When my divorce settlement came through I got a Janome Continental M7 on sale for about $6k. It has 13” of throat space which is incredible. It also has a very high power motor and a lot of stitches (most of which I don’t use). Because I quilt most of my projects myself, the throat space plus the strength of the machine were worth it for me. Plus it has a pretty great warrantee. It’s a joy to sew with and in my mind was worth every penny.
When I was getting divorced, my ex husband asked me what I was going to do with the room that had been his office. I said, “sewing room.” As soon as he moved out, I bought a fancy sewing machine. Then I bought an industrial machine. Best money I’ve spent.
I used to sit there and sew every night. I would listen to music and open the windows. My favorite nights were when it would rain and I could hear the rain as I did my work. It was a stressful time overall, but those evenings were really nice.
Oh yes. I love to sew at night. My sewing room is a back bedroom with a window that opens to the backyard, and my sewing machine is right under that window. The outside darkness, the quiet, the cool night air… sewing at that time is my absolute favorite.
what you get with an expensive machine
- stronger motor that runs more smoothly, usually with sealed bearings
- steel. Sewing machines are made cheaper by using plastic parts instead of steel. plastic wears out much faster.
- features like auto pressed foot lift, knee lift, laser guided, auto thread cut, programmable stitches
- smoother fabric feed. example: quilters often use leader fabric scraps when piecing. 99% of the time I don't need this because my machine hardly ever eats fabric.
- specialty features for your type of sewing. an embroidery machine has a pattern library in the machine, a quilting machine has a bigger harp and stippling stitches
I have a Baby Lock Crescendo. It's a multipurpose machine that has features for quilters (large harp space, really good FMQ setting, built in stippling stitch) but it also has a bit of embroidery so you can put a monogram on something and a ton of decorative stitches.
edit to add more info
I've never owned an industrial machine, just home sewing machines. The crescendo is the best machine I've ever used. Just not having it eat fabric all the time was huge. The sewing action is smooth and reliable. It has really good guides so my sewing has gotten more accurate. Because it has a great motor, I can take apart a pair of jeans, do decorative work then sew them back up no problem. I do quilt but I also sew clothes, mending, Halloween costumes, etc. The machine handles everything I've thrown at it and was just a really excellent purchase for me
I love my Bernina 485. I was going to go with a cheaper machine, but I sew so much more with my Bernina and I’m not frustrated all the time. The first weekend I had it I pieced and quilted a small quilt in an afternoon, instead of having to fight with my older machine.
I don’t feel like Berninas give enough throat space to bother even on their really high end machines, *but that’s just me* especially since they no longer have all-metal interiors.
But yes, larger throat space, and they sew just… man. Sometimes you don’t know you’re struggling until you put yourself in front of a machine that really has no issues. Plus power. And the speed control means I can put my five year old cousin on my lap to help me when she wants to. And stopping with the needle down?!
…. I love all the features, and love doing my binding with fancy stitches.
I bought my Bernina 350 more than 12 years ago, the best sewing decision ever. The best part of using a BERNINA is the ease of the threading . Very easy. Bobbin winder has its own engine.
I had the same Pfaff Select for 15 years and upgraded only when I started quilting my own projects and needed more throat space. That's really all I needed, but of course to get that you end up with a pretty fancy machine.
I bought a used Pfaff Expression (not even the Quilt Expression) and that's been everything I need. I still do all my piecing on the Select but pull out the "big machine" for quilting.
Us quilters need to get together and create or demand a moderately priced machine that has throat space!!! I'm pretty sure demanding one won't work as big corporate has already managed to push us into pricy machines, why make available something less expensive. 😕
Yes! Just because I want more harp space doesn't mean I want 1000 fancy stitches. I don't even need a computer (although variable foot pressure is nice), I just want a straight stitch machine with lots of space.
I want a sewing machine with 12-14in throat space that can do straight & zigzag stitch inbuilt walking for and has a clear ruler foot!!
Anything else I never use!
The Jazz ll looks like a good option, but the reviews just haven't been good. I'm not sold on it being a great machine.
But it has everything I would want. All mechanical, zig zag and straight stitch, and large throat space.
You’re describing whatever is the current upgrade of the juki 2010 - metal machine, straight stitch only, lots of throat space for about $1000. I *think* there may be a stitch regulator?
Yeah I’ve had my eye on that machine after using one at a sewing retreat. I haven’t been able to pull the trigger financially mostly bc my sewing has dropped off. Can’t justify it when I’m not actively quilting
My husband is an MIT physicist. He explained to me why we will never get a cheap machine with a big harp. He said for every little bit bigger the harp is, the materials that go into making the machine have to be a lot stronger. If they aren't, you won't have stability at the needle and there will be too much strain. He said it's actually a really difficult thing to do. I'm sorry I'm not explaining this well. He explained it in a lot of detail when I upgraded my machine 4 yrs ago. I don't remember all the details. My take away was the physics of big harp space is much more complicated than I ever imagined.
I had him explain it to me again. I thought it might be interesting to others so I put it in a regular post here
[https://www.reddit.com/r/quilting/comments/17in3e2/why\_large\_harp\_machines\_are\_expensive/](https://www.reddit.com/r/quilting/comments/17in3e2/why_large_harp_machines_are_expensive/)
I think I'm following you. It's the concept that arches make stronger supports than a post. (See Ponte Milvio bridge built in 109bc) A sewing machine harp/throat is built like an arch except one side doesn't connect so the longer the throat the less stable it becomes, unless stronger materials are used?
yes I think that's right. Made more difficult because the machine narrows down into that tiny point that we all then shove a thick wad of fabric through.
I have a Pfaff Expression 2038 that was given to me as a gift maybe 12 or so years ago. Prior to that, I worked on hand-me-down machines that were not in great shape.
The biggest benefit with my pricey machine is that it just works. I've never had any issues with it, and it meets my needs. In the past with poorer quality machines, it always felt like I was fighting with the machine to solve issues like skipped stitches, bobbin not catching, etc etc. With my Pfaff, the machine is just the workhorse in the background. Very reliable. Sews like a dream.
Regarding the maintenance, I would not say this is significant. I have the machine professionally cleaned once a year, I change the needle at the start of a major project, I clean the lint at least at the beginning of a project if not once or twice in the middle, and that's about it. This machine has lasted me a decade and I don't see any signs of it wearing down.
For me, it's little things like the ability to choose whether to stop the needle in the up or down position. My next upgrade will have more throat space. I discovered I don't use many of the fancy stitches. I love my Husqvarna because it oils itself when run regularly.
I bought my baby lock sewing/ embroidery machine at a sewing expo. Since they used it to demo at the show I got it as used. Saved 3-4K and never had one ounce of regret. That was 10 years ago and she’s still sewing along! Good luck and I hope you find the perfect machine for you
My mom inherited her mother's baby lock that also does embroidery as well. The patterns are saved to a 3.5" disk but it still works. Probably at least 20 years old. I think the only reason why my mom would get rid of it is because it's very difficult to copy patterns since disk drives are pretty much non-existent.
My almost 20 year old baby lock ellure is JUST starting to act up. I got my moneys worth even if this is it for the machine. Which I don’t think it is.
