Caswews

I just recently unpacked a sewing machine that I thought I had long time ago gotten rid of .. Anyone know anything about a Riccar Sewing Machine ? I went to Brother machines, and enjoyed them so much, that I put up the Riccar.

One of my Brother machines recently died (and I do mean that -literally sewed it in the ground according to the tech!LOL, had that one for 10 years) So DH said buy a new good machine (not a mass manufactured one! Love the Brother's tho!!) So I started looking but OHMYgoodness - 12K for a Janome (memory craft 12000)blows my mind. Although I do like the Memory Craft 11000 for 6K, and the bigger throat area for quilting. So many machines and so much fabric to make quilts, garments etc with .....

So ideas ? Please, give me your good, bad and recommendations (I can handle it !LOL) What is your favorite machine for the money and why ? Thank you for your input (as I do realize each machine is a personal item to each quilter/ sewer) and for your time to respond.

Caroline S

How old is your Riccar? If you post a picture on the Vintage Sewing Machine thread I am sure you will get some responses. I think you should get her up and running and use as a back up machine. Riccars are supposed to be good sewing machines.

Dolphyngyrl

Babylock Espire( now Symphony or brother Laura Ashley) best machine Ihave purchased hands down. I am a brother lover as well

BellaBoo

I just bought a gently used Bernina 1260 for $450. The dealer said it was almost new and about had fit I bought it so cheap from the seller so bargains are out there. If you only want straight stitch the Brother 1500 is excellent for machine quilting. It has a long throat space and can be bought new for about $700. At that price you can have one machine for machine quilting and a fancy one that you find a great sale on later on.

mosquitosewgirl

Caroline....mine was dreadful, to say the least....I spent as much on having it worked on as I did on the Riccar in the first place, if not more....I struggled with it for more than 25 years and finally switched to a Janome MC4900....a world of difference.....

Cass....I loved my Janome 4900 so much that when I upgraded to get a bigger harp, etc., I went to the Horizon 7700....love it even more. And it is only about $2000.00 Great for all kinds of sewing with lots of stitches for quilting and the larger harp size make FMQ really easy. Good luck.

Jackie Spencer

The first sewing machine that my husband bought me, was a Riccar, back in 1965. I know I used it along time, and liked it. Can't remember whatever happened to it.

toadmomma

I have a riccar and love it anything i cant sew with my hus designer I, it can do it. also is heavy duty have had it for 14 years wouldnt trade it for nothing, it always runs. and I use it to peice block ect, demim etc. . Keep it and use it for back up. they are all metal and you wont find that in the new machines.

pocoellie

I love my Elna Quilter's Dream. I bought it used from a dealer several years ago. Might I suggest the you go to a dealer and test drive some machines. They might even have a higher end machine that has been traded in for an even higher end machine, that's what happened with the big Elna I got. I have a friend that has a new Riccar, and that thing is a piece of junk and she spent over $1000 for it.

donnalynett

My Riccar went 25 years and never needed servicing. When it died it could not be repaired. I could not find a dealer anywhere locally so went with a Janome and it was a piece of junk right from the factory and they would not make good on it. Now I am using Vikings and am happy with them but nothing will ever replace my old faithful Riccar.

Caswews

She is a very basic machine and I have had her for a good 30 years, Loved my kenmore; sewed it into the ground, bought the Riccar and just recently had her all fixed up to sew again. This one will be the garment machine back up to my Brother machine..