Tell me about the machines
 

Hello, just finished reading the post by Ariannaquilts, :shock: which got me wondering. Im not interested in the cost or justification of why you bought your machine. I would like to know about the different machines and what they can do. How many stitches are there out there that any one machine can do? Or features do they offer. If you have not guessed yet I don't know much about them I have used a basic and now a slightly more advance kenmore:p So anyone out there wanna give me an education open my eyes so to speak to the wonderful world of sewing machines. Help me learn the different kinds brand and what ever else a person really should know thanks :D Oh I noticed that some people use vintage machines, Does a vintage machine work better then say an off the shelf new model say like mine? :)

Your question is so broad, I don't know where to start. There are lots of past threads on this Board about machines and the specifics on them, and think you should start your research there to at least begin to narrow down what your needs are and what you want from a machine. When I was in your position a few years ago, someone on this board gave me the good advice to go out and start 'test driving' some machines at shops and at quilt shows where lots of vendors have machines set up to try out. After that, you will have educated yourself enough to narrow the field down, and get more specific information from the experienced folks on this board. It is a daunting task, I understand the feeling of not knowing were to start. But you just have to jump in and start doing the groundwork to educate yourself, and you will get there!!

Google the different manufacturers and see the models they offer with the different options. Or visit your local dealer to see what's available.

You might say I am happily married to my Bernina 1530 for almost 25 years now. I don't need anything fancy, just a good reliable workhorse !!

When I was looking for a new machine....my old one is a 1969 Singer Golden Touch and Sew....I went to the main manufacturers websites and looked at what the different models did, the variety of stitches, the feet that came with them and the warranty. Then I went out and saw them in person. In 2005 I bought a Brother Innovis 4000D. It was the first embroidery machine that cut the jump stitches and that was important to me. It was their top of the line for that year. I really liked the Bernina's too, but they cost twice as much at that time and were out of my budget. Have fun shopping!

It's not just about the number of stitches, there are lots of other features that each of us *require* and *like* about different machines.

Features such as ....

Throat (harp) space
Stitch Regulator (for FMQ)
Integrated Walking Foot
Ability to stop needle up or down
Ability to drop feed dogs
Empty Bobbin Sensors
Thread cutters
Integrated embroidery unit (along with various options on the max size of the embroidery)
Ability to scale stitches (and embroidery)
Ability to change the position of the needle
Automatic threaders
Automatic tensioners
Start/Stop button (as opposed to using a foot pedal)
Knee Lifts

And on and on.

And there are also considerations of "quality". Is the brand and model from a reputable manufacturer with great reviews? Are the parts (especially the gears!) made from metal or plastic?

Pick just one manufacturer ... Janome, Bernina, Pfaff to name a few, and go to their website and look at all the machines starting with the low end model and work your way through to the top model and note the differences in features. You should also make note of the weight of the machine as that *can* be a clue as to the quality of the manufacture (i.e. if all the parts are plastic the machine will weight a lot less than a machine constructed out of metal).

Buying a machine is akin to buying a car. Research, shop, test drive, negotiate the deal. You do most of it with your head but ultimately you buy with your heart - the one that feels right for you. Other people's comments and experiences can be helpful but you want to be able to develope a relationship with your machine so that every time you sit down to sew it is like reconnecting with an old friend and you are so glad to be there. DogHouseMom has given you a good start on a list. Some of those things may be important to you and others not.

Ive got a Viking Sapphire and love the needle down feature that lifts the foot a little when you stop sewing. Easy for chain sewing and turning. Don't have a thread cutter but that's no big deal. It does have a larger throat area than a standard machine and I like that also. It was $1100 and that was expensive for me. It is not an embroidery machine so bought a cheap Brother for what little embroidery I do.

When I first got into quilting (about 5-6 years ago) I bought the Viking Sapphire and loved it (never had an older machine, so had nothing to compare to).

Less than a year later I wanted more - embroidery was what I wanted ... so I upgraded to the Topaz30.

I have a fabulous dealer and she "read" me accurately right off the bat when I bought the Sapphire. She laughed and said I'd be back in less than a year to upgrade ... and she was right. I didn't get top of the line because I do this for me, for fun - I donate everything I make. I do get some quilts done for me if I'm pressed for time, but otherwise, I will quilt them all myself.

I sat down with a pile of fabric, batting, etc. and she just let me sew away - checking out all the options.

