Annaquilts

Bernina 830 is great for piecing, quilting,almost all metal, has reverse, zig and many other stitches and if you hook your arm under the opening you can actually lift it with out breaking your back. It is a machine you can do all aspects of quilting with plus more. A good used Bernina 830 can easily run $800.

Some other machines are the Singer 401, Singer rocketteer but they are heavy.

Other Singers are fun too, 301, 221 Feather weight but might not have zig zag, do not drop the feed dogs, or not have reverse etc.

I like the all metal Pfaff and Elna too but sometime sit is harder to find parts for some of them.

For the newer machines, we are pretty sold on the Janomes.

candlequilter

I love my Pfaff. I had the 7570 and then I traded up to the 2144 because I wanted to do more embrodiery as well as alot of piecing. Great machines!

Good luck,
Sherryl
Candlequilter

cbjlinda

I think the pfaffs , bernina, janome are some of the better made machines but these are the older ones as so many of the dealers have changed hands now. machines that used to be made in geramany ect. are no longer made the same way. I bought a pfaff about ten years ago and it is great! but I think if you stick to those basic machines you can't go wrong.

chickadeee55

I would say a Janome 4000. It is a work horse and has all the stitches you could need. I have one and I use my other newer machines now, and sadly it just sits, like it is in retirement on the shelf. But it is still a great machine.

christina d

I also love my pfaff 7570 out of my three machines I love this the best and I have a new bernina and a husqvarna

eparys

As you are finding out - this question has many answers. Each board member has their favorites.

To answer your question directly - all those that you mentioned are good machines and each brand has machines that range from OK to fantastic.

I have sold Vikings and owned Vikings, Babylock and Pfaff. My personal favorite is my Pfaff for piecing because of the IDT. But the others worked fine for sewing and quilt piecing (just had to be a bit more careful). One lacked multiple needle position the other was excellent but lacked the dual feed that the Pfaff has. If you are in an urban area - and have a big sewing center - go and play on every machine possible.

I have two Pfaffs now - both bought used (one off Craigslist). Your ultimate decision will be based on features, availability and price - good luck.

romanojg

Hands down when it comes to Viking; it is the #1. This machine is a work horse and even all the stores around here and all of the previous users have told me it's the best and most people who started off with one still have it even though they also now have one of the latest and greatest. I just got one this past year and you can get an embroidery machine with it too. I don't know about other machines

Kitsie

My first, bought used 3 yrs ago was a Pfaff 1196. Have not yet been able to find a date for it. It has some decorative stitches. I love it! What I like is that you can adjust the needle side-to-side to any degree which is great for the "scant" seam allowances. It sews wonderfully. The only thing was that there is no walking-foot that will fit it! Also love it's wide throat. I quilted 2 King size with it.

Now I have my Pfaff Exp 3.0, but the oldie but goodie still has its jobs to do.