bearisgray

What brand/make and model do you have?

Which features do you like best?

Use the most?

Which features do you NOT use?

Would you buy that particular brand/make and model again?

DebraK

what is TOL?

BellaBoo

top of the line.

DebraK

doh! thank you ;-)

QuiltnLady1

As far as sewing (not embroidery) machines -- I have the Janome 7700. It was TOL for Janome when I bought it. I got it because of the large harp, the extra lights and the accufeed. The one thing I do not use is the single hole thingy that comes out for piecing (I piece mainly with the accufeed). I would buy a Janome again -- in fact I have bought the smaller 3160 to take to class. Janome is coming out with new machines so I understand that the 7700 being discontinued so it is available at a lower price.

Daffy Daphne

I bought the Janome 7700 in July 2010. The features I like best are the large harp (quilted a large queen size very easily), the Automatic Plate Converter, and the good lighting.

I use the APC all the time, especially in garment sewing since I don't have a serger. I use a single hole needleplate whenever possible, because I think it gives me better stitch quality and prevents the fabric from being sucked down into the hole, but need to switch back and forth for finishing raw seam edges. My previous machine was a BabyLock Quest, which was a good machine except that changing the plates that had to be screwed down just drove me batty.

That being said, the APC has been problematic for some owners.

I haven't used many of the decorative stitches yet.

I definitely would buy the 7700 again.

DogHouseMom

I have the Janome 6600 - the features are the same as the 7700 but the 6600 has a smaller harp space.

Features I DO NOT use - Needle threader, knee lift, single hole stitch plate

Features I love and would not do without if I had to replace the machine - Accufeed (built in walking foot), thread cutter, needle up/down with the push of a button, small increment needle left/right positioning, large harp size (but I wouldn't object to even larger harp!!)

Like the others above, I piece with my Accufeed all the time - but I use the accufeed foot with the 1/4" guide and I move my needle position to the right for a scant 1/4" seam - which is the only reason I don't use the single hole stitch plate.

The few times I tried the knee lift I still found myself moving my right hand into position to lift the foot ... so why bother with that dumb rod in between my legs!!

Never used the needle threader, honestly don't know how it works

And yes I would buy another Janome again ... drooling over their new one which has a larger harp area and is also an embroidery machine. The dealer gave me a SWEET deal on one but I just can't justify spending $8K on a sewing machine.

cmw0829

7700 for me (Like QuiltnLady, I have the 3160 for class too.)

I like the accufeed, harp space, APC, the free-arm and just the overall heavy feel of the machine. I don't use the deco stitches much. But when I want them, they're there!! I also like the ability to save my stitches in memory.

woody

I have the Janomme 7700 ditto to what everone else has already said, but I love my knee lift

newbee3

I have a husqvarna viking topaz 30 don't know if it's the top of the line but I do like the big embroidery it can do and it has a longer throat for quilting. Yes I would buy Husqvarna again in fact I have a Quilt Designer 11 that I have it's been 7 years now for that machine.