dead sewing machine : (

Poor baby. Really. I don't know if you and Janome are not a good match or if your own Janome is a bummer. I do know that your sewing time should be happy. Creative. Relaxing. Challenging. Fun. Not aggravating - and I'm sure you've tried your very best with that sm. As much as it pains me to confess it - 'some' of the Berninas are now made in Thailand and I see heaps of kicking and cussing going on about them. My friends with new Vikings aren't all that deliriously happy either. An insane suggestion: maybe you'll want to consider stepping back a few decades and play with a fine old Singer. A 401? Maybe a Pfaff 730 ( is that the 'good' number?). There's something that will make you happy as a clam. We will help. Polly

Playing Taps.

Sorry you are disappointed. Is it worth the aggravation to try to fix it?

keep us posted

Butterfly

Dang, I've loved my 6600. But if we all loved the same sm, then it'd be a p= retty boring world. I don't know what's out there with a large harp, but I = do know that I also love my Pfaff. There is a new Pfaff with a large harp. = Obviously, it's computerized (as is everything these days). Babylock puts o= ut a good straight stitch with a larger harp, but that won't do the buttonh= ole stitch. I think the best idea is to test drive a lot of machines and na= rrow it down to two or three you really like, and then rent each of those m= odels (if possible) for at least a month. That would give you time to get t= o know the good and bad of each model and find a good fit for you.

Happier sewing, Sunny

I can answer for All of us. NO. It is not. If Taria's sm is bent on persecuting her, it's time to say "No more" and move on. ( I didn't know you could play taps; any other tunes?) Polly

Sorry to hear about your machine problems, Taria...and can certainly relate to the frustration.

I have a Babylock Quest Plus which is very similar in size and features to the MC6600. The model was updated last year to the Babylock Serenade.

Love mine; I lusted after it for two years and found a used one at a great price. I especially love it for free motion quilting because of the large opening.

-Irene

Yes'm. Any and everything that is on a CD, tape, Record (78's, yes, the ones we grew up with--don't have any 45's at present) and radio. I'm quite good at the On/Off dial on all the above ;)

Butterfly (calling it quite for tonight)

I, too, have the Babylock Quest. I purchased it after trying many machines, and after much thought. A couple years after I bought it, it had a "computer problem"; well, it sewed all by itself!! That might be a good thing, but I had to turn off the machine to get it to stop! When it was repaired, they upgraded the software to the Babylock Quest Plus, and I love it! So many more people bought the 6600 at about the same time. I always wondered if I made a poor choice. But, I did want a free-arm machine, and all the feet were included.....no extra expenses! I use it every day, and clean it myself....I'd definitely recommend trying one if you can. I see there are a few on Ebay right now.

Gen, what do you so on that you like? Heck, anyone willing to give me some things they like about newer model machines? I'd like to hear the good and bad on specific models. Taria

And I, > I, too, have the Babylock Quest. I purchased it after trying many

I think the 6600 was more chosen because folks are used to buying Janome brand and they were cheaper. I think they are for the most part the Quest and the 6600 are about the same machine. Thanks, Taria

I, too, have the Babylock Quest. I purchased it after trying many machines, and after much thought. A couple years after I bought it, it had a "computer problem"; well, it sewed all by itself!! That might be a good thing, but I had to turn off the machine to get it to stop! When it was repaired, they upgraded the software to the Babylock Quest Plus, and I love it! So many more people bought the 6600 at about the same time. I always wondered if I made a poor choice. But, I did want a free-arm machine, and all the feet were included.....no extra expenses! I use it every day, and clean it myself....I'd definitely recommend trying one if you can. I see there are a few on Ebay right now.

I have seen your wonderful embroidery while working on a couple of hug quilts. Your work is very nice. My own interest doesn't go that way and you are right. My Brother 1500PQ is wonderful to do free motion on but it sounds like a freight train when I use the walking foot. It is a dream to piece on though. Thx, Taria

I have a Babylock Ellegante and a Brother Quattro. I doubt you'd be interested in either, but since I do a lot of embroidery they work for me. Brother makes very good machines. Gen

Some of the things that sold me on the Quest Plus vrs the 6600 were the free arm, 363 built-in stitches, and the built in dual-feed system. It also came with a boatload of feet (including a separate accessory foot set) and a straight stitch plate all as part of the standard package. The Quest also has a slightly wider stitch length, at 8mm vrs 7mm.

Needless to say I did a little research :)

-Irene

Howdy! From Janome, via FaceBook:

It's not up-to-today current, but it still holds true; stuff we've discussed here on RCTQ for almost 20 years. ;-)

Good luck! Happy hunting!!

R/Sandy

My hunting wasn't so great. The dealer I got to sells Bernina and Janome. I remember they used to sell other brands but I guess every one is scaling back. They assure me there really isn't a machine for my wants. There are new Bernina models coming out in the summer (should be at the Long Beach CA show) Hold out for those even though they won't be what I want either. I think I am just going to have to adjust to computer machines. I am sewing this week on my Bernina 930 and the Brother 1500. The only thing I can't get with those is a machine buttonhole applique stitch. The 6600 does that. The dealer actuallly said they would give me a whopping $250 trade in on my 6600. Wow are they generous. : ( So I ordered a controller from the nice folks at Brubakers. They give a 15% discount for the 6600 yahoo newsgroup users and it cost a bit over $80.00. I'll try to shop the big quilt show and get to some of the 'local' sm shops around here between now and then. If I can find a replacement spring the old controller will work. Having a back-up not a bad plan. If I gripe here again about that 6600 someone remind me about this event. BTW, if anyone can tell me where I can get a replacement torsion/return spring lmk. Taria

Howdy!

From Janome, via FaceBook:

It's not up-to-today current, but it still holds true; stuff we've discussed here on RCTQ for almost 20 years. ;-)

Good luck! Happy hunting!!

R/Sandy