Every two or three years, I contemplate buying a new sewing machine. In the past this has entailed visiting various sewing machine suppliers with my samples and check lists and trying out the features that are important to me. Then I typically return home to my circa 2001 Bernina 150QE with a long exhale and the realisation that I’m pretty happy with what I already have. However, this time my machine is protesting at the hard labour it has endured. The ministrations of the local technician have not remedied the quilting tension issues satisfactorily and nothing can magically expand the sewing space available to the right of the needle as I quilt large works with intense linear stitching. So I am seriously in the market for a new machine and quickly.
When I analyse my sewing habits, these are essential features:
- basic straight stitching, blanket stitch and zig zag (other decorative stitches used only rarely);
- knee lift and needle up/needle down functionality;
- an open-toed walking foot (or equivalent) with a clear quarter-inch marking for bindings and, ideally some other kind of markings or indentations to line up with for linear quilting where lines are more like 1/8th inch apart – my Bernina foot works great;
- well-formed free motion stitching with a foot that works for me. I don’t need a stitch regulator;
- a quarter-inch foot that can cope accurately with bulky seams;
- easily interchangeable feet, preferably without much (or any) unscrewing;
- good lighting;
- fits a Sew Ezi table or comes with a flat bed table that suits my studio set-up;
- ideally, an expanded work space to the right of the needle for manipulating large quilts; and
- reliable performance with accessible, local support.
I’ve looked at the Sweet Sixteen but it’s designed for free motion not linear quilting. I’ve looked at quasi-industrial straight stitch machines such as the Janome1600P-QC and the Brother PQ 1500S but neither come with an open-toed walking foot with markings. I’ve looked at the Janome 7700QCP but I’m concerned I have become too institutionalised with Bernina habits (eg I’m accustomed to tapping the Bernina foot to change the needle up/down position without moving my hands) to really bond with the machine. The price tag on the Bernina 820 is scary and the machine has more functionality than I will ever use. So there is no front-runner or obvious choice. Sigh. Back to musing. I can’t dilly dally long as I need to get sewing!
Meanwhile, the Laundry King has ditched his PC and made the switch to an iMac and Mac Air (albeit with Excel for his mega spreadsheets). My incredibly tech-savvy brother was up for the weekend to assist with the file transfer and setting up new systems. It’s early days yet but I hope whatever new machine I decide to buy I am as happily engrossed.
Do you have any stories to share about new machines and retraining with new habits?
terrygrant says
I went from a Bernina 930 to a Janome 6500 several years ago. The transition was smooth. The Janome has a wider harp and many wonderful features that the Bernina did not have, yet was much less expensive. The 6500 has been replaced by newer models, so no longer available but I would buy another Janome without hesitation. My Janome is currently in the shop so I am sewing on my old Bernina until it comes home. I have made the adjustment easily
terrygrant says
Oops–accidentally sent that before I was finished. I think making the transition and changing habits from one sewing machine to a new one is not that difficult. It is like driving a new car–takes a few days to learn where the wiper switch is and how hard to tap the brakes, then you are fully engaged in the new adventure. Good luck!
Brenda says
Thanks Terry. It’s good to hear from someone who has crossed the Bernina/Janome divide without regrets (or denigrating any brand).
Salley says
I keep procrastinating…first my upgrade was going to be the Bernina 440…but it seems THEY have upgraded to a 550! So I will keep a watch on what people think of the 550..and hope some reply to you. Good luck… its such a big investment isnt it.
Brenda says
The 550 appeals for its familiarity factor (and I can use the zillion Bernina bobbins I already have) BUT I’m really looking for a larger work space/harp space with this purchase.
kateoz says
I know what you mean about bonding with a machine – I tried the elna lotus (I love vintage machines) but we didn’t speak the same language. I’m a believer in having more that one machine. My featherweight is the one I take to all retreats – absolutely wonderful for straight stitching (ie piecing), but of course no harp space to speak of for quilting. My Janome 6500 is set up permanently at home and I find it great for quilting. It’s still widely available. Why don’t you buy another 150QE? If you’ve had your current one for well over 10 years and you love it, why change anyway? You might be able to get a lightly used second hand one for a good price (My 6500 was one of those – bought from a trusted friend – I knew its history – and i couldn’t be happier).
Brenda says
If I could get the 150 with a bigger work space/harp space, that would be perfect!
Candy from Candied Fabrics says
I added a Juki TL98Q to my studio when the tech at my sewing machine store told me that the large amount of heavy duty sewing I was doing with my Bernina was not good for her. I LOVE the Juki, here’s a post about it I wrote:
http://www.candiedfabrics.com/2009/06/05/juki-tl-98-q-meme/
But it doesn’t zigzag. When I do need that function, I bring the Bernina out, but I hardly ever do. The other awesome thing about the Juki is the price, it was under $1000! I thought it would be hard to not have the heel tap needle down/up fxn like the Bernina, but quickly learned to use the button on the machine instead. And now when I use my Bernina, I still remember that heel tap, but miss the toe tapping thread cutter I have on the Juki! đŸ˜‰
Monica Johnstone says
I went from the Janome (was it a 1500??) to the Bernina 440 when I moved back to the States. Even though I sew a lot, I felt funny about spending quite that much for a machine that doesn’t have huge harp space. I felt like I got everything else that I wanted, but wish I had another two inches of space. I realize I was paying for stitch regulation but I’ve never really had mine up and running properly–meanwhile I got better at hand guiding and so have yet to get around to taking it in and making them get it working for me. I’ve had it 5 years now and my machine has done well overall. Wish the bobbin area was more easily accessible. Wish the various stitches were printed on the machine, not on a separate card. Wish the power cords interface with the machine itself was tighter. Wish the head would swing open the way my Janome did.
Kristin L says
I have had my Bernina 440 for about 6-8 years now and we are still doing great. I added the embroidery module this year and was pleased at how easy a process that was this many years later. I hear many good reports from Janome owners too though. It seems like the best brand loyalty is coming from the Bernina and Janome camps, so if I were to go shopping again I’d probably stick to those two. Other brands don’t seem to be as consistent with the praise. I totally agree with you that the 880 is probably overkill.
Sandra Champion says
I bought a Bernina Artista 640 8 years ago to replace a 30 year old Bernina 830. Although it has more functionality than I could ever use, I love many of the features it has and it has proved to be as sturdy as the old 830. If I were to buy another one I would be very, very tempted by the 820 and just gulp at the price. Did that when I bought the 640 as I had gone in to buy the Aurora 440QE and was talked into the 640. I have never, ever regretted it.
Bernardine Hine says
Maybe you need to consider having your machine looked at by another mechanic – my Bernina 1530 is 19 years old. About 6-7 years ago I thought I needed a new machine because I couldn’t get it running right, but changed where I took it to, and the new mechanic made the world of difference to it – he made it sew like new. And my machine has had a HUGE workload over the last 19 years, doing patchwork, dressmaking, seen 2 babies to sew for, and I was doing free motion work from the moment I got it and hasn’t stopped since! It’s been worth spending the money with a good mechanic to keep it going.
Candy says
I’m with the boys doing more computing than quilting but will be happy to hear where you settle as I feel the same way – we want custom build in our machines don’t we!