help needed to pick out a Brother or Janome machine

My only machine has been a Singer 50+ years old. I want to get a machine that will let me do almost anything (but not really interested in embroidery). I am a beginner/intermediate sewer even though I have been sewing for over 40 years. I sew a project for 10 hours a day for several days and then don't sew again for months. So I need a machine that is easy to use and not difficult to relearn every time I do a project or make a clothing repair. I also plan to do quilting later on.( I am more a craftsperson than a seamstress.)  I am willing to pay up to about $1500. A heavy machine is okay. I am looking at the Brother and Janome machines because there is a dealer in town. Also, I work with silky fabrics all the way to rolled denim. I have tried doing research and am pulling my hair out!!!! Because I use an antique machine, I don't know what features are important, what questions to ask nor do I really understand the machine terminology. I know when I retire I will use this machine a lot more so I want one that I won't need to replace. Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

June was sewing machine month on the Sew Mama Sew blog.  Have you checked out these posts?

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=828
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=831
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=852

I use a Bernina so I can't comment on the brands you are looking at but the above should be helpful.

Happy shopping!

I have a Brother Innovis 900D.  I have issues with it.  I have a friend who also has issues with hers.  You will definitely be looking at higher end machines than mine, but I would steer you away from the Brother.  I feel like I got ripped off, but it was my fault for falling for fancy features and not the guts of the machine.  When I took it in to be serviced (again) to a different dealer, they showed me the insides of the Berninas vs the insides of the Brothers.  Now I know why my machine was "only" $600. 

I would go to the dealer and take a few samples of what you want to sew and some thread.  Thread the machine, play with the stitches but do MORE than that.  I just ran the stitches down the middle of the fabric and of course, neat stitches appeared.  At home, when I tried to sew a purse, I realized that no matter what I do this thing does not sew perfectly straight - it pulls to the side.  I had it aligned, cleaned, etc. and it is still nothing like the Bernina I used in class.  Sew along the edge, check the quality of the seam... I for one can't sew all the way to the edge on this machine - it stops feeding and the thread gets messed up.  I also can't do thick layers (like denim) or it messes up the timing of the machine and I have to take it in to get it serviced ($89).  Check the stitch quality (top and bottom) and where all the levers are.  I don't use the embroidery on my machine (thought I would) because it's such a pain to switch out to the embroidery foot and it only has a 4x4 hoop.  I was a total beginner annoyed by my Kenmore that ate fabric and I did not take my time - I just said "ooohhh pretty!" and took it home.  Don't be like me

Erin

I wasn't considering Bernina because I didn't think there was a dealer by me. I was wrong. I found one not too far away. So the question gets expanded to: Should I get a Bernina, Brother or Janome and which machine? I will also check out the other posts and play with the machines as suggested.I appreciate the help!!!!

Have you looked at the Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 870Q? http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us/8681_9460.htm

If you want to quilt in the future it has a really nice C without being a mid-arm. It also has some great basic sewing features and a few bells (without being difficult to use).

If I hadn't fallen in love with embroidery this is the machine I would have purchased.

I love my Bernina Activa 220.  I sew garments, bags & quilts.  It is basically an entry model but it does everything that I need it to do.  I wouldn't mind a bit more throat space but it isn't a big deal. One of the things that made me fall in love with it is the classes that came with it through the dealer and the on-going support that I can get from them.  I haven't had any problems with it since I got it 9 months ago.

Another thing to consider is the cost of feet & which accessories come with the machine.  Also, my Bernina dealer has 2 sales per year when machines are discounted.  If you aren't in a hurry, you could ask your dealer when the next one is - most likely in the fall.

I think in your price range you have the potential to get a very nice machine but I would be wary of buying something with far more features than you need because you may find it more difficult to relearn after a hiatus.

I have a Bernina 930. It was the top of the line machine when purchased about 22 years ago. I would not trade it for anything. I recently had it serviced by the dealer that I purchased it from. It has been serviced about 5 times in 22 years. It still sews like a dream. The dealer said they don't make machines like this anymore.
I also have a Brother 850 D that is strictly an embroidery machine that I just love. It does everything I want to do.
I don't think you can go wrong with buying a Bernina for good hard working mechanism and great feet like the gathering foot, pintuck foot and walking foot for quilting and hard to sew fabrics like minkee.

