New sewing machine?
 

I am in the research phase of getting a new machine. I want a sewing/embroidery machine. I have looked at Bernina, Viking, Pfaff and Janome,,,, does anybody have any thoughts they would like to share??

Recently got husqvarna ruby Royale, still playing, but I love it, had an idea I wanted a brother, but dealer who sells both, advised that extras that came with ruby, I would have to purchase from brother. So far anything I have tried, has sewn like a dream.

I love my brother, super easy to use, position, beautiful job I have the dreamweaver but the quattro nad dream machine and other vseries machines are awesome. Babylock versions are also nice. They also tend to have fewer problems when I did my research 2 years ago. There are sewing features I love/adore on mine, dual feed penpal, laser, large harp, bright lights, tension etc. I suggest checking them out

I love my Janome 8900QCP. I bought her after researching and testing. I have had her almost a year. I love the space (11" harp), the table that was included, how many layers it can sew through, and the support I received (classes and service). I was able to buy a floor model and the dealer even threw in extra bobbins, the double cone stand, and a foot. However, she is not an embroidery machine.

That said, I know Janome has several sewing/embroidery machines that have a large harp. I also looked at those, but embroidery is not my main focus.

You should do your research and go to different dealers and/or quilt shows to try out the different machines to see what you like and what is in your price range. Also, ask if there are any specials going on to get the best price you can. I know there are some specials going on now (getting emails from quilt shops).

Try and decide why you want the embroidery part of the machine. and how much you want to spend If you want Disney then you need to go with Brother machines. Others may tell you that you can get them and alter them but I have not tried. (Too afraid it is Disney trying to trap folks.) I have the Husqvarna Topaz 20 and very happy with it. I bought it on impulse because the price was too good to pass up. It was a floor model so all the bugs (if any) had been worked out and I was given a full warranty. I leave it as an embroidery machine all the time since I have the Janome 6600P and a Singer 15-91. But if I ever want to sew jeans, it has a stitch like Levi uses and a bunch more.

I do love playing with my embroidery machine - this year for my daughter's 5th grade class I made bookmarks with all different sayings and owls. It was so much fun. And it is fun to make baby quilts with sayings and pictures. Oh and I have put names on shirts, jackets and towels for kids where my other daughter works.

So get a machine that has at least a 200mm x 260mm hoop - you can always attach a smaller hoop but you want to be able to expand without having to buy a new machine.

I bought my Janome 6600 a couple of years ago from our LQS. It was used but the person that traded it in took great care of it and the LQS serviced it. My friend had the same kind of sewing machine and loved it. I was interested in certain stitches and it has a walking foot that is very easy to attach. Good luck on your search. This is just my personal opinion.

Berninas are work horses and go like the Energizer bunny. I love mine: a 1230 and a 150QE. Have fun test driving!

I love Pfaff with duel feed. Pfaff has so many features that make sewing a breeze. The duel feed is perfect for piecing quilts and sewing clothing. You can sew thru layers of the thickest fabrics like butter. There are tons of accessory feet that will make any specialty project easier. I sound like an advertisement for Pfaff but I have been sewing my whole life and have never found anything better.

I would recommend having a stand alone embroidery machine. That is what I have and I have never been sorry. That allows me to embroider a design out while I am sewing on my regular machine. I have the first stand alone embroidery machine that Bernina made and have about worn it out. I also invested a small fortune in software for it. When I looked to replace it or at least supplement it Bernina no longer made an embroidery machine with the PES format. I purchased a stand alone Brother machine that uses that format. There have been times when I have both embroidery machines going and am also sewing on my sewing only Bernina. The nice thing about the stand alone embroidery machines is that you just push a button to start the process. It stops when it is time to change the thread color or whatever. I often use variegated thread rather than constantly changing the tread color. The machine stops when the tread is supposed to be changed and I just lift up the pressure foot, set it back down and continue with the same thread. I have been doing my sewing and embroidery this way for at least thirty years. Unless you are stitching out a design that needs very precise colors etc. the variegated thread usually works well and saves a lot of time and threading and unthreading. I purchased the additional sized hoops for both machines.

Love my Brothers. Don't like Janomes.

That's how combo machines work too (at least the modern ones).

