sewing machine thoughts?
 

I'll apologize up front for the long post. I have a Pfaff Ambition 1.5, that I've had for a couple of years. Like it, but not in love with it. I've ALWAYS had difficulty getting the bobbin case out to clean it (as have others, upon doing research). yesterday, when trying to get it out, a piece broke off. The sewing machine store has to call Pfaff to get the part number tomorrow, and they said that it would take at least three weeks to get the part, because Pfaff isn't too quick about sending stuff, apparently.

My question to y'all is do any of you have the following machines? Juki HZL-F600, Janome MC 6600, Janome Horizon (7700?) and what do you think of them. What do you love? What do you not love? The reason I asked, my husband was doing some research and suggested I look at these machines.

I have a Juki 98Q that I use, I've never loved the whole tension issue with the machine, but I do LOVE that it always stops with the needle down and I love the thread cutter.

One thing that I really want is the on/off button (I'm not ever sure that's what it's really called). On the Pfaff I can set the speed and when I FMQ I can press the on button and it goes at a set speed and I tap the foot pedal to stop. That way I don't have to coordinate my hand movements with the speed that I'm using the foot pedal (like walking and chewing gum at the same time!)

I don't need 80 gabillion different stitches, but I do want some decorative stitches, especially applique. Definitely want a wide harp so I don't have to fight so much with my fabric. I was reading somewhere yesterday that someone said that using her sewing machine was like sewing with nothing - she didn't have to think about the machine at all, it just did what it was supposed to do. That's what I want!

Any thoughts and or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Michelle

I have had the Janome Horizon 7700 for 3 months, I had done a lot of research and had asked questions here and on other quilt forums before purchasing. I have been very happy, it is an excellent machine and it was within the budget I had set. There is a website, Pattern Review .com that reviews just about any machine you are looking for, the reviewers are sewers/quilters like us, who use the machines. You will find a lot of information there about the machines you are considering. As for me, the Horizon was purchased primarily for Free Motion Quilting and it handled that like a dream. It is quiet, well lit, easy to learn to use, has a large variety of decorative stitches which turn out beautifully, and has the power to sew through many layers of fabric without a hitch. It comes with every foot you need, and nice storage compartments. I find the feet easy to change, and the machine is easy to clean. It is solid and heavy so no shaking or moving at higher speeds. It has a knee lift for the presser foot, needle up/down, automatic thread cutter which is so nice - saves thread, a lock stitch feature, and has a speed control. I could keep going, but this is already long so will sign off. Happy shopping!!

Oh, forgot to say that the Harp on the Horizon is 11 inches.

I'm a Janome owner (lover). I've been using them ever since New Home (former name) hit the maket back in the 80's (I think). I presently own 5 different Janomes. They are real workhorses, rarely need repair. I'm biased, absolutely.

I have the Janome 6600 and it's a dream to sew on. It has the start/stop button that you are talking about. You have to unplug the peddle to use it, but since I have trouble with my right leg, I don't mind at all. Knee lift for the presser foot, needle up/down, auto thread cutter, lock stitch, and speed control are some of it's features. I also have the 760 for taking to classes and camp. If I ever buy another machine, it will be a Janome. And I like the price of them too.

I've grown to really like my Pfaff QE4. It wasn't love at first stitch - my first machine was faulty and was replaced after two months, unlike my Janome which I loved from the minute I got it out the box.
I don't think I would buy a machine without a built-in walking foot now and the auto-pivot is brilliant for appliqué. I've also mastered the Sensormatic FM quilting. The only negative is the 4 doesn't have an On/Off button like the new 4.2.

I'm going to put in a plug for the Juki HZL-600. I have the Juki 2010TL and really love it. However, I've been coveting the HZL-600. I don't own one--yet, but I've been taking garment sewing classes a few times a week for the last six months, working exclusively on the 600. I love sewing on it, love how quiet it is. It has the same needle down and thread cutter as the TL series. It just has more stitches. Another woman in the class owns the HZL-400 and says she hasn't had a single issue with it in the four years she's owned it.

Just to defend it: Have had a Pfaff Ambition for o er 2 years and have never had a problem with it. I find the bobbin case easy to remove and replace. I also have two dealers within a couple of hours that actually stock Pfaff parts so have never had any wait getting an accessory ( or a repair part on my older Pfaff).

Just to balance the picture:)

I have a 7700 and love it...I just quilted my King size quilt with ease...I did stitch in the ditch which took me 4 hours which included sewing extra piece of batting, cutting backing and spray basting....I also serged the ends and put in pockets on the corners. In the washer it goes...I will bind during the week. So glad I went forth and quilted it myself instead of paying 200.00 to have it FMQ'd. Yah!!!

I agree. I bought a Pfaff Ambition last summer to use for my traveling machine--but I LOVE the IDT foot and and use my Pfaff all the time now. In fact, I just listed my Bernina sewing machine for sale today as I plan to buy another Pfaff Ambition as a second machine. I do Long arm quilting for customers and do some customer alterations, too, so I always think I need to have the security of having two sewing machines in the house. Once I get another Pfaff (because I love the Pfaffs and the IDT feed), I will be able to just keep one set up all the time and one in the case all the time for traveling to classes and retreats. Good luck with your machine shopping.

