New SM

A 12" square typical quilt sandwich sample with some nice blocks and a bit of applique!

A chunk of something like denim.

Fur fabric!

Something knitted and slippery...

Test:

Straight stitches Buttonholes Blind hems Zigzags Anything else you like the look of, especially any fancy stitches. Any nice looking applique and satin stitches... Don't bother about stretch stitches or 'overlock' stitches: never as good as an overlocker/serger.

Happy shopping!

And try the free motion capabilities and look for the larger harp space for FMQing. Both a vertical and horizontal thread holder plus a large size spool holder. Do you like a top load bobbin or sideways? Try some fancy threads. Do the controls, icons, etc. make sense to you or frustrate you? Does it fit any sewing table or cabinet that you own? How are the lights located and do they illuminate where you need them?

Have a blast finding your next quilting partner!

Leslie & The Furbabies >> Looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get myself a new

A lot of money or your credit card????

If I were starting from scratch I think I'd go for a Pfaff. My little

7570 is the finest machine I can imagine. I don't use the embroidery functions at all, just the stitching. Beautiful stitches, even and smooth, quiet and never a hitch. I don't quilt anything larger than about 20x20" on the Pfaff because I have a hard time with the small harp and my silly hands. But many people quilt like angels on similar size harps so that is just me. If you have lots of money, there is a new Pfaff out with a huge harp. You could probably buy a small car for the same price, but hey -- what's funner, a great sewing machine or a car? (BEG)

Sunny and I also love my three Janome machines. They're just not quite as elegant and quiet as the Pfaff

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Hoping to get a motor that will fit the existing one, but if not I'll be going for a workhorse again. I really like the Toyota, all metal except for the plastic gadget box and top flap for the cams. The nearest current equivalent I've seen is the Bernina 1008 (thanks for the heads up Kate) and I'm going to see what the semi-local place has in the way of such machines both new and reconditioned.

I want some fancy stitches for fabric postcards, and a good buttonhole too. Thinking of postcards - a really smooth satin stitch would be nice as well, that was the one area where my current one let me down.

I'll let you all know what I go for and if I need to - depends on what magic DH can work with the replacement motor I have ordered on spec - gotta be worth £25 to try, if it doesn't do the trick the motor goes onto ebay.

Thank goodness that I bought my little Featherweight a few years ago or I'd be going mad by now.

Lizzy

Same here! Good thing I wasn't drinking coffee at the time! LOL

-Irene