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?
60 comments:
I will start by saying that I have never sewn on a Bernina. For me are too expensive ( you know for the kind of many I have to spend on a machine, not that are not worth it ) and the costs of the extra feet are very high. I had for the last 4 years a Pfaff quilt expression 4.2 and it was a great machine. I changed it now with a Pfaff 720 that I can compare with the 4.2 only it has a few extras but it is actually the follower of the 4.2 . I will start that I have no dislikes but I have a few things I truly love: the knee lift, (my third hand when sewing) the ITD , the big space at the right ...I know is special for big quilt projects but I love it, very good lighting and I love how easy it sews over thick seams. I just made a denim dress and topstitching without any tension adjusting over three or 4 layers it was great. Also, this 720 has some of the floating stitches that Pfaff icon has but that one is 5000 euros here so I will take the 720 :)). Good luck with finding your dream machine !
I have a Pfaff Ambition and really like that. Being a state employee, there was no way I could spend more than a thousand for a sewing machine and would never be able to afford a Bernina. I feel like I got a great value for what I spent. So go look at the Pfaff sewing machines if you want.
Ask also about the guts of the machine. Some cheaper brands and machines have plastic or nylon parts instead of all metal moving parts.
The Performance 5.2 is being discontinued, but at the sewing expo in Puyallup this year they were talking about its successor and also the fantastic deals you can get on their remaining inventory of 5.2 machines. I understand your kove of that machine -- I have one, it's my baby.
I have Berninas - 350 and 750. The first is my 'travel' machine so I won't mention further. I love the 750 - it has Bernina's version of IDT, knee lift etc. It sews quietly and smoothly. BUT it was a present for my 60th. Yes, feet are expensive (but work well.) In the UK it has a 7 year guarantee. I think you need to go for the Pfaff since that is what you have been hankering after. It's all down to what feels good.
I have two older berninas and they have both been awesome. I too love my kneelift and that I am able to sew over very thick seams without any problems. I had never considered a pfaff but now I think I may take a look at them. I also have a babylock and it is wonderful! I'm possibly thinking of upgrading my berninas because they are 15-10 years old and are very reliable. Yes they were expensive but I was ok with the price. However the newer models are just ridiculously priced and I can't see myself buying one, especially with a child going to college in 3 years. Can't wait to check out the Pfaffs.
I am in exactly the same place. I had decided on the Pfaff 5.2 then heard they have been discontinued. The newer model is much more expensive.
I started sewing on a very basic mechanical Janome machine (the Sewist 521). It served me REALLY well for ten years and still has some life left, but it can't cope with how much I sew anymore... So when I went looking for an upgrade I did look at what local dealers had to offer and it seemed it was going to be a choice between Janome, Bernina, Brother and Pfaff. Bernina was out of my league budget wise and I haven't heard that many great things about Brother... I looked at a Pfaff machine that had the features I wanted and was within my price range, but after comparing online reviews of this model to reviews of the Janome model it could be compared to I decided to stick to the brand I was already sewing with. I went for the Skyline S5 and haven't regretted it for a second: it's fast, handles any fabric I throw at it, easy to work with and does automatic buttonholes without a hitch (which is entirely new for me). Also: knee lever! It was the upgrade I needed, and I think it will last me a good long while.
If you haven't already, take a test drive of a Juki. The feed mechanism is different ( box-feed vs elliptical) and it makes a huge difference to how well it handles different fabrics ( eg going from laces, stretchy knits, through to x-seams on denim and thick upholstery leather). The other things that sold me on the Juki was it's buttonholes ( both quality and variety); dials for changing the stitch length/width; plus a memory function so I can save common settings I use for top-stitching & lingerie stitches. Plus it was a fraction of the cost of a Bernina
Most of the dealers wanted to demo using calico. The best test I found was to take along some of my own fabrics to see how they would work.
Good luck with your search, it wasn't a process I enjoyed. But I think you will know which machine is for you when you find it.
I was in a similar position as you are a couple of years back. My 20 year old janome's buttonholes didn't meet my expectations, and I felt my shirts weren't up to par as a result. I researched all machines except Bernina (which I thought were too expensive) and had two requirements: adjustable buttonhole cutting width and integrated upper feed.
