judee0624

I broke down and bought my first new machine in over 20 years. I got a Janome 760 Gem Platinum that is only 12 lbs but it a workhorse. It has a needle threader YAY, 60 stitches and I have made quilts like crazy since buying it. It cost $500 but is worth every penny. I do have to say that the first one I bought broke down a lot and the bobbin winder wouldn't work so I finally took it back and they gave me a new one. They also gave me classes for free. This little bundle is so easy to take along to classes or our trips. Your wife will no doubt want to take some classes to refresh her skills. I have made quilts up to Queen size with it but the previous posts are right in saying you need a wider throat for quilting. I try to stay with no larger than lap size with the Janome. Let us know what you decide. This is the place to get the expert's opinion!

Tink's Mom

I sew on many different machines. My favorite for piecing is my Bernina 1030, about 20 yrs old. A real workhorse. I sew for craft shows, so put about 8hrs on a machine a day every day. I use my Juki TL98Q, LOVE IT. So fast and needle up/down,and thread cutter. It only does straight stitch but that is 90% of my sewing. I use my Singer XL1000 for all the embroidery and my Viking for all the fancy stuff . I also have a couple of old black Singers that I would never part with. Machine total= 10

Nancy in Louisiana

I have three Janomes, and love them all. I recently purchased a Brother at Walmart for its embroidery capability. Service is a very important feature -- you want to be able to have it available as local as possible. I would suggest looking in your local yellow pages and give repair shops a call and ask them what models they recommend, what models need to be worked on frequently, etc.

GramMER

My machine at home (USA) is a regular old fashioned Singer 401, but my hubby allowed me to bring a wonderful machine with me as we traveled abroad. I have an Elna Heirloom etition with a quarter inch foot for quilting seams. I could not ask for anything better.

If I were going to suggest something for a "full time" quilter, maybe the stronger the better. I continually have to fear what will happen to my Elna, not because it is inferior, but because it endures tropical heat and humidity all the time. Literally everything deteriorates in the tropics. If I had my choice, I probably would bring the old Singer to die here rather than my new, precious one.

jojo

I've been using my Janome New Home 8000 for more than 15 years, and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

jo

katamingo

I have been garment sewing for many years. Deciided to start quilting last November. Bought a Brother CS-100 . Not expensive... about 279.00.It has handled nine king size quilts.. all of the stitching and machine quilting, five queen size and several over size baby quilts, as I have five grand kids and another in the oven. This machine has surprised me, especially with me being a novice to quilting! It has also handled every thing from from fleece to multiple layers of denim. I bought it because it came with many features and and the quilting foot. I figured if I HATED it ...That it wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg. Darn good machine! :-)

katmarq

:-) A few months ago I bought a Baby Lock Denim Pro. I use it for piecing and quilting and it works for both. There are a few features that it does not have because it is the bottom of the line starter machine. Luckily the store I got it from will let me trade up for the full price and I plan to do that. I would like a machine with a fast and slow speed and one that I can end with the needle up or down with a quick switch.

There is one more little detail that I never even thought of until I started using the new machine. Some machines have a bigger "step" or angle between the part that pulls off so you can get to the bobbin and the plate with the feed dogs in it. My old Singer had a smaller "step" so with the Baby Lock, I have to be careful how I feed my pieces so that it does not mess up the pressed seam allowance, flipping it up as it goes over the step. I will be sure the next one is flatter there.

Good luck finding her the perfect machine!

crazicorn

I use a Brother CS-80 that I bought oh, about 3-4 years ago. I paid a bit under $200. It has everything needed to get quilting.
It has the needle stop button, auto sew button, auto threader, drop in bobbin, about 80 stitches, a throat deep enough to handle a queen size quilt. It came with all of the necessary feet, including walking foot, 1/4" foot and quilting foot.
This machine is used every day for at least an hour per day and oftentimes 4-6 hours at a time. It could definitely qualify as a "workhorse"
I'm sure there are many other quality machines out there, but I have to say for under $200 (brand new), this Brother was a definite bargain!

GramMER

When I was seriously shopping for a machine for our daughter for a high school graduation present, one VIP point someone showed me was how the machines lay the stitches on the cloth.

My singer laid them one in front of the other in a precisely straight line, while some other machines laid stitches slightly diagonal to each other. I had never noticed that before, because I did not own one of the cheaper models. But when they pointed that out to me, it was very obvious.

It seems to me that all machines could leay stitches straight if they would, but they don't.

GramMER

res_vet

Hi,

I have a Janome 1600P and it's a great machine, I'd say it was the best I've ever owned. I use it for sewing children's clothing and for quilt piecing and machine quilting (though I'm a hand quilter by preference). They are not inexpensive but I'd buy a used one in a heartbeat. I love the wide working space it provides and the stitches are beautiful.

Steer clear of my previous machine, the Singer quantum futura sewing/embroidery machine, you spend more time clenaing it and fixing it and setting it up again than you ever do using it. I always had Singers before that, and it really put me off of them. Even the dealer that sold it to me new the year before wouldn't take it as a trade in on a different machine-- that's how much trouble they are.

Best of luck! You sound like a keeper.