New sewing machine : help me

[Norma H.]

I want to buy a new sewing machine to quilt and to patchwork.
For the moment I have a basic Singer machine. I am not a specialist so I have to learn a lot.
I already called much dealers and searched lot on the internet.
The machines I found are:
Quilt expression 4.0 of Pfaff, Janome 7700, Brother NX2000.
Who can help me to choose, it is so dificult. First I had also the Bernina 440 in it but it is more
in price and one of the dealers told me that the space between the needle and surface is smaller than
the other machines. also is the table a supplement on the Pfaff and the Bernine while Janome and
Brother gave it in their price.
Help me please.
Thank you in advance.

Kind regards,
Mireille from Belgium

[Eileen K.]

Mirielle,
I'm sorry, I don't have any advise for you but I'm very interested in what others will say.

[Kathryn S.]

Hi Mireille, I have a Janome 6600 which is the model just below the new 7700. It has a big harp space so you can more easily quilt your quilts(not as big as the 7700), and a dual feed that acts like the "walking foot" that other machines can use. It is much less expensive than the 7700 too. I really like my Janome, it sews beautifully and is very sturdy and reliable. It does come with a plastic extension table, although I have mine in a sewing cabinet. I don't know enough about the other machines to be able to tell you anything useful. Is there any way you can try out some of these machines? The final decision has to be how comfortable you are with the machine.

There is a Janome user group on Yahoo called Janome 6500, which has been very helpful to me with my machine. You can join even if you don't have the machine, just are thinking about it! It includes the 6500, 6600, and 7700. Good luck, let us know!
Kathy

[Hannelore N.]

Mirielle, do yourself a favour and put together several identical small projects - placemats come to mind (and take your own thread). Then arrange to try out each of the machines that you have mentioned at a dealer's. This will not only give you an idea about the machines, but you'll also find out how they treat their customers. That 'after sales service' is very important. Finding the perfect sewing machine is almost as difficult as finding the perfect husband (I'm still looking ). We all do things slightly different, and so will not necessarily go for the same machine. Make a list of 'Must Have' features, and don't forget to 'haggle'. You may not get the price for the machine reduced, but the dealer could throw in some very expensive 'optional extras'. The extras (all used by me) that the dealer was prepared to add for free was almost 20% of the price of the machine when I bought my latest baby. I must admit though that I also played two dealers against eachother (in the nicest way possible). Good luck!

[Deborah W.]

I am a Janome person. I like the way they stitch and I find them very user friendly. I think Lorchen's advice is the way to go as it is a very individual decision as to which machine you prefer. I think all the machines you are looking at would be satisfactory so it is just which one you like the best.

[Deborah W.]

I have had the Janome 6500 for 8 years and have had no problems with the machine. I love the way it sews. It is very user friendly.
I hope you find the machine that will be your perfect fit.

[Jo H.]

Definately try out as many as you can and enjoy the process of deciding which machine fits your personality and your budget. Personally, I love them all and wish I had a 10,000 sf home and could win the lottery so I could have different ones around every corner. Only then would I actually be able to work on all my various projects in different stages of construction!

[Rita C.]

Don't go for the Brother machine - too many people here in Ireland have had problems with them. I have a Pfaff expressions 2 and I love it. I also have a pfaff select 4 which is lovely but it does not have needle down position which renders it useless for free-motion quilting. If I had the money I would get a Bernina with the BSR(Bernina Stitch Regulator) but that's not going to happen. I don't know about the Janome personally but lots of people use those here in Ireland and are very happy with them.

Lorchen's suggestion is the best, you should really try them out yourself because that is the only way you will know for sure if you like it. Also, google as much information as you can about each different make and model you are interested in. Compare stitches and accessories and what comes as standard and what is extra.

Good luck.

[Rita C.]

Thank you so much ladies. On Saturday I will go to visit a dealer.
On the phone he was very friendly and he proposed himself to try out a few machines.
he really toke the time to explain already a few machines on the phone and he explained
that there are courses to follow. That is already a good sign.
I will keep you informed :-)

Mireille from Belgium

[Annis C.]