Surprisingly, only Juki, Janome and Bernina had the former. I was disappointed, because I had been hoping for a Pfaff. Juki didn't have the upper feed. I almost bought the Janome but ended up test driving the Bernina. I probably would have bought it, but I had taken Mr.Enabler with me.
I did end up spending more than I had planed to but don't regret it. Those buttonholes are worth it.
Which machine did you wind up buying?
I bought my Pfaff 7550 in 1994 at the Sewing Expo. And it was expensive at the time but I have never regretted it. I just love that sewing machine. It had the built in walking foot and so many features my little mechanical Riccar did not. I still have and use my Pfaff and would grab it first if the place was on fire. I am serious.
I go to sewing retreats and others talk about the poor tension or trouble sewing with certain kinds of fabric, usually light weight fabric, or they have trouble matching their stripes. They have to hold the thread tails when they start a seam. They don't like the buttonholes. And they all have Berninas. I just smile. For the longest time I thought if you were a quilter you bought a Bernina but if you were a clothing sewer you were better off with a Pfaff. I wish you all the best in your search and purchase. Jean
My friends who have Pfaffs love the IDT feature. I tried one of the higher end Pfaffs for a few m8nutes in a sewing machine store. It was lovely- it sewed through several layers of denim like butter...I’m not certain when I’ll buy my next machine, but I think that I’ll check out a wide variety of machines, at different price ranges (one can dream, can’t she?). One friend has travelled to sewing exposing and takes classes which allows her to try different machines.
Apparently my comment is starting to resemble a book, so I'm going to break it up. I hope you don't mind me "flooding" your comment section...
I've got Bernina 880 and Juki NX7 (my husband is very generous and supportive of my sewing). They are both brilliant machines, but they are very different. On a side note: they both have their own versions of IDT, a built in walking foot. Pfaff's patent ran out few years ago, and the competition jumped straight in there.
The only reason I have the Juki is because my 2 year old Bernina started having tension problems in the middle of sewing MY WEDDING DRESS. And the only servise for series 8 is on the other side of the country, so you have to post your machine, and hope for the best.
Now I have to give Bernina their due; the customer service is lovely, they were very quick to respond, organise postage, and so on. BUT I had to send it out twice, because they couldn't find anything wrong with it the first time, and there were quite a few small niggles for the first few weeks after it finally came back to me. It seemed to have "ironed" itself out by know by itself. I blame the postal service being rougher with my machine that I would have been had I been able to drop it off myself. So even though if I absolutely HAD to choose between my two machines, I WOULD choose the Bernina, I'm still slightly vary about it suddenly "falling ill" again.
They both have different strengths, although they would both achieve anything you throw at them. The Juki has a box feed, which sounds like a bunch of marketing mumbo-jumbo, but it is real, people! It does feed through any differing thickness of fabric. ATM I'm making a backed wool coat with horsehair interfacing, and the Juki is sewing through 6-8 layers of THAT.
The problem with the Juki is that the box feed will just force your layers through, and the foot cleverly changes the pressure automatically. Which is equally scary and amazing. And it works. BUT. The seam quality definitely suffers. The Bernina will sew through the same thickness, but you WILL have to use a hump jumper, and the stitches will look beautiful. The same will happen with the Juki, when using a hump jumper. The difference is that the Bernina NEEDS one, white the Juki doesn't.
Part 2:
Delicate fabrics. Back to the wedding dress. My "test run" with the Juki was silk satin backed crepe, and French dyed silk chiffon. So as delicate as you can get. And between the Bernina and Juki I would say Juki is marginally better at delicates, because of the changeable narrow feed system. The stitches are just slightly better looking.
Narrow hem. Again, surprisingly, Juki is better at delicate narrow hem, as long as you keep the narrow feed dogs on, instead of changing the plate, as recommended.
Invisible zip. Now here Bernina, with their extortionate feet, comes in with a bang. You can't compare the Bernina and Juki with invisible zippers, Bernina wins hands down.
