I'm shocked that Hancock's won't let you try the Janome before buying. I have a Janome 6500 and love it. I don't know much about the other models, but know most of my friends that have various Janomes like them. However, my Bernina friends also love their Berninas. I think you should try to find places that allow you to test drive. Then test drive several different models and decide after that based on your preference and what you need.

I would not buy either a Singer or a Bernette. Perhaps take the ones you have to a different technician.

If you want a new machine, find some dealerships in your area and go in and actually sew on the machines. Dealerships often have very good used machines that they have taken for trade-in, so that may be the way to go.

In terms of brands, a lot depends on your price range. It sounds as if real Pfaff and Bernina machines are outside your range, so I would be trying out Janome and Brother machines. If Sears is still selling Kenmores (which are made by Janome), try out those too. (Sears is phasing out their machines.) Machines are usually *very* difficult to return for refund (although sometimes dealers will allow you to exchange upwards), so I would not purchase a machine before actually trying it out.

There is a "real" Pfaff available for around $800 and it is a wonderful machine. worth the money for the even feed alone. It is an Ambition, the entry level computerized machine in their line. I also have an about $700 Viking that I like almost as much. It was a closeout at the end of the model life. That is my FMQing machine. You can find good machines without spending thousands.

I too would advise you to have a good dealer nearby whatever you buy. (Although my Pfaff dealers are far away!)

I'm shocked about the Bernina. As suggested, try a Bernina service. I inherited my mom's Bernina I think the 630? when she upgraded to the 930. Later, I wanted a new machine, not just new for me and went for a Viking. I received as much on teh Bernina trade-in as my mom had paid for it 23 years earlier. And never once did either of us have any trouble with the machine. She loved the 930 so much she never wanted a different machine. And it still works though sadly, she died about four years ago. My DD uses "nana's machine" now.

I bought one of the Singer 9920 from Hancock also. They wouldn't let me try it in the store before I bought it but I thought the sewing space was great. I had it three weeks (one of which it spent in the repair shop) and returned it for my money back. I had the same problems you have with the bobbin and additional problems with the way the stitches were formed. The repair guy couldn't do anything with it.
I have a Pfaff, Bernina 440EQ, Brother cs6000i from Wally world (over 6 years old and no service), vintage Singers (over 50 yrs) , etc. They all work way better than the Singer 9900 series of machines. I take the Wally world machine on vacation all the time and it never fails me.
Trade the Singer 9920 in for something better. All the ladies on here are giving you great advise on the other machines. Create a list of what you want your machine to do and shop around. Only you will know what you want.
Hope this helps.

I have loved my babylock espire ever since I got it and wouldn't hesitate to get another. I would suggest since you have a limited budget to go and get the jane for FMQ and piecing, and get a cheap walmart machine for decorative stitches. I got my brother SQ9050 from walmart for 199 and love that machine as well. you could probably even go with the brother PQ1500S which I think is the same as the jane, but might be a little cheaper You can probably find one in the 500 range

Sometimes those plastic bobbins get a little groove or scratch in them and will give you trouble. And as someone has said already they are not all the same size. I have a time finding the right one a lot.

Hi everybody!
Thanks so much for responding with advice. Here is an update...I took my Bernina to the dealership where I purchased it and had the service done. Instead of the technician working on it, the sales lady did. The best thing is, drumroll please, she got it working again! I'm so pleased because I loved my Bernina when it worked and it is a workhorse. I'm not sure what exactly was wrong because she worked on several different things and voila, beautiful stitches and no bird's nests.
For the Singer, I'm thinking of trying the bobbin washers and see if that works. I also bought all new bobbins for the Singer to see if that works. Ahhh, but at least I have my Bernina back.

Just try buying a $10,000.00 machine and have the same short life and poor support facing you. I have decided that I will never again buy a machine that can't "pay for its self" within 6 months. I paid $780 to try to get it fixed and it was still faulty. Problem is that these days, I think there is a built in obsolescence to anything we buy and therefore we should not over - capitalise or we become sorry.

I bought a used Necci machine from a quilting shop in Carlton, Ma and it works great. I paid $100. and it does everything I need. The shop is very honest and had the machine reconditioned. I'm sure they'd fix it if there were problems. You might look around for a used machine. The machine that I purchased was a trade in for a customer who was purchasing a Bernina.
I also have a Bernina and love it. You might be wise to take the machine to a Bernina dealer and have it tuned up. But check around for prices, some dealers offer better deals on the checkups.
I go to a dealer who is Menonite in Withey, Wis. and he does a great job in servicing machines.