johnette

I took the plunge and bought the 870 today! I bought a floor model so got a little bit of discount. I also bought a walking foot. Can't wait to get home tomorrow and start playing with it. Any way, I figure this will keep me busy for a while figuring it out. Wish I didn't have to go to work for a couple of weeks so I could stay home and play.

Pam Pollock

When you've had a chance to play with it for awhile let us know what you think. How exciting for you. Have fun!!

Patty44

Good for you,glad to here you got a new onew.

My frind and I were down to visit her Mother at Camdan Mo. So while we were there we stopped off at a quilt shop in Versals mo. and they had the viking machines too. So we looked at them They didn't have one like you got,but I wanted the sew and embroardrey mach. She showed us a little about them but she couldn't run it didn't have the hoop or anything,the one that I would want was 6500,so guess that will just be a dream.Ha. but she had some more there that were on sale for 1900 mcan't remeber the excat amount was closer to 2000 I think. Sounded a little better,but still high.Next I will go back and price the Janome the next one up from mine see which is cheaper. The viking ones were called diesgne 1 then the next up was designe 2,then on up to 3.

Dodie

only my opinion butb machines are so expensive I would check more than one brand as they all seem to offer something different then you could think on what you really wanted and buy the one to suit your need I really like the Babylock the most user friendly machine I have ever sat at but only my opinion hope this helps

johnette

Okay, I have been playing around for a couple of hours and so far so good. The worse part was threading the bobbin. The instruction manual came on a CD rom and my computer won't read my CD drive for some reason, it thinks the drive is gone. So I had to figure it out on my own. I can free motion now! It's not perfect but at least I can do it. I tried and tried on my old machine and only got bird nests. Tonight was just play around and experiment with stitches. Tomorrow I will sew for real as I have borders to put on a lap quilt that I'm making for Christmas.

Patty44

I was looking through a keepsake quilting supply catalog today,they had a little plastic washer that you can put inside the bobbin case,it says that stops the bird nest effect. I don't know if it works or not. But just thought I might try that.

Charleen DiSante

I got one a few weeks ago and just started using her. She purrs but it takes some getting used to with the automatically lifting presser foot, you don't lift it at the back and my hand automatically goes there.

I was wondering about the 1/4 inch problem too. does it mean we have to go back to using a strip of masking/painters tape along the 1/4 inch line or is there some secret we don't know yet? My quilt shop charged about $1300 and gives unlimited free lessons. I have yet to go so that's when I'll ask about the 1/4 inch.

Rose Marie

Live and learn. I took my Sapphire in for servicing and found out it has a setting for 1/4 in, now I use that then adjust to 2.5 and get a perfect scant 1/4 in.
The store did not tell me this but the repairs shop knows the machine and all it does.
I dont even use my 1/4 in foot anymore it works fine with a A foot.

Charleen DiSante

Hi Rose Marie,
Live and learn is right, thanks for the heads up on the repair folks. They repair the Husky machines at this shop so I'll check with them. Are you happy with the machine? Seems like there are so many buttons that right now I'm a little bit awed by the complexity of it. One step at a time, right?
Happy quilting.

johnette

I like mine, but still figuring out some of the stuff. I found out that 2 free owner's lessons come with the purchase of the machine, but apparently the quilt shop I bought mine from doesn't offer them so didn't tell me. Sometimes I wonder if I should have gotten a Bernina.