If you want quality but are worried about cost, first of all, know for certain what it is you are aiming towards. Go to the dealers, try out the machines, and I mean spend an hour or two on the machines you are interested in buying. Find out if this is really what you want, or if the price tag or name is calling to you. Make a list of the features that you decide you can't live without, and then the machines that have those features. Then you have a choice to make. You can either buy new, or you can look for a good used machine with those features. I went the latter route. I got every feature I wanted, and then some. But in the bargain, I picked up an essentially new (used for 3 hours) Janome 6700 for $800 when the same machine from the dealer was selling for $3,400. All I had to do was get it cleaned and oiled because it had sat around so long (3 years) the oil was tacky. But the insides were spotless - not even a speck of dust. Yes it does embroidery, and I'm not interested in that. It also quilts and pieces like a dream, and it's a real workhorse, and I love, love, love it! By the way, I bought it because the cheap machine I had died after only 8 months. The needle went right through the cheap bobbin case. It would cost more to fix it than it cost to buy the machine. On the other hand, the service tech who cleaned my Janome said he's worked as a sewing machine repair person for over 15 years, and he never sees my model of Janome come in for anything except routine cleaning and oiling. So you have to think of repair bills as well.

So the gist is: just make sure you really want what you're going for, and then it's your choice to either buy new or used. Do that, and there'll be no regrets.

I have a Bernina 440 with embroidery module. It was $3k+. I love the machine.. it PURRS like a kitten, and the embroidery module has never given me one ounce of trouble. HOWEVER... what scares me is when I hear people talking about the HIGH COST of repairs on these upper end computerized machines if they malfunction. I was more financially flush when I purchased it. My husband was unexpectedly disabled and our financial picture has changed drastically. I honestly WISH I had kept looking for the coveted Bernina 930 which is an older model. It is considered one of the BEST machines Bernina has ever made and it still has metal gears so it will never wear out. No computer parts either. I still watch for one everywhere I go.

Hi! I just purchased a used Pfaff Creative 4.0. I am wondering why you would not buy a Pfaff again? I haven't really done any sewing on it yet as I just got it on Friday and we are getting ready to head home to Canada in a few days.

I hope I haven't make a mistake.

I am almost 50. I got a Janome Horizon (new) 1.5 years ago for about $1,670. I don't regret it at all. I also just bought a used Janome embroidery machine 350E for about $600. My only regret...that I didn't have them sooner! I really like both of them!

Let me add that I paid cash so had no payments...I wouldn't be enjoying them like I do had I bought them with payments. I like the idea that they are paid for.

I have a 1630 also. My husband encouraged me to buy top of the line (he did NOT pay for it) but I have hardly every used anything but the basic stitches. I would say that I like it but doubt if I can say that I absolutely love it. The dealer was very bad about canceling the classes that I was supposed to take then they went out of business. I was working a lot then so did not ever get any classes which was very unfortunate. Now they say they will still 'school' me on the machine but I know they want to get me in there to sell me a new machine. The new machines sure do have a lot of nice features like self threading as well as cutting the thread. Compared to my old machines, the 1630 is fabulous. I just did not need that much machine. No remorse because it was a last gift from my dad. I just wish I would have had the follow up classes. At this point in my life, I think I would NEVER buy an embroidery machine. I would have regret and remorse to spend money for that as I just like to piece.

Love mine and affter you finish your first quilt on your new machine all those thoughts go away and never return....DO IT!!!

I, too, love my Berninas!

I love my Janome 7700...the reason that I wanted this machine was the arm space. I do all of my own FMQ'ing. The only thing I do not like about the machine is it does not like thick seams. My cheap Kenmore would sew through anything...but I have no regreats. Well worth it to be able to FMQ my own quilts.