I have the Horizon 7700 and truly love, love it.

Thank you all, for responding and giving your experiences and thoughts. Unfortunately, the sewing machine place is not open on Sundays, and I have to work Mon-Wed, but I plan on going Thursday and spending the day trying out machines. I appreciate all the feedback and information you have provided will be very valuable!

Oh, i am a vintage girl. I have got to stop reading this thread!!! Automatic thread cutters -- oh my!!

;0))

Lara

I bought the Janome 8900 last August. It is a wonderful machine. It has so many beautiful stitches, and some really handy stitches for quilters. It has stitches that will lock stitch at the beginning and end of a seam. It has the special foot that makes sewing over several layers easy. It also has the 11" harp space that makes it easy to quilt. It costs a little more than the 7700, but not a lot at my store. I have been very happy with my new machine.

Quiltngolfer - yay, another machine for me to consider. Thanks!

If you buy a Janome, I would really consider the 8900, it actually replaces the 7700 and has some real improvements (I have the 7700 and am considering an upgrade). The other machine I think looks great is the Babylock Crescendo- even more features and in the same price range. A friend who works at a large machine store says the Babylocks are the ones he sees the least for repairs, and the store carries every major brand. Have fun shopping!

I have two Janomes, the 6600 and the Jem, and I love them both. I believe the harp on the 6600 is 9". Others have told you of the features of the 6600, but what I love best is that they rarely, rarely "eat" your fabric. Maybe all new machines are "not hungry" in this regard, but the old Kenmore I used to sew on drove me crazy. You can start your stitching right at the edge of the fabric with no problem whatsoever, and they breeze over many layers while piecing. My 6600 is a dream, and I can only imagine that the more expensive Janomes are wonderful too.

Try the Pfaff Performance 5.0 - fantastic machine!

I have a mixture of these machines mentioned. I find that the most important thing when buying a machine is not the make or model but how good and close the repair man is.

Ditto, ditto and ditto!! Have it 3 years and love it,

I had a Bernina, got rid of it because of myriad problems, and bought a Janome 7700. The 7700 is a great machine.

I have the Janome Horizon 7700 and I love it. It has everything I need for sewing and quilting my own quilts.

Well I am a Babylock lover. I have the Serenade and love her. There is nothing more I could wish for in a machine. She has needle up/down, start/stop, scissors, and oh bobbin alert is the best, and mine works perfectly. I have heard some folks stating it tells you its low before it really is low. Unfortunatley the Serenade has been discontinued and the new model to take its place is I believe the Aria. Happy Shopping!!

I have had the Janome 7700 for a couple of years and love everything about it. Absolutely no complaints. Hope it lasts forever!

I've had the 6600 for almost 2 years and really love it. My dealer offers a one year trade up, where within a year, you can trade up to another machine and receive full paid price on your trade in. This is what my machine was. The previous owner traded up to the 12000.
The 6600 does everything I've ever asked it to do. I've FMQ'd several twin and full sized quilts on it. It's 9" harp is plenty big for queen and kings, I've heard. But I haven't had the occasion to try it. My friend owns a Gammill with the computerized stitching, so when i have a queen to do, I do it on her machine. It's a nice treat, and I'm not sure I want to wrestle that much fabric. Just binding a quilt that big is a workout.

I have the Janome 7700 and I love it. Now if you only do quilting I suggest the Janome 6600 because you can play with the tention dial for free motion. I was a babylock fan but now I love Janome.

I too, have the Serenade,and think its a fantastic machine. Never had the first problem with it. I replaced my Pfaff 7570 (still have it) with the serenade and I think they are very comparable machines with the serenade having more bells and whistles.

Kiangel16 - can you not play with the tension on the 7700? Personally, If I can leave the tension alone, I'm happy. Tension issues have been my bugaboo since day one of quilting - that's the one thing that makes be take a break from sewing, so I don't throw the machine out the window!