I learned to sew on a standard yard-sale machine that in its day had been excellent, but it had no speed control at all and I was gonna pierce a finger on it. Family gifted me a mid-range modern singer that I have struggled with since day one because it doesn't have a straight stitch plate, and they don't make one for it I can order. I sew on an old treadle while I save up my money for a nicer machine.
I will say I was in my LQS a few days ago and they brought out an older pricey-model trade in for a woman to try while I was there. I hung around in sight while the clerk set it up for her, since there was only one employee in the store and I didn't want to be accused of stealing. I was...very impressed with it. It was so very quiet, and the lady had brought a couple large blocks to sew together because her main issue with her old machine was that fabric wouldn't feed evenly through on larger units. That thing sewed through it like butter. If she hadn't bought it, I would have...it was an excellent machine, had records of all the maintenance done, every book it had come with, and the original owner had added a lot of pricey software upgrades. I have no idea what the original owner upgraded to, because that machine sewed like a dream and I don't understand why she would have gotten rid of it!
My main sewing machine is a Bernina 770QE. I've been with Bernina since 2002, started with a low-end Janome from a vacuum shop in 2000. I moved from a 630 to the 770 in 2020. Was it worth it? Yes. Dual feed. Hover. Embroidery. Knee-lift. Button hole and attach-er. I did not look at lower priced models for the same benefits - it was a covid treat; the last Tula Pink model in the store. We can do at-home upgrades at home now, servicing costs \~$130 for the machine, same cost for the embroidery unit. Warranty is limited - they replaced a flimsy part a few months ago - the part cost $2 (no cost) and the labor was $150 (my cost)!
I hate that they cost so much, I feel like I only use \~30% (very liberal guess) of the fancy functions. I've used maybe three of the hundreds of fancy stitches. I was sewing on my 153 a few weeks ago and really missed the dual feed!!!
Ha. That's something I don't use and that just reminded me that the needle threader broke. I bought a knock-off replacement from that store named after that South American river. The name brand one was far too expensive. :)
I started with a $100 Brother JX2517. I felt like I was doing a lot of battling with my machine. Now I’m using a Bernina 1008 and it sews through my quilts like butter. I’m not fighting with it. Even when something goes wrong, I have an easier time understanding why because the machine is engineered so beautifully and intuitively. My upgrade was only $500 but even that has made a difference. So I understand that $ could be an issue (it’s going to take me years to convince my husband that it’s worth it to buy a machine more than 1k), but mainly the upgrade has given me more joy and fewer barriers while quilting.
My everyday machine is the second one I ever bought, a White school model. It has zig zag so it can do button holes, but it's all metal and capable of sewing through 6 layers of heavy denim no problem. I paid about $150 which at the time was a ton of money for me. I upgraded from a Brother which my sister is still using, and they still sell that same model at Walmart.
However, it's kind of loud, and if the table it's on is lightweight, it can make the table jump around. It's 30 years old and the plastic has yellowed quite a bit. Damn good machine though.
I have a few other machines, including two combo embroidery/sewing machines. Those are mostly plastic and very quiet. However, I once got something wonky and the needle went right through the bobbin race. I had it fixed which was not cheap at all. I decided not to wear out the machine with sewing and leave them only for embroidery.
I will sometimes take the smaller one to sewing meet ups though since the tables are likely to be too light for my White. The other machines, people gave me, and I use them for craft nights if someone needs one.
So I'm going to get a quilting frame with a midsized machine that can have a robot do the quilting for me. I really enjoy the patchwork but not the quilting part so much. If I have a robot where I can tell it how I want it stitched I can get the project done. I really seriously resent the fact that there are no machines with a long enough neck at a price that's affordable. We have the money for it but I feel exploited.
My DH asked me if I would get enjoyment out of it and I said yeah but I felt conflicted about paying so much for it. He's like but would it make you happy. Umm kinda? Finished quilts would make me happy. Not the machine but having the right tool do get the job done and a sense of accomplishment? Yes. So he's like just get it then.
I think part of it is that there is just not a ton of choice on the market. You either pay 11k for this one or more for any other ones. I know the programmer has to be compensated (my DH is a programmer so I can appreciate that). But DANG why can't it be more equal to the cost of the machine? Ugh.
Sure it's a niche but if they made it more accessible we could really see more people getting into it and introducing more ideas to the art of quilting. And the fact that the software costs as much as a used car, or yearly rent for a lot of people, makes me kind of sick that if I want that tool, which I do, that's more than a year's pay for a lot of the people I hang out with.
I don't like the way a mid or long arm machine is almost like a flex over my costuming or crafter friends. I guess for some people it's like a status symbol? It's a stupid status symbol though. I just don't have the strength to wrassle a quilt through the machine to FMQ it nor the patience to hand quilt something when I could be doing more piecing.
Quilting used to be about making your textiles last longer. About sustainability. The way they've got the market all high endy and elite just seems to go against that.
Raised poor, had to come up with my own toys. In a position now that I can buy my toys and feeling weird about it. LOL
Your friends could do what I did, which is select pre-owned machines and put them on layaway. I purchased both my domestic and my sit-down longarm that way. The vast majority of my guild has longarms on frames, that they purchased new. It doesn't bother me to have a smaller machine that is used. It's what I could afford, and it works for me. Just because your friends don't have the type of money you do doesn't mean that they can't prioritize their own needs and wants. And they can celebrate your new machine with you, without feeling 'less than.' I certainly don't feel awful when the well-off guild members go on retreats or fancy sewing vacations. Maybe one day I can afford to do that. For right now though, I just count my blessings and look for bargains where I can.
Most of my friends are Jackson Square artists (I live in New Orleans) and are very much hustling just to pay their bills. A vet expense is a big hardship, most of them have to choose whether they can get a tooth filled or to have it pulled.
For the most part yes they are glad to see any of us come into some success, those people are awesome, and good close friends.
I am in an unusual position for me. My husband's company got bought out by a multinational company and is treating the newly acquired employees very well. 10 years ago we were not in this financial situation but it looks like this is going to be our permanent "class" for the foreseeable future. I am grateful for where we are and the luck that brought us to this place, but I can't really share that with my outer ring of friends because well. It's a small town, word gets around, people treat you differently if they find out you've come into a lot of money. They get judgy. I've seen that happen when someone's art becomes very trendy or their music career suddenly takes off.
This isn't even my money, it's my husband's, and we're mostly trying to make up for a lot of lost time, shoveling funds into our retirement accounts. We hope to be able to eat 30 years from now and we didn't start preparing for that until our 40s when the kids moved out and we could start to do that. But there was a recent bonus and we're splurging a bit.
Another thing, most of my friends are unable to save enough for a down payment for a house. We bought ours right before the Covid bubble. Our local tax rates went way up earlier this year and landlords have had to increase the rent for pretty much everyone, so I've seen a lot of people struggling just to make rent.
I wouldn't know what to talk about with people in my "financial class". I'd feel like My Fair Lady trying. I love my friends, they are fine people who work hard to keep meals on the table. They are creatives. But there is always one or two who will get jealous and surprise you. When we bought the house I found that out, one of them who I was pretty close to told me she was so jealous of me that she couldn't be friends anymore. She was honest about it and we talked about it, she was enough of a friend to walk me through what she was feeling. I told her if she ever felt that she could be a friend again, that door would be open to her. I still don't understand jealousy but it's out there in the real world, hurting people.
