Request info on Brother PQ1500S quilting machine
 

I am considering buying this machine and would like input...any tips or problems you could share? IOW, do you consider it a good buy? Thanks for all opinions.
~Neecie

I love mine. It is only a straight stitch and it sews fast. I bought it to put on the frame for quilting but I use it for piecing too.

It's an awesome machine. I don't have one complaint about it. So simple to use. I have had mine for almost 3 years and when my Sister tried it she bought herself one too. The throat space is wonderful. Tons of people on this board have one. Mine was bought at Allbrands for $599.00 no tax and free shipping. You can't go wrong with this machine.

I won mine! It is a great machine. I had trouble with the needle coming unthreaded when using the auto thread cutter. I quit threading the three hole guide bar and only went through one of the holes straight down not wrapped as the manual shows and the problem was solved. It needs oiling frequently as it is all metal. The manual isn't much help but there is a yahoo group just for this machine that can answer any question about it.

My Daughter has one and she loves it. It is her only machine.
Similar to my Juki TL 98QE and Baby Lock Jane. All are wonderful straight stitch only machines with 9" throat. A bit cheaper than mine but about the same machine. I oil my machine about every 8 hours of sewing.

Thanks, ladies. I did order one through Amazon and can hardly wait to get my hands on it! Like Dingle, I paid $599, no tax and free shipping.

Thanks to BelleBoo for the tip on the auto thread cutter. I will remember to do that.

Sunday will be my 81st birthday so this will be a present to myself. After my husband passed away last year, I sort of just existed...but then a new GrGrandson was born this year and I made him a nice baby quilt...and then I just kept on, found piecing quilt tops was good therapy. I have two ready to quilt and I want to learn how to do free motion.
~Neecie

Good for you Grammie. I know you will love it. It's such a simple machine to use and take care of. I wish I had know about it before I bought a couple other ones. This is the only one I use. I'm going to get me an embroidery only machine next to make my labels then I'll be all set. Congratulations. Please post back after you get it and used it some and let us know what you think.

I just bought this machine last month. I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet but am excited to try it. I have never oiled a sewing machine before. Is it difficult to do so? What kind of oil is recommended?

I second everything said. It may come unthreaded when using the thread cutter. I only use 2 holes in the thread guide and that is fixed.

It does drink oil. I use regular sewing machine oil and just drop it in all the little holes as illustrated in the manual. I can sort of tell by sound if I've been slack about oiling.

All in all I love this machine. It has the biggest throat space for a price I could live with. My FMQ is coming along nicely with it.

SherriB, your manual should give you that information. Not all machines are the same method, so check it out.
I do know one thing, use only good quality sewing machine oil. Never use Three in One oil or other types like that.
Good luck,
~Neecie

I love mine. I oil it with every 4th bobbin change -- someone on here recommended that, and it seems to work well. Like others, I've learned not to thread through all the holes. I use two holes and it works perfectly. What I really love is I can go from FMQ to walking foot without making any adjustments except to raise/ lower the feed dogs. And the extra harp space is wonderful for FMQ. So glad you decided to buy it for yourself. Sounds like you need a nice gift like that.

This is my first time posting on the board but I've been following it for a couple of years and I love it. Everyone is so nice and helpful, I've really learned a lot. I have a Brother PQ1500S and I love,love love it. It is the best machine that I have ever owned. Mine sometimes gets unthreaded but not very often and it isn't much of a problem. I got mine on Amazon and it was $599 with free shipping. I would really be interested in joining the yahoo group of machine owners. Does anyone know how to do that? I have a few questions that I haven't been able to answer with the materials that were included with the machine.

Why not ask us other owners of this machine. Good chance one of us knows the answer :O)

I have had mine since last Monday. Once I found out it had a rotary hook I placed the order. It is a quiet running machine. My husband usually lets me know he can hear my machines running but he hasn't said a word. I am trying to get 2 quilts finished before I start another one and this machine is making the quilting part SO much easier because of the larger throat. I'm not killing my back and shoulder muscles trying to jam the quilt through a 6 inch opening. You will like it. If I had to come up with an issue it would be that the needle down isn't a needle up/down. If you have the needle set to remain down when the machine stops you have to turn the hand wheel to raise the needle - unless you are using the thread cutter. It is not a deal breaker. No machine is perfect - but this one comes darned close for quilting!

I got this machine back in August and haven't regretted it for a minute. I love it for piecing and quilting. I did find that for whatever reason I was getting skipped stitches when I tried to free motion with Aurifil, but when I changed to Isacord thread it went smooth as silk and I haven't had a problem. I did modify the free motion foot that came with the machine a bit so I could see better as well. But honestly- it was a great purchase, IMO. Just an all-around good machine. Enjoy yours!

I am another happy Brother PQ1500s owner. I have had my machine for a month now and love it. I did pay much more than $599.00 for it, but then that's the price I pay for living in Canada where everything is so much more expensive. I still think the machine was worth every penny I paid for it. It really is a nice machine for FM quilting.

I own 6 machines and the 1500 is my absolute favorite. I downloaded the service manual and told my husband he'd be fixing it and NOT buying me a new one if something ever went wrong, lol!

I got mine with a New Joy frame from a quilter who just couldn't get it working right on the frame, so she upgraded to a Gammill. :shock: The machine was brand spanking new, didn't even have lint in it. I think she quilted all of 2 rows before deciding she needed more than 5" of throat space, lol. I got a heck of a deal.


Yes, go here and join. It's that easy. http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/PQ1500/info

I bought mine off craigslist and I LOVE it. I keep oil by my machine and every time I change the bobbin I sweep out the lint bunnies and give her a shot of oil. Yes it's very fast and in the manual they suggest needles to use. Buy them. They are designed for high speed sewing. Enjoy and watch your fingers. :o).

Sewing machine oil has to be Sewing Machine oil. If it is yellow color it is old sewing machine oil. Oil made for sewing machines evaporate. That is why oil is needed often, the machine doesn't make it disappear. If the oil didn't evaporate lint and dust would cake up fast in the oil.