Would you upgrade a quilting machine without trying it?
05-08-2021, 06:43 AM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 305
Yeah mine I can't really do free motion quilting and I really want to start trying that, even for the practical reasons - I just made a 12" dresden block quilt and I'm at a loss how to quilt them as SITD wont work in the flowers. I also have wanted to do some applique pieces and can't as there are hardly any stitches on my machine. And with 5.5" throat space it's challenging to do bigger quilts.
05-08-2021, 12:38 PM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,480
Well I just bought it over the phone.
I talked to the owner on the phone and she said when at work she always uses the Brilliance 75q and uses a different one at home. She is also buying one with the sale and was able to give me lots of personal insights on the machine and why she loves it. She said it's better than the expression 710 but the 720 was on par with the brillance but in some ways was better. But not $900 better ya know? We talked about my needs/wants it it just felt so right.
She also told me that she suspects they are renaming it the sapphire 75 and that's why it's so cheap. She had already sold 3 since yesterday.
It will be in within 2 weeks and she will do in person training and I can go in for machine help/demos for life. I am finishing up 3 quilt tops and will use them as guinea pigs when it arrives!
I talked to the owner on the phone and she said when at work she always uses the Brilliance 75q and uses a different one at home. She is also buying one with the sale and was able to give me lots of personal insights on the machine and why she loves it. She said it's better than the expression 710 but the 720 was on par with the brillance but in some ways was better. But not $900 better ya know? We talked about my needs/wants it it just felt so right.
She also told me that she suspects they are renaming it the sapphire 75 and that's why it's so cheap. She had already sold 3 since yesterday.
It will be in within 2 weeks and she will do in person training and I can go in for machine help/demos for life. I am finishing up 3 quilt tops and will use them as guinea pigs when it arrives!
05-08-2021, 01:48 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 992
No way would I buy a machine that expensive without putting it through it’s paces first. As much as you want it at a good price, that’s an impulse buy. Too many unanswered questions without trying it out first. Is it really noisy? Is it heavy to move? Does it feel comfortable? Quilting doesn’t need more than a simple straight-stitch machine with maybe a few decorative stitches, a buttonholer and maybe a feed dog drop if you want to do FMQ. I’ve got an expensive machine and I’ve never used any of the “bells and whistles”. Once it dies I’ll get something much, much simpler and a whole lot less expensive.
Just wait. It will go on sale again.
Just wait. It will go on sale again.
05-08-2021, 02:42 PM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,480
I am now of the opinion that one machine just does not cut it anymore. But that is because I really, truly, like to do a lot of different things with my machines. I have had times when I have loved doing the embroidery, made a lot of cute little wall hangings, lace ornaments for the Christmas tree, lace book marks. And then I got into doing machine applique, again a lot of wall hangings and I did all my blanket stitching by machine and some free motion quilting with the BSR on the Bernina, and of course, currently my favorite is piecing quilts. So I have a good simple machine (but that is mostly for going to retreats and classes if we ever get to go again), the two machines that can do embroidery as well as utility stitching, a serger which is mostly a utility type machine for me but works really well when I am shortening pants or working with stretch materials. And the Longarm....which for me is basically a utility machine as I do not like doing the custom type quilting on the longarm but really like doing my own quilting on bed quilts. saves my knees and as I have done over 60 quilts on it, actually has paid for itself.
05-09-2021, 02:02 AM
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Dunwoody, GA
Posts: 157
Congratulations, you've bought a great machine. You already have a Viking so you are familiar with it, machine feet will fit either machine. I have two Vikings, different models, and am very pleased. You got a great deal and I'm sure you'll have many hours of great fun.
05-09-2021, 02:29 PM
#19
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
Simple answer- no, probably not
with the prices as high as they are I really want to try them out, test drive as many as possible before making a decision- a big part of my decision is also based on local GOOD service, free owners classes, free first cleaning. ( my upgrade included free cleanings/ tune ups for the first 3 years and along with free new owners classes I can stop in any time and talk about any issues or work out a problem I’m having with them. They are great at the local level and the company itself although very long distance has great customer and tech service has helped me with tension issues and a few other things over the phone.
with the prices as high as they are I really want to try them out, test drive as many as possible before making a decision- a big part of my decision is also based on local GOOD service, free owners classes, free first cleaning. ( my upgrade included free cleanings/ tune ups for the first 3 years and along with free new owners classes I can stop in any time and talk about any issues or work out a problem I’m having with them. They are great at the local level and the company itself although very long distance has great customer and tech service has helped me with tension issues and a few other things over the phone.
05-11-2021, 06:41 AM
#20
Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 62
Congrats on the new machine!
I've owned 2 machines since I took up sewing again about 15 years ago. Both bought sight unseen online since there aren't many close places to buy them. This past year I took my machine in for work (and didn't get it fixed- I wound up listening to the wonderful people here and fixed it myself with a new bobbin case for only $35 compared to the few hundred I already spent on cleaning/repair work which did nothing) and to look at what new machines they have, they had 2 and a third in a box. They're a Janome dealer with not a single one in the shop to try out. The second closest shop is still pretty far from me and they might have a few to try out, but not really the two I'm looking at. Shopping local isn't really possible for me unless I could travel many hours, which I can't. So yes, my next machine will also be bought unseen/untested. It's just a slight upgrade from what I have so I assume I'll like it, just like I assumed I'd like this one, and I do love it. At the time I had never even heard of Jamone brand and bought it anyway. Crazy I know!
Have fun with it!
I've owned 2 machines since I took up sewing again about 15 years ago. Both bought sight unseen online since there aren't many close places to buy them. This past year I took my machine in for work (and didn't get it fixed- I wound up listening to the wonderful people here and fixed it myself with a new bobbin case for only $35 compared to the few hundred I already spent on cleaning/repair work which did nothing) and to look at what new machines they have, they had 2 and a third in a box. They're a Janome dealer with not a single one in the shop to try out. The second closest shop is still pretty far from me and they might have a few to try out, but not really the two I'm looking at. Shopping local isn't really possible for me unless I could travel many hours, which I can't. So yes, my next machine will also be bought unseen/untested. It's just a slight upgrade from what I have so I assume I'll like it, just like I assumed I'd like this one, and I do love it. At the time I had never even heard of Jamone brand and bought it anyway. Crazy I know!
Have fun with it!