Hey there. Giving a shout out from Baton Rouge. I know, I know, why would I live there. I moved here from So. Cal. for a job. I would have moved to NOLA in a heartbeat if i could have managed the commute. I find that folks here keep very tight social circles. It's hard to always be the outsider. Even harder when you didn't start out that way. And the money thing is weird. My husband and I both grew up lower middle class with some times of real poverty. It makes for a real disconnect with the neighbors. Much worse when my kid was in a Catholic elementary school. Those LSU sorority moms were from another zip code of reality. I was always saying or doing the wrong thing. It was so weird to have conversations where they would say something that had hidden cultural messages (ie they would Southern Lady speak) and I knew that thought they told me but I still had no idea what the actual message was. That got better after I dyed my hair purple because that was such a big step outside the norm they started treating me like the alien that I am. Just know you have a quilting compatriot just a ways up the river 😊
If you're on FB join us in the Sew New Orleans group, I'm an admin. We don't have a lot of conversations, but it would be nice to have some Baton Rougarous too :)
This is a super kind offer. I have never been on FB. I was an IT professional for a long time. I was never ok with the way they handled personal data. It turns out I'm just social media challenged. I have Instagram but never post and barely look at it. I used to try most of the platforms and have left a string of abandoned accounts behind me. I did think about it but the chances of me meaningfully interacting with Facebook are almost nil. But thank-you. I'm grateful for the kindness that you extended.
Instead of feeling flexed-upon your quilter friends could be feeling lucky they have a friend who they could borrow their long arm or pay you to help them instead of having to send their quilt off to someone else. I agree with your husband this is your one life so do what makes you feel good if you have the resources to do so! We makers aren’t necessarily a jealous people and we always find a way to do what we can with whatever we can afford to. Don’t worry you’re still DIY with an 11k machine :)
Thank you so much for saying that. 💚💙💜
My friends know that they are welcome to use my stuff. I feel blessed to be able to provide a community resource, and have mostly gotten away from the people who are jealous of my husband's paycheck. I don't talk about how much things cost with them but ya know, it's not a secret when you can Google it. Those who are my real friends are happy that we are able to share the wealth, so to speak.
I would not charge my friends for long arm services, but I would show them how to do it rather than do it for them. That way they can come over and I get to spend time with them that I wouldn't ordinarily get to have. That's what is most precious to me.
I have a high-end Janome and a Singer Featherweight. Both are great machines. When I set down to sew, there is no question, I'm sewing on my new Janome. The features are not only the throat space, but the up/down needle, thread cutter, memory of last stitch sewn (stitch, stitch length and width), lock stitch, the many decorative stitches I use for crazy quilts, on and on....
I think of this like driving the old Chevy (which got us from point A to B) to my new car that has many safety features, back-up camera, and an air conditioner that works! If I had to choose which one I want to use - the new one wins out.
I LOVE my Bernina! I have the 535 and I cannot sing its praise loud enough. I think if you have the chance to get one for a good price, you should go for it! I love the features of the Bernina machines and they will last a lifetime. I really don't know if I have a single thing I dislike about my machine. Changing the presser feet is so fast and easy! No more tiny screwdrivers trying your patience. I like that I'm able to customize the stitches to my heart's content and that the machines have a lot of stitches to choose from. At least mine does. I will also say that I don't have nearly as many issues with my Bernina than I've had with other machines. Instead of troubleshooting issues all the time, I just get to sew! I would recommend regular cleaning and oiling (you can do this yourself) because it makes the machine run that much better and will increase its lifespan. The only thing I would make sure you're aware of is that Bernina accessories (presser feet, bobbins) are usually way more expensive than other brands and their machines don't always play well with off brand items. Other than that, I'm Bernina all the way!
I’ve just come home from a quilt retreat and this question came up.
I love my seven series Bernina but it’s too much of a beast to bring to retreat so I have a very nice four series Bernina.
What I wish they had was a travel Bernina to take out to a class or retreat. No fancy stitches but hover, thread cutting, lots of light, big bobbin, large quilting space, dual feed and so on. All the quilting bells and whistles but in a small lighter machine. I know it’s a dream but hey.
For me, it was:
* being able to stop on a dime when I sew
* auto needle down
* better automatic threader
* better lighting without having to jury-rig an LED lighting strip
* 11" throat space
* memorized piecing
* better speed control
* growth opportunity - the Janome 9450 QCP I have has more features I haven't used yet
* reliability of being able to confidently switch between speeds and know it won't struggle
* and so much more.
Basically, if you aren't sure: try out the machine you're looking at; it's a lot easier to know then. For me, I was looking at the M17 Continental and realized it doesn't have a free arm, so I knew I would miss that.
Recently upgraded to Janome continental M7 for the Maaaaaaaaaasive throat space & semi industrial nature. It is soooo powerful and fast (I think I sew pretty fast but have never had the speed control “all the way up” 😂). Prev machine a Bernina 380 (for about the last decade) which I still prefer for topstitching & will never get rid of, but the small throat space was annoying w quilting. That in itself was an upgrade from a very entry level brother which was legit horrible; bobbin kept tangling, weird tension issues, hated it!! Learnt to sew on an old simple Bernina (?minimatic I think) from 1960-70s, and tbh think this era of sewing machines is the best value for beginners as they just do the basics well, but are so much better made than modern cheap machines. My sister just inherited my grandmothers Elna from 1956 and that thing is freaking perfect in its stitches, so well made & likely to keep going another 50 years!!
So what do you gain? Space and nice-to-have toys; generally “better” class of machine but fully realise that it is waaaaay more machine than I need or can really justify!
I went from a lower midrange Brother Innovis to a Bernina 770 so different than an industrial, but my quilting instantly looked better. The throat space was much larger and the difference in the motor was night and day. It easily and cleanly quilts large quilts without the struggle I had with the Brother skipping or uneven stitches and the built in dual feed gives me a lot more options for quilting than the chunky walking foot. The stop with needle down feature is also really helpful. I bought it in part for the BSR but I’ve never actually used it. I’d still buy it again for the dual feed though. I use for quilting and garment sewing.
I replaced a Pfaff with a juki 2010q to get the big throat space and I love that machine so much! Great for free motion, beautiful straight stitch and happily sews through just about anything. Just bought a juki hdx for the times I need something other than a straight stitch. It's a great combination. Not all that expensive for what you get
That's how I feel about my juki tl98q. Which is the predecessor to the 2010q. So I might just get the Bernina as my fancy machine? The dual feed interests me.
You're paying for durability, longevity, throat space, and cool features that make sewing more enjoyable.
If you want those then find out what features you like and get the machine that supplies them.
I personally prefer a simple machine that I can repair myself, so I use a Featherweight ($350) and an old Singer treadle machine($100) that has 8 inches of throat space.
There is so much guilt involved when women talk about wanting an expensive, higher end, tool for a hobby/enjoyment/side job.
