Date: 11/3/09 11:34 AM

My husband surprised me by telling me to get what makes me happy but I still don't want to spend a huge fortune.
So now I'm agonizing over whether to get the Janome 200e, the Elna 8100, or the Kenmore Elite by Janome, or maybe something else all together. I looks like I can get one of these three between $450 and $750 after shipping/tax/etc. I really like the idea of the USB port so that knocked out the 300e and part of me yearns to have the sewing and embroidery combo offered by the Kenmore Elite, but this one would be refurbished so I'm waffling on this one, while the 200e or the Elna 8100 would be new never used machines. What would you choose in this price range for your first embroidery machine? Why do these decisions have to be so hard...lol

Reply to RJFoote
Date: 11/3/09 11:59 AM

I would advise you to be considering a field of at least 5 X 7. I believe the JANOME 200 only has a four by four field.
AND would also advise either having a usb port, or a usb stick capability. That will allow you to download designs without the use of expensive cards. If you are wishing to convert cds onto cards you will most likely need a conversion box.
Most other members are a lot more savvy than I on all this. Be sure and read the archive threads .. They should answer most of your questions.

Reply to RJFoote
Date: 11/3/09 12:01 PM

Will you benefit from lessons at a dealer? I would look for embroidery machine dealers and buy the dealer frankly. As in, buy the machine from the dealership where I could feel at home, enjoy the classes and possible future service, and the rest of it. That's probably the best advice. But I don't have embroidery experience, only sewing machine experience, and I buy online for the most part. For embroidery I would not. I would want all the benefits of a good helpful dealer, of which there are few near me.

Your budget is large, and you might benefit from spending more than you mention and buying locally. Why buy refurb when your husband has in effect freed your budget!

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"Begin each day as if it were on purpose."
--Mary Anne Radmacher

"No one should ever feel bad about buying a sewing machine."
--Sewwolf

Reply to RJFoote
Date: 11/3/09 4:02 PM

$.02 more from me.... When I upgrade from my Kenmore my #1 priority will be a bigger field. I have learned to use the card and I have no problems with it, but a USB would be my second priority. I have a second machine for sewing so the combo part is not so important to me. I have realized that when I do upgrade I will buy as much as I can afford so I don't grow out of it too soon! Have fun choosing!

Date: 11/4/09 0:51 AM

Yeah, you should definitely go for at least a 5x7, you might not get the "green light" again for awhile! haha
Also, consider you'll need at least a hundred bucks to get you started on thread and stabilizer. The Brother 700 type machines are standalones, with 5x7 field and I think you can get the PE700II with a USB for under 800, or the current model that's similar. You could also look for the dealer to throw in a starter set of thread if you buy new, worth a shot.

If you're pretty savvy with computers and figuring things out, you may be able to get a great deal online from Ken's or a place like that. However, I agree with the first poster that a good dealer is worth their weight in gold, especially if you need more guidance. I bought all of my embroidery machines online, and I figured it all out pretty well on my own, but everyone's different.

good luck and enjoy the shopping, it's almost as fun as the embroidering! Cheri

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I sew stuff, grow stuff, make stuff and bake stuff.....
Brother PC8200, Kenmore 18221, Kenmore 385.12614490, Kenmore 148.13023 and Kenmore Serger 16655

"If you can follow directions, you can sew!"

Date: 11/6/09 9:14 PM

I looked at a Brother 780d tonight at my favorite sewing dealer and am so tempted. They are no longer carrying Janomes but had a Bernette 340 Deco and a Janome there to compare with and while they had a couple of features that the Brother didn't, I really liked the Brother and the price though we are only talking $100 to $200 difference in machines. The difference in software offered was hugely different though. Does anyone know if Embrid software works on any of these?

Reply to RJFoote
Date: 11/7/09 0:54 AM

Embird will work with any of those machines. The software is not actually hooked to the machine, it's a design editing and conversion software. Essentially, once you download your designs into your computer, you will use embird on your computer to manipulate, resize, edit, and (if need be) convert the designs into your machine's particular format. Then you can transfer them from computer to emb machine with the USB port.

A Brother, Babylock or Bernina machine will use a PES format, a Janome uses JEF or SEW, and on and on it goes.
The conversion feature is nice to have, because it means you can use designs of all different formats, from the internet, CD's, etc.

Embird is really a steal compared to some of the brand name software, also you can try it free for 30 days or 100 runs, whichever comes first.

Also, since you are looking at this machine from your dealer, don't forget to ask about his trade up policy. Lots of dealers will give you full purchase price toward a trade up to a bigger machine, within a certain time frame. Good luck and let us know what you get!!

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I sew stuff, grow stuff, make stuff and bake stuff.....
Brother PC8200, Kenmore 18221, Kenmore 385.12614490, Kenmore 148.13023 and Kenmore Serger 16655

"If you can follow directions, you can sew!"

Date: 11/7/09 9:49 PM

Yes, my dealer has the trade-up program which really helped me decide to go with the Brother 780d. I figure if we don't "bond" I could switch later. I've been playing with it most of the evening.