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Sewing Machine Predicament Sewing Machine Predicament
HeatherMac Member since 9/30/12 Posts: 1	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/3/12 1:50 PM Hi I am a hobby quilt maker. I 'English Paper Piece' quilt tops by hand and up to now I have also hand quilted them, only using my 25 year old basic sewing machine for joining the squares, and doing the borders and binding. However, I have recently been introduced to machine quilting and would like to begin to develop my skills in this area as it is much quicker than hand quilting and would allow me to make more quilts. However, my wee old machine is not going to be suitable for this and as it is virtually on its last legs anyway, I need to buy a new one. I have been to a few sewing machine dealers and have looked at a load of machines and have narrowed my choice down. I would really like the Janome Horizon 7700 with the large harp space and my local dealer will do this for £1299. However, at the back of my mind is this nagging feeling that it would be mad for me to buy such an expensive machine when I am just a hobby quilter. The other machine I tried out today and really liked as well is the Janome TXL607 which is £429 and comes with a free quilters pack which consistes of an extension table and a range of quilting feet. This is a much more sensible price but it does not have the large harp space. So, here are my questions. How difficult is machine quilting with a small harp space? Is there really much benefit in getting the larger space? Also, is £1299 a good price for the Horizon and would there be much of a second hand market for it should I decide in a years time that I want to go back to quilting by hand. Thanks in advance for your help. I am so indecisive that any advice will be gratefully received.
PattiAnnJ   Advanced OH USA Member since 12/3/06 Posts: 5231	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/3/12 5:50 PM The larger harp will be more beneficial in that you will not have to re-position/roll/fold the quilt as often. Take a small quilt sandwich with you so you can test free-motion stitching to see how well the machine preforms. As far as the market for this machine in the future - If I could predict what the future holds I would be making a lot of positive changes for this crazy world! ------ “I don’t give them Hell, I just tell the truth about them and they think it’s Hell.” — Harry Truman
Kayabunga   Advanced IL USA Member since 1/21/10 Posts: 124	Login to reply to this post In reply to HeatherMac << Like this post Date: 10/4/12 7:49 AM Life is short ... get the machine that makes your heart sing! It's not madness to feel joy every time you work on your quilt. Plus you don't know what the future holds ... you may end up stitching a roomful of quilts for the Queen.
Julkane   Intermediate PA USA Member since 9/14/07 Posts: 448	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/4/12 8:30 AM Get the best that you can afford. Yes you can manage to do anything with a lower priced machine but TOL makes it so much more enjoyable. The Horizon has the dual feed which you will eventually regret not having, IMO. ------ Elna Excellence 740, Pfaff Quilt expression 4.0, Janome 300E, Brother 8500D, Janome 900CPX CoverPro, Brother 5234 Project Runway Serger, Singer Treadle http://juliannasjourney.blogspot.com/
sewfrequent Intermediate TX USA Member since 6/27/03 Posts: 2935	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/4/12 8:31 AM There's some middle-ground here with the Janome 6600, 6500 and 6300. All those have a 9" harp and auto thread-cutter, knee lift , extension table. The 6600 also has accu-feed but the other 2 do not. If you love the Horizon, I say go-fer-it for the reasons stated above! Re-sale will be about half or slighly more than what you pay a year from now as Janome is coming out with 2 new Horizon models later this month. They will be quite a lot more expensive. Here a "good deal" on the Horizon is $2k....it is being discontinued so prices won't drop much below that.

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