Pondering New Machine. . .

Now that my Husqvarna Designer II has been in for repair for three weeks because the needed part is on back-order. . . I've got the bug to make a change. My stitches are all on cards (called stitch-d cards). The two stitches I use the most are on two different cards, so I do lots of "card in - card out" "card in - card out". The newer machines have bigger screens than mine and have all the stitches built in. Since the DII has been discontinued, it's hard to find cards, and they aren't doing updated cards with new stitches.

I took my machine to a "general repairman". The Husqvarna dealer is two hours away. The most conveniently located dealers are Baby Lock and Bernina, but I don't know that their machines have the HV features that I love.

1. Presser foot automatically goes down and up when I start and stop sewing.
2. Stop with needle in, presser foot automatically lifts so I can pivot fabric.
3. Fix function - pulls the top thread to the bottom and "knots" the threads.
4. Snap on presser feet.
5. Automatic sensor for thickness of what I'm sewing - I never fiddle with the pressure of the presser foot unless I'm using my dual feed (walking) foot.

Those of you with Berninas or Baby Locks, do you have those features?

Qbee, my Quilter Edition Bernia does not have all those lovely features... sure would be hard to go with out them once you get use to them, although I do think Bernia does make a machine with those features.... all in what you pay for...

My baby lock is not the fanciest model available. It does have snap on feet, an automatic thread cutter but it has a knee lift to raise the foot to turn the fabric. It has a needle down feature and I think it has what you call a "fix" feature but I don't use it.

Here where I live, price wise, you can get much more on a Babylock than a HV. have owned both brands, think both brands are good.

I'm sorry to hear your repair is taking so long QBee. When I had issues with my HV last Summer I had to send it to the factory in Tennessee for repairs. They had it for about 6 weeks. I told myself if the machine ever needs another costly repair I'd just get a different machine. I like all of those same features you do...especially not having to touch a lever to have the pressor foot go up or down. Doing that manually seems so awkward once you get used to not having to. I'm very interested in what you find to replace your machine..because that might be the machine I'd want too.
I guess you could look at machines online and see who has the features you want..then go do a test drive?

I'm home with my brand new Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 875!! It's too late to get it set up and start in on the instruction manual, but I've got a couple of big fun days ahead.

I traded in my Designer II and the embroidery unit. The Sapphire was more than I thought it would be, but they also gave me more for my trade-in than I'd expected, so I think I came out okay. And I'm sooooo thrilled about my new machine!!

I thought this was kind of funny, though. It's advertised as having five alphabets. The sales woman said, "No, it has only three that are usable", the others are just some kind of gobbledy-gook." I, of course, needed to know why they said there were five if only three were usable. Turns out one is a cyrillic alphabet for Russian. The other I can't remember the name of, but it's Japanese. Considering my entire foreign language skills are about 5 words in Swahili, 10 in German, and 15 in Spanish . . . I guess she's right that only three of the alphabets will be usable to me!

Congratulations on your new child!

I am very happy with my machine. A Pfaff. They are made by the same company as Husqvarna Viking.

Qbee, sounds like you are really going to have some fun..... can't wait to see what you do on some of your bags....

Congrats on the new machine....how exciting!
Today I actually don't have anything to do...nowhere I have to be!
I hope you get a chance to open the box and play with your new baby

Thanks! I am excited for sure! Sapphire is up and running. So far I figured out threading, how to select and adjust stitches, and got the scant 1/4" seam worked out. Now I'm going back to play with the blanket stitches so I can get back to my applique!

Golo - no bags for awhile - back to quilts!

Joann - interesting. . . I didn't know Pfaff was made by the same manufacturer. I had an Elna for 25+ years - loved that machine. When I wanted to update for quilting I stumbled into Husqvarna because there was a dealer 15 miles from me. (A dealer who left in the middle of the night about a week later - so a lot of good the location did me!) Now that I was used to HV, it was nicest to get another one as it really reduces the learning curve for me.

Congratulations on your new machine! I guess the best way is to jump in and play? Let us know how you like your new baby?
I got a kick out of the alphabets!

QBee I am considering a new machine. But everyone has heard that from me before. My machine is starting to have"issues" so I can trade it in for a good price and get the new Ruby from Husquavarna. It is just a step below the diamond. I have to wait for one to come in though...
QB how do you like your Sapphire by now???