I want to purchase a sewing machine that has dual feed or built in walking foot or whatever it is that keeps you from having to put the walking foot on the machine so that both top and bottom fabric feed at the same time. I know that pfaff has a machine but are there other brands that have this feature. I have been reading about the janome with acufeed and superior plus feed system. Do any of you have a machine with these features and which do you think is best for sewing long strips together? Thanks for any info. Judy

Pfaff was the first. I love their system.

Janome MC6600, and Horizon (aka 7700) both have the dual feed system. They call it the "accufeed". It's the reason I purchased the 6600.

On the Janome 6600 you change the foot to have the AccuFeed ... it's not like the Pfaff. But.... it is an awesome foot and really easy to change and use ~ HTH :D

I have a Pfaff I bought in 1986, and am still sewing on, that has the dual feed and I love it. I use it nearly all the time regardless what I am sewing. It is one of the best features of the machine.

I have a Pfaff and a Janome. I love them both. The Janome has more throat space so it has more room to stuff a quilt thru it. The Pfaff is lighter and smaller so it fits on my sewing desk better. Since it fits on my sewing desk it tends to get used for piecing more.

Last Christmas my hubby surprised me with the Janome Horizon 7700 and it has an accufeed. It is separate from the regular foot but it extremely easy to attach (as are all the feet that come with it - about 14). I have wonderful results with the Horizon and would highly recommend it to anyone. It is great value for the money can you can get it at much less than the $2900 asking price. I would recommend you find someone who has one or a store and try it out. Take in a sample sandwiched piece and try FMQ with the 11" harp! I quilt very large quilts on mine with hardly any problem. Again, I highly recommend the Janome Horizon.
I also just made a jelly roll quilt where you sew all the strips together and the machine handled it fast and accurately! Good Hunting and Good Luck!! :thumbup:

I have a Pfaff with dual feed & love it. I use it while piecing too. I love how I can use different feet-1/4 foot, SID foot- & still use the dual feed.

I have two Pfaffs (computerized 7530, mechanical Select 3.0) and a Baby Lock Quest Plus. I think the dual feed on the Quest Plus is identical. LOVE that feature!!! My piecing is SO much more accurate. Putting on sashing and long borders is also easier, with no wavy-ness. On my QP, I did straight-line quilting with thinner batting with just the built-in dual feed. No ripples or puckers, but these were smaller pieces, well-basted. I must say that for thicker layers, the walking foot on my Bernina is better. It's a cinch to put on, has 1/4" markings, and has 3 sole options including a new sole for SITD. The new Bernina 8-series also have built-in dual feed, which I think is better than on the Pfaffs. Baby Lock has replaced the Quest Plus with the Serenade. The Pfaff Smarter C1100 Pro is also very similar to those two Baby Locks. All with 9" harps, for about $1000-1500.

There are a couple of used Horizons on ebay - I personally prefer the Pfaff IDT over Janome's dual feed. Usually I am Janome all the way, but just think changing their dual feed is a pain in the keister!

My Bernina 830 has it also.

I have a Pfaff with the built in dual feed and it works great.
That is the only way to go is with one that has that feature. :-)

I have the Pfaff Smarter C1100 and several others but the Pfaff is the one dual feed is the best. I would recommend the Pfaff Smarter C1100 for the feed and large harp.

Pfaff, Pfaff, Pfaff. Most other machines that have a dual-feed require you to put on a special walking foot to do that. Pfaffs have it built in, and I LOVE both of mine (Varimatic 6091 and Creativ 1475).

I have a Pfaff and the IDT is great for piecing. But, I found out that the walking foot on my Bernina is better to sew bindings on. The foot holds the fabric down better.

The Bernina 820 and 830 both have it, and it is adjustable, so you can increase or decrease the top feed rate as needed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B0rsKWm0GY

I have the janome 6600 with Accufeed and love it!

I have the Babylock Quest Plus that has the IDF (they call it PDQ) that is exactly like the Pfaff. All the feet (a lot) that came with it can be used with the IDF, so there is no changing shanks. I really like this machine and would buy it again. It is being replaced by the Serenade. I have a few machines, but would not buy another one unless it has the IDF.