All very good advice. I can't help you with the 3 you mentioned but I can tell you which ones I've had experience with. I use a Janome 6600 for quilting. I don't like it as well for piecing as it doesn't have dual feed when using a 1/4" foot and I have yet to find a 1/4" foot that I like using with it. I use a Pfaff 2054 for all of my piecing. I like almost everything about it except I wish they would make a 1/4" foot with a little more space in the center for better visibility like they have on the Bernina. I often use the open toe applique foot instead and a guide on my machine for the 1/4" seam. And the bobbin winder does not give me a full bobbin so I use a Side Winder for that. It also doesn't like monofilament thread so I use that on my Janome. I also have a Pfaff Creative 4.0. I don't like the push button for the presser foot. I would rather have a lever for more control. This one was meant to be used mainly for embroidery which I haven't found time to do so it's barely been used. Recently I purchased a Pfaff Ambition 1.5 for giving lessons to my granddaughter. I haven't used it a lot yet but think I will like it. It has more space to the right of the needle than the 2054 (8" compared to 6 3/4") and it has a speed control which is great for teaching beginners. I use it with a clear table but would rather have a machine that is set in a cabinet. I think it is much easier to quilt if the machine is in a cabinet. And piecing is also easier if you are making large projects. The 2 main things I look for in a machine is needle up/down and dual feed. If I were to have to choose between the two I would have a hard time giving up my Pfaff.

[Rita C.]

Annis I agree with you about the Pfaff 1/4" foot not having enough space to see what you are doing. I too end up using the open-toe applique foot a lot instead. And I also agree about the extension table being not nearly as good as a machine that is set into the table. In fact I find the plexi-glass extension table very frustrating because the quilt catches on the edges and needs constant adjusting.

Mirielle, the Expression 4 should have all the bells and whistles including a knee lift which I really wish I had because there is nothing like it if you are going to do a lot of applique on the machine. But Pfaff still don't have a stitch regulator like the Bernina which seems to be the bees knees! Good luck at the weekend and I hope you are happy with whatever decision you make.
Rita.

[Susan B.]

I love love love my Bernina stitch regulator now that I"m used to it, and I've had Berninas for decades and worked for a dealer for awhile so I'm a bit biased. However, there are many fine machines out there. I didn't see you name Babylock. I don't have extensive knowledge of their sewing machines, but when I test drove a couple, they felt great. I think one of the most important considerations is the dealer, what dealer classes are offered to teach you how to use the machine you buy, how close they are to where you live, and how you fit with the personality of the store. I would not buy from a chain fabric store, I don't care what the brand. I'm hearing some nightmare stories on another forum about service on a big name brand sewing machine purchased from a not very fancy fabric store chain. Test them all and set your price limit. It helps to have lots of sewers working in the store.
Have fun!

[Susan B.]

Check out the Horizon yahoo group. There were some initial problems, but from what I've read, Janome had repaired and replaced machines, sent a new 1/4" foot free to owners, and made improvements. The 6600 is well-known as a reliable workhorse, but it doesn't have a free arm. The Baby Lock Serenade and Quest Plus and Pfaff Smarter C1100 Pro are similar to the 6600. I have a Quest Plus, and it's been easy, trouble-free, and fabulous to use. The Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0 has had many very negative reviews, I wouldn't buy one unless I could get a written guarantee for a total refund if I wasn't satisfied. Don't rule out the Bernina 440 on harp-size alone. It's a fabulous workhorse machine, powerful and precise. I have one and I never took the classes for it, but it's easy to figure out. It has the BSR, if that would be useful to you. Just another set of opinions . Test drive your finalists with YOUR usual tasks/techniques, fabric, thread, and even needles. Then haggle like crazy.

[Susan B.]

The Bernina 440 has been discontinued so there are some fabulous deals around (or were) on the whole 400 series. Don't be afraid of used from a dealer. These are terrific machines.

[Susan B.]

Hello,

So yesterday i went to the dealer and yes I have tested the 4 machines.
I mostly loved the Jamone 7700 and the Brother nx2000. The less was the Bernina 440.
On the Bernina I couldn't find my way, I found nothing.
Pfaff was good and easy to use but my prefered machines where Jamone and Brother.
I must think about the review of the Brothermachine here in Ireland and when I looked there and saw
many machines of Brother who where returned for reparation + at that time I was there a lady entered
the shop with a Brother embroidery machine who was already 2 times entered because of problems. The machine was
from Februari so not so old. I love the machine because he have much posibilities but:
After thinking about the review and all the machines who where in the shop for reparation my choice was made and
I took the Jamone. Tomorrow I will return to get him and to receive information.
Oh I can't wait till tomorrow, i am like a child.
The price I have paid is 1500Euro + received a kit of accessoires.

Thanks on all of you.

Hugs,
Mireille