Brother machines

Hi ladies!
I used to read (and post to) the group ages ago, before I disappeared
into the blackhole that is new mommyhood. Anyway, my current sewing
machine is an Elna 6600 (Quilter's Dream). I'm happy with it, when I
somehow manage to carve out time to sew on it. But, a set up of
machines at the state fair caught my DH's eye today, and he has been
researching Brother embroidery machines this afternoon - a possible
Christmas present for me! So, I have a few questions for you. Do any
of you have any of these models? 950D, 1200D, 1500D.

http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1500D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1250D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...oductID=nv950d

The fact that the 950D doesn't seem to have automatic tension control
scares me, because I used to have horrible issues with tension before
I upgraded to my current machine. Is this fear unfounded?

If I were to get the 1250D and sell my beloved Elna, would I be
missing anything? Setting aside the embroidery aspects, would it be a
suitable machine for machine piecing?

I know these are kind of specific questions, but my husband asked me,
and I instantly thought of asking RCTQ!

Thanks!

-Lynn (formerly of MA)

Welcome back, Lynn. Nice to see you again. Be careful about the " Hi
ladies " bit though. We have some fellows here and they are fine quilters.
That said, your question is one that we will never agree on. I think it
is good to have the sewing machine and the embroidery machine separate. My
embroidery machine sits over on a counter and she can be stitching and
dinging happily without interfering with my sewing.
If the embroidery machine goes berserk, I can still sew.
If you and your Elna are happy together, I recommend getting an
embroidery machine and keeping the Elna. IMHO of course. Polly


"Lynn" wrote in message
...
Hi ladies!
I used to read (and post to) the group ages ago, before I disappeared
into the blackhole that is new mommyhood. Anyway, my current sewing
machine is an Elna 6600 (Quilter's Dream). I'm happy with it, when I
somehow manage to carve out time to sew on it. But, a set up of
machines at the state fair caught my DH's eye today, and he has been
researching Brother embroidery machines this afternoon - a possible
Christmas present for me! So, I have a few questions for you. Do any
of you have any of these models? 950D, 1200D, 1500D.

http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1500D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1250D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...oductID=nv950d

The fact that the 950D doesn't seem to have automatic tension control
scares me, because I used to have horrible issues with tension before
I upgraded to my current machine. Is this fear unfounded?

If I were to get the 1250D and sell my beloved Elna, would I be
missing anything? Setting aside the embroidery aspects, would it be a
suitable machine for machine piecing?

I know these are kind of specific questions, but my husband asked me,
and I instantly thought of asking RCTQ!

Thanks!

-Lynn (formerly of MA)

Don't have one, but we've said it befo test drive! Take along some
of your own thread and fabric, and just try how it machine pieces.

http://www.superiorthreads.com/videos/5-tension/
Have a look at Dr Bob on tension.
Roberta in D

On Sat, 10 Sep 2011 20:52:30 -0700 (PDT), Lynn
wrote:

Hi ladies!
I used to read (and post to) the group ages ago, before I disappeared
into the blackhole that is new mommyhood. Anyway, my current sewing
machine is an Elna 6600 (Quilter's Dream). I'm happy with it, when I
somehow manage to carve out time to sew on it. But, a set up of
machines at the state fair caught my DH's eye today, and he has been
researching Brother embroidery machines this afternoon - a possible
Christmas present for me! So, I have a few questions for you. Do any
of you have any of these models? 950D, 1200D, 1500D.

http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1500D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1250D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...oductID=nv950d

The fact that the 950D doesn't seem to have automatic tension control
scares me, because I used to have horrible issues with tension before
I upgraded to my current machine. Is this fear unfounded?

If I were to get the 1250D and sell my beloved Elna, would I be
missing anything? Setting aside the embroidery aspects, would it be a
suitable machine for machine piecing?

I know these are kind of specific questions, but my husband asked me,
and I instantly thought of asking RCTQ!

Thanks!

-Lynn (formerly of MA)

"Lynn" wrote in message
...
Hi ladies!
So, I have a few questions for you. Do any
of you have any of these models? 950D, 1200D, 1500D.

http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1500D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1250D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...oductID=nv950d


If I were to get the 1250D and sell my beloved Elna, would I be
missing anything? Setting aside the embroidery aspects, would it be a
suitable machine for machine piecing?

