Hi ladies!

I love all the large hoops with my Viking Diamond. HOWEVER, until Viking improves their customer service, I can no longer reccommend their machines. Sure hope someone from Viking sees this!! But I double they will. :-)

2 comments

by tfk 25 Apr 2015

yes Viking too has some great machines with nice big hoops!
well good luck with the customer service....hope will get better :)
thanks for sharing!

by jobaby 26 Apr 2015

Agreed

I have my Brother 4500D which i have always loved...Just got the Babylock BLL2. I was told it is only 1 step below the 4500D...I love big designs, however i find that i don't care too much for anything bigger than the 5x7. I don't like how the weight gets on the frames and it feels flimsier to me. Just a me thing i guess...i rather like the challenge of rehooping. But for all that i do, the 5x7 works perfect....My brother has the 9 x 17 hoop and the babylock has 7 x 12....I prefer to have a great dealer that is there for you when i chose my machines. The costs of the machines vs what you really use them for is a huge factor. if you don't use it as a buiseness or aren't going to spend the time running it, then i am not sure the higher priced machines are the worth the value vs, time...I also would love to have gotten the brother dreamworks but couldn't justify my usage and cost. Like cars, i think it depends on the day the machine was made. some machines regardless of type run perfect but there is always that lemon amongst them. GOOD LUCK...go play at friends houses that have them...go to different dealerships and try them out.

1 comment

by tfk 25 Apr 2015

Yes you have a point here...and that is one of the reasons which makes me rethink too if I should really spend on a bigger machine! as I use it just for personal stuff and simply as a hobby coz I enjoy it! I haven't and neither plan to use it for business purpose!
if my machine atleast had the multi position hoop option maybe I wouldn't even consider changing....but theres just the gigahoop (that too I haven't purchased yet) for my machine! well lets see.....I think I will try the gigahoop and see if I still urge for a bigger machine!
thanks for sharing your thoughts on this :)

I have to say that I am a Janome fan as I have a few of them, But I do like the option of the sticker to find the center. That camera option is one that I would like to see Janome incorporate into their systems. I think I am a Janome fan because it is the only one that I have had. That is to say if I had started with the Babylock or Husquavarna or whatever... I may have indeed been a fan of theirs? Maybe a question might be what don't you like about the machine that you have now.......I think having the camera to center designs is a lovely option that Janome currently does not have, other then that I can't think of anything about them that I am not happy with & I have had mine in for repair once for over a month but that was a one off & I hope that is remains that way lol. Other then that my machines have only had to be in for reg maintenance.
If you need repair are they close by? are they reliable? do they do the repairs in store or send them out? If they send them out can you go to them directly? All things that might help in your decision. You must shop around too & I think that is one of the best pcs of advice I can share with you. I asked this question awhile back as well & a cutie who lives a few provinces away from me mentioned an on-line store (closer to me then her lol but still about 2-3 hrs away) that had much better prices so I MADE my local store match their prices. I am forever grateful for the help of cuties who are wonderful & have saved me countless times over the years both time & thousands of dollars! Best of luck

1 comment

by tfk 25 Apr 2015

Thank you so much for discussing the whole points to consider! Its like you are reading my mind ....lol ! Well janome is my first choice too just because thats what I have started with and thankfully I am happy with it :)
Well just need to think is will I be missing out on anything great if I go with TOL MC15000? ! As you have mentioned 1 point here about the camera!
Well hope it will get easier for me to make a decision. ...thanks once again for the suggestions!

Brother Dream Machine VE 2200. Great needle threading and stitch trimming, such a time saver. I had been wanting to get tot the Jumbo hoop size, and as soon as I did my favorite digitizer other than Miss V. started digitizing for the Super Jumbo!

1 comment

by tfk 25 Apr 2015

Sounds like an awesome machine :) glad to know you love it so much. ...will have a look! Thanks dear

Love my Brothers. I currently have a Quattro and I started with a 780D.

1 comment

by tfk 25 Apr 2015

Brother has always been on my options list too....
if not a janome it just might be a brother! :)

i love my brother v3. Especially 3 hoop sizes 10x10, 13x18 and 18x30 cm and a wonderful large colour display. It is my second embroidery machine - I started witz brother 750.

