With all of the different embroidery machines available, all offering different features, there must be a perfect match for every one of us. So, if I was planning to buy a new one, which should it be?
I think you all know enough about my embroidery habits to be able to advise me, but if you don't, just click on my user name and have a look at my projects!
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I really love my Janome MB4. The only down fall iis their hat hoop.
51302In the end, it's you who will have to come to that final decision! lol! Hope all the input you're getting helps.
Going from your 11000 to a 15000 would be good. But I know you like the idea of your dealer being so close, but you should really go a little farther and see what there is. Being satisfied in the end is what counts. You just might find somethng that suits you even better and if not - then you will be all the more satisfied for your decision.
I have recently just upgraded from my 11000(still have it though) to the Babylock Ellisimo Gold 2. (brother makes the babylock - that's why theiir features are basically the same - but the Brother has the Disney designs built in).
Now we will all be waiting anxiously to know what machine you have decided on! Good luck.
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38558I've been sewing since JC was in knickers (seriously!). When I entered into the world of machine embroidery, I took the plunge & went for the "biggie" - Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond. Then upgraded to the Diamond Deluxe. I think overall it is a good machine & I use it all the time. I do appreciate all the features it has & the large hoops it accommodates. However, if I were to purchase a new machine now, I'd go with a multiple needle one. I've looked at a few, and *drooled* but will have to wait a bit before I make that upgrade! Whatever you choose, I hope you are superbly happy with it!
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by spendlove
19 Jan 2015
Welcome to Cute!
Love your comment - I too have been sewing since God's dog was a puppy!
Why do you think a multineedle machine is better?
530very interesting comments. I now think that I would purchase a embroider-only machine.....if I had known what I know now.....because I sew quite a lot and it is time wasting, changing to embr. and back to sewing. I did buy a second machine on ebay and it is nearly the same as my original one. This means I have one to sew with and one to embr. which is great.
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by spendlove
19 Jan 2015
That must be a pain. On my Janome it is only a push of a button and a change of foot.
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85867The Viking Diamond Delux is fantastic; the dealer not so. My wonderful dealer retired and this creep got all her business. The machine, though, does it all with ease and grace.
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2093OMG. I'm looking for a cheapo. Not worried about what it is. Good luck.
10550Of all the brands i have and still own .I like Husqvarna the best .You can't run most machines like i do and have them quit .My 2 brother both just quit ***the bearings run dry and need a drink .Oh yes Sue you do need to oil those machines they can't live with there water ***oil Hugs
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by pennifold
18 Jan 2015
Whereas the Husqvarna never needs oiling! I've had mine for years and years and no problem with regards to that. Love Chris
by noah
18 Jan 2015
you are right they are called a sealed bearing and never need grease like some i blow up lol
360651Sue, I agree with everyone who says you deserve the best machine made! I think the main two things to consider are service availability and ease of use. I am a Brother fan. I like to sit down to a beautiful machine that will do it all. I have had the Quattro 3 since April of last year. It still takes my breath away every time I sit down to use it. It threads so easy and perfectly every single time, which for embroiderers is a must. We have a service center close by (relatively for me, anyway) The stitches are beautiful. There is nothing this machine cannot do. It's easy to get designs from the computer to the machine, almost instantly. I love the screen, so easy to see. Hoops in many sizes, including very large, very small. It is a one needle machine, though. I feel totally spoiled having this machine. There is a newer machine out now, with even more features, and an even larger hoop. I could not be happier with the machine I have!
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by spendlove
18 Jan 2015
My very friendly engineer is a Janome dealer and is only 6 miles away. I'd find it hard to take the plunge and go further afield.
by hightechgrammy
18 Jan 2015
Then, Sue, why don't you buy the very best that Janome has to offer, that one that excites you more than any other machine :-)
by pennifold
18 Jan 2015
I'm with you Jan with regards to Brother - I've got the Quattro Innovis eye 6700D. I've had mine for 2 years now and love it. Only problem is the place where I bought it from is no longer selling Brother. They will still service the machine though. The Brother does everything I need - BUT I am still a Husqvarna fan at heart and love their machines the most. Love Chris
59631I have a fabulous dealership. My sales lady has her own embroidery service on the side. Teaches digitizing, programming, training, etc. She has forgotten more my lunch time than I will ever know, SO since she sells Bernina's, I'd go with a Bernina. You must have a trustworthy, helpful dealer, no matter what brand they sell. We just need that back up in the event things beyond our control and skills go south. My suggestion is to go with the dealer I was familiar and comfortable with AND brand that would use the software I already owned.
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by katydid
18 Jan 2015
I am a Bernina girl also. I have so many over the years and loved each one. I would not dream at looking at another machine! Kay
158717You must buy multi-needle mashine. I love my Brother 1000e.
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11867whatever one your thinking of read the on line reviews wherever you can. Good & Bad gives you a great idea on breakdowns & repairs & overall happiness. Best of Luck Sue. If you can justify the cost then I like the mutli-needles too, ease of hooping most anything right there!
299559My multi-needle (sounds almost to good for one having only four) does not need as much space as my Ruby. The embroidery hoops are placed at the front, longest side along the front of the machine instead of the smallest in household machines. Unfortunately the largest hoop of the EP-4 is 200x240.
