Help recommend a machine
 

My wife currently uses a Brother SQ-9000. She uses it for patchwork, mostly to make bed covers. It's a pretty cheap machine with a lot of plastic parts and she'd like to upgrade to something of a better quality. Can someone recommend something in the $300-$500 price range?

Check out the Eversewn line of machines, they can be purchased online if there is no local dealer. The 25 or the 30 would make a good choice and would be an upgrade from her Brother.

I love my Janome Magnolia 7330. The Magnolia line has a few options 7318, 7360, ect.. I am not sure what the difference between them all are.. but I love my 7330

https://smile.amazon.com/Janome-Magn...+magnolia+7330

I agree to check out the Eversewn line. I love my Eversewn Sparrow 25. I also am a Juki fan--I have the FS600 which is a little out of your posted price, but it's a great machine. I also have the Juki 98Q which is straight stitch only semi-industrial and is a great machine. I purchased it used about 8 years ago and if you can find any of the straight stitch only machines, i.e. Juki, Brother, Babylock, etc., used, she might like that also for the speed and durability. But, it is straight stitch only, so if she wants to use any decorative stitches those machines would not do unless she kept her Brother for those "fun" stitches.

In your price range the Eversewn 30 will have all the features. I would buy it on Amazon because if she isn't happy with it the return is easy. The 30 comes with an extension table. If she does machine quilting then the Brother 1500 straight stitch is nice and has a large harp area. It has no decorative stitches or zig zag stitch. It's all mechanical and easy to repair, no electronics or computer. It will be a little out of your price range but so worth it for value.

Thanks for all the replies. I asked her and she says she needs to be able to do zig zags. We've been looking at a bunch of options - including the ones you all have mentioned in this thread. My head is blurry now from all the options we've been looking at.
Between the Eversewns (25, 30) versus the Janome 8077 versus the Janome HD3000, which would be the most recommended? Actually that Janome Magnolia 7330 looks quite good as well.

If I were to get a new one in that price range, I think I'd want the Eversewn 30. An automatic thread cutter is such a time saver.

That said, I am a Janome fan . Have two of them. But the 8077 is older and I haven't heard as much about their performance as I have the Magnolia 7330. The HD3000 would be a decent choice, as well. She should write a list of her must-have features and some would-likes, and what's not important. Is she close enough to dealers to try some out? Whichever she finds most intuitive and simply wants to keep sewing on is the one to get. IF it's in your budget, that is:)

I just bought new Pfaff Essential. It does zig zags and some decorative ones as well but not a zillion that I most likely wouldn’t use anyhow. Very happy with the piecing for quilts.

I always reccommend buying a machine with top feed dogs as well as lower feed dogs, if possible. In that price range, I'd buy a used Pfaff. In fact, I did buy a used Pfaff ( a Tiptronic 2040) for $500, several years ago, and love and still use it.

I'd buy the Eversewn from Quality Sewing.com They are on sale with free shipping, 60 day trial. I've purchased other things from them and have been pleased.