Buttonholes. They both are brilliant at buttonholes, and Juki has a special attachment that will put perfect buttonholes ANYWHERE. So, say, that awkward corner at the beginning of the waistband. Or last button on a coat. Bernina's stich quality might be ever so slightly nicer (but that's just my opinion, one could argue about that), but it does struggle at those places quite a but, comparing to Juki.
Threading. Bernina is a clear winner. Bigger bobbins are amazing, just... amazing. The threading system is a work of art. Most importantly, it WORKS. EVEN ON SILK TOPSTITCHING THREAD. Juki looks a church mouse next to it.
The embroidery. Bernina is the first embroidery machine I've ever tried, have never been interested in it, but, weirdly, my jeans with embroidered pockets are the item of clothing I get the most compliments over. The quality is great, as far as I can tell, but I wouldn't be able to tell you if it wasn't.
All in all, you just have to love your machine yourself. They all do more or less the same thing; stick two pieces of fabric together. The "goodness" of a machine is mostly in our heads, so YOU have to be in love with it, and it hen will love you back in return. Just my humble two-pence.
Pfew, can you tell I have exactly 0 people to talk about sewing machines to in real life?..
Wow - love the comparison between the Juki and the Bernina above. I have a Pfaff 7570, bought 22 years ago. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the IDT and would not consider anything without a built in dual feed. After 20+ years of solid abuse it is starting to complain. The parts that need replacing are major and getting hard to source. I have accepted that it will need replacing in the next 18 months or so. I tried the top of the line (non-embroidery) Bernina at a show recently and was underwhelmed. It didn't do anything better or more desirable than my Pfaff. And it takes special sized bobbins that are expensive/difficult to get, and the feet are expensive, and so on. Just not special enough for me.
I looked at the Performance online and here in Aus it is incredibly expensive. I was thinking of getting a Pfaff that was a few rungs from the top. I have a Juki overlocker which is amazing. Also a Juki coverstitch that will sew anything. Then the Juki NX7 happened on the scene. I saw the in-depth video from Frank Nutt sewing in the UK. I haven't even met one and I'm in lust.
Happily for my budget they haven't arrived here yet. Sometime this year I'm told. Hopefully I will have enough time to save for one.
I'm a Pfaff person, but own a Bernina as well. My husband bought me a Pfaff 7570 back in 1996. It was the TOL at the time. Over the years, I looked at upgrading, but never thought there was anything out there that was that much better than what I had. I wasn't ever thrilled with the buttonholes, and ended up buying a Bernina 350 just for better buttonholes, but didn't really use it. I then saw a used Bernina that had a Bernina Stitch regulator, bought it, and sold the 350. I still really only use it for quilting. And I did after almost 15 years figure out how to get better buttonholes on the Pfaff 7570. Last year I started looking at upgrading the 7570, and was able to get a Pfaff Creative Performance (used, but had only about 8 hours of sewing time on it), and I'm surprised at how much I love that machine. Things I like about it that the 7570 didn't have: bigger bobbins, better low bobbin warning system, brighter lights, bigger harp space, the presser foot hover function, thread cutting function. I made some handbags at christmas and it handled the layers of upholstery fabric, interfacing and foam with no complaints. Also, the look of the machine really appeals to me and I find the touch screen fairly intuitive to use. My budget didn't justify buying a new TOL machine, and so I started looking for used machines around the time Pfaff was launching the new Icon machines, thinking that some people might be trading in machines and the local dealer would have a decent selection of used machines. The dealer did have some good deals, but ended up buying privately on Kijiji (I don't know if you have that in the US), and have been thrilled with my machine.
Hi! I posted a brief response on IG mentioning my love for my Singer Quantum Stylist. One very pleasant surprise that led to this being my dream machine is that Singer is part of the SVP Corp. That stands for Singer, Viking, Pfaff. I am convinced (after sewing on a Pfaff years ago) that my machine has the same “innards” as a far more expensive machine but has a much lower price. tag. It is incredibly heavy, solid, smooth in operation and has handled any fabric I’ve used so far with no problems. I don’t use the start/stop function much (allows pedal-free sewing,)but it’s nice to have the option. Buttonholes come out perfect, the stitch selection is more than I could ever use, and the built-in thread cutter is very handy. I expect this will be my “forever” machine, though it’s hard to get over the idea that I didn’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get a really premium machine. My only dissatisfaction is the light. I have a clip-on LED light that I clip to my sewing table to supplement, but that’s a problem I had with my high-end Jane,as well. I hope you love whichever machine you decide on!
