pastormarilyn

Please let me know about the following machines: Brother PE770, Memory Craft 9700 and Janome 350E, and the Viking Ruby. Also, what prices did you pay? Because so many places have varied prices. Thanks for all your help. This is really a bit ticket item, and I only want to buy this machine one time.

mary quilting

I would get one with a larger hoop than a 4x4(ruby)

crashnquilt

I have the Janome 300E embroidery machine. It is a great machine. I bought the machine, brought it home and within 30 minutes I was doing my first embroidery. I have used my embroidery machine a lot and have never had a problem with it. If I had it to do all over again, I do believe I would buy the 350 mostly for the thread cutter! I prefer having the embroidery machine separate from my sewing machine so that I can use them at the same time.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Ruby the Quilter

I agree I like having a separate embroidery and sewing machine and you can use them at the same time.
I suggest taking a towel with you and hoop it to see how it works and get a feel.

justflyingin

I have a Janome 350E which is the same as the 300 but with the thread cutter. What would you like to know? I can't compare, but I can tell you what I have. I have two hoops-- the smaller hoop and the larger one (up to 5x7).

I like large designs, I think (at least it seems like I have that tendency), so I think if possible, get one with a larger hoop (at least up to 5x7) depending on your personality.

I bought mine used for about $670. New, they run about twice that here in Poland. I think you might be able to find them cheaper than that in the states, though.

I like having a separate sewing and embroidery machine.

linda8450

Get the biggest hoop area available in your price range. A friend has the Ruby and it will do 5x7 and a mega hoop. Larger designs are prevalent, even free ones, and it hurts to only have 4x4 area when you want to do a larger design! The Ruby cuts thread, has a computer screen with colors, and I like the fact that you can use a USB stick. That is really really important! Disks and cards can get old!

romanojg

I have the Viking Ruby and I don't know why anyone thinks it only has a 4x4 hoop; it comes with one a lot larger. It also has lots of other hoops available; like the 8 x8 quilters hoop (still not the biggest one I own) and then there are 2 endless hoops which are great. It has the cutwork needles that makes life easy, the needles actually cut the fabric. I have had my machine since Sept and I love it. It's not finicky when it comes to thread. I can honestly say that I have Never adjusted the thread tension, it's always right. It has so many features, very fast, I had to slow it down to use. Go to Vikings web site and you can compare it. By the way, I think the largest hoop that I have so far besides the endless is 360 x 200. If you can get to a store to try them out that is the best way to deside if you like a machine. Here is the website for my LQS/dealer and she has infor about the machines and their pricing; I got mine for 4500 and it had 7hours of use on it but still got that warranty and free classes and clubs.
http://www.bellafabricsva.com/gently...w-machines.htm

romanojg

you are right the Ruby does have a 4 X 4 hoop but it also comes with a 10 1/4 X8 hoop and you can also get two different endless hoops, 10x6 and 7x4 and there maybe a larger one. Plus the 8 x 8, the texture hoop is 6 x 6, and there are more. So the Ruby more than has enough hoops for those jobs you may want to do. Sorry, I just had to chime in here because I got the Ruby and mainly because I didn't want to be bored early on by 4x4 or even 7x7 limitations. Then there was the new interchangeable walking foot that you can go forward, backward, zigzag, and many more things. It offers a lot.

WandaVA

I've had my Janome 350E for just over a year, and I love love love it!! Not a single complaint. I definitely would not get a machine that only does the little designs. My 5x7 hoop is perfect. I'm glad I got a dedicated embroidery machine, rather than a combination machine, because I can be using my Janome 6600 sewing machine while my 350E is embroidering a design. I love the convenience of downloading designs from the internet onto my computer, and then copying them onto a flash drive for the 350E.

I paid $1399 for it, and it is worth every penny!