What do you think of Babylock?

I am on the cusp of trading my Janome 5700 for a mechanical machine. I've tried both the Janome 1600 and the Babylock model that's comparable and find (disconcertingly) that I like the Babylock better. Although it's lighter, it seems quieter and smoother. Also, it has an extended bed and the Janome doesn't.

Have any of you had experience with Babylock? Please let me know.... our Janome dealer just folded and now we only have one sewing machine shop in town. They carry Bernina and Babylock....

Sunny

Reply to
Sunny
Loading thread data ...

If you are talking about the Babylock QCP (Quilters Choice Pro). I had that machine and recently sold it with my frame. I also have the Brother 1500S and can tell you that they are absolutely identical (although some will argue one is better than the other). Inside and out, the only thing different was the color of the stripes.

I still use the Brother for all of my quilting tasks. It is an amazing machine and incredibly sturdy. The one thing I don't like is that it has only a needle down button, not a needle up. I love the pinfeed.

Linda PATCHogue, NY

Linda PATCHogue, NY

Reply to
WitchyStitcher

Linda,

What is pinfeed???

Judie

Reply to
Judie in Penfield NY

Me too, Judie. What *is* pinfeed? I have noticed that Nancy of Nancy's Notions as well as Sewing with Nancy tv series of many decades is a Babylock person. We would think that Nancy's reputation is very important to her and that she wouldn't endorse junk. Polly

"Judie in Penfield NY" Linda,> What is pinfeed???

Reply to
Polly Esther

It is a little pin by the feed dogs that when engaged scootches the fabric along to feed it evenly. It is great for long strips and bindings and quilting in the ditch for small quilts. For larger quilts, I still use the walking foot.

L>WitchyStitcher wrote:

Linda PATCHogue, NY

Reply to
WitchyStitcher

I have 2 Babylocks---the Ellageo, which is an embroidery machine. I love it. I also have the Quest Quilting machine---don't like at all. Will be selling it eventually. I'm very disappointed in that machine. Gen

Reply to
Gen

Welll, for many years Nancy endorsed and used only Pfaffs on her show. Babylock is a fairly recent change for her, within the past five years I think.

Iris (not that I have any problem with Nancy, or her notions either!)

Reply to
I.E.Z.

Both my machines are Babylock: the quilter's choice professional is great for quilting and basic piecing: fast, good stitch quality. I also have a decorator's choice which has been great too: it does the fancy stuff too. I bought both because they had what I needed at considerably less than Pfaff or Bernina.

Reply to
KI Graham

I, like Gen, bought the babylock quest and am extremely unhappy with it. The dealer can find nothing wrong with it, so I can't get any satisfaction from them. Emailed Babylock, they said to talk to the dealer, it's not their problem. So I can't endorse Babylock as a company, and having no experience with babylock other than the quest, can't endorse the machine either.

maybe I'll email Eleanor Burns? Musicmaker

Reply to
Musicmaker

I just bought a Babylock Grace. I am very impressed with it. I have no experience on any of the fancy new machines, my previous machine is a Kenmore that is 35 years old!

Karen > I am on the cusp of trading my Janome 5700 for a mechanical machine.

Reply to
Karen

What are you having problems with? What machine did you have before the Quest? I may actually decide to keep mine. I've been appliquéing Sunbonnet Sue blocks, and it's doing a wonderful job, much to my surprise. We'll see how it acts once I'm ready to quilt. It still has some issues, but I'll see what the dealer says once I get it up there, which will be the end of Sept. and will leave it with him till the end of Oct. He's in MI, so just running it up isn't feasible with gas prices. Gen

Reply to
Gen

Reply to
Taria

Reply to
jennellh

I have the Babylock Quest also. After using it almost 10 months, I'm so used to its features, that I don't even realize how often I use them. I love the needle up and down, the even feed option, and the knee-lift for the presser foot. I've only had two minor glitches. For awhile it started to sew by itself.......I couldn't stop it, except by turning it off. (Some of us would call this a "dream" machine!) The dealer checked and re-did all the connections, and I haven't had the problem since. The stitch guide broke off the all purpose foot, and they immediately mailed me a replacement. So, no complaints here!