Oops...it was a Janome that had dim lighting, not a Jane!
I have two Berninas. My oldest is the 1020 (purchased new in 1988!). My second (purchased off Craig's list) is a 1080. They both have a beautiful straight stitch and do lovely buttonholes. I know Bernina is an expensive brand, but mine are built like tanks and haven't given me any problems. I only bought a walking foot and an invisible zipper foot, so a bit of an expense, but not that big of a deal. If you have the inclination, a used Bernina is a good bet.
Juki HZLF600, best button holes ever with the clamp. Also, the stitch quality is really lovely and the machine has a lot of light so no eye strain. Negative would be a slight whining noise from the electronics. I see them on Craig's list fairly regularly from people who either bought them too early in their sewing career and cant handle the power or people who are buying must more expensive machines.
Why not buy a used machine? I have an old Bernina that I love. I'll bet that you can find your ideal Pfaff on ebay, or at a Pfaff dealer. They sell machines that get traded in for new ones.
I've had my Bernina 932 for 36 years and have had only two very minor repairs in all that time. I dearly love it. If it did ever konk out, I would buy a vintage Bernina as a replacement.
I have three Viking machines (one is a serger 936 ,one is an old workhorse 150E and one is a "can't remember" - either Diamond or Sapphire. I am a Viking girl. I also have a cover stitch by Babylock and it works well but I have not used it much. A friend of mine purchased a new Bernina from the Quilt show in Paducah several years ago. It probably had less than 20 hours time on it and most of that was probably just the light on. It was the deal of the century. And, Bernina offered her 3 years payment with no interest. Unfortunately, the local dealer who was supposed to provide the machine walk through and a lesson was unhappy and rude saying since you purchased this at the show, the profits went directly to Bernina and I get nothing. Yes, they are to pay me for my lesson and machine orientation for you, but they rarely do. My friend felt badly and the Bernina dealer so rude, she never went back.
If I were going to buy a new (new or "new" to me) machine, I would be forewarned and "forearmed"
with a bag full of sample squares for test the machine and see how it looks, feels and sews on all kinds of fabric....not that pretty little white fabric that it sews beautifully on....put that machine through it paces like you would a race horse. Thick, thin, slick, leather or plether, etc. Make sure you have plenty of time, had lunch or breakfast, turn your phone off, have a cup of coffe, soda, tea or water at the ready and sew, sew, sew. It is an investment to purchase a machine today. Make sure it is the one for you. And besure it contains all the original parts.
I keep kicking myself for not buying one when I had the opportunity too.There is nothing wrong with my wonderful Vikings and what stopped me dreaming finally was the realization of the money I had in the machines AND the Viking feet.
A cautionary note - I would like to think most sewing machine dealers and those who re-home used machines and honest, reputable people. Buyer beware. Know what you are buying. It is not unusual for a seller on eBay for example to change out a part on a machines such as a Pfaff and replace the part with a lesser quality part. I was told this by a repair man which says he sees it with some regularity. And, BTW I was not buying or selling or repairing so I had nothing to lose regarding the comment.
I have a refurbished Janome heart truth sewing machine, and I love it! It does so much well--buttonholes, automatic needle threading, needle down position sewing (my favorite). I think it is a great overall sewing machine! What is doesn't do as well--sew through heavier weighted fabrics. Once I am working with lots of layers I have to get creative in sewing my seams and eliminating bulk. This stinks cause I enjoy sewing outerwear!! So, if you are going to upgrade your machine, then UPGRADE your machine, lol! I am partial to Bernina because I used it for a sewing class before and I fell hard!! However, all of the ones you are considering are good choices,and I look forward to seeing what you find works for you!
