Why only Pfaff and Bernina? I would look at everything. Look at the Janome's - 11 inch throat and the Brother - the NX-3000 has 11 3/4" and is amazing. Brother also makes Baby Lock, so they make an identical machine to the NX-3000 and you can get the Tru-Stitch Regulator. I have that for my HQ Sweet Sixteen and it's awesome.

No Berninas are made in China. Your tech is bad mouthing competition to make a sale. Plain and simple. Or he's ignorant of the World map and atlas. LOL. The last time I looked, a factory in Thailand is not in China. It's sad when people lie and make gossip to try to make their product look better. Yes, the TOL Bernina machines are still made in Switzerland. And they can still screw them up in Switzerland just as well as those in China;> And some of the machines are now made in the Bernina owned factory in Thailand. And no, I'm not a Bernina groupie. As stated previously, my TOL machine has not been my best decision. Place of origin is a consideration, but there are many other things to consider when spending a huge amount of money. For sure, if people feed me garbage as fact, I don't put any weight in their recommendations.

And I agree with other posters. There are more than two sewing machine manufacturers on the market...

If you are doing anything else besides quilting - The Vikings, Pfaffs and Berninas have FEET. They seem to have a foot for everything and most work very well. I have a foot that automatically stretches elastic for sleeves on the Pfaff. I wouldn't be without it. I also do heirloom and tried doing some on an Ellegante. It had the automatic threader which made a Wing or double needle for pintucks hard to set up. Pfaff and Viking both have a foot that allows you to space for embroidery in between tucks, on the Ellegante you had to measure and mark. Once set up, the machine did sew very well.

All this can be done on any zigzag machine. I've done it. It's just that having the feet make life a lot easier.

pfaff verses bernina
 

I have owned a bernina and I now have two pfaff machines and loveeeeee them! I cannot say enough about pfaff. they are sooooo tough and will sew through anything. when I bought mine the owner of the store stitched through a thick peice of cow hide and two thin tin pieces and the machine just purred. that sold my hubby on the construction of the machine and I can verify after owning one for more years then I care to count that they are outstanding machines that never give you a problem.

Before you decide, also try out Janome. I couldn't be happier with my 6600 ... and the 7700 and newest 8900 have even more harp space.
In 30+ yrs of sewing and quilting, I've owned Pfaffs, Vikings and now 2 Janomes. Both Janomes have been trouble free. Can't say the same for my last Pfaff, it never sewed well despite a lot of shop adjustments. It was made in Czechoslovakia in 2006. The quality just wasn't there ...
A lot of people still have the misconception that Viking and Pfaff machines are made in Sweden and Germany. Pfaff stopped manufacturing in Germany YEARS ago. They still advertise "German Engineering" but their production went to Asia.
Nothing wrong with that, but from many quilters and sewers I know, very few have been happy with RECENT (2004 & newer) Pfaff and Viking models, most TOL models.

I have had Berninas for 30 years and really love them. I now have worked up to the new 830.....so very nice. I also have a good support for possible maintenance. Haven't had any yet!

I have a pfaff quilt expressions 4.0 along with a Viking D1 and by far, I love my pfaff the best, love the IDT already built into the machine, no need to attach that bulky walking foot and it has all of the lovely built in stitches as well.

I have a Thai made Bernina (430) and it is a phenomenal machine. Absolutely amazing. However, when they discontinued the 4 series, they priced me out of their brand. My next machine will probably be either a Brother or a Janome, but I don't anticipate a new machine for 10+ years...


To the OP- I think once you get to the machines that cost $2000+ they are ALL good. It is really just personal preference. The Brother Laura Ashley machine I sewed on made great stitches, had excellent harp space, and came with a butt load of accessories, and was a great price, but I didn't like how the free motion foot hopped. The Janome 7700 was fabulous for quilting but a little more than I wanted to spend. The Bernina quilted like a dream, and they threw in free embroidery for me, so despite having a smaller harp than I set out for, I was sold.

I haven't used a Pfaff, but I imagine they are much the same. All of the major brands make good machines. It just depends on what you want, and at the upper price levels (especially if you are spending more than 4k) I'd want a technician nearby!

I have had both and now have the Pfaff Creative visions and swear by it. It is really a matter of preferance. Try both before purchase. Carole

I have a Pfaff 2144/2170. I love my Pfaff!