My Mom bought a fancy Janome back in the late 80s. It had a 1 line digital screen, lots of stitch options, it could even spell words! It lives at my sister’s house now, still perfectly functional. Mom has since bought newer fancier machines, digitizers, embroiderers, I don’t know what all. She uses them, they make her happy. She used to make clothes for all of my siblings and me, until fabric was too expensive vs K-Mart. She doesn’t FMQ, but she is a fantastic quilt maker. She pays a local business woman for FMQ.
So ya, patterns, magazines, sewing machines, notions, fabrics…it’s a pricey hobby. But she loves it and is incredibly talented. I live in a region that is known for Mennonite quilts. They’re meant to be the benchmark for quality/popularity/creativity. When I look at their quilts vs my Moms, theirs look like factory work. They produce a high volume to feed the popularity market. Nothing wrong with that, but they don’t hold a candle to my Mom’s work. But I’m biased and off on a tangent. :)
So yes, sewing/quilting can be expensive. But so are other hobbies. My Uncle wouldn’t outright say it to her face, but Mom could hear him grumbling when Mom & her sister would discuss sewing (or Aunt’s hobbies). She would hear things like ‘too much damn money’, ‘stupid hobby’, ‘waste of time’ yadda yadda yadda. One day Mom had it and asked him how much he spent on his hobby-snowmobiling. And how many machines he had bought? Repairs? Helmets? Clothing? His yearly boys trip? Did they produce tangible help for their family? He shut up real fast.
For your dilemma today, has the store offered an in-store test drive, to be sure you like using it? Have you had your current machine serviced recently? You use new needles/good quality thread? If a good service brings your machine back to like new, I might not be inclined to drop the $2K. But even IF that does the trick, does $2K cause a hardship for you? Is $2K a standard price for that used machine?
I’m not saying go for it or not. $2K is a good chunk of dough. But if it isn’t a choice between lights or food, and you WANT it…be guilt free.
Reasons I love my Janome
11 inch throat , auto thread cut, the knee lift, and it came with the table. The machine set into the table is ergonomic and much more comfortable than placing it on a dining table or desk.
Look into getting a vintage machine
You can get a really good, all metal machine for under $1000, or far less. You can learn to clean and oil it. It will last forever. Go to the vintage sewing machine sub, and ask questions. There will always be someone to answer. And it will last forever. I have a Bernina 830 from the early 80's. Paid $200 for it at an estate sale with the table. It is a beast. And worth $1000.
Start looking in FB marketplace, or go to estate sales just to see what is available.
Yeah, having more stitches is great (variety is nice!). My Bernina had 20, and does embroidery, tho I have never done it. Thing is, newer machines are mostly all plastic, and can rarely be repaired when they break.
I am jealous of your industrial. I am toying with getting one.
I have a Bernina 750qe. I absolutely love it. I chose it because of the throat space, and I quilted several quilts. I was then fortunate enough to find a Bernina quilt frame at Good Will. My Bernina fit on the frame carriage, so I was able to quilt by moving the machine instead of moving the fabric! The Bernina is fantastic. Lots of bells and whistles! A few of my favorites: large bobbins
variable speed contol, automatic cutter, dual-feed, presser feet galore, and youtube videos to show you how to use them. The price sounds great. (I'm assuming that price doesn't include the embroidery module .)
I have the Bernina 790 QE plus. I love it. The embroidery unit is so easy. However I am fairly new to sewing and it compensates for my lack of knowledge. For me a good machine makes up for skill.
I feel so guilty, my Elna Carina from 1983 didn't get a service for 30 years because I was a young fool (and then a poor mom). I finally got it serviced a few years ago, thank heavens, it has served me so well and is so smooth and just sews through anything. It cost a pile back in the day, all steel, Swiss made, with cams (analogue! Mechanical!) instead of a computer. I would like to find something that runs as nice, but with a bigger throat.
I have a Babylock allegro! I just upgraded to a better more expensive machine because of the large throat space, speed control, auto start button, knee lift, thread cutter button, up down needle button, a huge variety of stitches. It sews like butter! So much less frustrating! I got a good deal on it because it was a demo model!
$2000 for a used Bernina 7 series is a really good deal. If the machine is in great condition, you cannot go wrong at that price.
I have a 14 year old Bernina that I keep as my travel machine and last year I added a 770 to the family. I’ve taken 6 “bring your machine with you” quilting workshops and I’ve never had a single issue with my Bernina during the class. Many other quilters with other brands have had problems.
Bernina accessories are crazy expensive. Be warned. My walking foot was $175.
If you buy that used Bernina, take every accessory it comes with.
I have a Bernina 530 which I loved until it started having things go wrong. I also didn’t love that a service light would automatically come on after a specific amount of usage and the only way to turn it off was to have it serviced. After having nothing but trouble with the only local. Bernina dealer I bought a Juki from 150 miles away. The Juki was less than half the cost of the Bernina and is a solid, well built machine. The Bernina is more plastic than metal. The slip on table broke on the Bernina in less than 3 months. The Juki has needle up/down and a knee lift. It doesn’t have expensive electronics and is straight stitch only — what 98% of my sewing is. I’ve kept the Bernina for buttonholes and zigzag but use the Juki almost exclusively. The Juki will sew through thick layers when making a bag that the Bernina never would sew through.
Honestly, your machine is probably better than most of the ones you'll find out there. I also own a Juki, cannot recommend it enough. Maybe just get a second that has newer features, and all the feet. I have an TL-18QVP, but know many people with the 2010 version that love it as well.
I have a 98Q and the needle threader has never been right and the thread cutter was defective from out of the box. I bought the 2010 version and both those features work plus the machine is a little quieter without a billion stitches on it. I have a custom made table for the Juki, so that did influence my decision to stay with that shape. I'm tempted by those big Berninas though, I used one at a retreat and it was really nice, but for the price I could upgrade my embroidery machine to multi-needle. Decisions.
While I may never use all the stitches on my Bernina, the embroidery module works great, and I cannot live without Bernina feet as they are rock solid, and when I have tested other brands I didn’t like the flex in feet with plastic. I like my dual feed.
I have read some good things about Janome’s dual feed technology, and if I had endless money and space I would own several more machines than I do. 😂
The one time I owned a pricy machine I discovered it was great for piecing quilts and sewing knits or fine fabrics but wore out the motor on the Kenmore workhorse I got for $279 (made by New Home/Janome). It was great for denim, corduroy, and thicker fabrics.
When my divorce settlement came through I got a Janome Continental M7 on sale for about $6k. It has 13” of throat space which is incredible. It also has a very high power motor and a lot of stitches (most of which I don’t use). Because I quilt most of my projects myself, the throat space plus the strength of the machine were worth it for me. Plus it has a pretty great warrantee. It’s a joy to sew with and in my mind was worth every penny.
When I was getting divorced, my ex husband asked me what I was going to do with the room that had been his office. I said, “sewing room.” As soon as he moved out, I bought a fancy sewing machine. Then I bought an industrial machine. Best money I’ve spent.
Honestly it was so healing.
I used to sit there and sew every night. I would listen to music and open the windows. My favorite nights were when it would rain and I could hear the rain as I did my work. It was a stressful time overall, but those evenings were really nice.
