Buying a new machine, suggestions?
 

Im looking to buy a machine for quilting and project sewing. Price range <$400. I dont need any embroidery or hundreds of stitch options. I would like something that is heavy duty enough to stay in place and power through several layers of fabric. Anyone have suggestions on what/what not to buy?

I sew with Berninas - don't know if any of them are in this price range - go to a reputable dealer, try the machines they have, ask lots of questions and get the best that you can afford. Good luck!

i am also looking for a new machine and dont want to spend alot. i did see the brother pc420 prw. has 294 stitches. weighs 26#. priced below $400. very compatible to the brother nx570q which comes in at a little less than $1,000.

I will also be watching this thread as my 19 year old daighter recently expressed an interest in learning to quilt so I would like to get her a machine of her own if she wants one--but don't want to go overboard on price in case she decides it is "not her thing" right now. But I also am a believer in buying one that is NOT mechanical as most 19 year olds are into technology and I think she will show more interest in it if the machine is computerized.

I bought a Brother PQ1500s today. I wanted a machine with a larger throat to do my own quilting. I first considered the Janome 6600 but the price kept holding me back. Then I found the Brother machine. It just does a perfect straight stitch and only cost $599. It got awesome reviews on every site I checked. It should be here tomorrow and I will let you know how it does. I forgot to add that this machine has metal gears, not plastic like so many ones have.

Buy a vintage machine. You'll get much more for your money. If you don't need anything fancy, then you can bet a vintage machine will be able to do anything you listed.

okay. so as i said prior i've been looking. todays search the machines come to $600 difference. there are few differences between the machines. one is the 420 (cheaper machine) comes w/table. the big difference which to me is the $600 difference is that if something happens to this machine and needs repair, you box it up and mail it back to brother for repair (dont forget shipping cost). if something happens to the 570 (which was bought in local authorized shop), i bring the machine to them and they (hopefully) repair it. worth the $600 or not? what do you think?

I think its best to go with your local dealer. I personally would hate to box a machine up and send it in. You even might get a great deal if you decide to trade up later.

I saw some awfully nice looking electronic Janomes that I would think would interest her and at least in Poland fit in that price range. Check them out. I assume they sell them there.....

I agree with you. Having a LCD screen and the ability to push a touch screen, etc. would definitely add to the "cool factor" this younger, computer-savvy generation of sewers.

I love the vintage Husquavarna LILY 550...have had mine 11 years, and boy does it sew through anything..I also have a very expensive Bernina, but got it used....an Aurora 430 QE (embroidery module, which have never hooked up, yet) and it is very nice. Ricky Tims uses one of those. Very nice motor. I have two old singers and a Sapphire. Have been sewing over 45 years, and I do like the 25 year warranty on the Singer motors, plus, if you go to HSN.com, they let you buy it on flex-pay, so it's like layaway, but you get it right away, plus you get the extra feet, and all the things you do not get in the stores. My sister got hers there for about 250, and she loves it, quilts on it all the time, it is a mid-range one. You can watch to videos to compare. One of the best places to compare machines is at www.patternreview.com There is a place where the members rate dozens of machines...that is how I found the used Bernina...four years ago.