I love my designer 1. My favorite saying - "you'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands"! I do love it tho, never a problem that wasn't my fault. I have seen the singers. Many moons ago they were the best now they seem to be 'starter' machines so you may want to pass them by.
I wouldn't buy a Singer Futura ,I had nothing but trouble with the embroidery section.Just make sure whatever machine you buy ,that the manufacturer will be making parts for it ,for at least 10yrs.
I love my PFaff - its quiet and never gives any problems. Easy to use and an absolute dream!!
That's a good question. This is my first emb. machine and I partially went with it as I love my Janome memory 7 that I've had for the last 30 yrs. (doesn't seem that long). Just wish when I treated myself to a new machine that I'd also kept the old one as I had first planned (my DIL has it). I have the Janome MC11000SE and love it. This has so much more than my old one and of course the added bonus of emb. I'd have to say I'd look around and then prob. still end up with another Janome.
Rght now I have two Babylock Ellegante2's, have also owned an Ellure and one Husqvarna Designer I - but if it was that I only had one and I had to replace it - then it would be the Babylock Ellismo for sure. Or perhaps the 10 needle by Babylock. Of coarse this is just a dream - I would never be able to afford another machine now for anything.
I have been a Bernina girl for more than 30 years, but I would be willing to test drive other machines. I think a lot really depends on the service and free lessons. If you can not take it in and pick it up in less than a week then shop around!! Kay
Also have the 4000D and I pick it up today from servicing -the trouble is if thread breaks the end dissapears up in the machine so have to pull it out from top and sometimes it gets caught in the works. I prefer my Bernina but also prefer it for sewing so if I had to get a new machine would get an embroidery only Bernina.
Right now I am leaning towards a bernina but I would like sewing/emb. Thanks.
Well, I have a Husqvarna Viking Designer II right now and it does a sterling job. I do hope I'm never in the position of having to replace it.... :{
If I had to get another machine I think I'd go for two - a cheaper dedicated embroidery machine and a cheaper sewing/quilting machine. I often find that I'd like to sew while the embroidery is stitching out. I do have a beginner's Huskystar next to the DII but I've been spoilt with the built-in sensor of the DII for specialised sewing.
Several people have told me they have a small second Brother or Janome embroidery machine and they are happy with the performance of both.
If I won the Tats Lotto I'd look at Babylocks and Husqvarnas, having excellent service and support just over the border 1 1/2 hours away, and then I'd research Berninas, but ultimately the service quality and availability would be the deciding factor.
AlmaG.
I have a designer 1 and the new Ruby by Husqvarna - and love them!
the best brother money could buy then a 6 needle machine ,my Dad always said Carolyn it costs nothing to dream hugs carolyn
when my husband retires soon he says i can have the Brother PR650 which i've had my eye on for a while. if not that one i don't know????
I have to say my Janome 11000SE has sure been a great embroidery machine for the past year and a half. I like all the features and the 3 hoop sizes although I would like the mega hoop that is out now. I would buy another if I could afford it. I have a Bernina 1230 that is my sewing and projects workhorse. I would hate to count the hours it has been going strong over the last 22 years. I have 2 regular Janome machine that I like as they both travel well. The oldest (1000) has been a trooper. Had it in the camper bathtub for traveling and hubby forgot to tell me he was turning on the water and yep it got flooded. Hubby took it apart and sun dried it, also hair dryer use too, and in 2 days I was sewing on it....I had to as I had to finish a project and get my samples made for a demo I was doing when we got home. It goes with me everywhere.
I have a great dealer as well.....
I have a Janome MB4, which I love. The only thing I wish it had was a better hat hoop. The one they have is not bad, but I would like an actual hoop, like the others.
I have the Brother innovis 900. It works well the price was all I intended to pay out at that time,
BUT the hoop is only 4x4 and I wish it was bigger, the Bobbin is on the top so if it runs out you have to take the hoop off of the embroidery unit to get to it, all the bobbin area seems to be plastic, bu you get what you pay for. Hope this helps. Pam.
I agree. I enjoy the larger hoops and do not want to go back to just 4x4. Thanks.
I have a Baby Lock esante and love it. Hope this is helpful Never gave me any problems.
I would buy another Bernina 830. Goes from tiny hoop to Mega. Check their website at Bernina USA for all of the bells,etc/. Okay - expensive - even in South Africa, but GOOD machine and supplier !!
I have Janome 300E, and if anything happened to it, I'd get another one just like it! It's an embroidery-only machine, has 4x4 and 5x7 hoops. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but then there's less to go wrong with it, and nothing has so far. Only troubles I've really had have been, um, "operator error", hee hee hee. But, as everyone has said, the DEALER is probably more important than the machine. My Janome dealer is just super. When you get a machine from them, you get lessons on it, and they have a Janome Club, free to machine owners, every month there are free lessons on some aspect of the machine or the digitizing software. When I have a problem and haul her down there, Rick fixes it while I'm standing there, I don't have to leave it in the shop for weeks. That's what has me so sold on Janome. Also, I like the idea of being able to do an embroidery on one machine, and do regular sewing like quilt piecing on another machine at the same time. If I had the money, Janome's MB4 would be in my sewing room, too, but I have to hit the lottery first, hee hee hee. Best of luck on your search! Hugs, Marji
I am hearing good & bad about all the new line of machines. I think the quality of the machines has dropped somewhat. I also suggest you not buy a "just out" model..let them work the "bugs" out first! I have 2 Vikings..SE & Diamond..which I do like. However, I find the service, warrenty, etc is no longer as good as it used to be when I got my first Viking 13 yrs. ago. And, again, support from your dealer is as important as the machine!! Good luck!
Sorry for your troubles with your machine. I have 2 brothers - my starter machine PE780D and a Quattro 6000D. I would buy the Quattro again without a doubt. It is the twin to the BabyLock Ellissimo (so if I could not get the brother I would get the babylock twin). Both Brother and Babylock are coming out with new machines and machine upgrades soon so perhaps you can get a deal on an "older" model (if that is something you would consider).
I know I would shop around, check out all the different models that have been mentioned here. But, in the end I would probably get another Janome. I have the MC11000SE and love that critter. Plus the support I get from my dealer is awesome, can't be beat. Hugs..Carol
BabyLock I have 2 at present, Esante II and Ellageo Plus I love them both. Although I may sell the Esante II. Just because I have the new machine. I still love BabyLock. You know that Brothers and Baby Lock are made by the same company. Brothers is often less. A lot does depend on your dealer when it comes to service and information as you were told here. I love my BabyLock machines and my dealer. Although I have to drive about 70 miles one way to get service it is well worth it. Good Luck and let us know what you decide.
Babylock. They have a huge number of machines to choose from. I have 4. But you also need to have a trusted dealer nearby to support your machine.
I have 2 Brother machines (ULT and PR620C) and 1 Janome 11K. All I can say is that in the basic all are the same, but some features one have and another doesn't, what makes it difficult to choose one. I would say I love them all, but 1 of my Brother's machines (ULT)always have given me headaches. Even though I couldn't get rid of her. My Janome 11K should be the one I would really maintain, if I really had to get rid of 2 machines. It's awsome!
100% Babylock! I have two and adore them. Easy to operate and great!I have the Ellissimo and big machine WOULD NOT GIVE MINE UP FOR ANYTHING! Suzanne
Even though I just had a problem with my Janome 11000se, I would still buy one. I do like my Janome 350e. It really depends on price and finding a good dealer to fix it when it breaks. If we didn't use them so much they would not break.
Judy/ alexgrandma