Lightweight machine to travel?
 

I am wondering what type of sewing machine people travel with to sewing circles or quilt shops. I have a New Home 8000, a Viking Emerald 118, and a Janome 12000. I am not thrilled with the idea of lugging any of these down the second floor and into the car. I think I would consider attending a class or a retreat if I had a lightweight. I love my machines and do not want to spend anymore than $200- really would like to spend only $100 or less. I welcome some guidance on this question. What do you travel?

a featherweight of course!!!! Best machine out there for traveling.

I use my cheap brother from walmart, they are clearancing them for 150 at walmart now for newer machines it is the SQ-9050 and I love mine, It has been a wonderful little piecer, and I have put her through the paces for classes and travel to my inlaws

I love my Project Runway little Brother. He does everything I ask him to do and weighs very little. He has a rough life and is often pushed to the limit but never fails to perform. You should be able to get him for around $135.00.

I carry my featherweight, love it, easy to sew, is sturdy, if you can find one in your price range, snap it up.

Check out craigslist, or shopgoodwill.com, or your local thrift stores.

A Featherweight is #1. If you want a zigzag stitch then Baby Lock.

I agree. I love my FW for classes, unless it's for something fancy. Then I bring my Pfaff.

I use a Viking HQ to travel with.

I will check out the brother machines. I am a bit concerned no let's say I have no knowledge of featherweights. I see pictures posted on the board of vintage singer sewing machines and wonder if those are the featherweights ?
Some are very pretty and some look as though they need to see an electrician and a degree in engineering when it comes to threading, winding the bobbin , and setting the tensions.

I agree with simple Brother if you don't have a featherweight. Brothers are easier to come by

Fws are the best if you ask me.

I have an older Janome Gem, and a featherweight for classes. The Janome Gem stays in the trunk of my car. I always have a back up for classes and workshops.

The new Costco book (10/3/13) has a Brother XR1355 on sale for $134.99 that's $35 off the reg price. I bought a Brother machine from Costco awhile back...I am so happy with it. They both have all the bells and whistles a quilter would need and it's lightweight...

yes, I just looked through the flyer and saw this machine. Looks nice. Worth looking at. ...have to keep it a secret from DH who will not understand why I would need another machine. Lol

I love my Janome Gem Gold

Featherweight! I love my featherweight. And, even I can lift it! (still in recovery from back surgery).

They're great, they're durable and relatively simple to thread (I did it right the very first time and without a manual!)

Jeanette Frantz

I'm in the minority here.. I don't like the idea of using a smaller machine when I'm sewing at classes so I just put my Juki 2000 in a rolling case and off we go. I was going to use my older, lighter Janome machine (my Juki replaced her for all my straight stitching which is mostly what I do anyway) and I just missed my Juki so much that I bought a rolling case last Black Friday at Hancocks and haven't flinched.

My guild is a very active one so my Juki goes on the road with me a lot... I also went to Harbor Freight and bought a wheeled utility cart which I put in my car (all my seats fold flat) and when I get to the workshop, I unload my wheelie cart... put my machine on top and then put all my supplies and whatnot on to the cart and just wheel it in to the building.

I guess the point in the end is... is one of your machines able to fit in a wheeled case? You might miss your regular machine and end up not liking what you are working with and have more frustration than it's worth... and a case is a lot cheaper than another machine ;)

The one machine that has a hard wheeled case with extension handle is my janome 12000. I bought the case thinking I would use it but the machine is so darn heavy coupled with my concern (maybe it's unfounded) of causing tension/computer issues by moving the machine and having it jostled in the car while driving that I thought it best to keep it home. I have yet to sew anything on this machine as I use it for embroidery.

I got a used jamone gem from where I brought my new home 8000. Paid $125.00 . All attachment fit the jamone gem. So I didn't need to buy any new attachments.

Love my Janome Jem Gold!

I bought a case for my Juki. It did not come with one. I have never had problems with transporting my machine to classes or workshops, even when I toted my Janome around which did have electronics.
You have to go with what will work for you. There are a lot of Featherweight lovers out there. I personally like to use what I'm used to since when I go to a workshop I don't want to have to fret that I don't have my needle threader... or not used to the way something threads and whatnot.
Are any of your other machines smaller than the 12000? The 12000 is a really big machine. You can buy a rolling case for just about any machine.

Ok, how many identical "toys" (guns, fishing poles, golf clubs, knives, etc.) does he own? When my dh asked me why I needed another sewing machine, all I had to do was remind him he had at least 14 fishing poles. And regulations restrict you to only have two in the water at one time.

