Janome is just a workhorse machine. I have my original MemoryCraft 5000. I sews and embroideries like a dream. It has NEVER been in the shop. I do my own cleaning and oiling and its at least 15 years old. You can't beat that for a solid machine. My 11000 is dynamite. large embroideries, freearm, upgradable (very important). I made a quilt and embroideries every open square with a design made for that square, thru the top, batting, backing and it came out perfect.

I got a baby lock Ellegante 2 for Christmas and I love it. I had a Brother 2800. You can sure tell the difference between the two. Check out a baby lock.

I myself would go for the 110000. I am waiting for my chance to get that machine. I have a 9000 and a 10000, and love them. You'll be ablel to do it all on that one.

Thanks, I will. I have a Brother CS6000i and I like it a lot but it needs help sewing over just the joins on my piecing. It's not very powerful. I think I heard Janome make the Brother machines, or is it Babylock the make? Anyway, the fact that I should also be looking for an accufeed feature is news and I really appreciate you pointing it out for me. Thanks loads.

What is accu feed???

I have the Horizon and wouldn't trade it for anything. I have the Ellegante 2 for my embroidery machine love the both.

I have the 6500 and love it but am considering trading it in for the Horizon7700. Don't know yet what I'll have to pay over and above.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

Try out both machines - make a list of what you like best about each machine - Larger throat is better for quilting.

I have the 6600P and love it for piecing and applique. I have quilted all size quilts on it even a king size with no problem. For the money it can't be beat----I even use the embroidery for my labels----The only down to it is the speed when machine quilting---If your new to free motion quilting it is fine but I got mine after using a Brother 1500, straight stitch and quilting machine so it was a bit of a comedown. I machine quilt my larger quilts on the Brother.
Even with both machines it was cheaper than the other 2 you mentioned. I especially love the stop/start button, which allows me to sew without the pedal--I have fibromyalgia and it is a life saver for sewing when I have pain. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have questions.

Ok, I've had all the machines you mention. I traded in my 6600 for the Horizon. The 6600 doesn't have a freearm, very annoying. The Acufeed foot is awesome, the 6500 doesn't have it. I also have the 11000SE. That was the first machine I picked up a couple of years ago when I started quilting, because I thought I'd never get the hang of FMQ and wanted the embroidery and/or stippling it offers. Quite frankly I never use the 11000SE and it doesn't have the Acufeed. Also you need to get the Customizer software for sizing the embroidery designs because the 11000SE will only downsize or upsize about 20% on its own. You need to be pretty good with a computer to download updates and transfer to the sewing machine.

I use the Horizon exclusively. The extra throat space is awesome.

I thought I'd be all into the embroidery stuff and bought a whole bunch of CD's with designs on them and just found that I didn't really want to put them on anything. I just wanted to sew.

Oh, and any machine I got had to have an automatic thread cutter. It's like living without a garbage disposal. Just have to have it.

Just my two cents worth.