Your dream machine
 

If money were no object, what would be your dream machine? What feature(s) would be the deciding factor?

I don't think that my dream machine has been made yet but I know exactly what I want. I'd like a fast powerful machine (like my Juki)with a wide harp (12 inches would be nice) with an excellent straight stitch. I'd like that straight stitch to be able to stitch from very small up to a large basting stitch (2 stitches per inch). I would want the machine to have a variety of quilting specialty stitches such as blanket stitch, serpentine, a great satin stitch etc.in addition to basic zig zag. I'd also want needle up and needle down, thread trimming, bush button stop and start in addition to a foot control and a knee control, built in walking foot, buttonholer, excellent free motion capabilities, wonderful lighting and a super easy to fill extra large bobbin. I'd also want a practical sturdy table/cabinet so that this machine would be flush with my sewing surface (no acrylic surround needed!). I'd also like to see this system affordable ($1500-$2000 range). I can only dream.

Mine would be a longarm - HUsquavarna Platinum 3000. But it is only a dream unless I win a lottery.

I'm right there with Shelbie - although I don't need many fancy stitches. I'd be happy if I could get my Juki with a slightly longer harp - and the ability to do a zigzag, blanket stitch and a few other basics... and under $2k as well. It will probably never happen. :'(

i would get the new janome. oh it looks so nice.

I second Shelbie. In fact, that would be a nice name for it! 'The Shelbie'

I already have it, its my Bernina 830, does everything but cut out the pieces for me. I do wish, however, it was easier to learn to operate. I took 6 weeks of classes on it but don't use half the features on it. I said it'd be the last machine I ever bought. I also wish I had more room on its table & a bigger studio. Wish on . . . .

It's funny that you should ask. As far as sewing machines go, I love my Brother SQ9000. It is not the Mercedes of machines but compared to my old Singer it's terrific. However, I was thinking more in the way of my EQ5. They now have EQ7. I was thinking a few weeks ago of someday in the distant future when there would be an EQ58, where you could choose your blocks, fabrics and all the other, and then when you were ready, just hit a button and the quilt would shoot out of the back of the computer. That's the day I open my own shop.

I'm with Willow wind - I love my 830 - it has so many wonderful features that I can't even begin to list them!

Shelbie, the machine you described is what I have...the Brother Dreamweaver XE. It's a combo embroidery/sewing/quilting. The throat area is 11.5. It has a laser that guides for straight stitching, all the different types of stitches you described, push button start, plus foot and knee control. It has needle up/down, thread cutter, push button raise/lower the needle. The walking foot is not built in but it is a special type of foot that can handle multiple thickness and different types of fabric such as leather, denim, upholstery. It gives messages to rethread the machine if it's not threaded correctly, rather than having to guess at what is wrong! It's more expensive that you stated but to me it's well worth the price. I've had this machine a month and have barely scratched the surface of what it can do.

A long arm for my quilt frame.

I want a Janome Horizon. Some friends have one and they love it. There is a dealer about 20 minutes away that we frequent. He gives free lessons with every machine purchased and wonderful at answering questions and helping with problems. Not sure when I will get it, but I am slowly saving for it. The Janome I have now has a foot pedal and I can't wait not to have that any longer! Although I do love the Janome I have now, I am ready to move up and keep this one to take to classes. And, I want a Singer Featherweight, but have not even begun any research on looking for one. It's a dream I guess.

EllieGirl is absolutely correct about the Brother Dreamweaver. I got the sewing/quilting version. In addition to the features EllieGirl listed, the Dreamweaver has a touch pen that is used to tell the machine where to stop and adjusts decorative stitches to be completed before the stop point. The decorative stitches can be combined. Would you believe it sews sideways and on the diagonal at the push of a button? The machine has videos so you don't have to find the manual for help. Don't remember how to put in a zipper? The "?" button brings up a menu with technique instructions for sewing and quilting. It can be programmed to be put into sleep mode or shut itself down when you aren't paying attention to it. The optional programmable foot is a must in my opinion. With a quick tap of my foot, the machine can cut thread, take one more stitch, reverse or needle up/down.

Put the DreamWeaver on your wish list. It blows everything else on the market out of the water. The pricing is not outrageous and the machine is so user friendly. There is a learning curve if you want to learn all that the machine is capable of. But you can just jump in and start sewing. Hubby has decided he will have to fend for himself while the DreamWeaver and I are bonding.

I already have my dream machine in the brother dreamweaver xe. It has all the features I love needle down, thread cutter large harp, stadium lighting, excellent straight stitch, a laser to assist in stitching, the muvit foot to handle difficult fabrics, pivoting feature, this is only a portion of my machines capabilities, I just wish it didn't come with such a steep price tag

I'm starting to have serious machine envy!

For those of us that still have to 'made do' - one can do some nice piecing on any machine that has a decent straight stitch!

I also agree that the dreamweaver blows everything else on the market out of the water. I'm also going to stick up for my little one the SQ-9050 has been a dream to take to classes, best little piecer, pieces as good as my big baby IMHO, just missing a lot of wonderful features but the dreamweaver is close to 35lbs so not a machine to lug around so my little one travels everywhere unless its a class on FMQ or embroidery I take my little one.

I have my dream domestic machine, a Janome MC 6600. I'd love to have a longarm, though, and I've been eyeing the HandiQuilter Avante. Too bad it's out of my price range!

I have a 6600 too and I love it...looking at the 8900 but there are some plusses and minuses to upgrading. I guess my dream machine would be a combination of the two!

