Should it be this tough to pick a machine?
 

When I bought my "Cadillac" machine, I looked around, read reviews and decided on the Babylock Ellegante. I love it and it does everything I thought I wanted and more.... but it's in for repair and cleaning and I realized I don't care for the Singer 160 I have as a back up. I started looking for a lower end machine $300-$400 and I am at the end of my rope. Every manufacturer has one, there are conflicting reviews and no dealers nearby to check them out. I think I have narrowed it down to the Janome DC2012 or a comparable Brother machine. Anyone have an opinion on what has worked well for a back up? I am seriously confused at this point and just want some honest opinions. thanks!

I can't say about the Janome but I can say I love my Brother machine. If I were buying another for a backup (my backups are a Singer 401 and 301) I would go for another Brother. The only problem I have here is no dealers near me.

I just purchased a backup machine but I have Bernina's. I wanted to be able to interchange the feet and I like the way they sew. Just get the best you can afford.

Which model Brother do you have? I had a mass produced Brother SE350 that did embroidery too, and I really liked it but I gave it to my DIL and I haven't seen another one for a while.

I would go for the Brother. I've owned several and have never been disappointed.

It would be easier if I was spending more.... it seems like it should be harder to pick a more expensive machine. At the $1500-2000 price point I have two contenders and would find a way to try them out but dealers are few and far between here and they don't have the cheaper machines set up to demo. I don't blame them I would keep my floor space for the "better" models too, but it does make it tougher. I don't want to invest a lot in a back up machine since it hopefully won't get much use!

I was in your same shoes a few months ago.. I went back and forth with both those brands as well.. FINALLY decided on a Brother PC 420 because I got a lot more "bang" for my bucks with a brother! and I LOVE IT!!!! I am stuck on Brother machines now.. I have 2 and think they are wonderful!!

Wow! The Brother PC 420 really received rave reviews everywhere I looked. I have a new contender! Thanks!

I LOVE IT! and it sews like a dream!!!! I do NOT regret the purchase!!! and it comes with soooo much!!!

I have the Janome 3160 as my backup and travel machine. I have had it for a year and I just love it.

totally agree with you, mimmy96! love my Brother pc-420! have 2 others for backup - the cs6000i and a basic
$80.00 Brother purchased from Walmart about 8 years ago. Brother definitely gives you more bang for your buck.

I love my brother SQ-9050 from walmart 200 bucks. what features are you looking for. There will always be conflicting reviews of machines, some people can love and hate the same machine. There are those that hate low end brothers from walmart but I love mine. It's an amazing piecer, travel , and class machine. I have used it alot for almost 2 years with no problems. I have seen bad reviews and good of my machine. Good thing everybody has different tastes or we wouldn't have so many wonderful choices. The babylock audrey is also a nice choice or the brother pc-420 if you want more of the high end features without the high end price. it runs about 400 and it has needle threader, automatic thread cutter, ability to adjust presser foot pressure, needle down feature. I don't have this one but it gets good reviews as does the brother cs6000i which my SIL has and loves.

Be sure to check for reviews on Amazon too. Often you can learn a lot about a machine by reading all of the reviews.

I had never heard of the Brother PC-420 but I think I am leaning that way. I didn't realize I was spoiled rotten by my Babylock, but the auto thread cutter is a big deal...I really miss it! The other features on the 420 are really close to the Babylock as well, I know they are manufactured by the same company, so it's not really a surprise. I suspect there would be a smaller learning curve as well and as a bonus, it is about $100 cheaper than the Janome!

The janome dc2012 is the same machine basically as the janome retired dc3050. I have the dc3050 and love it. I'd buy it again.

I didn't realize there were "classes" of sewing machines when I bought my first machine....a Brother SE-350 from Walmart, I spent more than I had ever paid for a machine before and was so very proud and happy with it. It was a combination sewing/embroidery machine and I wanted a design card to explore the embroidery function. I went to a Brother dealer and they were very snobbish referring to my machine as a "just a mass produced machine" as if the ones they sold were made one at a time! When I was ready to purchase a big gun machine, I went to the Babylock dealer and purchased a high end machine that was basically the same as Brother but I didn't have to deal with those sellers. I guess that made me a reverse snob, but who cares where you get a machine if it works for you? Honestly sometimes I just don't get it!

I love my Janome machines (I have 3). They are real workhorses.

I have the QC 1000 which they don't make anymore. But if you look at a Babylock it has the same screen so I am thinking they are made in the same place. I wouldn't buy a Brother from a place like Walmart but would go to a dealer for one. A little more expensive maybe but the help and backup is nice.

When I got back into sewing a few yrs ago I had a 25yr old singer. I decided I wanted a newer one but couldn't afford the higher end on like I have now. I went to Sears and got a Kenmore made by Janome, it works great. Doesn't care what kind of thread I use or anything else. It doesn't weight much either. I got it for a great price and then bought the extended warranty from them. I don't need a dealer to get it serviced, just take it in to them (you can do a once a yr check) and they service it. I have all of my appliance warranties with them because of this once a yr check at no charge plus if they can't fix it, they'll replace it for free. For my machine that does lots of fancy stitches and the warranty I paid around 400 for it all. I took a class where we were learning how to make this quilt with all of these fancy stitches, etc and everyone else in the class had a higher end machine but I was able to make my machine do all that theres would do. There were a couple of things that their machines could do automatically but my teacher showed me how to do it with my machine and my quilt was just as nice as thiers. I now have a top of the line Viking but keep my Kenmore set up as well and when my embroidery machine is going and I want to mult task I use the Kenmore. Good luck on your search. Don't forget to check out the warranty on the machine.

