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Retiring soon and sewing again! (Moderated by Sharon1952, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 2/20/13 8:28 PM ET
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!
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!
Posted on: 2/20/13 8:44 PM ET
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.
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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.
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Bernina 790Plus, 635E, Juki 2010
Babylock Evolve Babylock Sashiko2
Babylock Evolve Babylock Sashiko2
Posted on: 2/20/13 9:36 PM ET
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.
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Main squeezes: Juki Haruka (18QVP), Brother Luminaire 2, BL Triumph, Pfaff Icon
Posted on: 2/21/13 12:17 PM ET
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.
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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.
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Needlework brings joy and meaning to my life...member of ASG
Now using: Singer 301, Pfaff 6152 & BL Enlighten serger
Now using: Singer 301, Pfaff 6152 & BL Enlighten serger
Posted on: 2/21/13 1:33 PM ET
In reply to SandiMacD
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
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Elizabeth is a very cute machine with lots of available accessories. HTH
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Just Breathe! All will be well.
Home to a: Pfaff Performance 5, Babylock Spirit , Janome 6600, Babylock Enlighten and a Babylock Cover Stitch
Home to a: Pfaff Performance 5, Babylock Spirit , Janome 6600, Babylock Enlighten and a Babylock Cover Stitch
Posted on: 2/21/13 1:43 PM ET
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.
Posted on: 2/23/13 6:24 PM ET
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.
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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.
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Elizabeth
Posted on: 12/8/13 1:00 PM ET
My Trusty Viking just died and I am looking for a new machine. Where are you getting these low prices? The BL dealer is doing almost SRPricing. I like the BL Elizabeth; but friends are telling me to look at Pfaff, Bernina and Elna. I live in the country- so any runs to town are time crunches!
Posted on: 12/8/13 1:18 PM ET
In reply to sewhilltop
Quote: sewhilltop
My Trusty Viking just died and I am looking for a new machine. Where are you getting these low prices? The BL dealer is doing almost SRPricing. I like the BL Elizabeth; but friends are telling me to look at Pfaff, Bernina and Elna. I live in the country- so any runs to town are time crunches!
My Trusty Viking just died and I am looking for a new machine. Where are you getting these low prices? The BL dealer is doing almost SRPricing. I like the BL Elizabeth; but friends are telling me to look at Pfaff, Bernina and Elna. I live in the country- so any runs to town are time crunches!
If you look at Elna... make sure and shop Janome, too. Janome makes both of them. You'll find an similar machine in both brands - with just different names, for the most part.
Seems in some areas, the Elna dealers are more aggressive on low pricing... and other places (like where I am) the Janomes can be purchased at better deals. I wound up with a Janome instead of an Elna for mostly this reason. (and the Janome had a few extra features over the Elna, anyway)
And PS... I was a *die hard* Elna fan from having (and loving) one for 30+years. It was a big pill to swallow for me to even look at other brands.
... But I got over it quick once I shopped for features based on the kind of tasks & performance that I expected out of it.

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www.sewlikearockstar.com
Share pics with me on Instagram: RipStitcher
More pics are in my facebook group: Sew Much Nicer Community
2019:Juki TL-2010Q, Babylock Triumph Serger
2018: Babylock Solaris
2016: Bernina 720, 570qe (the wonderful 5.5mm, CB hook model)
2015: Pfaff Passport, Babylock Sashiko, Babylock Ovation Serger
2014: Bernina 880 Sterling Edition, Bernina 550(sold in 2016)
2012: Janome 7700 (sold in 2014) Babylock Ellisimo Gold (sold in 2015)
Granddaughter: Bernina 560
Share pics with me on Instagram: RipStitcher
More pics are in my facebook group: Sew Much Nicer Community
2019:Juki TL-2010Q, Babylock Triumph Serger
2018: Babylock Solaris
2016: Bernina 720, 570qe (the wonderful 5.5mm, CB hook model)
2015: Pfaff Passport, Babylock Sashiko, Babylock Ovation Serger
2014: Bernina 880 Sterling Edition, Bernina 550(sold in 2016)
2012: Janome 7700 (sold in 2014) Babylock Ellisimo Gold (sold in 2015)
Granddaughter: Bernina 560
Posted on: 12/8/13 1:34 PM ET
Thanks, I am learning so much!
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