Jo Anne B.

Leah Day has a tutorial on you tube featuring the Janome HD 1000, under $500 machine, she compares the
Janome HD 1000 to the Bernina 830. All aluminum cast body. Her other favorite was the Janome Horizon 7700(big bucks).
I love my Pfaff 2044, I have seen them on Ebay.
Good luck on your qwest!

buckeyegirl

For several years I used a Pfaff, but it was very tempermental. It seemed I was always taking it in for repair, and the shop was several miles away and the price kept going up. I finally decided I needed to do something different so I went to Costco online and bought a Brother machine for just over $100. It came with a 1/4" quilting foot and automatic needle down. It also has a top drop-in bobbin so at a glance I can see how much is left. I don't make extremely big quilts anymore so the throat size isn't that much of an issue for me. I absolutely love the Brother machine!

Rose Bagwell

Teresa,

Depending on what you really need. You can go two ways. An expensive machine will cost you a lot to repair. I have an Elna, cost me $1,800.00. Repairs on it will cost me $800.00. I bought another Elna , which I keep here at home. I also have a Brother SQ9050, it has 100 stitches, computerized, quilting board,etc. This one I carry to class or friends when I travel. I bought it at Wal-Mart for $200.00 dollars, if it breaks my cost to repair will be a lot less or depending how many years I get out of it, I can buy another. I love my Brother, it sews as well as the Elna.

grandme26

I have a Bernina 1530. Have had it for almost 15-16 yrs and it is great for making clothes but very expensive for repair work or parts. About 2 1/2 months ago I bought a Janome 8900 and simply love it. It is quiet, I can use it by just pushing a button or conect the foot press, it is smooth and has an 11"throat for quilting. Haven't tried that yet but haven't tried that yet, will in the next couple of weeks tho. It was expensive but they have less expensive ones that are just as nice as what I bought. Starting in the $100's and going up. I also have a Janome embroidery machine that I also Love.

KyKaren1949

If you're in southern Indiana, I know Evansville has some several sewing machine dealers, and there are sewing machines sold at a couple of quilt shops in that area.

MadP

A machine with a wide throat is important for me.

dc989

I have Janome machines now and my old Pfaff. I really love both brands. Several of my friends got Kenmore machines from Sears to take to classes. They are made by Janome, I think. If you can find a Sears store that carries machines you can check them out. They got lots of bells and whistles for less money and are very satisfied. As to Brother I have several friends who have had lots of problems with theirs. Two of them traded them in on Janome. We have an excellent dealer about 60 miles away who was smart enough to give really court the local quilt trade and she sells lots of machines.

My time

If I were to buy only one machine I would buy one with the widest harp I could find. You mentioned you want to machine quilt your projects well this would make your life much easier. I love a built in needle threader. My eyes have a hard time threading a sewing machine needle. As far as stitches go a straight stitch, zigzag, appliqué type stitch are the main ones I use. Most machines ave feed dogs that drop so you can fmq. A table extension sure is helpful. But I can't stretch the fact that a wide harp is the way to go. Let's us know what you decide.

quiltmama515

I have a Janome 6600 machine and I loved it.. I recently purchased a Janome 8900 and now I am in love with it.. Janomes are very easy to use. On the 6600, I quilted everything from lapsize quilts to king size quilts and never had a problem.. Since I purchased the 8900 2 months ago, I have quilted a few things ( UFO's) and again, the quilting was wonderful.. Love my Janome machine..

Brenda in Indiana

nurse Betty

Brother are good machines. Kenmore makes Janome,which is also a great machine but Kenmore is basically half the price of janome