Sewing machine recommendations anyone?

[Vinca]

My 20 year old Viking went to the great repair shop in the sky. If you love your sewing machine, I want to hear about it. I've been browsing for a good month and can't make up my mind what I want. I do repairs, hem jeans, a few slipcovers now and then and some quilting. I'm leaning toward Janome, but I'm told Sears sells a machine made by Janome that's cheaper. I've also heard great things about Bernina and I really did love the Viking. The decision is driving me nuts.

[NMDemDist2]

1. do a search in this forum, we've had 2 or 3 sewing machine threads

with some great info

[Vinca]

2. Thanks - I should have done that before posting. nt

[Bjornsdotter]

3. I love my Husqvarna (Viking)

I've had it for over 15 years, along with a serger...I still get offers to buy my machine if I want to sell it from the people who do the tune-ups.

My next one will also be a Viking, no question.

But it really depends what you want to spend and what you will be using it for. Shop around and see what fits your needs.

I've gone through 2 Singers and would never own another one.

Let me know what you decide, I'd be interested in your choice and why.

Cheers!

[Deb]

4. If you loved your Viking/Husqvarna check them out first

My everyday machine is an old Pfaff 1222E, this baby is going to the grave with me.

So much is personal preference, take samples of the fabrics you plan on using, sit down at the machine and start sewing. Make button holes, change the feet and tension settings. Your old attachments might still fit the new machines. My sister has a new Viking/Husq.SE and she LOVES it.

Pfaffs are no longer made in Germany but I've heard good things about the new models from quilters, the dual feed keeps the fabrics matched. I think Viking bought out Pfaff or Singer(?) Bernina makes a very good mechanical and electronic, but very expensive. (My husband had to drag me out of that showroom.) :-) Janome's attachments are not as expensive as some of the other brands and a friend loves hers. The new models are out so you might find a good deal and I would definitely buy a good used before purchasing any new machine made in China.

Something I've never shared on this board, I do antique/mechanical sewing machine restorations as a hobby. It started out as a way to get the machine I couldn't otherwise afford. If your old Viking is a 6000 series, do think about putting it up on ebay. Even broken, that is a very sought after series because of the quality.

Almost forgot, Babylocks, another sister really likes hers, I can't remember the model she has but she did say there was a big difference in the quality of the models when she looked at them a several years ago.