Looking for a new machine

I am ready to buy another machine. Yipeeeeeee. I want a sewing/embroidery combo and definitly another Viking. I really can not afford the SE or the EES, droooool :)~~~~~ , but am looking at the pre-loved mid-range models. Prob not over $1000.00 Can you all makes any suggestions as to what I should look at? I do some work for friends and the option of being able to do some of the fancier stitch work appeals to me. Also the option of one-touch button-holes I really like. Setting the first button hole then the machine will copy the same over and over. Gotta love THAT feature!

Thanks

Cindy

Reply to
sin4sure
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Sounds like you have already got a machine in mind...........I would not buy a combination machine. You can get a separate embroidery machine and a decent sewing machine for your money and not have to constantly switch around. Also.....that way you can do 2 things at once.

At least, that is what I would do...........

Reply to
Pat in Arkansas

Works if you have the space... I've yet to see the results of a single needle domestic embroidery machine that does it as well as the Husqvarna combination machines. If you want better, you're looking at much more money for a multi-needle commercial job.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

The OP said she was looking in the mid-range and didn't want to spend over $1000. One thousand might get mid-range if the machine is used/second-hand, but it certainly won't get either new mid-range or a mid to high end Viking/Husqvarna. And on that note, I've been seeing multiple references in other sewing forums that there is a recall on the Husqvarna "Design" machine and that the company may be going under. Any truth to these rumors? I sure hope not since less competition would be very bad for the entire sewing industry all the way around.

Further, I think Pat's remarks about combo machines have a lot of merit. Dedicated technology is almost always better at a particular task than multi-functional technology at the very same task. And that is because compromises are almost always made in quality to allow multifunction. Moreover, it is almost universally cheaper. OP wants the best she can get for under $1000. I sincerely doubt she can get a combo machine in that range that can do quality embroidery, either new or used.

Phae

Reply to
Phaedrine

Not as far as I know: it's been doing the rounds for at least five years, and they haven't folded yet! Indeed, they took over Pfaff after the rumours started! :)

I think they had a problem with one batch of Designers a while back: they all seemed to be in a batch that went to the USA< as I've seen nothing this side for them.

Dunno... I saw a DI a few months for about £650, lightly used. I didn't have the dosh or the space or it would be sitting here now! Thing is, once we get our hands on these HV machines, most of us love them so much that they very rarely come up as used machines, and you need to be in there VERY quick to get one as it whizzes past!

As for the quality... Last time I looked at the same design stitched out by a Janome dedicated embroidery machine, the Brother one, a Bernina Arista, and the Designer one, there was no contest: HV was the tops, followed closely by the Bernina. I didn't like the quality of either of the others: stitch cover density and satin fill pattern were both poor by comparison: very patchy and digi-block looking. I haven't seen the same done with a Pfaff: they are far less common here. The stitch-out was done by one of the teachers at my local shop as part of a machine embroidery course. It wasn't organized by any particular manufacturer: I think it was done by one of the thread companies, but don't ask me which! It *is* a while back - 2 or 3 years now! They were using several different digitizing packages and doing their own designs.

Yikes - where the hell does all the time go???

Reply to
Kate Dicey

No kidding? I had no idea that HV owned Pfaff now. I've never used a Pfaff so I'm not very up on them.

Reply to
Phaedrine

The problem with the recalled Designers is a converter that overheats, I understand. They're fixing all that are turned in, no charge.

Anyone looking for a good combination machine should take a look at the Singer XL6000. It has the quality and features at about half the price of the other machines. Rumor has it that Juki makes it. At least, there is a Juki on the market that looks nearly the same, but doesn't have some of the features, like the auto thread exchanger.

Reply to
Pogonip

I bought the Singer XL5000 even though I had no intention of using it for the regular sewing machine (I have three perfectly good 401As), and one of the reasons was for the endless-bobbin and the thread exchanger. I really like those features. The 6000 model has a revised thread exchanger which accepts the RA cones, I have to cut the base off to make them fit. Minor annoyance.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

There is a group on Yahoo devoted to the XL6000 and they seem happy with it. I'm thinking about it too.

Shana

Reply to
craftydragon1951

I subscribe to that group, but I find the newsgroup alt.sewing.mach.embroider *much* more useful and informative. YMMV.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

There is snipped-for-privacy@yahoogroups.com, XL5000andXL6000embroidery_with snipped-for-privacy@yahoogroups.com and snipped-for-privacy@yahoogroups.com, as far as I know. There may be more.

Reply to
Pogonip

thanks, I am a member of those, too. Shana

Reply to
craftydragon1951

Thanks, I belong to ASME too but I am not as fond of it as you. Oh well, take care, Shana

Reply to
craftydragon1951

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