I have a Pfaff quilt Expression. I love my machine but personally don't like the IDT. It was a deciding factor in me buying this machine 15 years ago. I find fabric getting caught up on it and it is more annoying than worrying about even feed. After 15 years the buttonhole and tension are still good but not as dependable as they use to be. I have no regrets with the machine but would not let the IDT be the deciding factor. Last summer a bought a Brother Innovis and really love it. I have no complaints with it thus far but it is still very new. I would never buy a Bernina because parts are too expensive in my opinion. One feature that I think is a must is a wide bed. I think all brands are pretty good and we get accustomed to our machines. It's a difficult choice. Can't wait to see how you decide.
I want to add that at the end of the day all we really use are the straight stitch, zig zag and buttonhole right? A good mid price machine instead of top of the line thousands of dollars means more money for fabric!
My only complaint is that it doesn't top-stitch multiple layers of thick denim well. I do also have a Bernina Activa 230 (entry-level Bernina that I bought used about a year after I started sewing). THAT thing goes through the denim well, so I basically keep it around for top-stitching denim. My understanding is that a lot of vintage machines do this quite well, too, so if you end up with a Pfaff and find that you have the same denim issue, I'd keep an eye out on craigslist for an old Singer or whathaveyou for your denim topstitching.
Dammit! the commenting thingy cut off the first half of my comment!
Anyway, the first half of my comment said that I have a Pfaff Ambition Essentials that I got 5 years ago for $600 from a local dealer (it was on sale, and I also got a $100 trade-in from an old Kenmore that my mom had sitting around that needed a ton of work).
What I love about it--the IDT! It makes sewing knits and other finicky fabric so much easier!
As a blouse/jacket/shirtdress person, I also really like the automatic buttonholer. It works really well most of the time, unless I've got a SA that isn't trimmed enough and butts up to close to where I'm trying to place a buttonhole.
I don't see myself upgrading machines any time soon, but if I won the lottery, I'd probably just get a higher end Pfaff.
Silly Blogger!!
Good to hear! I actually REALLY like my current machine and probably "shouldn't" be looking :-p But I can also see buying a higher end machine and having it for many, many years. There are some things that I am missing...real auto-tension, a straight stitch plate, a knee lift!!!! :) My machine makes very, very nice buttonholes so I will have to make sure I bring a few interfaced pieces to try those out!
I really should get the vintage Kenmore I have in the shop. I just know that I don't have anywhere to set it up right now. That thing is HEAVY. There's no way I can lift it and put it away if needed...but I also do not have a table that can store it. In time! :)
And the blind hem stitch!!! And the eyelet stitch! LOL!!
At MOST, I'll spend around $2k. My current machine is actually very robust. The few features that I feel like I'm really missing are going to be on higher end (not necessarily TOL machines)
Those Bernina feet/accessories are insane!
Thanks Vanessa! EXACTLY! If I'm going to do it...it needs to fulfill some requirements! And being able to handle bulky fabrics just as well as silky sheers is important.
People who buy used machines online...hats off. I could never. And yes, I always take my own samples to sew. I don't often sew quilting cotton or muslin and that's usually what they have :-p
Also plan to take some things that actually simulate difficult seams. I have found that a machine can handle x layers of (flat) denim fine in a test...but when those layers are part of an actual garment with other seams nearby, it doesn't handle as well.
That's fantastic!!
I have a vintage Kenmore gifted to me that the owner got in college...before I was born. That thing is heavy though. When I have a permanent place for it, i'll take it in to be cleaned up.
Yeah, I just know that I won't. The idea of spending $1800-2200 (which is where I think my budget will be) on something means I want it N.E.W. New, new. Not used, not a floor model. I could see buying a used machine as a backup though...always need a backup.
Thanks LK! I didn't even know Juki made sewing machines before this recent foray into researching. I knew they made sergers and coverstitches...but not regular machines.
I have the Quantum Stylist 9985 and it really has a lot of features that work well for the price! It sews fantastic buttonholes!!
I agree that the light is not great. But I also really want a knee lift and the option for a straight stitch plate...and more control over tension and presser foot pressure.
Good to know! I have definitely seen them sew beautifully!
Those Icons. Whew!!
