Hi Carol,
Do you want a machine that also does embroidery or just sewing? I am not familiar with the models you mentioned. I have a Viking Quilt Designer, a model that is no longer made, and love it for piecing. For embroidery, I have Janome 10001 that is a combo sewing and embroidery machine.
What I love about the Viking is the the way it lifts the pressure foot with needle down when piecing. I have had it for 7 years and not had one problem with it.
Thank you for your compliment on the table runners.I am glad I helped inspire you to quilt. Which table runner did you make?
Linda OH

I'm now looking for the combo sewing/embroidery machine. I figured with the $ being spent I should look for something that can handle both. Both my serger and sewing machine were out of commission, until my husband sat down and looked at them, asked a couple of questions, looked at the manuals and now are both working again! But during the time they were down, I started looking at machines again. I always wanted the combo, I used to do a lot of hand embroidery/cross stitch, but with rheumatoid arthritis, I 've stopped. Now that I have the sewing/crafting bug going again...
I do like some of the options that the Vikings have and they seem to be quieter than others. The presser foot does the same thing on the machines I looked at which is a nice feature.
I've never quilted before, but want to try and everyone here has really lit the fire in me to try!
I made the May table runner with the 2 flowers on it. Serged and sewn, not my greatest work, but received compliments from DH, so I'm ready to try another! Have the fabric for the July runner, which I'll try next, all on the sewing machine, now that it's working again.
Thanks for your input.

A friend of mine has a Viking combo. I'm not sure which model, but it's a great machine. She can embroider large pieces and it has beautiful stitches for quilting and regular sewing.

Would you be able to ask your friend which model she has, sounds like one I might be looking at. Thanks.

I think one of the key things to consider is "follow up service". My sister-in-law has a BabyLock Elegante (sew/embroidery) machine & she got 3 years of annual check ups/servicing. The shop has been available by phone for questions/concerns/problems, and it is a LOCAL well established business. They've given her quick service thus far.

Now I have a friend who within the last year purchased a Pfaff embroidery machine. She has had some sort of problem/issue & took the machine in for service. While it is a local shop, the husband of the owner of the shop is the "service tech" & he has another regular full time job. Well, he has the machine "apart", has had the machine in the shop for over 3 weeks, & as far as I know, still hasn't diagnosed the problem. 3 weeks is too long, imo.... and with an unknown end point, who knows how long this basically "new" machine will be out of commission?

Both of the examples are pricey... $7000 or so... we're not talking about cheap machines. They are quite complex, computerized devices. Not everyone can service them. Also when/if you go to buy.... negotiate for "extras"... like thread, programs, etc. These things add a lot to your overall costs to owning & operating an embroidery machine. Availability of classes is important, too. Some shops have "embroidery clubs".

I think that in all likelihood that most any machine today will be fairly comparable & will "fill the bill" especially if you're new to machine embroidery. But the big difference is "Service after the sale"..... check that out carefully, preferably from other customers.

I have an older model Janome 9000 combo and a Baby locke Espire which is not embrodery. Both machines have their points. No experience with Viking. My personal opinion is who gives the best service. If it were equal then I would try each machine out and decide which met my needs, had the best stitch, and the features that served me. I have watched Nancy Zimmerman use the Baby lock Elegante on her show and it appears to be impressive but there again hands on can't be beat. Jayne

I have a Brother 4000D which was recently upgraded (software and continuous hoop) to a 4500. I haven't had any problems with it. It automatically threads, cuts and the bobbin winder is on a separate motor so you can wind bobbins while the machine is stitching. I have other machines so usually use the Brother only for embroidery but have played with the stipple stitch for quilting. It comes with 1/4 inch foot, walking foot and many others.