Unfortunately, Sears no longer sells Kenmore sewing machines. For quite a few of the last years that Kenmore machines were sold, they were re-branded Janome machines. But, those days are over. :(

I just ordered a Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 from my local Joanne's store. They are closing out the model and it was selling for 399.99 and I get 2 classes that are 2 hours long with it. They didn't have any in stock. When the lady rang it up, it was a 999.99 machine. It has mixed reviews too and I have been a Sears Kenmore fan but, like someone said earlier, they don't make them anymore. A Brother machine from Joann's online was my other choice.

I am a huge fan of the Janome machines and have a Platinum Gem for backup and to take with me if I go to any classes or groups. Had the DC 2007 and loved it; but hubby surprised me with the Horizon and traded that one in towards it.

I bought a small Disney brother embroidery machine at Walmart 8 years ago. I take it in my RV. Have taken it to classes and all day sews. I love this little machine. I use it for piecing. The harp is way too small for me to consider quilting on it. It was $500. I bet you can get a Brother without the embroidery feature for a lot less. I think that some of the lower price machines may have a limited lifespan.....but when you use for backup...should last a long time!

I got this machine from Amazon for 249.00, free shipping! No classes, but not needed, instruction book clear as mud. Love this machine.

I did the same thing. I was easier to learn to use my Ellisimo Gold because I had the Brother SE 350.

Janome. I have two Janome at this time.

I just bought the Janome DC 2012 for a backup machine about 4 months ago. So far, I love it. The presser foot doesn't have that little extra extension to get thick things under, but I have made a tote bag that was quite thick and it really wasn't a problem, I was just used to it on my other machine. I really do love the machine, though. It is quiet and has done everything I have asked of it so far. I love the superior feed system (SFS) that helps prevent fabric from going down into the needle hole when you start a seam.
good luck in your hunt! I, too, had narrowed it down to a Janome and a Brother, but the Janome dealer gave me some perks that made me choose the Janome. That and the fact it came with the walking foot!

LOL. all the machines are mass produced, did that dealer think his machines were made piece by piece by one person? The only problem for him was that you didn't buy it from him. I also vote for a Brother, love those machine from low end in big box stores to high end from dealers. Plus you will probably be able to use most the feet/accessories from your Elegante on a Brother.

I have the Babylock Esante and it's a great machine. I have a simple Janome machine as a backup and travel machine but want it to do more.

So, I talked to my Babylock dealer and she suggested the Babylock Grace (retail is $499 but they sell it for $399).

You could find the Brother equivalent since they're made by the same company. That way you wouldn't have to buy new feet and have a great 2nd machine. That's my plan in a few months.

Good luck

I haven't bought a machine in that price range so no direct advice, but I'm thinking about practicalities - do any of the machines you're deciding between take the same bobbins as your main machine? If so, that's possibly a good tie-breaker!

The main selling point for the Brother, in my opinion, is that the specialty feet should work on the Babylock also. In other words, you would not have to buy so many different feet.

Latrina, what a great buy! I only saw the Quantum for 349. I am glad you are enjoying it.

I love my 12lb Janome 3160 I take to classes... love the needle up/down, thread cutter and comes with the acrylic table. I free motion, quilt and it sews like a dream!

I had a Kenmore at one time but every time it needed serviced it was a 2-3 month wait for its return!

I believe that the Brother machines are the most user friendly on the market today! I own a 4500D combo. sewing and embroidery machine. I also have a lower priced model for back up that I also love. Believe me I checked out about every machine on the market and the majority are not that user friendly/

Looking around for machine....suggestion for
 

I would suggest the Janome 3160 if this is a machine for travel or back up. It has the auto thread cutter, which I use for all my piecing and for classes. It weighs only 11 lbs. if weight is in an issue. If weight is not an issue, I would look for a Janome 6600. It is wonderful, with the AccuFeed foot and a lot of other nice amenities. For the Cadillac of quilting machines, I just got the 8900. Of course the budget keeps going up from the 3160 to the 6600 to the 8900. Janomes are great machines that last for a long long time....

Best wishes in your hunt.

Diana

Anyone have an opinion on what has worked well for a back up? I am seriously confused at this point and just want some honest opinions. thanks![/QUOTE]

THANK YOU for this thread. I have 3 large Pfaff's but I too, need to get a smaller machine with which to travel, and I need one for my granddaughter when she is not sewing/quilting at my home.

I'd go with the Brother. I have a Babylock Crescendo with an inexpensive Brother Project Runway machine as a backup. I love them both, but especially love that the feet are interchangeable, as are the bobbins. I love the similarity of the machines.

LOL... its seems like everyone narrowed it down to the Janome or the Brother. I think I will have to ask around and find a way to see them in person at this point. I thought I had this solved when I got the Singer 160 fell in love with it's Looks but II really don't care for it. Not enough features and the noise is unbearable for long sewing sessions. Thanks everyone for the input so far, it has given me a lot to think about!

Both my daughter and I have a Brother CS6000i. It has everything you need for for quilting including a walking foot and an extension table. 60 built in stitches, plus the feed dogs drop easily. It weighs the same as a featherweight and cost us less than $150. We bought one at London Drugs in Canada, and the second one at Walmart in Phoenix Arizona. They stitch really well. We love them.