I'm sorry to keep hounding you with questions about sewing machines, but you're always such a good source. My Bernina 830 is about 30 years old. I love it and wouldn't trade it. I just got into quilting this past summer. I'm looking for a LIGHTWEIGHT machine that has the extended table and includes quilting feet and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I went to the dealer where I bought my Bernina and asked what he had. He showed me several Brothers and Janomes but, for my needs, he suggested the Janome Gem Platinum 760. It weighs 12 lbs. and costs $600. There were not many accessories, especially feet, included at all. He said, because I was a previous customer, he'd throw in the extension table and the quilt package. I want to be able to take it to FL for the 3 winter months.

Then I saw the Brother SQ 9000 at Wal*Mart. It weighs 10 lbs. and includes many accessories, including the extension table and quilting feet and a lot of other feet. It costs $200 -quite a difference but I heard Wal*Mart models were not made as well.

Can anyone give me any advice? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

I also have an old Bernina I love (the 930) and I wanted something cheap that I could use for applique and decorative stitches. I purchased a Brother csi6000 from Walmart and I was pleasantly surprised - I love it.

As far as i know the name brands at Walmart are the same as anywhere else. They just price them lower because of volume.

Lots of people on the board have the SQ9000 and love it.

I am sure that Brother sewing machines are all identical if they are the same model. I don't think they would produce junky machines just so that WM can sell them!!!

Thank you, all, for your replies.