I have the same machine and it does everything that Shelby wants but it doesn't cost what she wants to pay for it. You are lucky you took 6 weeks of lessons. I've taken about 5 lessons only. My dealer is 2 hours away from me, over mountain passes that get snow in the winter, so I can't go there as often as I'd like. But this machine does just about everything!

Mine would be the Bernina 440 QE --with a 16" throat!!! Wouldn't that be awesome?!?!

Ellie Girl - I have the Baby Lock Crescendo and it has all that too - are they basically the same machine? Mine was $3500 and I'm ecstatic with it......but I kinda wish I had gone with the Ellisimo Gold for the embroidery too...a girl has to dream!

I want a machine that doesn't require a bobbin but allows the bottom thread to come from a spool of thread like the top. No more filling bobbins or having one run out. Wouldn't that be great?

I already have my dream machine, its a Bernina 820. Several years ago, Bernina serveyed sewers and asked what features they wanted in a sewing machine, and the 800 Series was designed from their suggestions. I too, do not use all of the features, right now it is sitting on my quilting frame. It does not bother me that I do not know or use every stitch, yet, as I do not ever see myself wanting another machine, and plan to grow into the machine, as I have a lot of sew left in me.

If money wasn't part of the equation, I'd have a fully computerized Gammill on a frame large enough for a King, and a top of the line sewing and embroidery machine. Of course, this would mean I'd also have a huge house with a studio just for my sewing and a house keeper, so I wouldn't be bothered with housework or cooking. We can all dream. In the mean time, I'll just keep plugging away on my Janome 6600.

My hubby made my dream machine come true this winter when we went and bought a Janome Memory Craft 7700. It is fabulous! Watching Leah Day's videos and reading what she had to say about it is what got me interested.
My other dream machine is my vintage Singer 301 for straight stitching. Love both of these machines!

@Shelbie: your dream machine would be mine, too. You've designed a great sounding machine!

I don't understand modern machines. I received the Brother Innov'is 450Q for Christmas. It has some nice features--fancy stitches, needle returns, needle threading, thread cutting, etc. But the needle is hard to thread manually; you can hardly get to it, it's so far below the curve of the upper part of the machine. Putting on the walking foot requires a screwdriver. And to fill the bobbin I have to take it out, put it on an old fashioned bobbin filler, and rethread the machine to fill it. On my old -- and much maligned Singer Touch 'n Sew, I fill the bobbin right in place! No rethreading my machine, no taking the bobbin out and replacing it. Why didn't Brother take advantage of this neat trick? Is it patented by Singer? Also, I can attach the walking foot without using a screwdriver; I just loosen a thumb screw. Singer had many forward thinking ideas years ago that today's machines are not taking advantage of.

Sometimes new is not necessarily better, is all I'm saying!

That would be great! Can't believe some machine designer has not thought of a way to do it yet!

I already have my dream machine, its a Bernina 820. Love love love this machine!!!!

I would want a large harp, auto threading, bobbin warning, alphabet capable for labels, speed control to slow me down and not get eyelashes, lots of light and a foot pedal I don't have to chase all over the room. Oh, Gee, my Viking has all these features, and I love it.

Innaova long arm with robotics.

not even a thought -- Babylock Ellisimo Gold -- it's an amazing machine. has every bell and whistle you can think of.
stadium lighting - autolift - thread cutter - automatic threading - laser positioning - embroidery with all the bells & whistles too - extra large hoop - laser positioning - fine detail editing --

Oh, yeah :-)

Actually, the only machine I've seen that has this is the Singer XL6000. I had one and thought this was a great feature. Too bad the machine was crap. Singer probably has the patent on this feature but it is amazing. Actually, it's called an endless bobbin. There is a bobbin like usual, but the bobbin is different so that when it runs out, it will stop, automatically refill itself (the bobbin spool is located in a lower section of the machine) then start stitching again (in embroidery mode). It will work for regular sewing too but you just have to push a button to refill (if my memory is accurate).

Have a HQ Sweet 16 with the Tru-Stitch and I love it, but I would also love the HQ Fusion with the Pro-Sitcher along with the space to have it upstairs and not in the basement. I doubt that would ever happen, I'd feel like I have to have a business to make it worthwhile.

Other than Pantovision (allows doing pantographs from the front) and maybe one or two small items (like a magnifier), I have my dream LA, a 26" Innova with Lightening Stitch (stitch regulator). I also love my FW's (221 and 222) and my Pfaff for fancy sewing.

Money would be no factor if they made a sewing machine with and 'undo' feature!

I have my dream machine. On Feb 12th I bought the Janome 8900 and love it. Because of problems with my hip I was not able to use it for about 3 weeks but now I have made up the time and use it almost daily. It does wonderful 1/4" seams! It replaced a Bernina 1530 which I bought years ago when I was making clothes and not quilts. The Bernina finally gave out and the next day I bought the Janome.

This would be awesome! I love my 440 QE-sorry to see it has been discontinued.

I also want all the above, but, I want to be able to adjust the tension!
No computer to go out and cost half the price of the machine to replace!
No plastic gears to break!

I believe it was National but not sure that made what's called "A Two Spool Machine" Hubby and I have seen this and wondered why it didn't catch on then. Very old idea has a little metal bucket that holds the WHOLE spool of thread. A modern production would surely sell. The vintage collectores can tell you more. That's hubbys pet peeve with machines.

One more item to add to the dream machine: a bobbin that would fill automatically without removing from the machine.