I'm positive I'll find a machine I bond with :)
It is SUPER thorough, isn't it!?
It is interesting to know that the patent recently expired on IDT as I can see some of the newer machines (Janome "Accufeed" and Bernina "Dual feed") working better than they used to.
I can't wait to try out some new-to-me machines; mainly from Janome and Juki!
This is INCREDIBLE! Thank you so much for taking the time to detail your experience!
That's another great way to try out different machines. I checked if one popular sewing expose was coming here in 2019 but it looks like it won't.
Listen, I catch a lot of c*ap from people over my "lowly" Singer. But for the most part, that machine works very, very well. and we all know how much I sew :-p and the variations of garment types and fabrics. It does a lot of stuff pretty well.
And I do hear more complaints than I'd like over $2-4k machines...
I'm curious too which you went with!
Thanks Treefrog!! I agree, dealers and those pieces of thin cotton. Hmmph. I will have a bunch of test fabrics!!!
I have a Bernina 350 PE. It's small and as far as Berninas go, it's low end. BUT! It's a workhorse. It's no frills. I find that the way I sew, I don't necessarily need a machine that does 500 stitches, unless I decide to get into embroidery. This machine sews everything! I've had it for over three years and you see the type of sewing I do. Plus, it's being discontinued. So price wise, it's a great time to by it. It was originally around $1900. But the remaining ones are way lower in price.
Oh, there is PLENTY more where that came from :D
Patents are are wonderful thing in the machine world. It can make or brake a brand. Look at Pfaff and IFD, or Babylocks and airthreading. Their patent ran out, BTW, as well, hence the Juki MO-1000.
Glad my verbal meanderings were interesting to someone :)
In 2007, I bought a one-year old Babylock (Brother) Ellure (sewing/embroidery combo). Twelve years later, it is still going strong and does basic things (e.g., straight, zigzag, blind stitches etc.) quite well. I haven't had any major computer, bobbin, or stitch malfunctions. It's decent with handling thick or hard-to-sew areas, though sometimes it can take some wrangling.
The one thing I wish it did well (and will likely prompt me to start shopping) is buttonholes. In the beginning, buttonholes were no problem with this machine. But a year or two ago, the machine just gave up on doing buttonholes with any sort of consistency.
I haven't sewn on anything (with regular frequency) except my machines. That said, I don't know that I'd buy another Babylock again. They're okay machines, but I would like to explore Bernina, Pfaff, and Janome.
I have a Brother 6600 that my other half got for me when I got back into sewing around 5 years ago, a vintage Singer 403 that I got from Craigslist for a song after that (and have since gotten all the design cams, buttonholer, the large and small monogrammers and all the small and most of the large alphabet cams), and I just got the Brother SE625 embroidery/sewing machine when it was on sale a few months ago. I love all three and didn’t experience buyer’s remorse with any of them. The machines that I have do everything that I need my sewing machine to do. The only shortcoming that bothers me a little about all 3 machines is that the lighting is not as good as it could be. But that was resolved when I got an Ott lamp that sits on my sewing table. Ott lamps are amazing!
The 790, because of the stitch creator. Unlike others, I do use fancy stitches on occasion and I find narrow stitches to be too limiting. The 790 sews sideways and allows the user to create wide stitches, so I took the plunge.
I should also add that it sews multiple layers with ease. I made my nephew a duck canvas apron to protect him when woodworking and the material was very thick. It sewed through 8 layers without even hesitating at a reduced speed. I was amazed!
I have had a Pfaff, two, since my twenties. I've also had Kenmores and Singers. I would not trade my Pfaffs and their IDT for all the tea in China. I love Bernina's stitch but too expensive for my budget particularly once attachments are factored in. I've tried them and I just can justify the cost of their attachments compared to any other company. I don't find them any better. I will stay with my IDT Pfaffs and continue to have no regrets.
I have Bernina (3) and Pfaff (1) - the things I love about each brand? Bernina are very strong and can sew almost anything; they also do the BEST buttonholes. The triple stitch on a Bernina is usually VERY good and can look exactly like top stitching if I'm looking for that industrial style stitching in a colour that only comes in normal dressmaking thread weight. Because Bernina have very little plastic (they're heavy) they don't tend to jump and move around - nice and stable.
