Dee Dee

Pretty much any Bernina.

nclauri

I bought a used Bernina 10+ years ago. It is still going strong. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

grandjan

I currently use two machines--a Viking and Pfaff--and love them both for slightly different things. You can see from the trend of the posts that there are some brands that are favored by a lot of people, but so much of it depends on what YOU want. Do a lot of test driving before you buy and have a list of features that are important to you so that you can make sure you get a machine that at least meets your minimum criteria. There are things about my Pfaff that irritate me. When the bobbin gets low, it stops every few inches until I change it, which is a huge nuisance if it stops in the middle of a long seam. It tends to eat fabric unless you use a leader. But it sews a dead accurate 1/4 inch seam and the IDT feature insures that my quilts are much straighter than they once were.

softpatches

For piecing and quilting you can't beat the Brother PQ1500S machine... The price is great also and it can be used on a frame if you like---

MadQuilter

Would not trade my Babylock Espire (now marketed as Symphonie) for all the fabric in Padukah. LOVE that machine!

IBQUILTIN

Viking Sapphire 870

KwiltyKahy

I love my Brother 1500. It is my third Brother and I love them all.

patdesign

I have the Brother PQ 1500s it has a pin feed, came with all the attachments, you can lower the feed dogs, the arm is 9" and higher than the norm. I got it on ebay before Christmas from Kens Sewing in ALA or Ga can remember which, and I love it. PRICE WAS GREAT WITH FREE SHIP. Best of all the walking foot edges are EXACTLY 1/4 inch from the needle, and I had only planned to use it for quilting, but now do all my piecing on it with walking foot, it doesnt distort bias at all, it has only straight stitch, so the stitch quality is very good, (and I have Featherweights, so for me to say that is SOMETHING!):)

Quilter Lynn

I love my Janome

Peggi

I too love my Janome 6500 but one of the things you need to consider is service - altho' mine hasn't needed any (5+ years old), just good cleanings once in a while. The store I purchased mine from was my old Singer dealer and his service has always been excellent!