SusanSusan33

I was looking for a machine with a large Throat as my elna quilters dream is so hard to do machine quilting on...

A couple weeks ago I bought the brother pq1500s but was about ready to return it to amazon this past week. I still Couldn't figure out the needle threader to save my life and had a hard time with the walking foot. I got my tension issues figured out (mine and the machines. It was a threading problem mostly) and i do love the stitch on this machine. After I took to a local shop for help with the threader I got that figured out but it's still a challenge but doable. The walking foot does NOT have a guide bar attachment and as far as the shop owner could tell there isn't one with a guide bar. Not sure if that's a deal breaker but it sure would be nice not to have to mark my lines.

When I was there the owner was telling me about a local woman trying to sell a 2007 pfaff grand quilter 1200. It's listed $800 obo. It was maintained at the shop and only used for fmq. The seller teaches classes at the lqs next to the sewing machine shop. I paid $655 for the brother so she suggested I ask $580...

What do the experts think? Is that a better machine? Equal? And how bout the walking foot?

thanks so much for your help!!

SmickChick

Try out the used Pfaff and see how you like it. I have the Brother 1500 and love, love, love it for piecing. Mostly because of the pin feed, eliminating the need for a walking foot FOR PIEICNG. There are good deals with used machines. Try out the Pfaff and see how you like it, since you are not smitten with the Brother. Plus the Pfaff most likely has lots of decorative stitches.
Good luck with your decision.

Dolphyngyrl

I'd go try one out, but I think they are very similar. There might be a few different features and maybe you like one better

tessagin

Ditto what SmickChick said.

bigsister63

I have this Brothers machine and love it. I do not use the threader since it seems easier to thread the needle by hand. Also I more often then not do not use the walking foot since I can raise the presser foot on this machine so fabric feeds evenly. Check this board for other great remarks about this machine. Also Test drive the other machine to see which you like best.

Jingle

My Daughter has the same Brother and she loves it. One of my machines has the threader, I don't use it. Daughter quilts on her Brother and loves it.

NOELLA

I have an Elna Excellence 740 throat 11" works fine for me. Don't know how wide you need the throat. Good luck Noella.

pocoellie

What problems are you having with your Elna? Both of those models you listed have about the same throat size as the Elna Quilter's Dream, so, I guess my question is, if all three models have close to the same throat space, and you already have one of the models, why buy another one? I love my Elna Quilter's Dream.

SusanSusan33

We must have a different quilters dream. Mine is from 1998 (I'm guessing) and is the 6003 model... Small throat, but a very nice machine with lots of fancy stiches...

SusanSusan33

Thanks for all the tips, ladies. I called the woman with the used Pfaff and I'm going to give it a test drive. It's a straight stich only machine. I'm not looking for a fancy machine, just something I can FMQ and fit a larger quilt through much easier... I can't see paying a Long arm quilter though I would love to if I could...