too much money. I am finding my machine that has only a 4x4 hoop is pretty resticted with the designs I am wanting to do now. I love the larger designs many of the cute team has to offer and very sad I can't do some of them :( Thanks in advance for the replies!!

Viking designer SE is awesome. Has computer screen to merge designs right on the machine, great for personalizing names. Does up to megahoop size which is somewhere in the neighborhood of 7x12inches. If you buy used, try to find someone to show you how to use the machine. I probably wouldn't have been brave enough to touch it without encouragement. I paid $3k for a machine with 60hours use 3 years ago. Might be cheaper now because they had a newer model since then. Haven't found a design yet in any format it doesnt understand. That is sweet when youre finding the freebies.

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by drcindyl 15 Jan 2011

Just checked on ebay, they are going for about $2000 now because the Viking Diamond is the newest model which drives the price and demand for these down. I am pretty sure I won't be buying another machine the rest of my life. Rare opportunity to get these cheap but yet have all the current features everyone wants.

My DH just boutht me the 350e, I have the 300 and the difference is fantastic. my poor 300 is in semi retirement . If you can do as maeeast67 suggested, you cant go wrong to get another Janome, Good luck :)

I am in the market also for a Janome or Baby Lock, preferably embroidery only and used. Got 8 sewing machines already, so I don't need another that sews. Advantage to Baby Lock and Janome is they do not have a proprietary format. I've seen a lot of spotty reviews on the Brothers, perhaps because at least some of them are being made in China, and the quality control is not as good. So, though the price is attractive, I think I'll look for a used machine. Machines made in Japan, Sweden, or Switzerland I'm sure will hold up to the use.

The Janome 350E is a dream machine! It can stitch up to 5"x7" designs. It takes a USB stick (aka flash drive or thumb drive), so it truly is state-of-the-art. It's been on the market long enough to be a proven winner, but not so long that it has older technology (like floppy drives). I love the embroidery-only concept. I can sew and do other things in my sewing room while the 350E is embroidering. Plus the needle bar is designed for completely vertical penetration (no zigzag, side-to-side stitching, etc.). Just take a look at the throat plate and you'll see what I mean.
Try to buy from a dealer, so you can get support and education. If they have a used 350E, snap it up!
4x4 machines are great starter machines, but so many of us find ourselves limited very quickly.
Perhaps you could sell your 4x4 to defray the cost of a 350E or perhaps a dealer would take it as a trade (my dealer takes trades).

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by corinney 14 Jan 2011

Thank you for the great advice!! Will start looking very soon. :) I have enough sewing machines but not a stand alone embroidery one. Also as I save in Jef it does make sense to continue to buy in the same format.Trade in???What a good idea...Thanks. :)

I have a Brother that only does 4x4 so understand your frustration. I suggest you pick something you can upgrade in the future even if you don't get the upgrades now. I got mine as a gift from my dear husband and wish I had had a chance to do some homework on what I wanted first so I could have had information laying around, lol! When I called the company I was very diappointed, as my husband asked about if I'd want something more since I'm an advide seamstress, he was told no. Wrong answer! Good Luck in finding something you can afford and still be able to move on with!

Although I don't have the 350E it is an excellent embroidery machine, easy to use. When I was working at the sewing machine center it was and still is a very popular seller. It does come with both the 4x4 and 5x7 hoops. Regardless of your choice have fun with it. Hugs,Karen

I was looking at an emb .only machine from brother it was pe-780d it looked excellent for one thousand dollars ????Carolyn

check out the review section at the top of the page

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by asterixsew 14 Jan 2011

I think there are some machines like the new Brother PR1000 and the PR 650 that so not have a mention. As I only know about Brother are there any others not there?

I love my babylock Ellure but it only goes to 5 X 7. I would love to go up to a 6 X10. The largest hoops (7 X12+) I am told have to be turned when you are stitching to do the other side anyway. Be sure to buy your machine from a dealer so you can get lessons and have support for any problems you encounter. I want to learn a splitting software so I can do the bigger designs without spending $10K on a machine.

jane

I think each of us has a preference for a brand, I prefer Brother. The Galaxoe 3000 has 4 hoops with it. If you already have all your designs in one format I expect you will buy the same type of machine again. Happy hunting and it will be interesting to see what others say

I love my Bernina 640. I found it used at the dealer's so that saved me a bit. But Berninas are pricey. The 2 hoops you mentioned are standard with my machine.

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by corinney 14 Jan 2011

thank you for that information!

by joann13100 14 Jan 2011

Plus, with Bernina you are tied to the ART format and their software, so extra expense. But Berninas are great machines, I love mine.