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Considering Baby Lock Elizabeth Retiring soon and sewing again!
eakarls Advanced Beginner MI Member since 2/20/13 Posts: 1	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/20/13 8:28 PM Hi: I've been out of the sewing world since making baby clothes for my kids in the 1980's. I'm retiring, and really looking forward to purchasing a new (computerized) machine so I can return to more creative pursuits. I don't plan to do fancy embroidery, so I don't need a machine with a hoop. What I DO want is a quality machine that is fairly intuitive, has an array of stitches (once again, for finishing baby clothing!) and one I can grow with as I regain my sewing skills and add to them. There are a couple of sewing centers in my area that I need to visit yet, but at the first one, I was really impressed by the Baby Lock Elizabeth, which is priced at $850.00 right now (including lessons, case, and various attachments). Is it a good price? In this price point and skill/interest level, are there other machines you would recommend? What other questions should I be asking? THANKS in advance for any input you can provide!
Artsewer   Intermediate NY USA Member since 3/2/11 Posts: 1296	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/20/13 8:44 PM I tested the BL Elizabeth and think it is a very nice machine. The 850 is about the same as my better priced dealer. At this price point you may also like to compare it to the Pfaff Amibition. At around 900 to 1000 The Juki F600 is reported by many to be a great machine with lots of nice features, though I have never had the pleasure of sewing on it. ------ Bernina 750Q, 635E, 380, Serger 1100DC
KPM   Advanced HI USA Member since 1/18/07 Posts: 735	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/20/13 9:36 PM Yes, I think the BL Elizabeth is a fine machine for the money. I believe it used to be called the Decorator's Choice, which I bought for my daughter, and I have enjoyed sewing with it myself. But if I were buying today, I'd go for the Juki F600. One of my students has the Elizabeth and after using my Juki she plans on buying her own and using the Elizabeth as a back-up. She absolutely loves it, as do I, and I have machines that cost many times as much. I'm making a tote with many thick layers at the moment, and the Juki seems to get quieter as the layers increase! The stitches are amazing. The online sellers give you a great package, including 5 year warranty. At the cost of repair work nowadays, at least where I live, you can ship the machine back and forth more cheaply. ------ Let's just say all modern sms are well represented in my studio.
SandiMacD   Intermediate FL USA Member since 2/8/09 Posts: 1157	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/21/13 12:17 PM I love the BL dealers and what they offer through classes and warranties on their machines. I own an Ellisimo and an Evolution. But I would be heavily tempted by the Pfaff. They go up to 2 inch buttonholes like for coats. Plus the IDT and am in love with the feet. But the Pfaff dealer is over an hour away and BL is 20 min. So thinking about that and looking at the dealers online class calendars I might stick with BL. Then again, I am planning to make the drive to Pfaff one day and try them out. ------ re-living my youth through sewing...
Barbara Allino   Intermediate CA USA Member since 8/4/02 Posts: 35	Login to reply to this post In reply to SandiMacD << 1 member likes this. Date: 2/21/13 1:33 PM Pfaffs are great sewing machines. I love them. However, the Elizabeth is a great machine also. You get a lot of features for your money with Babylock. That's why I switched to Babylock several years ago. I paid about $1300 here in Northern California so $800 is a very good price. I have never sewn on a Juki so in all honesty I can't comment on their machines. I also have a Janome 6600 which is my very favorite machine. Elizabeth is a very cute machine with lots of available accessories. HTH
KathySews   Advanced Beginner MI USA Member since 10/1/06 Posts: 2916	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/21/13 1:43 PM I wanted to join in and say that I love the BabyLock machines. I have a Quilters Choice and a serger and love them both. I am now looking to upgrade with another BL.
elizajo   Intermediate LA USA Member since 4/15/05 Posts: 1181	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/23/13 6:24 PM My daughter bought an Elizabeth this summer at that price, which was a good deal compared to some of the others we saw. She needed a machine with a start/stop button, a needle threader and push-button thread cutter because of her physical disabilities. I only sew on vintage mechanical machines, so the extra "doo-dads" are frustrating to me, but she loves it. The thread cutter works great every time, but I find the threader is slightly finicky. She only sews simple projects on it, so we haven't tried buttonholes, etc. but the stitches she has used are perfectly balanced and even. Our local Babylock dealer is convenient and helpful, which was very important to us. At the time, the Babylock was a better deal than the Janome with the same features, which we would have had to special order. We ordered the extension table and I was impressed with the quality. ------ Elizabeth

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