I LOVE the IDT on my Pfaff and can't find a better machine for dressmaking - the stitching looks good both sides of the garment. In addition there are some very good feet available - gathering, beading, couching, invisible zipper etc. the ability to rock back on the presser foot is brilliant - with this and the machine set for needle down I can change direction at will. (I do a lot of free motion stuff). Pfaff machines struggle a bit with heavy fabrics or thick layers.
All in all, I love them both and lucky to be able to have more than one machine - if I had to choose just one ... tough choice ... I'd say go with your heart!
I have a Janome, three good friends have one and tried it out and I really like it. But, I like Pfaff and Husqvarna also. The Janome dealer is within 45min and Bernina is within an hour and a half, ugh, small towns. I know if I still lived in San Antonio, I would have a Pfaff as they had three dealers in the area and they were so nice, lots of classes, etc. I'm super happy with my Janome, truthfully I don't use a quarter of the features and could probably pass with a Juki single stitch industrial machine but I do like my "Cadillac" , I may want to quilt something one day.
I am late to the sewing machine review party- but here goes.
When I started getting serious about sewing, I was partial to Singer machines but once I upgraded to a Babylock Ellegante I started to favor them.
My Babylock computer started to mess up last year and I wen to the dealer. At that time the Janome Skyline 9 had just come out and they were having a super sale. With the demonstration, service agreement, and 3 years of classes I was sold. I am not sure what you are looking for in the machine, but I can tell you this is a workhorse. It has a built in walking foot and does embroidery also. I have 3 new granddaughters, age 3 and twin babies and was looking for a combo machine myself. Test drive it and choose for yourself.
It comes with 3 apps that interface with your Ipad or Iphone to let you know when you need to change your thread or when your embroidery is complete.
The buttonholes are great also. Still learning the machine, but loving the ride. I hope this helps.
I have a Pfaff Expression 150 (which is just the 150th anniversary year edition of the Expression 3.0 that came with a bunch of extra feet) and I really love it. I bought it new in 2013 and it's a super-nice computerized upgrade from the baby Kenmore I was using previously. I LOVE the automation -- I'm a button-presser for sure (if you remember Gertie's post from ages ago). The IDT is really great, I wasn't sure it'd make a difference and it totally does. I like that you can disable it too, for things like setting sleeves or easing. IDT RULES.
The only thing I'm not 100% in love with is the buttonholes. They're fine if you do a "duplicate" buttonhole (this is time-consuming, obvs), but just one go-round with the automatic buttonhole isn't that sturdy or very pretty. I haven't made any buttonholes on fine fabric yet either, and I confess I'm a bit nervous about how it's gonna go down. Many, many test buttonholes will be made! Some people don't like the drop-in bobbin but I've had no issues with tension or ugly stitching...I barely touch the tension, actually.
When I was shopping, I was able to test a ton of machines before I purchased the 150 and the Bernina was indeed very nice, but the basic bare-bones model was $500 more than the souped-up Pfaff I ended up with was. I just couldn't justify the price of the Bernina, but I also wasn't making much money either. The lady who sold me the Pfaff said it'd be a "20-year machine" and I'm counting on it! I don't really want to buy another high-end machine.
(Oh, another bummer -- there is no Pfaff dealer out here in the rural tundra, and I think my baby is in dire need of a servicing. I don't really want to drive to the Cities just to drop off my machine. Grumble!!)
I saw where you plan to take your own fabric to test with and not sure if it has already been suggested but I would also take needles and thread you use. I use a lot of 12 wt and 30 wt so I include that in my machine testing kit.
What machine do you have? - Janome 15000 and 6700
What is 1 thing it does REALLY well? Automatic tension/quality of the machine build
What is 1 thing where it doesn't quite meet expectations? Piercing power but that seems to have been remedied by the hp foot (Janome 15000). Low bobbin indicator (Janome 6700)
"Can you tell I have exactly 0 people to talk about sewing machines to in real life?" - this is the best line... because it's true!! That's why I found this post!! Thanks for all your details!
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