LAQUITA

Ladies,
I realize this is a loaded ? and has probably as many different answers as there are ladies on this board. However, I'd still like to know:
What kind of sewing/quilting machine you have. (table top not a LA)
What made you purchase THIS one?
Are you happy with it?
If you needed to buy another machine now what would you get & why?

Thanks for your help. I am in search of a good quality- not outrageously priced machine.

QuiltingHaven

A vintage 301 or 301a and a Featherweight can't be beat. Check out ebay or local garage sales but watch the prices. Paid $170.00 for my Featherweight and paid $80.00 for the 301a on ebay. Last summer, I got my 301 with the storage stool, the cabinet and all the accessories at a garage sale for $20.00 and she is more than 60 years old and still running smoothly. If you want a really new machine, there are some great quilters on this board that can speak to the best of the newest.

Jan in VA

I sew with a 1990s Bernina 1031 and two vintage Berninas, an 830 and an 807. I chose Bernina because they are made in Europe (or were when I bought my 1031) and are all metal. The Swiss workings are truly well machined, it's one of the reasons the accessories are expensive -- jewelry quality.

I noticed that John Flynn and Caryl Bryer Fallert both used a Bernina in their own work, John did all his quilting at the time on a vintage 830, and those two are highly respected, well-known, artists in the field of quilting. That was a good enough recommendation for me! As a matter of fact, I called John Flynn and talked to him personally about price before I bought my first Bernina 830.

I've never regretted my choice. Mechanical machines have fewer issues than machines with computer software and circuit boards and steep learning curves. Mine could do any of the fancy clothing sewing I could desire, but I only quilt on them.

I do not embroider and feel I could pay a friend with a fancy computerized machine to do tons of embroidery for me, if I desired it, and still not have paid the cost of one of those machines.

Good luck with your search.

Jan in VA

Dolphyngyrl

Babylock espire- $1800 is what I paid for it used
Features I love
AHA-automatic height adjuster for perfect tension( I hardly ever touch tension)
adjustable presser foot pressure
adjustable presser foot height
needle down function, start stop button(dont need pedal)
Knee lift for presser foot
pivoting feature(when you stop sewing the presser foot automatically lifts with needle down allowing you to pivot(love this) and goes back down when you start to sew
thread cutter
needle threading system very advanced, super easy, the easiest I have seen
separate bobbin winding system from sewing
lots of stitches
have never had any problems with this machine its a workhorse
Would buy it again in a heart beat
only thing i can say is I wish I would have waited a few more months and got the newer model with more stitches and accesories but they are always bound to come out with new models.
Hope this helps

romanojg

I have two that I use constantly. A few years ago when I decided after many years to get back into quilting I gave my 25 yr old singer to my daughter and bought a Kenmore/Janome from Sears. I had been searching for something that I could afford and this was mispriced for about 1/2 and I could use my card and even with the warranty I only paid 400. It's a great machine and has handled everything from straight to fancy stitches. It has no problems with thread like I hear others talk about. It's a truely great machine especially for the price. Last yr I bought my Viking Ruby because I really wanted to get into embroidery and I've always been fasinated with Viking. I think it was the black and white dress they used to advertise with. It is such a great machine. It's so easy to use, I have no thread issues with it either, it has a large throat so in another month I'll probably test out the FMQ with it. I love doing embroidery and can't learn enough and have enough designs now to do a few totally different quilts. I like the fact that I don't have to disasemble it to sew because I can use the park feature and it moves the embroidery arm out of the way and then I can sew and multi-task as I go. That is really great for those projects requiring both things. I also love, love the cutwork needles for my Ruby. It makes doing cutwork a piece of cake. Viking is a strong company and my machine is less than a yr and it was made in Sweeden even though there are those out there saying that for yrs now they've been made else where. I like my Kenmore if I'm going to class that doesn't require my Ruby for learning; it's lighter and easier for me to carry. Neither machine needs oiling so that part is great. I've thought many times about giving my Kenmore to my daughter but I'd miss having the extra machine. It sits on the opposite side of my Ruby and I'll have embroidery going on one and piecing on the other one. You are right. On a board this size, no matter what question you ask you'll get a different answer or many, many point of views. I guess that is why we are so great.

Neesie

I have a 35 year old Kenmore, which was then labeled as "Sears Best." Have been very happy with it, until recently. Probably just needs a good servicing.
My "baby" is a Janome Horizon 7700QCP. I was drawn to it, because of the 11" harp. After reading specs, numerous reviews and seeing it, in person, I was hopelessly in love with it. Still am! :-)
I'm now considering a Brother CS6000i, to teach my DD and DGD, to sew. Just not quite ready, to let beginners use my Janome . . . and would like to teach them, on a machine they can take home with them.

Learner747

I chose a Bernina 1000 many years ago. I researched all types and brands and the Bernina out shined them all. In over thirty years it has never needed to be serviced. I press the foot pedal and it sews and sews.

lfstamper

I have a Bernina 530 that I use the most. I also have a 200/730 and an 830 for embroidery. I love all my Bernina's and would definitely buy again! Good luck. Buy what you can grow with.

mtteach101

I have a bernina aurora 430 which I love. I have an embroidery module for it also. Love my machine! It has only been in the shop for routine maintance, nothing has broken on it. My husband knew I wanted a Bernina and he bought this one as a surprise (years ago).

carrieg

I have a Janome 6600. It's a great machine, has the extra throat space, accu-feed system for quilting, needle-up&down. At my last quilting workshop, 4 of us had this machine.

I know a lot of people have Berninas of some kind and are very happy with them.