She also does Husqvarna classes - embroidery and quilting classes - on alternate Fridays / Sundays. I go to both of those and learn all kinds of fabulous things about my machine.

I have just started FMQ and my machine does a beatiful job (it will be even better when I'm better at it!) ... if say, it 5 or 6 years, I discover I love FMQ, I might buy a sweet 16 ... or not ...

You really need to test drive a whole bunch and figure out what it is you want from your machine - and what do you really want to do?

If you're just starting your search, I think the BEST thing to do is just visit every single dealer within your area. Test drive every machine you can get your hands on. Take lots of notes - not only about the machines themselves but about the dealers as well. You'll want to make sure you're going to have repair and support available when you need it!

Personally I'm a big fan of Janome, and I also like Brother though I've only used lower-end Brother sewing machines and a embroidery-only machine that's probably somewhere in the middle.

Another thing to consider is what you are planning to do with it. Are you just using it for basic sewing and piecing? Will you be using the decorative stitches regularly? Do you plan to FMQ? Then as the others have said, make a list of what features are most desirable, what feet are included in the package...then test drive as many as you can. It isn't just a matter of how much is costs but getting the your money's worth out of what you need/want.

I notice that no one had addressed your question about vintage machines, so I'll jump in. I have 6 Singer 221 Featherweights (ranging from 1939 to 1964), a Singer treadle (1936), and my Model 237 (1971). All work well. The vintage machines are mechanical, so no worry about electronic parts. They are all straight stitch, go forward and backward, and have no bells and whistles. My 1971 Singer has a zig zag stitch, and I thought I was big time when I bought it! A good working vintage machine is great for piecing, and many of them can be used for FMQ. The FWs don't have a large harp (or throat) space, so are better for smaller projects. Once nice thing about my FWs is that I can put one in the trunk of the car and leave it. I had one travel with me for over 9 months, through the heat of summer and the cold of winter, and each time I took it out to sew, it never missed a stitch. You can't do that with the newer machines. The FWs also only weigh 11 lbs. (about 14 lbs. in the case), so are great to take to classes, workshops and retreats if all you are doing is straight piecing. They make great second machines, just in case your main machine needs to go to the shop.

I have had a Bernina 440 QE for about 5 years, and it has 182 decorative stitches. It makes 4 different kinds of buttonholes and has a button foot to sew buttons on. It has the needle up/down feature, a knee lift, the variable speed feature, and the stop/start button. The needle plate is easy to remove, so I clear the lint out each time I change the bobbin, and the feet are very easy to change. The two options I would like to have, but don't, are the dual feed option and the thread cutter, but all in all I am happy with what I have. If it lasts me 38 years, like the Singer 237 did, I will leave it to my daughter in my will.

Once you start on a manufacturer's website and see the progression of features that differentiate the machines, the rest of the sites will become easier. You might start listing the features that are beyond your Kenmore and start reading about them. Some will seem more important than others and will help you figure out what machines to try. Are you likely to want to do machine embroidery? That may help you, too. I'm not a fan of it, myself, but if I were, I'd be looking for the ones that do it best and sorting through them. If you have any physical limitations or see one coming down the road, there may be features that zoom to the top of the list. A lot of things that are comfortable to do for 10 minutes can become a major pain if you spend an afternoon at it.

Hugs,
Charlotte

Doghousemom is correct, it is more about what features you like require as each machine has different features, and different features might act differently. I also like pivoting feature, my laser for straight line sewing. I also love my penpal pen for sewing and embroidery. My absolute favorite on my machine other than the things doghouse mom mentioned is my muvit foot. It is dual feed but it is not built in like on many janomes, pfaffs, and some berninas. It has a differential feed which makes sewing everything a breeze especially really thick seams which many machines struggle with. There are so many things one might like in machines, but there are so many machines and brands on the market it may be hard for a person not familiar with the pros and cons of each to decide without trying them out. I know for me when I tried other brands at shows for classes that really made me see why I truly loved my brothers over other brands. I like it just for the user interface alone. Some people love IDT and others like accufeed, and some are justfans of a certain brand because they have been so successful with them they stick with it

When I bought my sewing machine 10 years ago, I visited with all the local dealers. Finding a dealer I liked was just as important as the machine and its features. If there are any problems, I know I can count on them to get it fixed quickly and fairly. I've taken lots of lessons and have learned so much from them!

