which new machine to buy.
01-04-2016, 08:06 PM
#21
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 338
I have seen a few Berninas at the shop that have just been worn out -- maybe 4 in the past 6 years. Not very many, but it does happen. The lint build-up in the gears and rack will wear a machine out. Usually happens when a machine is used hard, and hasn't come in for regular service or deep clean, in a period of several years.
01-04-2016, 08:11 PM
#22
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 338
How many of you have the fancier brother machines? The cheap one I have a actually like for what it is. It has a nice stitch and it works great for piecing. I had it out while the Bernina was in the shop. Its a jalopy as a Bernina is a Mercedes. When you hit a thick spot to sew it goes urngurngchug, but it sews it, just not so smooth.
01-05-2016, 04:53 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Keller, TX
Posts: 1,937
Go to a Janome dealer and try the 8900. It has the extra harp space, built in dual feed, 9mm wide decorative stitches, free arm for garment sewing and is a wonderful free motion machine. Price is very competitive for the features. I have a Janome 6600 and 8900..love them both.
01-05-2016, 05:52 AM
#24
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Timmins, Ont. Canada
Posts: 4,683
I just invested in the brand new Husqvarna Epic that does everything but pay the bills. Has a bigger bobbin, fantastic lighting system, huge embroidery arm, big harp area, on screen tablet like display which works very similar to an iPad. You can download designs right from your laptop into the machine (via iCloud), has 2 thumb drive ports & a ton of beautiful built in designs. It is very pricey though & when embroidering you need a fair amount of space to accommodate the arm. It is a bit bigger than a regular sewing machine by a few inches but when embroidering it is quite big. This machine will be my last so I chose what I felt was the best for me, IMHO. Hope this helps & let us know what you decide. As a footnote, I traded in a Bernina 820 machine that was 3 years old for the Epic & for the most part, I much prefer the Husqvarna Epic.
01-05-2016, 08:50 AM
#26
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 243
I don't think anyone can tell another person what brand of machine to buy, it would be like telling everyone to buy a Ford, but you like a GMC. I have a Brother, Baby Lock, Pfaff, Bernina, several Singer featherweight. Each one is different, what do I use the most??? Quilt piecing the featherweight, never been a pretty stitch as it only does straight stitches. For sewing clothes, I use the Pfaff as I like the built in walking foot. Home deco, I use the Bernina as it's a little heavier built. Brother & Baby Lock for embroidery, It's easier to get designs in the PES format.
I would question the dealer regarding a Bernina needing a lot of repairs as they hardly ever wear out. Wonder if they needed to sell a new machine and had a buyer for an older Bernina????
I would question the dealer regarding a Bernina needing a lot of repairs as they hardly ever wear out. Wonder if they needed to sell a new machine and had a buyer for an older Bernina????
01-05-2016, 09:38 AM
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Desert Southwest
Posts: 1,314
I have 3 Brothers: One is mechanical with a few decorative stitches, one is the cs6000i digital and finally, the Innova 1250 with embroidery. All are very good machines. But for the perfect straight stitch, and I do mean perfect...it's the Bernina 153 Virtuoso QE for me. The stitching is very, very smooth and consistent. The fabric up-take is also consistent which I find is not always the case with all the Brothers. I used the Innovis for embroidery but I always wind up with the Bernina for piecing. I have the best chance of consistent 1/4" on that one than any of the others. If you are used to a Bernina, do yourself a favor and try out a few others before deciding. There are some wonderful machines out there today and personal preference is a big deciding factor. Good luck.
01-05-2016, 12:22 PM
#28
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Central,CALIF.
Posts: 285
Other than a cheap 200 dollar brother machine I have never bought a new one. Had a few passed to me including a really nice 1980's era bernina that I inherited from my grandmother. It was having some issues so I brought it in to be serviced only to find out that it won't last long and the gears are really worn out. I was advised not to put a lot of money into it when it finally goes and to move on. Looking into a new one already. What should I get?
http://www.sewmamasew.com/2009/07/se...e-master-list/
...then again it may be just TMI..
01-05-2016, 03:37 PM
#29
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Rockford, MI
Posts: 13
I have two Pfaff's and love them. The first is a Tiptronic 2020 and has been a workhorse! Have had it for almost 20 yrs. My new one is also a Pfaff Performance 5.0 and is wonderful. Not cheap but what a machine. Can do your own quilting and such. Very reliable, of course I have a great dealer near me.
01-05-2016, 03:57 PM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 4,001
I really like my Janome 8900, I have had Janome's for many years now. I tried out a lot of other machines that didn't feel like they fit me. Try them all out and get a good dealer, I dislike my dealer and they don't care about you after you buy their machine, which makes it hard to go back when you need something.
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