I love my janome 12000. It's an awesome machine. I do agree with the lady who said better a stand alone embroidery unit, however if space is an issue then I'd suggest the janome. Tap the screen and press a switch and its in embroidery mode or sewing mode. The embroidery unit sits at the back of the machine when not in use. The software is expensive but my goodness it's awesome to use. I'm a complete novice when it comes to embroidering and not much further advanced at quilting but manage this machine with relative ease. Good luck in making your choice.

Buying a sewing machine is like buying a car. YOU have to like it for whatever reasons that are important to you. Yes, it is great to ask for opinions but of course each of us will have our own preference for our reasons. Lots of great machines in great brands with tons of features. Me.....i am a Janome gal and I buy Japanese cars.....always have and always will. It is all about the ergonomics, my experience with and the joy from operating both.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Sandy

i would check my local dealers and find out who has he best classes and support system. Then after you get a machine get on it and practice practice. There can be quite a learning curve with all the different stablizers and types of thread. Have fun with it. There are so many possiblilites with an embroidery machine.

I love my Brother. it is so universal and while it is in embroidery mode I can use my other brother to sew my quilt tops. a win win situation. I also have an industrial bernina very old does straight and zig zag stitchvery fast even faster than the brother embroidery machine and I thought that was fast,

I love my Babylock ! Brother and Babylock are made by the same company.

Love my Babyloc. Download designs on memory stick, pop it in and GO!! Only use it for buttonholes and embroidery. Am lucky to have a Bernina 240 for quilting and other sewing. Do not like Pfaff--mine went dead after 4 yrs of light use. Maybe I got a lemon but when it costs $650 to fix at the main company headquarters, I say "forget it." That's when I traded it in for the Babyloc.

Do not like Brother, love my Janomes ....6600 and 8900 are a dream for quilting. I purchased a 11000 Special Edition at a great price....it is a wonderful machine for sewing and embroidery. When the 12000 and 15000 sewing embroidery machines came out the price on the 11000SE went way down....Allbrands.com, Brubakers had them at great prices....go and try machines out....best wishes.

I have had several Babylock embroidery machines. I started with an Esante and upgraded to an Ellageo, then an Ellegante, then an Ellisimo Gold II and just recently a Destiny. As you can see, I am sold on Babylock.

Do you remember you are talking to sewing and quilting QUEENS. When it comes to sewing/embroidery machines we know more than a lot of dealers - lol. Personally I would make a list of the ones that I liked (or sounded the best for what I like or want to do), then I would list them from the one I think I want first even without trying it out to the one at the bottom of my list. Then I go out and start at the bottom first and work my way up. This way I can find the items I like most without getting stuff I don't want (I go knowing what I want or think I know what I want), this way it's easy to weed out things I don't like, want or will use. Good luck, remember take a block and a quilting sandwich to try on each machine.

Love my Berninas, have 2 and wouldn't trade them for anything else. Have tried to help friends with Phaff and Baby Lock neither one are for me. I also think a GOOD dealer is what you need to look for first. If you have a bad one, no machine will be good.

Well, I have a Janome 9000, a Babylock Ellageo and a Babylock Sofia, and a Brother PE 770 - bought in that order and purchased over the last 20 years. They ALL still run well and they are all easy to operate as long as you read the manuals and take your time and practice and keep your laptop by your side for help from YOUTUBE and this board (grin).. Got the Janome in 1995. Moved up to the Ellageo in 2001 for a larger embroidery field. The Sofia is a lightweight machine to take to classes. The PE 770 was purchased just last January so I could use a USF flash drive to transfer embroidery designs (and because I was feeling sorry for myself after a health issue arose. Over those years I have learned that dealer support is important but not required. My Brother PE 770 was bought over the web. I did take training classes for my first one - the Janome, but my Babylock dealer was not all that helpful - except to sell! Why do I keep all the machines? Because my dealer would not make decent trade-in offers, and I would not give them away to them. I would rather at some point donate them to people who would really appreciate them. The other important thing to consider is that the Bernina is fairly proprietary in its software, accessories, etc. and pretty pricey. But I am sure it is also a good machine. So I agree with everyone else - go try them all out and see what feels good to you AND THEN GO FOR IT!