Soo many factors of wants and needs. Difference in stitches, style shapes and sizes, type of sewing even leather and upholstery. Budget is also a factor along with space. What kind of service does the dealership provide if any. so many factors.

First thanks everyone for your responses, I think though I may have mislead you to thinking that I wanted info to buy a new machine, sorry about that. Really I just wanted to learn all the things I could about the machines, ya'll got my curiosity going reading your posts. I think I will take the suggestion and surf the manufactures sites. Thanks again for your knowledge and suggestions

Researching the mfgr. websites is the best starting point. Save your gas money for when you have narrowed your list of machines to go see and test drive. Just visting a dealer will not give you the big picture of all the features they have.

Sandy

I just bought a Janome New Home JW7630 to use as a transition machine from my vintage machines to a new Viking I hope to purchase. Number of stitches never really interest me. I am more interested in the speed control, needle down, and the start/stop features. In 1976 I bought a brand new Viking for $1,000. It was a huge step up from the $159 Kenmore which I had used for about seven years to make all my clothes. That machine went to my sister and brother-in-law. I used my Viking for 30 years. Then I bought a 301A when I decided to quilt, and a new Singer (which I hated and sold cheap). Now that I am actually using a machine regularly, I am planning another move to a Viking. What I really need is more room.

You just need to go out and shop machines. You will learn a lot here, but there is so much to know about each machine, you just need to shop and try them out.

My precious elderly Elna died and parts were almost impossible to find. No one close to home was wiling to tackle the job! (Interesting.) I had read the QB threads re machines. Oodles of information and good sense. I looked for years for a replacement. brand new or well experienced. After doing my "experienced sewing machine part of my research, I discovered Husqvarna Viking had the entire, as in every word, of the manual for the Husqvarna Designer Diamond Royale on its web site. I read the whole manual, considered what I had read and had experienced hands on, robbed a bank, and bought it. (The sale break was monumental.)

The DDR hasn't cooled off on my sewing table yet. Too much going on around me to do much of anything but keep re-reading the manual so I cannot tell you much about my personal, hands on in the middle of the night (favorite time to sew) experience. Also please keep in mind that I am a book learner.

Remember to look for support from a local dealer AND the manufacturer; both now and into the future. Both classes, parts, repairs, and projects. Remember to take a sample collection of the fabrics you usually sew AND the ones you would like to sew in the future if you buy this machine.

And lastly, plan on loving whatever choice you make. Attitude makes the difference.

No matter what, enjoy the ride.

Pat

I won't bore you with details of my devotion to Brother machines, but when I went shopping, I had no idea what was out there for me. I have always had a budget friendly machine to sew on with the exception of my first machine that was an old industrial white rotary. (one of which I was gifted for Christmas this year!). Imagine my sense of wonder when I discovered that some machines will thread the needle for me! Eureka! I have glaucoma and as I get older my eyesight will get worse, so a machine that threads the needle will allow me to continue sewing as long as possible. Then I found the thread cutter, push button stitch change, the bells and whistles continue to keep me interested in trying 'new to me' things. I haven't yet used the knee presser foot lift, because those knee pedals on machines I have owned or used, have always been substitutes for the foot feed, not to lift the presser foot. My poor confused knee would end up mixing me up. I know my learning limits. As far as how many stitches, that is a subjective number since as quilters we don't used very many of the fancy stitches, but it is nice to know they are there if I want to play with an idea. (I do like having the ability to do monograms at the touch of a button.)I was especially amazed that my machine will sew sideways which allows me to increase the area a certain pattern will fill. Go shopping, find what is useful to you. A certain brand name is less important than if all the bells and whistles are useful for YOU. Yes, I know, we are all assumed to have brand specific loyalty, but if a different maker meets all your sewing needs, they are your new favorite. Start by playing with machines in shows and shops until you find the one that 'begs to live at your house'. Good luck.

"I haven't yet used the knee presser foot lift, because those knee pedals on machines I have owned or used, have always been substitutes for the foot feed, not to lift the presser foot. My poor confused knee would end up mixing me up."

I have to laugh at that because I know what you mean. My mother always has used the knee pedal to power her Singer. Of course, it was one of the first machines I learned on. I didn't sew on it but a few years yet that was imprinted in my brain. I now have machine with a knee lift. I often forget it is there but am getting better about knowing how to use it.