For those that own new (made in last three years) TOL sewing machines:
#11
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My two machines are not TOL but, I like them and they work fine for me. I don't like the knee lift, or auto needle threader and I don't really like the thread cutter one of them has. Plain and simple is all I need.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: The Colony, TX
Posts: 3,364
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I have a Bernina 730 and love it. The stitching, the stitches available the knee lift, needle up/needle down stopping position, the foot control which with your heel you can can raise the needle up or down (in addition to the needle up/down option). The only thing I wish I had was a little larger harp area and evenfeed (accufeed) However they have new models coming out (710, 750,780) which does have those two things. The only thing I would like to mention is that in my experience I would wait until they were out for a while and the bugs were worked out. Unless of course you get a tremendous deal.
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern California mountains
Posts: 12,538
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What brand/make and model do you have? Janome 6600
Which features do you like best? The range of fancy stitches. In fact, that's all I use it for, since I also have a 1600P I also like the separate bobbin winding motor and cutter.
Use the most? fancy stitches, thread cutter, needle threader, start- stop (I don't use the foot pedal at all)
Which features do you NOT use? knee lift. I have bad knees, so this is no help.
What I DON'T like is the tendency to blow fuses when I am working at speed and make an error. A trip to the dealer is 150 miles. It works just fine if I do.
Would you buy that particular brand/make and model again? In a flash. I have a 6600, a 1600P C, which is my straight sewing work horse, and a little portable, used only for classes. My Janome dealer is a gem. When I have had questions, he or his staff take the time to work them through on the phone or in person. I have been a fan of his for 9 years, since my TOL Bernina lemon died after 3 years of use and good care.
Which features do you like best? The range of fancy stitches. In fact, that's all I use it for, since I also have a 1600P I also like the separate bobbin winding motor and cutter.
Use the most? fancy stitches, thread cutter, needle threader, start- stop (I don't use the foot pedal at all)
Which features do you NOT use? knee lift. I have bad knees, so this is no help.
What I DON'T like is the tendency to blow fuses when I am working at speed and make an error. A trip to the dealer is 150 miles. It works just fine if I do.
Would you buy that particular brand/make and model again? In a flash. I have a 6600, a 1600P C, which is my straight sewing work horse, and a little portable, used only for classes. My Janome dealer is a gem. When I have had questions, he or his staff take the time to work them through on the phone or in person. I have been a fan of his for 9 years, since my TOL Bernina lemon died after 3 years of use and good care.
#14
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Brother Dreamweaver VX6200D
Features I like the most:
all my brothers have liked any thread I throw at them
AHA feature- never have to mess with tension
Dual-fit foot
Embroidery
wide harp
threads the needle for you literally at the push of a button
bright lights(no longer need my ott-lite)
Do not use:
so far nothing yet, still learning all about it
maybe the knee lift but I will be getting the new foot soon so won't have a need for it , didn't use it that much with my espire towards the end
Yes I would buy it again, I am a diehard brother lover, won't have anything else, other than the babylocks made by brother, might like a juki one day, but definitely will always own a brother. They are reliable and never have problems that I have seen many others on this board with more expensive brands. The only thing I have kind of been peeved about is that they are geared towards quilter's but they left out most of the quilting feet that I had one the espire out of the embroidery model as well as the table so its an extra expense and for the cost they could have left in 30 dollars worth of feet which probably cost they a couple dollars to make.
Features I like the most:
all my brothers have liked any thread I throw at them
AHA feature- never have to mess with tension
Dual-fit foot
Embroidery
wide harp
threads the needle for you literally at the push of a button
bright lights(no longer need my ott-lite)
Do not use:
so far nothing yet, still learning all about it
maybe the knee lift but I will be getting the new foot soon so won't have a need for it , didn't use it that much with my espire towards the end
Yes I would buy it again, I am a diehard brother lover, won't have anything else, other than the babylocks made by brother, might like a juki one day, but definitely will always own a brother. They are reliable and never have problems that I have seen many others on this board with more expensive brands. The only thing I have kind of been peeved about is that they are geared towards quilter's but they left out most of the quilting feet that I had one the espire out of the embroidery model as well as the table so its an extra expense and for the cost they could have left in 30 dollars worth of feet which probably cost they a couple dollars to make.
#15
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I have the Janome Horizon 12000 and so far love everything about it. Still haven't used everything or even think I will use all it does. There is nothing I don't like. Well maybe the weight of it.
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
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Janome 7700. I use the needle threader (it makes these aging 50 y/o eyes get a break from threading a needle) all the time, auto thread cutter, large harp for FMQ, have used the start/stop button when my foot pedal went bad and needed to order another one, have used the fancy stitches for repairing my daughter's jeans (making them look 'cool' on the outside of the repair job since it couldn't be hidden) and even quilted a quilt using decorative stitches, the single hole plate, yes, and the zig zag, the accufeed is super easy, and the fact that the feed dogs drop so easily. I also like the fact that they have storage for some of the feet on TOP of the machine.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,783
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I bought a Babylock Serenade recently, and am very happy with it. It has dual feed dogs (a must have! for me), love the knee lift, needle up/down button (another must have), thread cutter is ok. Thread cutter is fussy about thread, and makes a small tangle on the back side of the two fabrics, but is very handy sometimes, like if you are sewing straight seams which stop at the seam allowance (for Y seam construction).
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 199
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I bought a Pfaff Expression 3.0 a year and a half ago. I love the IDT system, the large harp, the needle threader and the needle up/down button. I like having all the different stitches and have used most of them for different things. I do wish it had a thread cutter.
#20
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Janome 6600....I love her dearly and would buy another Janome in a flash (maybe upgrade)....I love and can't do without the auto-threader, the accufeed, the auto-cut and the fancy stitches....I do not use the push button for on/off and despise the knee lift (too many years without a kneelift burn those habits into your brain)....oh yeah - she will sew with whatever thread I put in her - not fussy at all.
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