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If you outgrew your first machine...
I was having minor issues last night (below) and my husband said, "well, don't worry too much about it because you'll probably need a new machine soon anyway since you quilt all the time." Which, of course, made me a little bit giddy, because although I like my Brother super cheap via Overstock machine, I am a little bit hard on it, particularly when I quilt queen sized quilts and do heavy fabrics for the bindings.
So, if you've outgrown your machine:
-How did you know when it was time for a new one?
-What features did you look for when you were buying the new machine?
-What brands did you consider?
-How much did you end up spending? (feel free not to answer, but I like to shop around/ get a good deal, and I don't want to buy a machine that is way overpriced, so this will give me a ballpark)
Stand up for something you believe in.
Re: If you outgrew your first machine...
I started with a basic Kenmore that was around the $100 range. No bells and whistles. It was a very basic machine but it did what I needed it to do. I sold it to a friend and she's been happy with it. I used it for maybe 6-7 months before I decided I was serious eough about sewing to want something with more features.
I upgraded to a Brother SE-350 because I wanted to play with embroidery. It was around $300. It had a lot of nice features, like a notification for when the bobbin was running low, a needle threader, automatic thread cutter, and start/stop button. I liked the additional stitch functions. However, I do A LOT of sewing and I pretty much killed it in just over a year's time. Based on that, I knew that my next machine was going to have to come from a dealership and I was going to need to spend more to get a good quality machine.
I ended up with a Babylock Esante. I initially bought a Husqvarna Topaz 30, but returned it because the features and controls were not intuitive to me at all. Babylock is made by Brother, and it felt very similar to my SE-350, only better. I can tell a difference in the quality of the construction for sure. Mine has embroidery capabilities, so that did make the price a little higher. It was just under $3000. THAT SAID- It is worth every penny to me. I love the features, I love the controls, and I have not had a single issue with it. Around this same time, my 350 had already been serviced twice and was ready to be serviced again.
My sewing is my business, so I was willing and in a good financial position to spend a little more on a machine that would be reliable and last. I didn't want to buy a new machine every couple of years. If you are serious about sewing and are willing to splurge a little, I'd check out a dealer for a long term machine. You'll spend a little more, but the quality is better than what you'd buy from Walmart. My MIL has owned her Pfaff for 20+ years. The lady at the Babylock shop was great and showed me a variety of machines in various pricepoints. Don't let what I spent scare you! Like I said, I splurged a good bit on a fancypants machine.
I still use the circa 1968 Singer that my parents gave me.
I made custom window treatments until a few years ago.
I also have a Janome 9700 which I bought when I discovered machine embroidery (about 10 years behind times). I paid about $2500 for it and parlayed it into a business after my daughter's wedding. The best thing about it (to me) was the needle threader because I am blind as a bat!
As my business grew, I became interested in bigger and better things and when I saw the Brother Quattro, I fell in love! The machine does everything but sleep with me!
It cuts the jump threads, threads itself, and it even places the designs exactly where you want it, without the aid of a seperate piece of equipment. When DH told me (out of the blue, one day) to "get it", I fell in love again! I could go on and on and on regarding what the machine does but see for yourself. Warning: The price is NOT for the faint of heart.
See here and HERE
I could say you'll know when you are ready for a new machine but I didn't; on the other hand, I had no idea what was out there!
L'isle Sur la Sorgue, Provence
Married 05.24.08
Missed m/c discovered 07.25.12 at 8w5d- Always loving our Peanut
BFP #2 EDD 06.08.13
"For this child we prayed..." (1 Samuel 27)
So excited to meet Amelia Catherine!
Use a different needle when you're working on heavy fabrics. Remember to change your needle often. I've actually heard people say that you should change your needle at the beginning of every project. Maintain your machine - clean it out and oil it once in a while.
I finally bought a new machine when I got fed up with my 1960s Sears Kenmore eating my nice garment fabric. A cousin finally bought a new machine when her Brother wouldn't stop leaking oil onto her fabrics.
I loved Pfaff's built in walking foot. I could care less about having it for quilting, but I adore it when working on knits ore more slippery garment materials.
I'd always heard that when you buy a Bernina, you're paying for the brand name. So I went to look at them, and found that they're not that much different from Pfaffs or Janomes or any other nice machine.
My Pfaff dealer is 20 miles away when I need to have it worked on. The Bernina dealer at the time was 90 miles away. Definitely figured that into my final decision.
I got a screaming deal on the previous year's Pfaff model. They had just completely changed the look of the machines. I think I ended up getting a $2,000 machine for $1,500 or something. It was like 10 years ago, so I don't exactly remember. I wasn't worried about the money because I knew I would use the machine forever. Sewing wasn't a passing fancy, so I was willing to make the investment.
Sewing machines are like cars, you can spend as much as you want to. A "good deal" is going to be different for everybody. And everybody wants something different out of their car.
Don't get suckered in by all the fancy new bits. Go to a dealer if you can and test drive some.
My machine has like 200 different stitches or something. I use straight stitch and zig-zag. That's it.
A friend has a machine with a built in thread cutter, but the ends are just a little too long for her so she never uses it and still clips threads herself.
I hate one of my friends machines that automatically puts the presser foot down for you. So annoying!
I've got enough stuff in my sewing room, I don't want to keep track of a stylus to use on a touch screen one.
I've used a machine with a knee lift a few times. The lever that sticks out just ends up getting in my way when I need to get up to iron something.
I meant to reply to this before, since I just upgraded this summer and it's all fresh in my mind. First off, if you're quilting heavily and using (and abusing) your machine, when you upgrade, REALLY upgrade, it WILL be worth it. I went from a $130 Walmart Brother to a $2000 Pfaff (the Quilt Expression 4.0) and I LOVE IT. Like, I LOOOOOOVE IT. The IDT walking foot is amazing, the longer arm is awesome (Pfaff is pretty much the only one with longer arms for their quilting machines, some of the other brands are catching up, but you will love the longer arm), and the customer service at the shop I bought it at has been fantastic (which could be different for you, but it's a big reason why I went with this machine). I've heard some good about Berninas, and I may get run out of here for saying this, but the main thing that made me overlook them is that in conversation with a lady at a quilt shop (not the same quilt shop I bought my Pfaff from), said that at retreats and classes, it seems like the Berninas are always the ones having trouble. She had even owned a Bernina.
Anyway, back to your questions. It was time for a new one when my Brother had to go to the shop twice in three months for a "cheap machine" issue. My husband told me to just go spend the money and get something that I love that will last me and handle the abuse I put to it.
As far as features, I really wanted the longer arm that the Pfaffs had, and I really didn't look any further. I just loved all the little things about it. I didn't really consider any other brands after my mom checked out the Pfaffs at the quilt shop and said she loved them. Any other specific questions, feel free to PM me!
Lily loves her new little sister!
Lily Sue 8.17.2009
Forever loved and missed...Dot 6.14.10, Little Bit 8.20.10, Speck 3.16.11
Adair Leigh 3.27.12