Mary

I appreciate everyone's feedback. Service is a big deal, so I'll take that into consideration. I'm leaning towards the Babylocks and Brothers and just have to get into a shop and try both at the same visit. I read that Viking is going through some changes and their products may not be up to their usual standards. For the price of these type of machines I want to make sure I'm making the right decision, it's been many years in the making, but this time I'm going to see it through to the end. Thanks again and if anyone has more input, please add!
Carol

My recent experience is this: the sales staff is very helpful BEFORE you make the purchase, and will brag about the servicing and the warranties, etc., but when it comes time for help afterword, it's like they all disappear. They are too understaffed and under-trained and only focused on the commission. If I were you, after looking at many different models and determining exactly what you want, I would try to talk to machine owners in your area to find out how helpful the dealer really is for service and demonstration issues after the purchase, that's what counts. My husband bought me a Viking last Christmas and trying to even talk to someone who knew anything was a chore. Then I had to leave the machine for a week, it had to go out to some shop somewhere. It blew a fuse after the first two hours of use. I also had a heck of a time getting my free demonstration which was promised because the staff wasn't trained enough, had to wait and wait for the one person who could do it was available. This was 3 or 4 months after it was purchased.

I have a Brother PC-6500 Embroidery machine. And a few weeks ago purchased a Brother PQ-1550S (straight stitch/quilting machine). I did this because when the embroidery machine was busy, I couldn't do any sewing/quilting. Because of how the embroidery machine is built, it didn't free motion very well. I took it in to be looked at and the people at the store explained the details, but I don't remember (something about disks).

My embroidery machine is about 10 years old and has been a good machine. It does have it's issues, but I think most of them are operator error on my part. I really don't use the embroidery option to any great length, so it's always a learning experience. The original shop I got the embroidery machine from has closed (actually tore down the building), but the new dealer (where I got the new machine), is wonderful and has never given me any problems, even on the older machine. I highly recommend getting an embroidery machine from a dealer where you can take classes. There is a lot to learn about the embroidery part.

Lafonda, my Brother combo machine has the same issue. The tension and presser foot pressure are controlled by the computer and it really does not like to do free motion.

I got my machine at a show. I found out afterwards that there was only one Brother dealer in town, way across town (like an hour drive), and then they closed. So while I love my machine I have always felt the lack of classes in embroidery that I could have gotten from a shop. I do embroider occasionally, but I almost always have issues and the process makes me so tense I don't enjoy it.

So my advice is to buy a machine that has classes available!

Donna

Today I went to the local sewing store. They only carry Bernina's. What beautiful machines...what expensive machines! The owners were very helpful, spent about an hour with me, showing 3 different models. Of course I fell in love with the 830, their top of the line.
Anyone out there have or had a Bernina, any feedback willing to share? I do agree with you about using a local shop. They offer classes, updates, servicing, etc.

I have two Brother sewing machines, so recently my hubby and I were talking about purchasing a long arm sewing machine vs. an embroidery machine. We decided that we really didn't have room anywhere for the LA machine so since I already had 2 Brothers I went with the new Brother PE 770 machine, it only embroiders since I didn't think I needed another sewing machine (3 total). But here is my dilemma, I am a REAL newbie at this stuff and if anyone has any advice they can pass on to my way I would really appreciate it.

Joanie

I joined a yahoo group for every embroidery machine while I was doing the research...that way I could hear from people actually using these different machines..the good and the bad! I found it very helpful !!
Some machines have terrible dealer help/repair after the sale, some are excellent...some you have to mail your machine(100 dollars both ways) to get them repaired..some machines have added cost for software, some it's included, some machines have very expensive replacement parts, some quite reasonable...all of these things and more are considerations...
some machines have pesky hoops and are hard to thread..some have more user friendly hoops and thread the needle themselves!
it depends on what you are looking for and what you are NOT looking for...the groups were the best way for me to get the inside scoop on all of the brands and models...
if you don't know how to join a yahoo group, just go to yahoo.com...if you have a yahoo e-mail, then just do a search for machine embroidery groups and start signing up...if you don't have a yahoo e-mail, just sign up for one(free), then go to the groups...
good luck, and i hope you get exactly what you want!! Donna