Mrs Webmuppet Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 I need to buy a new sewing machine as my trusty mini sewing machine can't do quilting ( you can't get a walking foot for it). Do I: 1, Go to my nearest shop ( in Bury St Edmunds- 40 mins drive away) and buy a branded model ( at around £200 including a walking foot) 2, buy a no name machine from http://www.jsm-distributordirect.com/ and a generic walking foot (this is the cheapest option) 3, buy a Bernina through the quilting shop and take advantage of of the free lessons/ support available through the shop ( and have to save up for a bit longer) Words of wisdom gratefully recieved................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 If you can afford it, and you plan on still sewing in your dotage I'd go for the Bernina. You'll never need to look at another machine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Buy your local one and keep saving girl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Hmmmm free lessons sounds very tempting. My quilt teacher had a Bernina - yonks old and she loves it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share Posted December 30, 2009 Hi After much deliberation I decided that I really couldn't justify spending £700 on a Bernina so I bought a Jenome Jem Platinum that came with a free lesson and free quilting kit (all the feet and a clip on table thingy) from the shop in Bury St Edmunds ( the staff were lovely too). I got to have a play with the demo model and it was lovely, loads of fancy stitches and runs really smoothly.LMW also had a go and declared it fantastic (she's very excited 'cause she will get the mini sewing machine) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 It sounds just as good - I am rather biased - I now have 2 Janomes, one old-ish but good for simple things, and one with a bigger hole so I can get the quilt under it. The quilting one never really worked properly until I took it to a different dealer and it now is an absolute dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Sounds like a good compromise! I love my Janome Have fun with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 1, 2010 Share Posted January 1, 2010 and what have you made now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 1, 2010 Author Share Posted January 1, 2010 Sadly I haven't had chance to play with it yet- work has got in the way. I am going to sign up for a quilting course to learn up to quilt properly now I have the machine and all the feet for quilting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 You'll have fun on the course - it's not too bad and I think you'll get the hang of it very quickly, but when you do it at home I would have a practice with a bit of paper first to get used to it again. And don't do what I did - stare at it without blinking till my eyes watered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...