Look at the Brother & Babylock machines also (my favorites!!) but then go with the machine that calls your name and a dealer where you are comfortable. Everyone has different tastes and different things appeal to them. All the ones you mentioned are very good, so it depends on the vibes you get from them.
But if you do like Disney Brother is the only one authorized to sew Disney (not all models, just the ones with a "D" in the model name). In my case I love Disney and have several grandchilren who also love Disney so that was a no brainer for me.

Thank you all

Love my Viking Ruby! I enjoy embroidering on it and love all the bells and whistles when I am just sewing. I do have a back up machine that I can sew on, if I want to have some embroidery going at the same time. (like a few days before Christmas). I have played with a Brother...loved the Disney embroidery but it only had a small hoop and I just couldn't justify the expense (800+) just to have Disney embroidery.

I agree with maryb119 100%. I love my Pfaff. I have the Creative Sensation and it is not only a wonderful embroidery machine, but also a fantastic sewing machine, with all the bells and whistles. I also have a Pfaff Passport to sew on when my CS is doing embroidery. While the Passport does not have all the bells and whistles, it does have the ones that are really important, like the duel feed, needle down, and lots of stitches.

I had a Pfaff. Didn't like it. Constant problems. Then I got a Bernina 730, slightly used. I love this machine. I only wish the hoop size was bigger.

I just got a Bernina350PE from LQS. It's an awesome machine which fits my needs right now. I went with the Bernina b/c the serviceman there is top notch, has Bernina training. Years ago I purchase a reconditioned Babtylock Esante, but I was new to sewing and never got interested in the embroidery. I sold that fantastic machine and it's still going strong and used regularly.
If I ever got interested in embroidery I would look into an embroidery machine, doing research and taking into account all the invaluable info I get from you all on this Board! Happy New Year!

I have 3 Janomes. I continue to buy them because the price is reasonable, the machines work like a dream, comes with many feet and the dealer is super knowledgeable. Good luck shopping for yours.

I have The 730e Artista. She is a work horse and very easy to go from embroidery to sewing. I have had her about 10 years. I also have a 930 that is 25 years old. The 730 stays set up for embroidery most of the time. I can sew on one while the other is doing its embroidery. I do wish I had a wider embroidery space. I let my grandchildren sew on both machines. They are easy to operate.

I have a Viking but it was made in Sweden, many in our guild do NOT like their new Viking embroidery machines. Check out the brother brand, seems to be a variety of them

I have a Viking Topaz 50. I love it. I just bought my daughter a Brother PE770 and it is a great embroidery machine at a great price. She loves the fact that she can get Disney. If you are in the market, set your budget and write down the things you want your machine to do. If you are going to FMQ on it as well I would make a few practice sandwiches and take them with you and test run each machine.

I bought my Bernina from a dealer who gave unlimited lessons. I would recommend that you by from a good dealer that you feel comfortable with. You will not use the machine to its fullest without guide lessons. I do believe nothing sews like a Bernina. Hope this helps.

A year or so ago I talked to my sewing machine repairman and asked him what the best machines now were, those which he seldom saw in his shop for repair, and he said the only machines he could now recommend were Brother and Baby Lock were by far the two best machines being made now. My main machine is a Pfaff 7570, which has an embroidery unit with it, but I also have two Brothers, a Viking 1100 which is out on permanent loan to a dear friend, a rather old New Home and a 1954 Featherweight.

Love my Vikings, ruby and diamond deluxe. For as many of times you can ask this question you'll get a different answer. My diamond deluxe is great, never have to adjust thread tension, emb designs stitch out looking the same on front and back and so very easy to use and learn. My best advice is if possible go to a few different stores and check out the different ones and check out the customer service at where you are buying at the same time. One of the machines that you mentioned I wouldn't even consider because of the place I would have had to deal with aren't the nicest around. You really need to try them out, check out the different features and see what you like, me, largest hoop I can afford, needle up/down, auto cut and tie, when I hit the start button it lowers the pressure foot and adjust all on its own. That one spoiled me and its the only issue when I use my serger, I keep forgetting to put it down. Even if I had to drive around a while to try the machines out, it would be so worth it in the end. Good luck