Crumbs, you mad woman you Not my favourite subject, as you can probably guess, I'm a philistine. I read a lot, I even read the Bronte sisters on occasion, but I can't be doing with studying it . Good luck anyway, I hope you enjoy the course and don't lose too much valuable sewing time!

It is English Literature - it is pretty heavy going at the moment ! Hoping it will calm down a bit x

How exciting, I wouldn't have been able to wait, you've got more self-control than me What course are you doing with the OU?

Hello Ali - yes, the machine is here - it was delivered by the Sewing Centre (good of them) because of the size and weight. I have been busy since it arrived on Thursday so it is still sitting in it's box! I have been looking through the instruction book. I didn't want to get it out and rush through it so am waiting for a few hours peace and quiet! I have just started an OU course so am bogged down with books at the moment. Hope you enjoyed your walking - the weather here has been like a Spring day today - sun at last! x

Hello Gloucestershirelady (Jacky?), yes I went to the Festival of Quilts every day, it's my local show, the NEC is only 20 minutes drive from home. I also help with hanging and taking down, it's great to see how the show comes together and be more involved with the work behind the scenes.

Have you got your new machine yet? I bet you're really excited. I follow a blog of a lady who has just bought the same machine, she's thrilled with it and I hope you are too.

I haven't done any sewing this week, we've had a few days in Norfolk walking and birding, the weather was lovely and the fresh air should have done me some good . Ali

Hello Ali - so you aren't that far from me - I didn't realise that you are in the UK! Did you go to Birmingham last time? I ordered the machine today, should be ready to collect in a couple of days - exciting - it seems there are some good deals around! I have got one quilt top that is ready to quilt, handpieced - and layered up. I do like hand quilting but on big quilts it takes such a long time. I have finished a wall hanging that is all hand sewn but it hangs on a wall over a staircase and I can't get a decent picture without taking it down. x

Go for it gloucestershirelady (I live up near Redditch, in Beoley!). Obviously it paid to walk away. One of my friends has this machine and loves it, she does a lot of hand work and (I think!) this was her first machine. She's done some fabulous work on it and we're looking forward to seeing pictures of what you produce. No pressure of course . Ali

hello alibeoli - your description of the 'hand quilting' stitch makes sense with what I saw at the shop. The demonstrator wasn't a quilter and she didn't mention invisible thread in the top. I have just come in and picked up a message on the answering machine from the Sewing Centre, to say that Janome have knocked the tax off this machine until the end of February. So having negotiated a lower price, it will actually be even less when I order it! Woo hoo! how can I not buy it now !!!

If the hand quilting stitch is the same as on other machines (and I'm sure it is) you need to use an invisible thread in the top and a cotton or poly thread in the bobbin. The machine then does a triple stitch where it pulls the bobbin thread up somehow so it's visible on the top, then does a single stitch which is (in theory) invisible, then another triple stitch, so creating the hand stitch look. To my mind though, if you want a hand quilted look, do it by hand, if you do it on the machine there are so many beautiful threads out there to showcase, it seems a shame not to use a regular straight stitch or do free motion quilting. Just my opinion of course

If the saleslady was any good she would have convinced you as to why buying from a dealer is better than buying online - whether it is or not! I've bought a machine online and been more than happy with it and my savings, and I bought my last machine from a local dealer at a local show. It depends on your requirements and individual situation, and how good the salesperson is!

Thanks Marge - I will try and find another stockist then - I thought there was a 'hand-quilting' type stitch - the demonstrator didn't know the machine well enough - and when I mentioned that I could buy the machine at a better price on the internet she nearly had a fit!

I've had a 6600 for over a year and really love it. It sounds to me as if you need to find someone who can effectively demonstrate and teach the use of the machine. My dealer included a series of classes in the use of the machine, and they were so helpful. Yes indeed, the machine can do a stitch that looks like hand quilting, and many others also. I really needed someone to demonstrate those for me as I would never have figured them out by myself. The manual is very clear, but I needed to have it demonstrated so that I could really understand. That's just my learning style I think. Hope this helps you in your search. Marge

The lady demonstrating at the shop wasn't really all that brilliant on the 6600 - I asked her about the stitches on the machine that are supposed to look like hand quilting - she couldn't actually get the machine to do those, bit frustrating really! Does this machine do these stitches? x thanks again

I agree with Maggie on everything - except I can't testify to machine quilting on it as I'm so far not a machine quilter! ha

I have had my 6500 since Janome brought them out 5 or 6 years ago. It is a regular workhorse. I have not been tempted to replace/upgrade it, other than getting the 11000, which I strictly use for embroidery! You can always use your other Janome for classes, as the 6600 is a bit heavy! Have fun making your decisions!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois