures.

YAY Sewcrazygirl! So happy you're finally getting a machine!!! :D

YAY Sewcrazygirl! So happy you're finally getting a machine!!! :D[/quote]

thank you, I am soo happy. Sewing machine shopping is harder than buying a car! :lol:

Hi,
In reference to some of the other posters - perhaps the sales associate that is trying to "push" a certain machine is doing his/her job by listening to your wants/needs and is trying to match the best machine to you. Just because someone "pushes" something toward you does not mean that there is an ulterior motive. Figure out what you want/need and test drive them to see if one "feels" better than another. Good luck!

I agree, it is a personal choice, but if you have one, and love it, just let us know.

I have 2 janome embroidery machines and never ever have a bit of trouble with either. I love them and my dealer is great.

i have a janome and i love it; and i am in the process of getting another one. there is a place here in town that sells, repairs, and demonstrates. i got one with the needle threader and it works great. eye site is going fast it seems... :lol:

tjb

When I was shopping for a new machine, I sewed on a Janome 6600 and did not like it, especially for free motion quilting. Another lady was in the shop at the same time and was having problems with her Janome (FMQ). So I waited and purchased a Brother QC1000 at a quilt show. I really like it. The dealer is about 2 hours from where I live, but they have excellent service. As others have said, decide what features you would like to have and then go to different shops and try them out. Take your own swatches to sew on--especially a sandwiched quilt sample to try quilting on. Good luck on your decision.

Hi,
I bought two Janomie machines and my son bought one for his wife, I traded the newest Janomie for a Bernina which I love to distraction, but I kept the old Janomie because it does awesome satin stitch and when I'm working on a quilt and I have the walking foot on the Bernina, I can switch over to the Janomie to do the satin stitch or any other fancy stitches without having to remove the walking foot and change the settings, I would recomend the Janomie to anyone, and I've had a lot of sewing machines in my lifetime.

Hi Sewcrazygirl!! I like that name, finding a new machine is harder than finding a husband!! wonder what one will last the longest? hope the husband does!!