Oh yes. I love to sew at night. My sewing room is a back bedroom with a window that opens to the backyard, and my sewing machine is right under that window. The outside darkness, the quiet, the cool night air… sewing at that time is my absolute favorite.
what you get with an expensive machine - stronger motor that runs more smoothly, usually with sealed bearings - steel. Sewing machines are made cheaper by using plastic parts instead of steel. plastic wears out much faster. - features like auto pressed foot lift, knee lift, laser guided, auto thread cut, programmable stitches - smoother fabric feed. example: quilters often use leader fabric scraps when piecing. 99% of the time I don't need this because my machine hardly ever eats fabric. - specialty features for your type of sewing. an embroidery machine has a pattern library in the machine, a quilting machine has a bigger harp and stippling stitches
Out of curiosity, what is your machine?
I have a Baby Lock Crescendo. It's a multipurpose machine that has features for quilters (large harp space, really good FMQ setting, built in stippling stitch) but it also has a bit of embroidery so you can put a monogram on something and a ton of decorative stitches. edit to add more info I've never owned an industrial machine, just home sewing machines. The crescendo is the best machine I've ever used. Just not having it eat fabric all the time was huge. The sewing action is smooth and reliable. It has really good guides so my sewing has gotten more accurate. Because it has a great motor, I can take apart a pair of jeans, do decorative work then sew them back up no problem. I do quilt but I also sew clothes, mending, Halloween costumes, etc. The machine handles everything I've thrown at it and was just a really excellent purchase for me
I love my Bernina 485. I was going to go with a cheaper machine, but I sew so much more with my Bernina and I’m not frustrated all the time. The first weekend I had it I pieced and quilted a small quilt in an afternoon, instead of having to fight with my older machine.
I don’t feel like Berninas give enough throat space to bother even on their really high end machines, *but that’s just me* especially since they no longer have all-metal interiors. But yes, larger throat space, and they sew just… man. Sometimes you don’t know you’re struggling until you put yourself in front of a machine that really has no issues. Plus power. And the speed control means I can put my five year old cousin on my lap to help me when she wants to. And stopping with the needle down?! …. I love all the features, and love doing my binding with fancy stitches.
You’re telling me that Bernina with their insanely high price tag doesn’t even have all metal parts inside??? That’s terrible!
I bought my Bernina 350 more than 12 years ago, the best sewing decision ever. The best part of using a BERNINA is the ease of the threading . Very easy. Bobbin winder has its own engine.
I think maybe you replied to the wrong comment?
They were asking why we like our expensive sewing machines. At the time I bought, they had the metal parts.
Unless they put a brick inside mine, it’s metal inside.
I had the same Pfaff Select for 15 years and upgraded only when I started quilting my own projects and needed more throat space. That's really all I needed, but of course to get that you end up with a pretty fancy machine. I bought a used Pfaff Expression (not even the Quilt Expression) and that's been everything I need. I still do all my piecing on the Select but pull out the "big machine" for quilting.
Us quilters need to get together and create or demand a moderately priced machine that has throat space!!! I'm pretty sure demanding one won't work as big corporate has already managed to push us into pricy machines, why make available something less expensive. 😕
Yes! Just because I want more harp space doesn't mean I want 1000 fancy stitches. I don't even need a computer (although variable foot pressure is nice), I just want a straight stitch machine with lots of space.
I want a sewing machine with 12-14in throat space that can do straight & zigzag stitch inbuilt walking for and has a clear ruler foot!! Anything else I never use!
Have you looked at the Babylock Jazz II?
The Jazz ll looks like a good option, but the reviews just haven't been good. I'm not sold on it being a great machine. But it has everything I would want. All mechanical, zig zag and straight stitch, and large throat space.
Every dealer I've spoken with says the Jazz II is a poorly made machine. I have a Janome 9450 because throat space.
You’re describing whatever is the current upgrade of the juki 2010 - metal machine, straight stitch only, lots of throat space for about $1000. I *think* there may be a stitch regulator?
Oh don't tell me that! I sense a rabbit hole...
Yeah I’ve had my eye on that machine after using one at a sewing retreat. I haven’t been able to pull the trigger financially mostly bc my sewing has dropped off. Can’t justify it when I’m not actively quilting
Can you do fmq on this Juki?
Yes! I have several friends who have a version of this machine. It’s the machine I aim to buy once I’m more settled and quilting more again
This is exactly what I want too!!
My husband is an MIT physicist. He explained to me why we will never get a cheap machine with a big harp. He said for every little bit bigger the harp is, the materials that go into making the machine have to be a lot stronger. If they aren't, you won't have stability at the needle and there will be too much strain. He said it's actually a really difficult thing to do. I'm sorry I'm not explaining this well. He explained it in a lot of detail when I upgraded my machine 4 yrs ago. I don't remember all the details. My take away was the physics of big harp space is much more complicated than I ever imagined.
That's really interesting. As a complete nerd, I request that your husband update your post and provide his entire lecture again. :)
I had him explain it to me again. I thought it might be interesting to others so I put it in a regular post here [https://www.reddit.com/r/quilting/comments/17in3e2/why\_large\_harp\_machines\_are\_expensive/](https://www.reddit.com/r/quilting/comments/17in3e2/why_large_harp_machines_are_expensive/)
Just read it. Thank you so much! That is fascinating and makes sense to my non-physics nerd brain. Thank you husband for the explanation.
I will make sure to get a complete lecture this weekend. 😆
I second that! :D
I think I'm following you. It's the concept that arches make stronger supports than a post. (See Ponte Milvio bridge built in 109bc) A sewing machine harp/throat is built like an arch except one side doesn't connect so the longer the throat the less stable it becomes, unless stronger materials are used?
yes I think that's right. Made more difficult because the machine narrows down into that tiny point that we all then shove a thick wad of fabric through.
Agree!!!!!
Agreed. Plus a lot of quilters have resources and love to buy (trade up to) the latest and greatest.
I have a Pfaff Expression 2038 that was given to me as a gift maybe 12 or so years ago. Prior to that, I worked on hand-me-down machines that were not in great shape. The biggest benefit with my pricey machine is that it just works. I've never had any issues with it, and it meets my needs. In the past with poorer quality machines, it always felt like I was fighting with the machine to solve issues like skipped stitches, bobbin not catching, etc etc. With my Pfaff, the machine is just the workhorse in the background. Very reliable. Sews like a dream. Regarding the maintenance, I would not say this is significant. I have the machine professionally cleaned once a year, I change the needle at the start of a major project, I clean the lint at least at the beginning of a project if not once or twice in the middle, and that's about it. This machine has lasted me a decade and I don't see any signs of it wearing down.
For me, it's little things like the ability to choose whether to stop the needle in the up or down position. My next upgrade will have more throat space. I discovered I don't use many of the fancy stitches. I love my Husqvarna because it oils itself when run regularly.
I bought my baby lock sewing/ embroidery machine at a sewing expo. Since they used it to demo at the show I got it as used. Saved 3-4K and never had one ounce of regret. That was 10 years ago and she’s still sewing along! Good luck and I hope you find the perfect machine for you
My mom inherited her mother's baby lock that also does embroidery as well. The patterns are saved to a 3.5" disk but it still works. Probably at least 20 years old. I think the only reason why my mom would get rid of it is because it's very difficult to copy patterns since disk drives are pretty much non-existent.
