What are the 3 most important things you need on your machine?
 

Auto needle threader, needle up/down and scissors

Lighting, auto-needle threader, scissors. I like the camera too, can I add that?

Adjustable position needle and needle up/down. Every thing beyond that is a perk.

1) When I select the needle down position and stop, the foot automatically lifts just a bit so that you can pivot the fabric. Not sure what this is called. 2) Needle Threader 3)drop in bobbin.

Camera? Never heard of that. What is it used for?

My 3 "must haves" on sewing machine: needle up/down; auto thread; built-in walking foot (Pfaff's IDT).

needle up/down, auto-threading, adjustable position needle...that's all I need... plus a knee lever to lift presser foot... and a stitch regulator... that's all I need... wait, there's some more...

Needle up/down, great lighting, love my needle threader and thread cutter. Guess that is 4. Sorry.

Needle up/down, needle threader and Pfaff's IDT. (Wish I had auto-cut for the thread. I have it on my mega quilter and love it!) :(

Needle up/down, at least 9 inch throat, needle threader

Needle threader, needle down button and IDT (duel feed)

auto threader, needle up/down, autocut.....too many to list....I love this machine

What is needle down?

Needle up/down, auto threader and 1/4 inch foot.

It will be hard to limit to 3, but here goes:

1) needle up/needle down
2) automatic threader
3) foot that raises when I quit sewing - great for machine appliqué

and 4 - the camera for my embroidery.

Needle up/down, hover foot, scissors, tie off, IDT.

I agree with some ... Pfaff IDT, needle threader, needle down feature, and wish I had auto cutter.

thread cutter, needle threader, and needle down.

Needle stop up or down, knee lift, good lighting. I would love a stitch regulator too, but too pricey for me at this time.

Straight stitch, button hole, zig zag. I can do a ton of projects with a machine that has these stitches, but a needle threader, and needle up/down won't help if I can't zig zag. Just my thoughts. But I'd still never but a machine that only has these 3 features. KWIM? There are so many options!

I have more than one machine. Each does something the others don't.
First there's the garment machine with #1 reliability, #2 utility stitches, #3 knee lift
Then there's the quilt machine with #1 reliability, #2 excelent straight stitch, #3 FMQ capability. It also has thread cutter, needle up/down, knee lift
Then there's the light weight for travel with #1 reliability, #2 excelent stitch, #3 11lbs. It also as thread cutter, needle up/down and a 4" square embroidery which I don't expect to ever use.

my Quttro has a camera just above the needle. It is fabulous when you embroider. I can scan the item while it is in the hoop, if I need a precise location (over a pocket or near a button, etc) the camera allows me to see how the embroidery design is lining up. If the design needs to be moved, I can then use my location buttons and move the design, then embroider. LOVE this option.

knee lift for the presser foot, thread cutter, and auto needle up and down, all of those features that give you an extra hand when sewing.

Knee lift, needle down and needle threader.

Me too Bright light too

Needle up/down, thread cutter and knee lift for me. I didn't realize how spoiled I am by the thread cutter and knee lift on my new Jukis until I pulled out my Pfaff!

9" throat, foot pedal,needleup/down.

I'm with dunster! :) I do love the needle up/down, knee lever pressure foot lift - I probably miss the knee lever pressure foot lift the most when I'm sewing with my older machine. I keep pushing my knee over but it doesn't do anything. :D

Automatic needle threaded, needle up and down, and a foot pedal (I don't like the new machines where you just press a button).

auto needle threader gets the #1 spot, then the needle up/down, then the reverse button

Now if they could just figure out how to add a seam ripper to a sewing machine, I'd be in heaven

1. reasonable number of fancy/utility stitches
2. throat space and reliability to FMQ
3. light weight to be able to take with me.

I have #1 & 2, but not 3. Others have mentioned lighting. That's important for the machine, but even more overhead. And an auto threader would be nice, too.

1. 1/4" quilting foot
2. Needle threader
3. Needle up/down

Needle , thread and foot. Sensible. Reply would be needle up and down. Stop start button(so you don't need to use foot pedal all the time.also useful when you forget to take foot to class) and no 3 reverse button.

1/4" foot, electrical power and lubricating oil to keep on quilting. Just an old fashion quilter !! I once quilted on a my Singer treadle. YIKES, try THAT sometime!!! THAT machine doesn't stop once you stop peddling and no backstitch !!!

LIGHTING, needle up/down and positionable, and oh, how I miss the walking foot feature on my Pfaff! I really like my Janome 6600P, but why did they not make a better foot system for it!? I have to remove that darned shaft to change to several different feet. What a pain! If I had it to do over again, I'd probably go back to a Pfaff, and may do that yet...so much more user friendly!

1. Knee lift
2. A bobbin that never runs out
3. Unlimited harp space

I only have one of these so far, but I'm sure some smart inventor will make the rest possible someday. :p

I like: seam gauge on the bobbin window, automatic needle threader, needle up or down. I never use: thread cutter, knee lift, foot pedal. I love the start/stop button. I don't have to continually chase my foot pedal around. I never did find anything to keep it in place, and I've tried everything.

needle up/down, knee lift and the great light

When the machine stops, the needle stays in the down position. Works well for pivoting at corners, adding the next fabric for chain piecing, etc. Many machines can be programmed to stop needle up or needle down.