pjnesler

I have a Viking sewing machine that I realy love, and my dealer is a wonderful person as well. One day when I was in for a lesson, another woman and her daughter came in with an old sewing machine that had belonged to another family member. The daughter wanted to learn to sew, but the machine wasn't working right, they wanted him to look at it, and thought they may buy a new machine rather than doing anything with the old one. My dealer took a quick look at it, saw the bobin had been wound with a few different layers of thread, pulled it all off, rewound, and sewed away. He did recomend a good cleaning, and said the old machine was better than the entry level machines he would have recomened for what they would want to spend. I've passed this story along many times, as I love to see good folks rewarded.

quiltjoey

Have an old Kenmore that I sewed on when my children were small (now in their 40's) and it still works. Have a not so good 1 1/2 yr old Singer but it works. Have a small Janome for classes and like the way it sews. Recently bought a Singer Spartan (made in the 1950's) and is a workhorse. Have used Babylock and have an Elna Serger. However, saving the best to last, I have a Husqvarna Viking Designer 1 and nothing I have used holds a candle to it. Recently, hemmed a pair of jeans and it went through the folded cuff and seams like they were butter. I have never had a machine that I didn't have to pull from behind and push the fabric in the front and lift the presser foot over the seams in jeans. The Viking sews through silk organza as easily. I hope the D1 outlives me...LOL

writerwomen

There is a major decline with all manufactures Machines are being built in China etc with substandard materials and workmanship. That is why so many people are returning to vintage machines. I have what is considered an old machine by todays modern standards- it's a Pfaff 1475 from the early 1990s. IT is a great work horse but there are still things I wouldn't do with it because the repairs run in the hundreds. We deal in vintage machines and the quality and durability of those far out ways todays machines.

seadoograndma

the viking and pfaff are not what they use to be since the new company bought them out and singer to. The old designer one was there best machine they made and a real work horse. The new machines are not what the old ones were before they were bought out by the new company

donnalynett

I had a Janome but can't remember what model but it was a lemon right from the factory and Janome wouldn't do anything to help me. I then got a Viking 500 and sewed it to death, literally as the mother board died. I then purchased a new Viking Sapphire 855 last August and I sure like it. The only dislike is it does not have a blanket stitch. My mother has a babylock serger and it doesn't hold a candle to my Viking serger. No matter what you buy you always have a chance of getting that "one lemon in the bunch".

Kaz

I left my Pfaff 1473 in the UK for my daughter and bought a new Pfaff Creaive 4.0, have to say I notice no difference in the quality of the machine or the sewing at all, but this one of course has the embroidery part as well as all the old standard embroidery stitches, plus being computerised. I used to work in a Pfaff/Bernina sewing machine shop and always stuck with Pfaff. I think we stay with what we are comfortable with unless we find out from personal experience that things are not as good as they were? :)

I agree, there is always the chance of a lemon no matter what make.

newell

My very first new sewing maching was a Singer 2000. I bought a Singer because I learned on my mother's steel-head Singer. I have seen pictures of it on this board several times. It was the one with all the cams for different fancy stitches. I thought Singer was a good machine. Not anymore! I had so many problems with my Singer. I think it spent more time in the shop being worked on than I had sewing with it. I don't think I will ever have another Singer again. Their quality has gone way down. I now have a good Kenmore and have had this one for over 26 years and it is doing just great. When it comes time for a new one, it will be a Viking, Bernina, or Janome.

IBQUILTIN

Viking is downsizing, but not because of quality. I love my Sapphire, and wouldn't trade it for anything.

carslo

I have a 830 and really love sewing on it :)

rdorminy

I have a 10 year old Husq./Viking Quilt Designer and love it. Had not had a problem with it until recently when my D-card came into contact with a magnetic pin cusioh (and I had always been so very careful, Humph). Went to Joann's and was told immediately that they didn't make that anymore. Asked them to check and be sure and wa-la, there in the list was the very card I needed. She ordered it and I had in within a week. Should have ordered two. THEN went to a quilt show and fell in love with a Saphfire 835. My DH bought it for me along with a really nice cabinet and a rolling desk chair. I'm now one happy camper. I also have a Singer Feather Weight (222) and it has the honor of going to my quilt meetings, smile.