If you were to buy a second embroidery machine today would you stick to the brand you now have or would you try another?

I have 3 Vikings which I love. BUT if I were to get another, I'd check it out carefully. As stated below, I think all except the Diamond are no longer made in Sweden. I'm sorry, but the quality just isn't there. There's also been some changes made in the Viking warrenty, so I'd have to really do some research. I am afraid Viking has become less customer friendly & more profit driven.

I would buy a 6 or more needle machine and keep my machine just for sewing, I love it just for that but it is the only embroidery machine I have, it is in the shop now and I looked at the newer ones while I was there and for the price I could pick up a 2nd hand 6 needle machine or maybe even a new one if I went top of the line LOL

I have a Brother and will stick to it. I love how easy it is to use.I have 4 hoops with it, so there is plenty of design I can use. Also we have a Brother rep so it is convenient if anything goes wrong.(not that it has except it's yearly maintenance)I'm looking for another also. Not sure I'd buy from the rep because they jack up the prices so much.(ex. he had a used PE700 for 699.00 and I can go on line and but a PE780 for the same price brand new.) I'd definitely get one that uses the same hoops and such, less cost wise.

If I won the lottery I might buy the 10-needle Brother, otherwise I'd stick with Husqvarna - I have 1n 11-year old Designer 1 that has never given me problems.

1 comment

by michele921 16 Jan 2011

my screen just went on my D1 :( in shop being fixed, but I am with you more needles needed LOL

I have a Pfaff 2124. I just love it. I am eager to purchase the top of the line pfaff but money is a key factor right now.
Cindy B.

I have two machines a Janome 10000 upgraded to 10001 and a Husquevarna Designer I that I bought within the past year. I use them both all the time. They both have advantages and disadvantage. The designer I has the larger hoops (that is reason I bought it) but I think the Janome is easier to switch from plain sewing to embroidery. If I could afford it I would have top of the line on both!!!

I too love Bernina, and if I had to buy another one, I would look at them first. I love the quality and the features.

Someone let me use a top of the Line Viking for a whole day, and I did not like it. They were around to help me, with what I needed to do, but I was not impressed by it. I missed so many things of my Bernina, and my Bernina is very old, and doesn't have all the bells and whistles that the new Berninas have.

I have three Viking machines and by upgrading to the same brand everytime I can use and interchange all my feet and hoops which makes it very nice.

My First choice would be Bernina because I could not afford it, I bought The Brother Innovis1500 which is fine, no complaints . My sewing machine is Bernina and if I sew anything special,I use the Bernina it is so precise whereas the brother would miss the mark.
I should definetly have held out for the Bernina the first buy.
From Bev

I own a Janome11000 and i nwould definately buy another Janome simply for the ease of going from reg. sewing to embroidery in a click of a button...plus you don't need a seperate suitcase to carry around your hoops etc.

Originally I wanted a bernina, my old machine is a bernina and I love it, however it was out of my price range, so I got a Janome 10001, which embroiders beautifully. I now also have a brother 4000D which I use for both embroidery and sewing, preferring to do normal sewing on the brother, or even the OLD bernina if I want to sew anything really heavy duty.
The biggest downside for me having different machines is having to have designs in two file types.

i love my 640 bernina

i love my 630 bernina

I have been lucky enough to get a second machine last week off ebay and it is the same as I already have

Bev, I have so enjoyed reading all your answers. I have a very old (second hand) Bernina. As a pensioner I doubt if I will ever have another machine. If I were to buy I would definately buy another Bernina and the main thing I would want is a bigger hoop as I only have a 4x4.

I have a Bernina 630 & like it alot. If I were to buy another machine I'd probably look at a multi needle with as large a hoop as I could afford. I just want to continue learning to use what I've got.