I have the Janome Horizon with accufeed. I have the 1/4", STID, open toe and standard accufeed and use them all the time. In addition, because of the accufeed there is an extra high position to lift the presser foot and it really helps when making bowls and bags. I also love the big harp,

i am fortunate to have 3 Pfaff machines and love the walking foot. The NEW Pfaff's however, are being made in China.

Babylock quest (now the serenade) has accufeed as well

Same here. You just put the correct foot on, bring down the accufeed foot, connect the two and your off and sewing.

Would love to have the Janome 6600!! It sews like a dream!

I have both an electronic and mechanical Pfaff and LOVE THEM! I have also realized I cannot sew on any other machine :)
They (Pfaff) have reasonable priced machines that have dual feed, you don't need the top of the line.

I have two Pfaffs and love, love, love the dual feed. I love that I can use other feet with it.

Hi Judy,
I've had a Pfaff for probably over 14 years (a # 1475) and I love that machine because of the built in even feed. It's my favorite. I have several machines that don't have the built in even feed but do have the attachements you can buy to get an even feed. The problem with them I've found is that they are so noisy. Even for the age of my Pfaff and I have a top of the line Bernina, I always seem to go to my Pfaff for my everyday sewing. I can't tell you anything about any other machines that might have even feed built into them like the Pfaff because I've never tried or seen them. So for me it's all about my Pfaff. Good luck in your search. Linda from Clinton

My bernina 830 has duel feeds.Love it.

I used to have a Pfaff and I loved it. I burned out the motor on it so I decided it was time for a new machine. I went with the Janome 6600 for the accufeed and I love it. I still have my Pfaff on a shelf. I can't part with my old friend!

I just bought a Janome 7700, don't have it set up yet, but think I am really going to like it, especially for quilting.

Thanks to all of you who replied, and now I just have to go check them out to see which one fits my budget. Being retired changes the budget from when I was working. I have the brothers 8500, 2001, 2003D and a kenmore which all have a walking foot but I hate changing it. My hands are not steady anymore and attatching a screw just takes me a long time. Thanks again, Judy

The Janome that I got was the Horizan, and the dual feed is built in.
Going to try to get it set up today,so I can at least look at it, but have to put one up first I think.

I have had my Pfaff for years with the dual feed and I am very pleased with it.

What about the Juki TL-98Q anyone? I've been researching machines and came across this one. It's in the $800 range and is a straight stitcher only. Doesn't have a long jarp, but a a very high one to accomodate a rolled quilt. It appears to be for quilting especially, for FMQ and piecing.

Baby Lock also have a dual feed system.

Elna has a machine with a built in dual feed, I don't have that newer model but I love my Elna. I would go see dealers and see what they have that you want and test drive every one that you want.

My Janome 6600 is wonderful. I have three feet that can operate with the dual feed (walking foot). The walking foot is attached to the sewing machine. You lift the presser foot and swing the dual feed-walking foot into the bottom of the presser foot. Very easy. I love the built in walking foot. Works great!

Elna is now made by Janome. So the Elna 740 eXcellence is the Elna version of the Horizon by Janome, and the 7300 Quilting Queen is the Elna version of the Janome 6600. Few different stitches, but same basic machines, both with Accufeed. The 7300/6600 don't have free arms. The possible + for you with Janome/Elna might be the drop-in bobbin, if a vertical bobbin is tricky because of your arthritis. Bernina's walking foot us very easy to install and remove, btw. No screws.

I have always owned Pfaffs, and the reason is their dual feed. When Pfaff went bankrupt and Viking bought them, that ended their patent. Several other brands now have this feature. I'd take cotton samples with 6-8 crossing seams (star center) and denim with a crotch seam (yeah, I know you may never sew pants) and give each machine a try. And take two long strips of cotton and see if the ends match up after sewing without pinning. The dual feed foot should not be visible to the stitcher and be easy to "pop" into place in the back of the foot.

Sandy Quilts

Bernina now has one

I have the Pfaff2056 with IDT and I love it!