Alice in PA

Reply to
Alice in

The main thing that I was furious to find is that the length of the satin stitch, as well as many other stitches only goes to .3. I've never seen a machine that didn't go all the way down. The feet fall off easily. I find it almost impossible to keep any where near a straight line when piecing with their so-called 1/4" foot, so I use the stitch width setting and the regular foot to get a nice seam. Their reverse is a joke..It works only when it wants to, then is programmed to take 2 stitches forward then 4 backward. No way to use a horizontal spool holder. Thread frequently comes out of the take-up lever, although I don't see how it possibly can. Foot pedal is way too temperamental for me. All in all, this machine is a huge disappointment. I spent probably a total of 3 hours playing with it at the dealers and thought it was great. I've almost always bought as near the TOL machines as I could afford, so guess I'll do so again. I may trade this in on a new TOL Babylock embroidery machine. I've already got one that I love. I'll play with different one at the Novi Expo in Sept. Or I may sell it and just use the Designer 1 till it quits----the main reason I got a new machine was because I've about worn out the D1. I very seriously doubt I'd ever buy another Viking, but I've learned to never say "never". What are the problems with the 6600? I tried that one before looking at the Babylock, but didn't like it enough to trade the D1 for. I can't point to anything specific I didn't care for. Gen

"Taria" wrote in message news:gG0tk.876$lf2.87@trnddc07...

Reply to
Gen

Mostly this machine just is not a good fit for me. Like you I tried it out but I guess I just didn't try enough. My dealer went under so I have no support. My foot pedal was problematic. The company was little help and finally got sick of my griping and dh repaired it. Wouldn't have been any big deal except I was going to have to pay without my selling dealer available. A new machine should not take more $$$ to have it work properly. So many folks really like their 6600 and I am trying to learn to. I think a lot depends on the machine you had before these machines. I have and Bernina 930 and a Brother 1500 that had lots of the bells and whistles that 'wow' other folks. I have to say I didn't have a machine to do a buttonhole type appliqué. I did some of that today on the 6600 and I was actually pleased. I might just drag out the Brother 1500 to piece and the 6600 for appliqué. It would be easier if I had a bigger room to work in. I think the biggest mistake I made with this machine was not taking it to the classes. They insisted I use their shop machine. I could have probably gotten things fixed early on because the shop went under not too long after that class. I can't see selling this machine at anything but a big loss so I am trying to get along with it. I think I really am a mechanical machine person. The Yahoo group for the 6600 has some fixes that actually might help some of your problems. You might check in there. THe thread coming out of the take up is one that I remember there being a fix for ( I didn't have that problem so I wasn't paying attention) Taria, tired and rambling

Gen wrote:

Reply to
Taria

I think that I've mentioned that I have the Bernina 930 and Brother 1500 too and thought of buying the 6600 when a friend raved over it ...but some of the feet looked so humongous to me that I was sure I'd hate it. Are they hard to work with???? Not sure that I'm in the market to buy a new machine but if a good deal comes up for that one I might think of it again..Thanks for any input !! Mary

Reply to
MB

I have never worked with a machine that stitched or freemotioned better than my 1500. I tried the Pfaff that had the equilalents in Viking and Janome (forgot the name), but it was more expensive and the

1500 was better. This is the machine I used to free motion except for complex designs - then I use the Bernina 440 with BSR.

L>I think that I've mentioned that I have the Bernina 930 and Brother 1500 too >and

Reply to
WitchyStitcher

I think I just might have been spoiled with my previous machines. Can't wait to hear reports on your LA.

TAria

WitchyStitcher wrote:

Reply to
Taria

Reply to
Taria

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.