Disadvantage: the weight. Mine weighs 'only' 25 kg, the Bravo I'd love to have 95kg. Advantage: the dealer gives a (free) one-day class in maintenance of the beast, only thing you need is the courage to get your screwdrivers out - and I bet you love that as much as I do.
So if you can afford one, I'd go for a multi-needle. Not to sure about the Brother ones, service here is very poor. There's no longer a Brother agency in the Netherlands so most things have to be ordered in Germany or Belgium. So I'd research how things are handled in the UK.
Vicky has a Bravo, you could ask her about its performance. And I think you need their software to operate them.
This hobby is an expensive one....
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145304Go to the dealers and test drive different models. You can tell them what you do and they can direct you to a machine that will fit your needs. personally I love my Babylocks... Suzanne
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by spendlove
18 Jan 2015
In my (limited) experience, dealers don't know that much about really using the machines. They are trained to demonstrate certain features to sell the machines, but that is about as far as it goes!
by pldc
18 Jan 2015
that is so very true. I think we know more about things like ITH FSL & so much more so when we go in & ask about this they have little or no knowledge. A true disadvantage.
111382I would suggest the one with the largest hoop. Either a multi-needle or one of the newer top of the line machines.
I am not sure how fond I am of the Bernina products as of late...but the 880 they have has cutwork, paint, and other goodies as add-ons. Right now, my dealer is including them in the sale.
I love the new Destiny! However, if you already have a sewing machine you love, get a 10+ needle machine. The amount of use embroidery machines at your house get and the ability to do more of your own servicing will work well for you. Plus, they have a square footprint instead of a very long footprint. The bonus is the ease in hooping and stitching ready made items like shirts and pants. They even have an attachment that will let you embroider on shoes.
I can't wait to see what you do!
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by spendlove
18 Jan 2015
Your comments about multineedle machines are interesting - I hadn't considered the footprint. Generally I'm not attracted to them, but that is a positive factor!
by rescuer
18 Jan 2015
They also do a lovely job of stitching on a "finished" quilt. Plenty of room on both sides of the machine and if you roll it, you could easily stitch right in the center of a finished quilt.
57675I absolutely love the Janome MC15000.
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by decojo
18 Jan 2015
I do. It is a dream machine. I haven't begun to scratch the surface on everything it will do. I really love the big hoop and it cuts all the threads on cross stitch; I could go on and on about all the things I love about it. There is nothing that I don't love about it.
by blueeyedblonde
19 Jan 2015
The 15000 seems to be a much better machine than the 12000 and a better upgrade from the 11000.
23577Oh, that is perplexing...I agree with Karen about visiting your dealers or perhaps a sewing/quilting show to see and test drive the features...but I think you are probably fairly familiar with features at this point...I personally love my BabyLock Ellisimo...I love the camera and scanning...perfect placement every time...and I mean perfect, right to the exact stitch...I also love, love the built in pivot feature...and it will also resize a design 200% without any distortion to the design or stitches..that's cool...I also love, love the automatic threading...and I do mean automatic..that's the bomb...The stitch quality of both the embroidery and sewing functions are impeccable...Rarely do I have a tension problem even with specialty threads....The new Destiny is fantastic, but for me, it doesn't do that much more than my Ellisimo so the cost to upgrade isn't worth it...honestly, I can't think of a thing that I don't like about my Ellisimo..I am a happy camper!
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by spendlove
18 Jan 2015
So glad you are a happy camper! A quick internet search tells me that BabyLock embroidery machines are not available in England (only overlockers) so I can't go and look at one.
318481That is an interesting question . You know we are all loyal to the brand we have so every type and model could be mentioned here. What I tell people is to go to every dealer within driving distance and test every model they can. Meet the staff, talk to the tech(s) who will be servicing their machine. Once you make a decision on which make and model you like best, I tell them to go up one model to a better machine. I learned that the hard way by buying the cheapest model without looking at the more expensive machines. I admit, I love my Babylock machines and will not by choice by a different brand. I also would love to have the newest machine, the Destiny, but am happy to keep my Elissimo. But I do think a multi-needle machine is a joy to have. I wish you well in your search and hope you will find the machine of your dreams soon.
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by spendlove
18 Jan 2015
Thanks - I think your advice is spot on for anyone, particularly when buying their first machine.
169064Go on Sue and treat yourself to the latest Janome. We know you have tried it out in the shop and shown them its capabilities. The new machine would fit beautifully in your sewing room
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by spendlove
18 Jan 2015
Ah, but it wouldn't! It needs a huge amount of space behind it which I don't have.
115763I would purchase a embroidery only machine! I love my new/used PR1000, but I also love my new/used Janome 350E. Both were purchased used almost no usage on either of them. Good luck!
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by spendlove
18 Jan 2015
I'm not too keen on the idea of multiple machines. I'm pushed for space as it is!
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42046Yes I agree I think you should get a ten needle brother pr1000. You of all of us could use this machine to its full potential I have one and I love it but maybe I could get more out of it, other commitments on my time.
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by spendlove
18 Jan 2015
I know I don't use the machine I have to it's full potential - especially the sewing part.
by graceandham
18 Jan 2015
I didn't want the sewing feature on mine. Why wear out the motor and parts on a very expensive embroidery machine for sewing, when you can get a really nice sewing machine for $150 and stash it away in a closet?
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