I have a janome magnolia 7330 and am pretty happy with it.  it only cost me about $350 but it's done a great job so far.  of course, now that I've had it for a while I really want to upgrade to something that has more harp room for quilting and I love the idea of the auto-thread cutter.  I didn't think the auto needle up-down thing was a big deal, but now I'm used to it and wouldn't give it up.  I would also like an embroidery machine too, as long as I'm dreaming...  but, I was also looking at Singer 15-91's on ebay today....one thing I've found is I really only use a straight stitch.  All these other fancy stitches are a waste on me.

Rita
http://asinglethread-rita.blogspot.com/

You will probably get as many different opions as people who respond:)  I personaly own a Janome 6600P and a Brother 8500.  The Brother was the first machine I bought and I've never had a problem with it except that I couldn't free motion quilt with it (probably my fault more that anything)...it is a combo machine and now that I have the Janome I just use the Brother for embroidery, which it does beautifully.

Janome makes a good quality machine at an affordable price.  The 6600p cost me $899.  I bought it from a dealer but it was a trade in and he gave me a full 2 year warranty.  They are still less than $1500 new, at least in my area.

Go to all of the dealers in your area and try the machines you are considering before you buy and get to know the dealers.

When I was shopping for my new machine, I had narrowed it down to the Bernina 440QE and the Janome 6600P.  I love to quilt.  I really wanted the Bernina, so I went to that store first.  I was the only shopper in the store with several staff members standing around and not one approached me.  I expressed an interest in the machine and not one came over to show me anything or answer questions.  It is around a $3,000 machine.  So I left and drove down the street about a mile, and couldn't get in the door without two people rushing over with smiles on their faces ready to do whatever they could to make sure I had what I wanted and needed. Obviously, I chose Janome.  I got a great machine, a supportive dealer, and saved a ton of $$$.

Check out the machine reviews here at SMS and at PatternReview.com
Happy shopping!

I just bought a new Brother Quilt Club 1000 some weeks ago, and I'm very happy with it so far. The only real advice I can give you is to try out as many different brands as possible.
http://tinkelstein.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-did-it-brother-qc-1000.html
Everyone on the net raves about Bernina, and I'm sure they are very good machines. But when I tested the Aurora, I didn't like the feeling of the machine at all. My point is that everyone has different requirements what a machine should be like. I think it has a lot to do with gut feeling.
You will for every brand find someone who will warn you not to buy the machine because they had problems with it. (The grammar of this sentence is terrible, but I hope you know what I mean – I’m German). I guess a lot of people have problems with machines because they do not know how to use them properly or how to do maintenance. So keep an open mind… Good luck with finding a machine that suits you!

I'm pretty happy with the Brother I have. I'm basically a beginner, so its automatic needle stop is very helpful!

Have you also looked into Singer machines?

I have the Janome MC 6600P and I like it very much.  I have had it for approximately 18 months-no problems yet.  I bought it @ a local quilt show on the last day of the show  (it was the demo model) for $1000.  I use it only for quilting; I don't sew garments.  My first machine was a Janome Gem, and since I liked the performance of that machine, I was looking for a Janome went I wanted to upgrade.  I do free motion quilting on the 6600P, so the features I got with machine (needle down and automatic thread cutter being the most important) were really important to me.  These are not unique features to higher end machines, but since I didn't have them on my low end Janome, they really make a difference for quilting.  Not crazy about the 1/4" foot that came with the machine, which is necessary for quilting, so I bought another one called "The Other Little Foot."

I looked at the Viking Sapphire models, but I read so much negative feedback about them on SewPatternReview.com (if you have not looked at that site, please do.  It was very helpful to me when making a decision, since I was not a very experienced sewer.  Now, I am sure there are people that have Sapphire Viking models and are happy with them, but I read too many comments about them only taking a certain type of thread, threads getting tangled, snapping off, etc. that I decided not to get the Viking.  Way too much money to take such a chance.  IMO, a machine for that price should be able to use any type of thread. 

Some people complain that the 6600P does not have a free arm-this does not bother me.  There is also a knee lift with the machine that many quilters like, but I do not use that feature, so I can't comment on it. 

There is a group on Yahoo! that may also be helpful to you-Janome6500.  It is a moderated group, and they archive all the messages, so if you check those, you may be able to find answers to specific questions you have.

Hope this helps.