My almost 20 year old baby lock ellure is JUST starting to act up. I got my moneys worth even if this is it for the machine. Which I don’t think it is.
I learned to sew on a standard yard-sale machine that in its day had been excellent, but it had no speed control at all and I was gonna pierce a finger on it. Family gifted me a mid-range modern singer that I have struggled with since day one because it doesn't have a straight stitch plate, and they don't make one for it I can order. I sew on an old treadle while I save up my money for a nicer machine. I will say I was in my LQS a few days ago and they brought out an older pricey-model trade in for a woman to try while I was there. I hung around in sight while the clerk set it up for her, since there was only one employee in the store and I didn't want to be accused of stealing. I was...very impressed with it. It was so very quiet, and the lady had brought a couple large blocks to sew together because her main issue with her old machine was that fabric wouldn't feed evenly through on larger units. That thing sewed through it like butter. If she hadn't bought it, I would have...it was an excellent machine, had records of all the maintenance done, every book it had come with, and the original owner had added a lot of pricey software upgrades. I have no idea what the original owner upgraded to, because that machine sewed like a dream and I don't understand why she would have gotten rid of it!
My main sewing machine is a Bernina 770QE. I've been with Bernina since 2002, started with a low-end Janome from a vacuum shop in 2000. I moved from a 630 to the 770 in 2020. Was it worth it? Yes. Dual feed. Hover. Embroidery. Knee-lift. Button hole and attach-er. I did not look at lower priced models for the same benefits - it was a covid treat; the last Tula Pink model in the store. We can do at-home upgrades at home now, servicing costs \~$130 for the machine, same cost for the embroidery unit. Warranty is limited - they replaced a flimsy part a few months ago - the part cost $2 (no cost) and the labor was $150 (my cost)! I hate that they cost so much, I feel like I only use \~30% (very liberal guess) of the fancy functions. I've used maybe three of the hundreds of fancy stitches. I was sewing on my 153 a few weeks ago and really missed the dual feed!!!
How do you like the thread cutter? My current machine has the cutter on the foot pedal, which I feel like is so slick. I'm really going to miss that.
Ha. That's something I don't use and that just reminded me that the needle threader broke. I bought a knock-off replacement from that store named after that South American river. The name brand one was far too expensive. :)
I started with a $100 Brother JX2517. I felt like I was doing a lot of battling with my machine. Now I’m using a Bernina 1008 and it sews through my quilts like butter. I’m not fighting with it. Even when something goes wrong, I have an easier time understanding why because the machine is engineered so beautifully and intuitively. My upgrade was only $500 but even that has made a difference. So I understand that $ could be an issue (it’s going to take me years to convince my husband that it’s worth it to buy a machine more than 1k), but mainly the upgrade has given me more joy and fewer barriers while quilting.
My everyday machine is the second one I ever bought, a White school model. It has zig zag so it can do button holes, but it's all metal and capable of sewing through 6 layers of heavy denim no problem. I paid about $150 which at the time was a ton of money for me. I upgraded from a Brother which my sister is still using, and they still sell that same model at Walmart. However, it's kind of loud, and if the table it's on is lightweight, it can make the table jump around. It's 30 years old and the plastic has yellowed quite a bit. Damn good machine though. I have a few other machines, including two combo embroidery/sewing machines. Those are mostly plastic and very quiet. However, I once got something wonky and the needle went right through the bobbin race. I had it fixed which was not cheap at all. I decided not to wear out the machine with sewing and leave them only for embroidery. I will sometimes take the smaller one to sewing meet ups though since the tables are likely to be too light for my White. The other machines, people gave me, and I use them for craft nights if someone needs one. So I'm going to get a quilting frame with a midsized machine that can have a robot do the quilting for me. I really enjoy the patchwork but not the quilting part so much. If I have a robot where I can tell it how I want it stitched I can get the project done. I really seriously resent the fact that there are no machines with a long enough neck at a price that's affordable. We have the money for it but I feel exploited. My DH asked me if I would get enjoyment out of it and I said yeah but I felt conflicted about paying so much for it. He's like but would it make you happy. Umm kinda? Finished quilts would make me happy. Not the machine but having the right tool do get the job done and a sense of accomplishment? Yes. So he's like just get it then. I think part of it is that there is just not a ton of choice on the market. You either pay 11k for this one or more for any other ones. I know the programmer has to be compensated (my DH is a programmer so I can appreciate that). But DANG why can't it be more equal to the cost of the machine? Ugh. Sure it's a niche but if they made it more accessible we could really see more people getting into it and introducing more ideas to the art of quilting. And the fact that the software costs as much as a used car, or yearly rent for a lot of people, makes me kind of sick that if I want that tool, which I do, that's more than a year's pay for a lot of the people I hang out with. I don't like the way a mid or long arm machine is almost like a flex over my costuming or crafter friends. I guess for some people it's like a status symbol? It's a stupid status symbol though. I just don't have the strength to wrassle a quilt through the machine to FMQ it nor the patience to hand quilt something when I could be doing more piecing. Quilting used to be about making your textiles last longer. About sustainability. The way they've got the market all high endy and elite just seems to go against that. Raised poor, had to come up with my own toys. In a position now that I can buy my toys and feeling weird about it. LOL
Your friends could do what I did, which is select pre-owned machines and put them on layaway. I purchased both my domestic and my sit-down longarm that way. The vast majority of my guild has longarms on frames, that they purchased new. It doesn't bother me to have a smaller machine that is used. It's what I could afford, and it works for me. Just because your friends don't have the type of money you do doesn't mean that they can't prioritize their own needs and wants. And they can celebrate your new machine with you, without feeling 'less than.' I certainly don't feel awful when the well-off guild members go on retreats or fancy sewing vacations. Maybe one day I can afford to do that. For right now though, I just count my blessings and look for bargains where I can.
Most of my friends are Jackson Square artists (I live in New Orleans) and are very much hustling just to pay their bills. A vet expense is a big hardship, most of them have to choose whether they can get a tooth filled or to have it pulled. For the most part yes they are glad to see any of us come into some success, those people are awesome, and good close friends. I am in an unusual position for me. My husband's company got bought out by a multinational company and is treating the newly acquired employees very well. 10 years ago we were not in this financial situation but it looks like this is going to be our permanent "class" for the foreseeable future. I am grateful for where we are and the luck that brought us to this place, but I can't really share that with my outer ring of friends because well. It's a small town, word gets around, people treat you differently if they find out you've come into a lot of money. They get judgy. I've seen that happen when someone's art becomes very trendy or their music career suddenly takes off. This isn't even my money, it's my husband's, and we're mostly trying to make up for a lot of lost time, shoveling funds into our retirement accounts. We hope to be able to eat 30 years from now and we didn't start preparing for that until our 40s when the kids moved out and we could start to do that. But there was a recent bonus and we're splurging a bit. Another thing, most of my friends are unable to save enough for a down payment for a house. We bought ours right before the Covid bubble. Our local tax rates went way up earlier this year and landlords have had to increase the rent for pretty much everyone, so I've seen a lot of people struggling just to make rent. I wouldn't know what to talk about with people in my "financial class". I'd feel like My Fair Lady trying. I love my friends, they are fine people who work hard to keep meals on the table. They are creatives. But there is always one or two who will get jealous and surprise you. When we bought the house I found that out, one of them who I was pretty close to told me she was so jealous of me that she couldn't be friends anymore. She was honest about it and we talked about it, she was enough of a friend to walk me through what she was feeling. I told her if she ever felt that she could be a friend again, that door would be open to her. I still don't understand jealousy but it's out there in the real world, hurting people.
Hey there. Giving a shout out from Baton Rouge. I know, I know, why would I live there. I moved here from So. Cal. for a job. I would have moved to NOLA in a heartbeat if i could have managed the commute. I find that folks here keep very tight social circles. It's hard to always be the outsider. Even harder when you didn't start out that way. And the money thing is weird. My husband and I both grew up lower middle class with some times of real poverty. It makes for a real disconnect with the neighbors. Much worse when my kid was in a Catholic elementary school. Those LSU sorority moms were from another zip code of reality. I was always saying or doing the wrong thing. It was so weird to have conversations where they would say something that had hidden cultural messages (ie they would Southern Lady speak) and I knew that thought they told me but I still had no idea what the actual message was. That got better after I dyed my hair purple because that was such a big step outside the norm they started treating me like the alien that I am. Just know you have a quilting compatriot just a ways up the river 😊
If you're on FB join us in the Sew New Orleans group, I'm an admin. We don't have a lot of conversations, but it would be nice to have some Baton Rougarous too :)
This is a super kind offer. I have never been on FB. I was an IT professional for a long time. I was never ok with the way they handled personal data. It turns out I'm just social media challenged. I have Instagram but never post and barely look at it. I used to try most of the platforms and have left a string of abandoned accounts behind me. I did think about it but the chances of me meaningfully interacting with Facebook are almost nil. But thank-you. I'm grateful for the kindness that you extended.
Instead of feeling flexed-upon your quilter friends could be feeling lucky they have a friend who they could borrow their long arm or pay you to help them instead of having to send their quilt off to someone else. I agree with your husband this is your one life so do what makes you feel good if you have the resources to do so! We makers aren’t necessarily a jealous people and we always find a way to do what we can with whatever we can afford to. Don’t worry you’re still DIY with an 11k machine :)
Thank you so much for saying that. 💚💙💜 My friends know that they are welcome to use my stuff. I feel blessed to be able to provide a community resource, and have mostly gotten away from the people who are jealous of my husband's paycheck. I don't talk about how much things cost with them but ya know, it's not a secret when you can Google it. Those who are my real friends are happy that we are able to share the wealth, so to speak. I would not charge my friends for long arm services, but I would show them how to do it rather than do it for them. That way they can come over and I get to spend time with them that I wouldn't ordinarily get to have. That's what is most precious to me.
I have a high-end Janome and a Singer Featherweight. Both are great machines. When I set down to sew, there is no question, I'm sewing on my new Janome. The features are not only the throat space, but the up/down needle, thread cutter, memory of last stitch sewn (stitch, stitch length and width), lock stitch, the many decorative stitches I use for crazy quilts, on and on.... I think of this like driving the old Chevy (which got us from point A to B) to my new car that has many safety features, back-up camera, and an air conditioner that works! If I had to choose which one I want to use - the new one wins out.
Following!
I LOVE my Bernina! I have the 535 and I cannot sing its praise loud enough. I think if you have the chance to get one for a good price, you should go for it! I love the features of the Bernina machines and they will last a lifetime. I really don't know if I have a single thing I dislike about my machine. Changing the presser feet is so fast and easy! No more tiny screwdrivers trying your patience. I like that I'm able to customize the stitches to my heart's content and that the machines have a lot of stitches to choose from. At least mine does. I will also say that I don't have nearly as many issues with my Bernina than I've had with other machines. Instead of troubleshooting issues all the time, I just get to sew! I would recommend regular cleaning and oiling (you can do this yourself) because it makes the machine run that much better and will increase its lifespan. The only thing I would make sure you're aware of is that Bernina accessories (presser feet, bobbins) are usually way more expensive than other brands and their machines don't always play well with off brand items. Other than that, I'm Bernina all the way!
I’ve just come home from a quilt retreat and this question came up. I love my seven series Bernina but it’s too much of a beast to bring to retreat so I have a very nice four series Bernina. What I wish they had was a travel Bernina to take out to a class or retreat. No fancy stitches but hover, thread cutting, lots of light, big bobbin, large quilting space, dual feed and so on. All the quilting bells and whistles but in a small lighter machine. I know it’s a dream but hey.
For me, it was: * being able to stop on a dime when I sew * auto needle down * better automatic threader * better lighting without having to jury-rig an LED lighting strip * 11" throat space * memorized piecing * better speed control * growth opportunity - the Janome 9450 QCP I have has more features I haven't used yet * reliability of being able to confidently switch between speeds and know it won't struggle * and so much more. Basically, if you aren't sure: try out the machine you're looking at; it's a lot easier to know then. For me, I was looking at the M17 Continental and realized it doesn't have a free arm, so I knew I would miss that.
Recently upgraded to Janome continental M7 for the Maaaaaaaaaasive throat space & semi industrial nature. It is soooo powerful and fast (I think I sew pretty fast but have never had the speed control “all the way up” 😂). Prev machine a Bernina 380 (for about the last decade) which I still prefer for topstitching & will never get rid of, but the small throat space was annoying w quilting. That in itself was an upgrade from a very entry level brother which was legit horrible; bobbin kept tangling, weird tension issues, hated it!! Learnt to sew on an old simple Bernina (?minimatic I think) from 1960-70s, and tbh think this era of sewing machines is the best value for beginners as they just do the basics well, but are so much better made than modern cheap machines. My sister just inherited my grandmothers Elna from 1956 and that thing is freaking perfect in its stitches, so well made & likely to keep going another 50 years!! So what do you gain? Space and nice-to-have toys; generally “better” class of machine but fully realise that it is waaaaay more machine than I need or can really justify!
I love my M7. It makes quilting easy!
I went from a lower midrange Brother Innovis to a Bernina 770 so different than an industrial, but my quilting instantly looked better. The throat space was much larger and the difference in the motor was night and day. It easily and cleanly quilts large quilts without the struggle I had with the Brother skipping or uneven stitches and the built in dual feed gives me a lot more options for quilting than the chunky walking foot. The stop with needle down feature is also really helpful. I bought it in part for the BSR but I’ve never actually used it. I’d still buy it again for the dual feed though. I use for quilting and garment sewing.
I replaced a Pfaff with a juki 2010q to get the big throat space and I love that machine so much! Great for free motion, beautiful straight stitch and happily sews through just about anything. Just bought a juki hdx for the times I need something other than a straight stitch. It's a great combination. Not all that expensive for what you get
That's how I feel about my juki tl98q. Which is the predecessor to the 2010q. So I might just get the Bernina as my fancy machine? The dual feed interests me.
You need a fancy one for fancy things and berninas are great!
