Oh my gosh! Thank you for all of your advice. My head is spinning. I'll be traveling to my "local" dealer (1 1/2 hours away) to try out the Bernina. They don't carry the Janome but they have other machines. So I'll check them out.

I agree about trying all the different brands. In 2000, I decided to upgrade from my cheapo Singer with the thought I would buy a Bernina. But when I went out to the various stores, it was the Pfaff that really consistently sewed like a dream, whereas the Berninas were always balky. I got a Pfaff and love it. The built-in dual feed is great - without the darn walking foot blocking your view. I use it pretty much all the time except when I am FMQ.

Don't be so focused on one brand that you ignore others that may suit your needs.

BethMI

1stitchingwitch wrote:
I recently compared the Bernina 710 and Brother VQ2 (both with the same price tag). I have had Berninas since 1981 (801, 900, 730E) so didn't think I would like another machine but decided I would take a long hard look at various machine within my budget so looked at Husqvarna Sapphire 960Q (£ 600 less than the Bernina and the Brother where I looked) . I didn't want another combo machine so looked at sew-only machines. Although I really liked the Husqvarna it did not offer dual-feed which I wanted for dressmaking. After having a really good test-through I went with the Brother - it offered so many really neat features and the stitching was much better than the 710 offered. The dual-feed on the Brother is very impressive and I love FMQ on the machine. IT has 1/2" more harp space than the Bernina 710. I have had the machine since early July and have made clothes, pieced a small quilt, FMQ, made a bag that I would never have gotten through my Bernina 730E without having a major row with it, quilted using built-in decorative stitches so have tested it quite a bit now but there is so much more to try out and I am having such fun with it

Do try out all the different brands out there - a good tech and dealer is so very, very important these days with the very complicated computerised sewing machines so consider that too before you jump for a machine and spend the amount of money you do for a Bernina 710. Good luck with your shopping - have fun
Marianne

Glad you like it. I really love her quilts and she has great tutorials for QAYG too. Looking forward to meeting you too Anne. Only 4 more sleeps to go.

Isn't it wonderful the things you can learn from each other? Thanks, Rita, for introducing this link.

Hi Rita,
I've just been looking at "the quilting edge" my goodness you can get lost in there, but great stuff to watch....it's always nice to see other sewers sewing spaces.
Not long now till FOQ and looking forward to meeting up with everyone
Anne

Hi 1stitchinwitch, welcome to the forum. I don't have a Bernina machine but I did happen to see this blog yesterday. I am sure there are lots of people who actually have the 710 and will give you their opinions.

http://www.thequiltingedge.com/2014/07/super-sized-bobbins.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheQuiltingEdge+%28The+Quilting+Edge%29

Does anyone have the 710? Pros and cons? I'm thinking about purchasing one. I love my Bernina 1020 but am looking for a new machine with more space to maneuver my quilts when machine quilting.