Have fun with your new baby! Often times the deal breaker with any product is the personnel at the shop. The Janome dealer's loss, and the Bernina dealer and your gain!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

good glad to hear you got a new baby and you'll have years to enjoy her I have used them before and maybe when it time to get a new one it will that brand good luck have fun and happy quilting remember it's a new day Happy

I ended up buying the BERNINA 440 QE today. In part because the lady at the Jenome shop ticked me off. I liked the guy / owner of the shop but the machine educator was rude. I wanted to see the Jenome version of the stitch regulator made by the Gracie Co. that Jenome is adding to their their line of machines. The lady seemed to think I was presumptuous expecting the shop to have one for demonstration. I just did not want to plunk down $600 for the stitch regulator without trying it out. On top of over $2000 for their 6600P machine. If I only had to deal with the repair man / owner then I would have been okay but the lady was the only one that gave the lessons on the machine.

My hubby and I went out to Jackson to visit his friend for the weekend. They were not home ( they were on the way and we were early ) when we got there, so I told DH I wanted to look at the Bernina since we were so close to the shop. I really loved playing the machine and DH said to go ahead and get it ( I am paying for it) because he could really see that love the BSR. I walked out to the store with the machine. I could hardly wait to get home to play with it.

I did get it out of the box at our friends home and played with it. Jen was impressed ( she is a non sewer) I think I may have turned her on to quilting. We got her grandma's feather weight out... oiled it and fired it up. I left her making simple nine patch blocks... ( after another run to a fabric shop.) I also cautioned her against selling or giving her machine away ( as if she would since it is a family heirloom) I told her the going rate for the machines in good working order was over $500. Her machine is a beauty... I would hate to have someone try and con her out of the machine.

Anyways... I have been playing non stop with my new machine and I love it.... I probably would have loved the Jenome but oh welllllll.... I will have to suffer with the Bernina.... HEE HEE!

I have had the Bernina 440QE for about a year and a half. DH gave it to me for my birthday . I love the machine, it sews beautifully. I didn't get the embroidery unit because I wouldnt use it often enough to justify the cost. I did get the stitch regulator, it look a little practice to get the hang of it. Now I would miss it if I didn't have it. There is only 1 thing I would change, the position of the bobbin. My machine sits down in my sewing table so it's flush. Changing the bobbin I have to lift out the machine (not that big of a deal, just being picky lol!) I give the 440 thumbs up!

I've had the Bernina 630 for just over a year now, the longer I have it the more I love it. I chose it over the 440QE because you can do zigzag stitch with the BSR as well as straight and I can also add the embroidery module later if I want to. I haven't used anywhere near all the functions of the machine, but everything I've asked it to do has been perfect. Berninas are the Rolls Royces of sewing machines, but if you're on a budget, go for the Janome, all my friends who have Janomes love them too. But, as everyone else has said, first make your list of what you're looking for in your machine and then check it against the features of the machine to make sure it does everything you need, then finally take your samples to the shop and play for a day. If they're a good dealer they'll be very happy for you to spend time with the machine, you could even run up a quick cot quilt while you're there

I too am a Bernina fan. I first had a Bernina 180; now have a Bernina 640. I upgraded mainly to get the stitch regulator, but actually haven't used it much. I've never used the embroidery module, either, but hope to *someday*.... My happy daughter now has the 180. I got an excellent deal on the 640 on ebay. It was used, but looks & acts brand new (but do note that Bernina unaccountably honors their warranty only for the original purchaser, if this concerns you -- though I've never had a problem with either of my Berninas) If you're planning on doing a lot of machine quilting, a quilting cabinet that allows you to place the machine bed level with the tabletop is a good investment, too.

I also have a Janome Jem for a small portable -- I'm not wild about it, but it works well for its low price. It has built-in, non-adjustable stitches.

I also have a Juki TL98Q, a quasi-industrial machine which does only a straight stitch. It is VERY FAST, great for chain piecing and machine quilting. It has a large (9") open area under the arm that fits even a huge quilt easily. No embroidery option on this machine.

I know there are fans of all the major sewing machine brands. It's often a good idea to buy one that has a dealer somewhere near you, for convenience of buying accessories or getting repairs; but you can generally find accessories online or mail-order from a dealer; and in 40 years of sewing I've never had a sewing machine -- even my oldest klunker -- need a repair! Lucky thing, too, because I live at least an hour from the nearest dealer of ANY sewing machine brand.