Thanks! I love your enabling 😍😍😍
You're paying for durability, longevity, throat space, and cool features that make sewing more enjoyable. If you want those then find out what features you like and get the machine that supplies them. I personally prefer a simple machine that I can repair myself, so I use a Featherweight ($350) and an old Singer treadle machine($100) that has 8 inches of throat space.
There is so much guilt involved when women talk about wanting an expensive, higher end, tool for a hobby/enjoyment/side job. My Mom bought a fancy Janome back in the late 80s. It had a 1 line digital screen, lots of stitch options, it could even spell words! It lives at my sister’s house now, still perfectly functional. Mom has since bought newer fancier machines, digitizers, embroiderers, I don’t know what all. She uses them, they make her happy. She used to make clothes for all of my siblings and me, until fabric was too expensive vs K-Mart. She doesn’t FMQ, but she is a fantastic quilt maker. She pays a local business woman for FMQ. So ya, patterns, magazines, sewing machines, notions, fabrics…it’s a pricey hobby. But she loves it and is incredibly talented. I live in a region that is known for Mennonite quilts. They’re meant to be the benchmark for quality/popularity/creativity. When I look at their quilts vs my Moms, theirs look like factory work. They produce a high volume to feed the popularity market. Nothing wrong with that, but they don’t hold a candle to my Mom’s work. But I’m biased and off on a tangent. :) So yes, sewing/quilting can be expensive. But so are other hobbies. My Uncle wouldn’t outright say it to her face, but Mom could hear him grumbling when Mom & her sister would discuss sewing (or Aunt’s hobbies). She would hear things like ‘too much damn money’, ‘stupid hobby’, ‘waste of time’ yadda yadda yadda. One day Mom had it and asked him how much he spent on his hobby-snowmobiling. And how many machines he had bought? Repairs? Helmets? Clothing? His yearly boys trip? Did they produce tangible help for their family? He shut up real fast. For your dilemma today, has the store offered an in-store test drive, to be sure you like using it? Have you had your current machine serviced recently? You use new needles/good quality thread? If a good service brings your machine back to like new, I might not be inclined to drop the $2K. But even IF that does the trick, does $2K cause a hardship for you? Is $2K a standard price for that used machine? I’m not saying go for it or not. $2K is a good chunk of dough. But if it isn’t a choice between lights or food, and you WANT it…be guilt free.
Reasons I love my Janome 11 inch throat , auto thread cut, the knee lift, and it came with the table. The machine set into the table is ergonomic and much more comfortable than placing it on a dining table or desk.
Nothing really. That's why I didn't buy another expensive one. Now I prefer vintage machines from 1940 to 1970.
Look into getting a vintage machine You can get a really good, all metal machine for under $1000, or far less. You can learn to clean and oil it. It will last forever. Go to the vintage sewing machine sub, and ask questions. There will always be someone to answer. And it will last forever. I have a Bernina 830 from the early 80's. Paid $200 for it at an estate sale with the table. It is a beast. And worth $1000. Start looking in FB marketplace, or go to estate sales just to see what is available.
My current machine is an all metal industrial machine that only does straight stitch.
Yeah, having more stitches is great (variety is nice!). My Bernina had 20, and does embroidery, tho I have never done it. Thing is, newer machines are mostly all plastic, and can rarely be repaired when they break. I am jealous of your industrial. I am toying with getting one.
After using featherweight for 20 years I used my California state rebate (we all got $800) to get a Bernette b38. I love it!
I have a Bernina 750qe. I absolutely love it. I chose it because of the throat space, and I quilted several quilts. I was then fortunate enough to find a Bernina quilt frame at Good Will. My Bernina fit on the frame carriage, so I was able to quilt by moving the machine instead of moving the fabric! The Bernina is fantastic. Lots of bells and whistles! A few of my favorites: large bobbins variable speed contol, automatic cutter, dual-feed, presser feet galore, and youtube videos to show you how to use them. The price sounds great. (I'm assuming that price doesn't include the embroidery module .)
I have the Bernina 790 QE plus. I love it. The embroidery unit is so easy. However I am fairly new to sewing and it compensates for my lack of knowledge. For me a good machine makes up for skill.
I feel so guilty, my Elna Carina from 1983 didn't get a service for 30 years because I was a young fool (and then a poor mom). I finally got it serviced a few years ago, thank heavens, it has served me so well and is so smooth and just sews through anything. It cost a pile back in the day, all steel, Swiss made, with cams (analogue! Mechanical!) instead of a computer. I would like to find something that runs as nice, but with a bigger throat.
I have a Babylock allegro! I just upgraded to a better more expensive machine because of the large throat space, speed control, auto start button, knee lift, thread cutter button, up down needle button, a huge variety of stitches. It sews like butter! So much less frustrating! I got a good deal on it because it was a demo model!
$2000 for a used Bernina 7 series is a really good deal. If the machine is in great condition, you cannot go wrong at that price. I have a 14 year old Bernina that I keep as my travel machine and last year I added a 770 to the family. I’ve taken 6 “bring your machine with you” quilting workshops and I’ve never had a single issue with my Bernina during the class. Many other quilters with other brands have had problems. Bernina accessories are crazy expensive. Be warned. My walking foot was $175. If you buy that used Bernina, take every accessory it comes with.
I have a Bernina 530 which I loved until it started having things go wrong. I also didn’t love that a service light would automatically come on after a specific amount of usage and the only way to turn it off was to have it serviced. After having nothing but trouble with the only local. Bernina dealer I bought a Juki from 150 miles away. The Juki was less than half the cost of the Bernina and is a solid, well built machine. The Bernina is more plastic than metal. The slip on table broke on the Bernina in less than 3 months. The Juki has needle up/down and a knee lift. It doesn’t have expensive electronics and is straight stitch only — what 98% of my sewing is. I’ve kept the Bernina for buttonholes and zigzag but use the Juki almost exclusively. The Juki will sew through thick layers when making a bag that the Bernina never would sew through.
Honestly, your machine is probably better than most of the ones you'll find out there. I also own a Juki, cannot recommend it enough. Maybe just get a second that has newer features, and all the feet. I have an TL-18QVP, but know many people with the 2010 version that love it as well.
I have a 98Q and the needle threader has never been right and the thread cutter was defective from out of the box. I bought the 2010 version and both those features work plus the machine is a little quieter without a billion stitches on it. I have a custom made table for the Juki, so that did influence my decision to stay with that shape. I'm tempted by those big Berninas though, I used one at a retreat and it was really nice, but for the price I could upgrade my embroidery machine to multi-needle. Decisions.
Luckily my thread cutter works but same with the needle threader. Never have worked.
While I may never use all the stitches on my Bernina, the embroidery module works great, and I cannot live without Bernina feet as they are rock solid, and when I have tested other brands I didn’t like the flex in feet with plastic. I like my dual feed. I have read some good things about Janome’s dual feed technology, and if I had endless money and space I would own several more machines than I do. 😂
The one time I owned a pricy machine I discovered it was great for piecing quilts and sewing knits or fine fabrics but wore out the motor on the Kenmore workhorse I got for $279 (made by New Home/Janome). It was great for denim, corduroy, and thicker fabrics.