I was always a Pfaff sewer, & my last machine was the creative 2144; which I really liked.I was going to get the newest Pfaff last year,but my dealer had said that Pfaff in Germany was not doing well; and he was not going to push that line anymore.So, I changed to the Babylock Ellisimo. I found out by changing--you also have different bobbins, different hoops--alot of things you cannot use from other brands. So,I find that, it's kinda like starting over if you want to change brands;and prices have gone alot higher; plus maintenance for computer machines.....Diane

I have a Janome 10001 & I think I would switch. It is hard to find a dealer close to me. Also, I would like to be able to slow the machine down when doing some embroidery. Plus a bigger hoop of course! But I would still keep my old one so I can use 2 at a time

1 comment

by jasanne 16 Jan 2011

I have a 10001 too, and you can slow the speed down if you go into the settings. Press the questionmark on the bottom right of your screen and then embroidery tab, arrow through the pages and it should be there (directions from memory I haven't got the machine on at present) If you get stuck, pm me and I'll turn it on and walk it through as I type :)

I have a PFAFF creative 2.0 and I love it. I would buy a PFAFF again and maybe up grade to a higher model.

I have a Brother, bottom of the line with a 4x4 hoop, I would stick with Brother but go to a dealer to buy it and get the biggest hooping I could afford! I recently found out that there are 2 dealers about 1/2 an hour from me so not as bad as I thought.

Bev I have a brother pr620 and I know for sure my next machine will be a brother pr1000. My first machine was a janmome memerycraft, I still have it but you can't really compare the two as one is a singel needle and the other a multi.
Alice

I have the Husqvarna Viking SE. I love it. I would like to stay with the same brand but when I bought my Viking Sapphire 870 Quilt I was wanting the 875. I was told that the 875 machines are not being made in Switzerland but in another country now(not going to mention). I went with the 870 for that reason. I would have to double check if all their machines are being made in another country, then I'd go with another brand. That's something that makes my mind up for me. But, again, I love both of my machines.

2 comments

by anitapatch 16 Jan 2011

I hold muy hand up and say Sweden, not Switzerland. In Switzerland they also made sewingmashines, but not this one

by ramona 16 Jan 2011

Thank you....whoops

evidently i would buy the same brand, because i did. i have 2 bernina sergers, a 430 sewing machine, 730 & 830 embroidery machines. i have had problems with 730&830, but my dealer helps in anyway she can..i can say they are sturdy..when they are working correctly!

I have a babylock ESE-2 and a Brother 180D. I would love either the Babylock or Brother 6 or 10 thread but I can't afford either. I have had No problems with either machine, and the ESE is 10+ years old. I would stay with this brand.

I would buy something with a more widely available format like pes, and not be tied to the art format, though I love my Bernina. I've been trying to decide between a Janome or BabyLock embroidery only machine.

I have a Brother 780D (5*7 maximum) and considering a Brother or BabyLock because I want to have it cut jump stitches and be easier to mount the hoop (have bad eyes and bad hands). I am lucky to have both dealers about two miles from one another. My quilting / sewing machine is a BabyLock. Since the two brands are SOOOOO close (basically the same machines) I am not sure there would be too much difference between them and I may go with the one that will give me the better deal on the one I want (toying with two different models and not sure which way to go yet). Good luck in your decision and be sure to let us know what you get!

I have a brother 6500 and i love, i would like a larger emb. area. I would not try another brand, I like Brother, this is my second machine, the first one was a 4x4, PES is very popular format, and here in dominican Republic the ONLY comp. that represents emb. machine is Brother. I have a friend she has a Viking and every two years she takes to Miami for maintenance, there no dealers for this machine here.

I have a small Brother combo (sew & emb.) which was my first.It only did small designs..4" but it is a great little machine. Last yr. I upgraded to the Brother 770 which only does emb. but 5x7 and 4". I also got the large hoop for doing lettering and borders without re hooping. I LOVE these machines.The really nice thing was that they fit my budget! LOL! They work like a dream & I am familiar with them and the way they work. I use PED basic for both,have a couple of blank cards, and the new one also uses a flash drive...I'm in heaven!
I know that some of the other machines have wonderful features also but by upgrading to the same brand some things are interchangeable and I don't have to learn a whole new system. That works for me,hope this helps.
Hugs, Nadyne
P.S. Let us know what you choose!