You might also check your local sewing machine repair shop/person. Sometimes they have good used machines for sale at a reasonable price.

FYI: I bought a lightweight Singer Basic machine at Wal-Mart to carry to classes. Well... it's mainly plastic workings and has already been repaired once. Then the gears jumped out of line AGAIN. Not worth the $$$.. in my opinion.

I vote for a Featherweight. It only weighs 11 pounds, and they sew a great straight stitch! Plus you can service them yourself~~~

More then $200 but I find this the best little work horse Janome Jem. I have one that came with the little extension table, quilt kit, all the foots needed for quilting and the carry case that it all fit in. It has a beautiful free motion stitch. It is a 3/4 sized machine.

http://www.sewvacdirect.com/janome-j...ewing-machine/

It took me a bit of time to use my FW's as I am so a Pfaffie! But took a couple of my FWs to retreat last week and I love them, so easy to pack into and out of car and into class. I really need a small machine as I have a VERY small car, (a smart car) and packing 2 machine, and all the other stuff I took along, well any way just fell in love with my little Singer 221s, Have 6 of them, easy to care for and I have them for my 4H classes, and for guests. EAsy to use thread and easy to fill bobbin. Got the dvd & book on how to service them myself, sure saves me money. My vote would be for a FW

A few years ago a member in my quilting class bought a Brother from Costco and being a gonzo quilter she killed the thing in less than a year. She took it back to Costco and was given a new one...no questions asked! When she did this the second time they even refunded her $20 because the machine was now cheaper. If I were going to buy a similar machine I would buy it at Costco rather than Walmart because of Costco's return policy.

Actually, there are some brand new Janome Jem machines on Ebay right now for $199, free shipping. I love my Jems===have original, as well as the Platinum....I also have a featherweight, and it sews beautifully, but I'd definitely get a Jem if I just had one. I second the idea of checking for a used one at dealer if you don't want to pay the full price.

Check out the Brother 6000. Amazing electronic, weighs less than 10#, comes with everything and is under 200. I have one and live it!!

I carry a small Brother 770 everywhere I go to sew. It runs less than $200 and if you get it through Amazon it comes with the extended removable quilting table and all the feet (at least mine did). It weighs less than 10 lbs and sews great. I even use it at home to make tops and just finished quilting a kid size quilt for my DGS on it. Works better than my vintage Singer.

I love my featherweights for that...of course I love them for everything. Lol

Check out the Kenmore 1040, it was made in the 70s. It is small, has a cute white case, but is very powerful. The advantage, it has a zig zag. I got mine on eBay, cleaned it and it is just terrific, all metal construction inside and out. Do not buy new plastic, they will loosen and not do decent straight stitch, they can't due to the plastic guts. I paid $100 for my, as we call it, Ketherweight. The Featherweights are good, just more expensive. I have tuned a fair number of them.

[I] have two Brothers that are very light and easy for traveling.

I have a featherweight and love her. But for versatility, I really like the Brother cs6000i I purchased from Amazon for $139.00. Although I usually do mainly straight stitching there are times when having a zigzag or serpentine stitch is nice, and I love the needle down feature when doing something complicated. I use both of them equally. I think if I could only have one, I'd go with the Brother. BTW, I use both several times a week since I often piece quilts while watching videos, and they fit on a small TV type table.

This is the picture of a Singer Featherweight. They are the perfect machine for piecing and make a beautiful straight stitch. They are extremely durable. I use mine daily and exclusively for a great straight stitch. They are also very, very easy to maintain. They weigh about 11 lbs and come in a handy case that carries all the accessories. With the extended flap up, they are about 14" long. However, I don't think you can find one in your price range unless you get lucky.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]438865[/ATTACH]

In your price range, I agree with the Janome Jem.

I have a white featherweight all packed up in an insulated cooler and ready at a moments notice!

No degree needed. Easiest threading and everything else. Nothing much to do but keep clean and oiled. You would love one if you had one. I have two and got both on Craig's list!!
I take mine to classes and quilt camp.

I just got back from western KY. Visited three quilt shops and loved them all especially two of them. My choice for travel is my featherweight every time...

Some in my class use the Janome/Hello Kittly machine from Sears for $100. You can also get them on Amazon. I got one for my grandddaughter and they are very light and very simple. No thread cutter or needle down but easy to pack.

I looked and looked for a lighter machine. My choice was a little more pricey, but exactly what I wanted...a Janome 3160. It weighs 12 lbs and has the full features of my big Janome . Needle down, 3 speed, start and stop button (for my 6 y/o granddaughter) many, many stitches, great for free motion and ditch quilting with an included extension platform. Really performs as well as my 6600P. I love it.