My recommendation is to try out any brands you're considering (bring a project to the store, and spend a half hour sewing). Then, decide what you like the most...and buy the BEST machine you can afford! Get all the features you want!! This is a big purchase, and you're not likely to get another machine for years and years. You'll be using it nearly every day, and the right machine will bring you years and years of joy!

My turn....

Can you tell that basically we ALL love OUR machines regardless of what they are....

I have owned a Pfaff 7570 (older machine) a Viking Sapphire (fairly new machine), a Viking Designer SE (a little older than the Sapphires), and a Singer (very old 1950s model and made of iron).

I now have only one machine and it is a Bernina 450 that has the 9 mm stitch width.

I sold every other machine I had after getting the Bernina. Each of the other machines were absolutely "wonderful" machines, and they all had features and things that I loved. For me, it came down to which machine I actually went back to use over and over again. Because I had the advantage of having several, it was interesting that in my mind I always had a reason on why I sewed on the Bernina. After a while, it seemed silly to have all of these perfectly good machines just sitting idle and not being loved so I found them all good homes where they would be used and loved.

My advice is to not rush yourself if you can at all help it. In fact, I would take my own fabric in and sew and sew and sew on each machine that I was serious about. If any dealer gives you grief, write that dealer off the list and find another. Believe me I am positive that my dealer thought I was never going to make a decision. It took me several months.

My machine is perfect for me and I wish you an enjoyable experience in bonding with whatever machine ends up choosing you!

JoJo

If there's a better machine on the market than the Bernina 630, I don't know what it could be. This machine is simply outstanding. The stitch is absolutely perfect. The features it has are all a quilter could ever want. It embroiders like a dream if you want that option as well.

Have you "Tinkled" today?

If you're unsure what machine you want, I recommend you get a copy of a little book by Sharon Darling called The Quilter's Review Guide to Picking a Sewing Machine You'll Love.

It's available at Amazon.com, though I no longer see it on Sharon's website (http://www.quiltersreview.com).

This is like a workbook that helps you identify your own needs and wants, then tells you how to shop for them. It does not recommend particular machines; it discusses features and tells you how to test drive them.

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

I had a Singer for 40 years and my DH thought I should have a new machine so we bought a Janome 6600 P a couple of years ago and I love it. I can sew very heavy fabrics for DH, love the walking foot (a must), love the speed regulator and push button on/off switch, (I have lower back & right leg issues), lots of decorative stitches and easy to use. The only thing that I have any problem with is around the needle area, changing needles & feet. My short stubby fingers don't like getting in those tight places. I am completely happy with this machine.
Good luck on chosing your machine.
Carolyn

I have a Phaff 7570 and a Baby Lock and love them both

"What is attractive to me is since I had a Janome I have tons of specialty feet and gadgets. I am pretty sure they will fit the machine I am looking at.

"The Janome dealer is about 25 miles away from me... Bernina dealers are over 50 miles."


I don't have the 6600 Janome, mine is the 6500. But it's absolutely perfect for me. And you can get one for much less than either the 6600 or a Bernina. Don't assume the Janome feet you have will fit the 6600, because it's a high shank machine, while the 6500 is a low shank.

Having a dealer nearby is important, but only if they have great customer service! I would put that high on my list of things to think about when deciding on a machine.

Happy hunting!
Brita

I LOVE my Bernina 440!! I also have a 153 and it is now my backup machine. I am able to quilt a queen size on this machine with no problem at all. Can't wait to read what you finally decide on.

I am a Bernina Gal...440QE. I went from a 30 year old Singer...to a Bernina...in one great leap.
I just took a class to learn how to use the BSR...and the additional feet. I highly recommend foot #57...simply because it is a perfect 1/4.
Even without the embriodery package...you still get hundreds of stitches.
You are correct that the throat space is not big...but I still can get a queen size quilt thru there!!!

Perhaps my only complaint is...I find it cumbersome to change the feet...only because of my one finger on my left hand doesn't bend correctly. But that is specific to me...and no one else.

I think everyone's needs are different....think about your needs and pick the machine that suits you best.

Happy Shopping!!

FW