1 comment

by bevintex 15 Jan 2011

I'm still looking but have it narrowed down. Will let you know what I end up with.
Bev

I love mine, I have a babylock I would not mind to have Bmp 9

I have only had my Janome 11000SE for a year but would like to have another....if money wasn't the issue. I really like this machine....the 8x8, the 5.5x7.9, and the 4.3x4.9 hoops are wonderful...it doesn't come with the mega hoop but I do have designs build into my machine that are very large. 8x12 I think.....I just love the easiness of this machine. It just sews and sews and sews.....I had a few minor things at first since it was different from my other ones(but I do have 2 other Janome machines)but the manual is great....I could spend hours in the edit mode for embroidery and have made some fantastic designs by using parts and pieces of designs and I have NO software. I like the images and the colors listed with the ability to shade out all but what I am sewing at the moment....and I could go on&on&on&on& Yes I am sold on this Janome of mine.....

I have bought Babylock and would buy that same brand - my Mother's is a Husqvarna Designer I - I wouldn't mind the newest and best from the Husqvarna, either - Hehehe! But I will never buy another - now way is that possible. *4U

I will stick with my 2 Janomes after I had a Disney Brother (Galaxy) I only wisch they had more needles and bigger hoops. I have a MB4 (4 needles and recent a MC 10000 (yes with the big hoop which i have to learn to use. bit to less time because i,m sewing to much and don't studi on it how to use)
I hope you have something on my answer. And yes only a brother again if I have the money for the 10 needle, but if Janome comes with it I will take that one.
Good luck with the little story, Yvonne

Am on my 2nd Bernina, Bev and I too love it. I would just make sure I buy from a dealer I know will be in business to support me...At this point I have so much invested in hoops and software, that is exclusive to Bernina it would be a fortune to change, so it is a good thing that I love it, right?

3 comments

by bevintex 15 Jan 2011

I bought my first machine without knowing anything about them. I've had it about 3 yrs now so I know what I would like in a new machine.

by basketkase 16 Jan 2011

That's what happened to me too, My hubby bought my first one 4 years ago for me for Christmas and I had never had a sewing machine let alone an embroidery machine, so I was so overwhelmed with it, but when it came to the 2nd machine I sure as heck knew what I wanted!!

by bevintex 16 Jan 2011

See what he started? LOL
Bev

I have a bernina 730. This is my second Bernina and I love it. I think I would stick to a bernina as I know how it works.

I have a friend that just ordered her a Baby lock. She has a Babylock serger for years and still loves it, so she stuck to that brand, even though this is her 1st emb.machine.

I would stick to Brother or Babylock for sure!

for years I been dreaming of a larger hoop machine, but I know I could never afford one, so far I am very happy with my brother machine aand if I ever could buy another one probably stick to brother or baby lock

Stick to my Baby Lock. Just adore all it can do. Never a problem! Suzanne

I love my Brother; no major issues with it since I bought it several years ago. Purchased it online, so I
had to teach myself from the manual. It is very user friendly. Buying a second time around, I would still get a Brother machine, but embroidery only, not a combo. I could have saved quite a bit, as I already had a good sewing machine. My next step would be a six needle Brother.
Angel

I have the designer 1 and would love to have another just like it - it's my baby and I've never come across anything I needed to do that it wouldn't do. For me it was well worth the money.

I have two brother machines the Innovis 4000D and PR 600II and would buy another. LOVE them.

I'm happy with my Brother ULT2003D. But last time I looked at machines I saw new features on another brand (sorry, I don't remember which one it was) that I liked. It was a sensor to help center or place designs.
I think I would research the differences and decide when I'm ready to buy. There are always new things being invented and maybe I'll want them.

1 comment

by pcteddyb 15 Jan 2011

Both brother and babylock have the "snowman" sensor with the camera on their top of the line machines. You put the sticker where you want the center of the design to be (and at the angle you want it to be and that is where it stitches). I have seen it work and it is really cool. I don't have one of those machines myself though.

Definately get a different brand! If money were not an issue I would buy top of the line, not one which would restrict me to a 4 x 4 hoop, or is not upgradable. Not only am I stuck with 4x4 or smaller designs but my machine has no where to imporve upon. It's a card and not upgradable to USB, & it came with a 4x4 hoop. When I called to ask about getting a bigger hoop, I was told thats the biggest one there is for this machine. I received mine as a gift, and love the thought behind it. I've never been much impressed with Brother and the sales rep my husband dealt with sealed the deal that I will never get another Brother product. He asked if this machine would be suitable for an advance seamstress like his wife, or if was for a beginner. He was told this was what he wanted. If I was the sales person and someone told me that about the person it was for, and asked me a question like that I'd be selling him/her something they could upgrade so she could learn with the same machine & upgrade as she could afford it. That doesn't mean I would sell the upgrades if they wheren't within the budget they set, but I would sell a machine that was upgradable. I would also have said this machine will only allow for these features and if she advances in embroiderying, shes going to want to be able to upgrade to X features as well. Happy customer equals repeat business. I'm not a sales rep, but I do know one thing, if you don't care what you're selling you're not going to have happy customers, and if you don't care than why are you in sales?? One of my biggest frustrations is all the lovely designs I miss out on because I am restricted to 4x4 or smaller. Oh and don't buy what you can't see or touch. Being able to inspect the machine will bring up other questions in your mine. On line just doesn't work!

2 comments

by mariahail 15 Jan 2011

you could get a free program to make designs smaller or a larger hoop, where you could combine two designs, that is what I used to do with my 4x4.

by sewfrenzie 16 Jan 2011

Thanks I downloaded one a while back but just couldn't seem to figure it out. I finally figured out how to resize and save it properly. Now I just need to test one I've downsized, hopefully it turns out!

YES, another Janone 11000SE. Love it!
Carol

A second machine? I am on to my fourth! All same brand (Janome)and getting bigger in sewing field - have had my new machine for a month and have only just removed it from the box - really need to sort out my sewing room so there is room for it - house renovations mean everything is crammed into places so very little spare room at the moment. The only other brand I might go for is brother so I can do Disney designs.

I would buy another Bernina. I have never had any problems with it. I have a Husqvarna that is a lemon so I would run from another one.

I think it depends on what you're looking for Bev... I have Baby Lock machines, but am perfectly happy with my Janome cover stitch and Brother 6 needle. :-)

3 comments

by bevintex 15 Jan 2011

As soon as I buy I know they will come out with the new improved version. Whatever I decide I know it will have a larger hoop.
Bev

by shirlener88 16 Jan 2011

Bev, they do come out about every two years if not sooner - so no matter what you do - they will have a newer model within a year or two anyway - but they do upgrades on alot of them and that isn't as much as a new machine - but they are costly, too.

by simplyrosie 16 Jan 2011

Very true Shirlene. One of the reasons companies release new version is because they have to maintain their patents. For instance, Baby Lock's jet air threading requires a new machine every few years to keep that patent specifically for themselves.

Yes, I love Brother machines

I would buy the same, but the upgrade of the same. Husqvarna Viking Topaz 20. DeVon

If money were not an issue I would buy the same brand if possible (Janome) but one which would not restrict me to a 5.5 x 5.5 hoop as I have seen some lovely designs on here that are near 6.4 or higher and which I assume are too big for my machine.

3 comments

by bevintex 15 Jan 2011

I have a Singer now but am considering buying the Janome. The more I compare the more confused I get. LOL
Bev

by kttyhwk4 15 Jan 2011

To stop your confusion...first you need to decide if what you're looking at is user friendly, believe me some machines aren't and the manuals don't always help that much. Janome that you're thinking about is very user friendly and they are excellent machines although some of them are a little noisy. Brother is also user friendly. Personally I have a Janome and I love it. Brought it home, set it up and went to embroidering right away. Even hubby can operate without any problems even after having a stroke which kind of messed with his mind a little. Guess you just need to decide on what features of each machine appeals to you and then go with the one that appeals you the most. Happy Stitching!

by bevintex 15 Jan 2011

I'm going to find a dealer that sells several brands but I'm pretty sure what I'll decide.