Phyllis nm

my 2 cents! i loved my viking work horse-[i have 3], the company's mang. plant burnt down and they will not remake their molds for the plastic cams that break. the machines are useless. will never buy from them again.
my new home was a work horse- the computer board went out- not cost effective to replace. never again also.
i now own a brother quilter so far so good. the draw back for me it is computerarize---and sews to slow for my taste but has features i really like. i just bought a singer 221 and a [222 unseen as of now] for pieceing [i hate piecing] a innova for quilting- love it. just my 2 cents from years of sewing.
phyllis nm

mosquitosewgirl

Love my Horizon, Jemma.

mosquitosewgirl

I have the Horizon 7700

What do I love about it? Everything. It has an 11 inch harp opening, it has the Accufeed system, it has tons of great stitches, it is really easy to use. It has a low bobbin sensor. It has the ability to clip your thread right at the fabric, right after it ties the knot. Gotta love that. It is really fun. I chose it over the 6600 because of the harp size and the free arm.

What I don't love about it? Is that I don't have enough time recently to play with it.

I paid a total of $2100 for it, including the special table, acrylic insert and acrylic table extender and tax. He through in a bunch of bobbins, some special feet and a great pamphlet on the anatomy of a needle.

This is my second Janome (third, if you count my New Home) and I can't imagine having any other brand.

grocifer

gellybean -- I wish I could find a Viking 1+ for $700.00. I love mine so much, I would think of buying another just to keep for spare parts. Too bad they have stopped manufacturing and no longer stock any replacement parts.

Nancy Ingham

I recently completed my own exhaustive search for a new machine. I visited machine dealers, did internet study and comparison, etc. I was down to the choice of newest in the line of Viking/Husqvarna or the Janome Horizon 7700. I ultimately chose the Janome and so far, I just LOVE it. I chose it for: Knee lifter; Auto thread (upper & lower) cutter; Lots of feet and accessories including cover, instructional CD and acrylic work table that attaches to the machine; stitches like a dream; Lots of decorative stitches & alphabet; needle threaded; 10” throat space; sews quietly; easy to adjust sewing speed; lock in stitches; needle up/down at a touch of a button; can save stitch patterns; very responsive touch screen; user friendly; heavy duty metal machine, industrial motor and more!

Make a list of the options you want, and then do the research. Get out and visit several dealers and actually sit down and try a number of the machines out to see which one is most comfortable to you. Then buy your machine at a reputable trusted dealer.

I bought my machine new at $ 2499.99.

Good luck in your search!

quiltmom04

I have a 2170, too and I love it! I've gotten so used to the presser foot lifter being on the right side it doesn't bother me. For me, the IDT is the deal breaker. Other machines have great features as well, but that even feed, even when I'm just piecing is worth it to me. I paid some where around 3000 several years ago. I use the embroidery ALOT, but if the IDT weren't so important to me, I've been VERY impressed with the Brother sttich quality and the embroidery. I used the machines in the shop where I used to work. You might want to check them out, too. Not as expensive as a Pfaff, Viking, Bernina, but suprisingly nice.

Donna in Mo

I too have a Pfaff 2144 upgraded to a 2170. I could not imaqine sewing without the IDT. I do a lot of embroidery and love the needle down, auto cut, really everything. It is so easy to sew on. The software it uses is so good. You can get some of the older 3D software, which is what I use, and it works great.

miss_ticky2

Low bobbin sensor? There's no low bobbin sensor on the Horizon..not on mine anyway :)

donnalynett

Husquvarna Viking Sapphire 855. Paid approx. $1700 and I really like it. Use it for FMQ and the 10" throat is a dream to work with.

janell2009

1.) What machine you have
Janome Memory Craft 6500.
and Juki 2000 Qi

2.) What you love about it
I love it because it came with all the different foot attachments, easy to understand book, and it is very smooth and quite. It has all the stuff you love... needle threader, top load bobbin, clear bobbin cover, so you can see how low your bobbin is getting. thread cutter, it does just enough decorator stitches to suit me and make me look professional, and easy to use also.

The Juki is what I use on my quilting frame. It is a very nice and simple and fast machine. Loves it oil. Does a beautiful stitch. Has a threader and cutter on it..

3.) What you don't love about it
Janeome I can not think of anything I do not like about it.. It is heavy so I would not like to carry it around so I do not.. LOL..

The Juki, loves its oil, its bobbin is hard to reach at time. does not have any of the sensors on the bobbins or anything.

4.) How much you paid for it
Janome is about 5 years old I pd $2500.00
the Juki is new less than a year old. $1000.00

Good luck , and most important is cut yourself some sandwiches of material and stick them in a zipper bag in your purse and go try out some machines. material you want to use when you are sewing. if it is denim, then do denim, if silk, then silk .. or all kinds.