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Thursday, March 21, 2019

A Little Fun...Talking Sewing Machines

Awhile back, before Hancock closed, I tested some Viking machines and Berninas. Awhile later, I tested a Pfaff. I fell hard! I *really* enjoyed sewing on that machine, more than the others, and had my heart set on one some time in the future.

I am often told by well-meaning sewing friends that "I deserve it". Well, it is not a matter of deserving - I have NEVER had an issue with practicing self-care! :-p  Babies are expensive. Then kids are pretty expensive. Then teens are SUPERRRRRRRR expensive. We are in the home stretch!

After the sewing room remodel, we started talking about the Pfaff. I remember my local dealer having an annual sale and went hunting to find out what time of year that occurred. After exchanging some FB messages, I found out the Performance 5.2 has been discontinued! I was so certain that was my next machine!!! And there's no way I'm spending 3-5 times what I've ever spent on a machine without trying/buying in-person and knowing I have support. I had to rethink what machine we were saving toward and decided to put up a little poll on IG.


Now, I am obviously not going to buy a machine solely because people say they like it. We all have specific requirements and our own little quirks about sewing and know that there is no one "right" machine for all. But like everything else, machine reviews are very helpful.

SO many people weighed in - thank you!

I tallied up the responses. If people had multiple machines of the same brand, I only counted that brand once. If they had machines of different brands, I included both. And I only included sewing machines (vs sergers, coverstitches, embroidery "only" machines, etc)

In alpha order:
  • Bernina - 25
  • Brother - 7
  • Husqvarna/Viking - 13
  • Janome - 19
  • Juki - 8
  • Pfaff - 17
  • Singer - 9
  • Other - 7 (there were several but think Kenmore, Elna, etc. There was 1 Babylock) 

I can't say I'm surprised by the brands in the majority.

I had briefly looked at Bernina, Janome and Juki's website after finding out my beloved Pfaff 5.2 may not happen :) Size/weight aren't an issue -- I'm not looking for a travel machine. Super interested "on paper" in the Janome 6700 and the Juki DX7. Still hung up on a Pfaff because IDT!!!!! And I really love the ladies at the Pfaff dealer.

I also looked at a comparison of the 5 series Bernina on their website, but remember LIKING the machine, but not feeling like it was superior to machines with similar features. Because let's be real, the Berninas are very expensive as is the maintenance and additional feet.

Someone recommended the 480 and it looks great! Though the small harp space is a minus but otherwise, it's full of features.


Of course, NONE of this matters until I sit down at these machines and sew on them and make comparisons...but it's fun to dream!!

I live in the Minneapolis suburbs so have lots of options. Within about a 15 minute drive, I have:
Janome/Brother
Pfaff
Viking
Juki
Singer
Bernina

And with most of them there are several around the metro that would be a bit farther, but still an easy drive. 

This is a late 2019 / sometime in 2020 timeline so no immediate decision...but I would like to figure out where about my goal ($$) is.

I'm sure some of you commented on IG but I know a lot of people don't use it. So if you want to play :)

What machine do you have?
What is 1 thing it does REALLY well?
What is 1 thing where it doesn't quite meet expectations?