Concerning BabyLock. I've never even considered them because 1) I thought BabyLock was a stupid name, and 2) I thought they only made sergers (I have GOT to start getting out more!). Well, after reading more of your thoughts last night and looking at the Crescendo...I ran downstairs and told my husband that I decided on a machine. He was happy because he's ready for me to move on, then I mentioned the machine and we said, "Sure, that'll be like $6,000. Hello? Let's rein it in a little, okay?" Well, the laser line to keep stitches straight and to set stitch width, sigh. And the pen that tells your machine where to stop?!? I was all over that. Invariably when I am appliqueing I go too far. Well, BabyLock is now on my list and the dealer nearby supposedly has them. So, here's my plan. I'm going to make a bunch of quilt sandwiches - cotton/cotton, cotton/flannel, flannel/flannel, cotton/fleece, flannel/fleece. Then Thursday, on my day off, I'm going to take my car in for an oil change (don't be jealous of my exciting life!) and wait for them to do the work (gives me a chance to do some reading), and then head over to the sewing store. My plan is to camp there and play with all the potential machines, hopefully making a decision so I can get back on track with finishing UFOs. Seriously, thank you so much, everyone, for your input. Please add more as you think of it. I've go til Thursday, after all! If this helps at all, I only do quilting, no clothes or anything else (except I'm currently making curtains, but that's a one-time thing. So here are the things that I can think of right offhand that I'm looking for.
1) quilting machine, 2) stop/go button (I'd REALLY like to be able to stop it with my foot, like my Pfaff does), adjustable speed, 3) don't have to fuss with tension, 4) holds a large cone of thread, 5) needle up/down that actually stays down when I want it to (my Pfaff, changes its mind periodically), 6) BIG harp for FMQ 7) automatic thread cutter (does it lock the stitches before it cuts? 8) separate motor for binding winding 8) good lighting, 9) built in needle threader (My Juki and my Pfaff have never worked right) 10) I really like my Pfaff low-bobbin warning. Nothing worse than sewing along and realize you ran out of bobbin thread 20 minutes ago! 11) is it easy to change the feet? 12) is it easy to clean? (that's what started this whole issue with my Pfaff!) thank you again!

I ditto what Jackiequilts said. I have the same machine and love it. Although, I don't use all the fancy stitches, but that's ok. I'm still learning my machine. Love, love, love it. When I bought mine a year ago, they threw in the table that it fits in. I don't have a dealer close by so I bought from SewingMachinesPlus. They have been able to answer all of my questions.

Hi, I am a Janome gal. I also worked with a group (30 to 50) making quilts and I was the one helping with all the machine issues. The ones that had no problems (with the exception of user error) were the Janomes. I have had my 6600 for 7 years and have never had one problem with it. I call it my work horse and will never part with it. My hubby bought me the 8900 last spring for Mother's day gift because of more lighting and the 11 inch harp compared to the 9 on my 6600. I love it for free motion quilting with more space. Both machines are top shelf in my book, and that is my opinion......good luck.

I have the Juki F600 and the TL2010q and love them both. The 2010 has the bigger harp and I use that mostly for FMQ. The F600 has all the bells and whistles and sews beautifully. Also pricewise the F600 can't beat.

I don't have any of the machines you speak of but I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Janome. I'm a Babylock girl. :)

oh my gosh, now I'm getting so excited! I've put some fabric sandwiches together and am going Thursday. I called to warn them (SewingMachinesPlus). My one concern is that the lady i've worked with doesn't do any quilting, so she's looking for different things in a sewing machine than I am. Now my husband has become the voice of doom, saying that all this is going to do is confuse me, trying all the different machines. I've sure gotten a lot more good information from all of you to go on, and I'm sure that will help. My Pfaff is almost back in the box (I can never get things to go back in the way they came out) so I can take it with me when I go in case I bite the bullet, get a new machine and trade the Pfaff in.

Wait, I have another question for all you 7700 owners. Janome has two 7700's, one has the red faceplate thing on it, and the other one is called Janome New Home 7700 or something like that. Which one do you have and what the heck is the difference between the two?!

I believe the faceplate can be changed on the 9900. This line of Janome machines are the janome horizons models. And janome has been known for the name new home also. I think it very wise to go sit and try many machines and their features. When one is spending that kind of money, it is good to feel the machine. I also think it is very important to see just how easy it is to use and navigate around. Personally, I have felt for me and many others that the janome are so simple to use compared to some other brands I have tried and seen. But everyone is different, and that is why trying them out yourself and not just watching the sales person do it is the best advice.....

I just picked up a Janome 8900 QCP demo after reading all the comments on this and other threads. I'm so excited and can't wait until tomorrow to play with it. I am impressed with what it can do: the salesman sewed through a 1/4" piece of leather with a regular needle as well as sewing a seam through several layers of denim material. I had fun sewing through the denim as well as playing with the stitches. It also came with a sew steady-type table and a large number of feet, including a 1/4" foot.

It's replacing my Pfaff Performance 2056. But I agree with C., do your own research and testing to see what meets your needs.

I've had my Juki F600 for a year and love it. I started my search thinking I'd buy the Janome horizon but ended up with 2 Juki's - TL2010Q is my other machine. I could not be happier with this combo. Both are workhorses, stitch beautifully and are easy to operate. No thread issues on either machine and I've yet to touch the tension dial on the F600.

I have had a 6600 since 2006. I love it. I own several machines, but this is my go to machine for quilting. It is very user friendly and has a perfect stitch. I love the accu-feed feature. I would love to have a 7700, but I can't justify getting a new machine when the 6600 is working so well. I am sure you would love either machine.

caspharm - congratulations on your new machine!! Be sure to check back to tell us what you think, how it's going, your favorite features, what you are working on, etc.

I have these machines also, plus the Janome Horizon 7700. I am not a Pfaff fan, but the Juki's ring my chimes. The motor is so strong and they just run all the time, no probs. I like my 7700, not mad love.