1 comment

by tfk 25 Apr 2015

V3 looks like a great choice! Thanks for sharing :)

When I started I knew nothing about machine embroidery and got the top of the line at the time - the Janome MC11000SE. I've never had a problem with it.
I now also have the Babylock Ellisimo Gold 2 - great machine! The both have good sized hoops and I find that the feet are interchangeable.
Have fun checking out the different machines. Good luck!

2 comments

by pldc 25 Apr 2015

oooh I have that on my list The Babylock looks so good.

by tfk 25 Apr 2015

Wow I have seen the babylock ellisimo gold 2....beautiful machine! Which brand do you like more? Wasnt the 15000 in your choice list? How is it compared to your ellisimo?

I am looking at the moment too. I have been told by my local dealers the brother Quattro 3, the dream machine and also janome 12000 and 15000 have the hoop sizes I would like. I am familiar with janomes and love how they sew, however I really like the needle eye camera in the brothers that allow designs to be placed perfectly even if fabric is not aligned in the hoop properly.
They are expensive machines here so I took the brochures home to do more research. If I decide the cost is worth it I will go and test drive them to see which I like the feel of best.
Have fun researching

1 comment

by tfk 25 Apr 2015

I think the MC15000 is going to be my choice.....but dont know how long it will have to be on the wish list!
Good luck to you too :)

I have to say if you are happy with the machine you have, why not stick with that brand? There are a lot of plusses to this like all the feet are interchangeable and the learning curve is small. (Personally I wouldn't have anything but HusqvarnaViking!) Hugs. Nan W

1 comment

by tfk 22 Apr 2015

Yeah I guess thats a good idea :) although other brands are also wonderful and very tempting but I feel I should stick to janome! Thanks!

It has been asked and I will tell you that we will all say our machine is the best. I have Babylock machines. I think it is more important to have a good tech and dealer close at hand who can give support through classes and maintenance and repairs than brand of machine. Research to see which machines have a good reputation and low repair statistics. Then test stitch each and every machine you can to see what is the best for you. I do hope you find the machine of your dreams and it gives you many years of worry free stitching.

5 comments

by tfk 21 Apr 2015

Thanks a lot Karen :)
You are right....luckily we all are happy with what we have!
I would love to have a janome MC15000 like Sue but as of now it seems a pretty big leap as I am still a beginner! ( have started embroidering just 3-4 months back....lol!

by spendlove 21 Apr 2015

I stuck with Janome because my dealer is close and very good indeed.

by pennyhal2 21 Apr 2015

Well I'm not particularly happy with the hoops with my Bernina. The larger hoops for machines can be quite expensive and you may have to purchase them separately, so be sure to add those into the cost.

by dixie 25 Apr 2015

I changed over to the Janome MC15000 from the 11000 and just could not be happier it does everything well and the large size hoops that you get are worth it. Also I love the fact that you can use the Computer or usb sticks, laptop etc to send designs is just great
Good Luck with you decision

by tfk 25 Apr 2015

Very glad to hear that and thanks for sharing :)

I've just taken delivery of a Janome MC15000 and the largest embroidery hoop is 230mm by 300mm (about 9" by 12"). The 12000 is soon to e discontinued and has the same hoop sizes - you may get a deal on one.

2 comments

by tfk 21 Apr 2015

Wow Sue congratulations :)
Have fun with your new machine....you deserve it!
Do let us know how it is ( which I am sure must be wonderful)

by dixie 25 Apr 2015

Great Sue I hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine, a lovely machine and great range of various size hoops

Well...I love the large frame of my Brother PR 650 at 20x30 cm and Sue has her new as of yesterday Janome MC 15000 which has a slightly larger hoop. Both are costly but fun.

3 comments

by spendlove 21 Apr 2015

We were typing at the same time, I think!

by tfk 21 Apr 2015

Thanks for your suggestion. ...I will check out the brother PR650 too :)

by tfk 21 Apr 2015

Oh dear....brother PR650 is a multi needle machine....I dont think I am ready for that yet!