I know these are kind of specific questions, but my husband asked me,
and I instantly thought of asking RCTQ!

Thanks!

-Lynn (formerly of MA)


I have had the Innovis 1500D for five or six years now. I have used it
heavily for embroidery and have not had any issues with it. In fact, it's
never been back for even a servicing. Yes, I know! But I have come to the
conclusion that you keep the machines clean, oil the wick, or whatever, and
take them in when they break. I've had issues with machines taken in for
routine servicing, and coming back with problems.

I have not really used it for piecing or general sewing of any kind, except
to try out the stitches. It seemed to work well, and easy to use. It has
the GREATEST NEEDLE THREADER ever invented. I mean, it beats the Horizon
all hollow on needle threading. It's a different design from the usual
machine needle threader. And the machine sews SIDEWAYS. Yes, it will sew
in eight different directions. I didn't believe it either, but it does.
The stitch quality sideways isn't quite as good, but it's perfectly
acceptable. I wish I had this machine when I used to have to patch jeans
all the time!

The machine does have the modern wide feed dogs, and it's my theory that
narrow feed dogs are better for quarter-inch piecing. But that's just my
theory, and others disagree. Anyway, it seems like wider feed dogs are
standard on all but low-end or straight-stitch machines, so they might be
hard to find even if you wanted them. I would think the Innovis would be as
good for piecing as any other machine in its class. I don't know for sure
because that's what I have the older Bernina for.

The harp area is a pretty big, although not as big as some of the newer
machines. Still, it would be good for wrestling a quilt through, should you
want to use it for that. It's a high-shank machine and comes with a walking
foot and hopping foot.

I do agree that it's better to have separate machines for sewing and for
embroidery. That said, I do find that I have to "babysit" the embroidery
machine enough (thread changes, the occasional thread break) that I seldom
get much other sewing done while embroidering, even though I have another
machine sitting close by. The Innovis isn't hard to convert from sewing to
embroidery - just press the release and slide off the embroidery arm. The
screen immediately changes from the embroidery options to the sewing
options.

Iris

I would go with the 1500, because it has the largest hoop capabilities. The
950 only has a 4x4" hoop, which is about useless for most things. I would
keep the
Elna, as a back-up, or to use while doing embroidery on the Brother. I have
the BIG Brother Quattro, which I love.
Gen


"Lynn" wrote in message
...
Hi ladies!
I used to read (and post to) the group ages ago, before I disappeared
into the blackhole that is new mommyhood. Anyway, my current sewing
machine is an Elna 6600 (Quilter's Dream). I'm happy with it, when I
somehow manage to carve out time to sew on it. But, a set up of
machines at the state fair caught my DH's eye today, and he has been
researching Brother embroidery machines this afternoon - a possible
Christmas present for me! So, I have a few questions for you. Do any
of you have any of these models? 950D, 1200D, 1500D.

http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1500D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1250D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...oductID=nv950d

The fact that the 950D doesn't seem to have automatic tension control
scares me, because I used to have horrible issues with tension before
I upgraded to my current machine. Is this fear unfounded?
If I were to get the 1250D and sell my beloved Elna, would I be
missing anything? Setting aside the embroidery aspects, would it be a
suitable machine for machine piecing?

I know these are kind of specific questions, but my husband asked me,
and I instantly thought of asking RCTQ!

Thanks!

-Lynn (formerly of MA)

Thank you everyone! All very useful information. What to do, what to
do.

Lynn

I don't know where they are tonight but there are several quilters here who
have sewing machines that also do exquisite embroidery. Jenx can knock
your socks off with her combination machine. Wonder what they're up to?
Polly


"Gen" wrote in message
...
I would go with the 1500, because it has the largest hoop capabilities.
The 950 only has a 4x4" hoop, which is about useless for most things. I
would keep the
Elna, as a back-up, or to use while doing embroidery on the Brother. I
have the BIG Brother Quattro, which I love.
Gen


"Lynn" wrote in message
...
Hi ladies!
I used to read (and post to) the group ages ago, before I disappeared
into the blackhole that is new mommyhood. Anyway, my current sewing
machine is an Elna 6600 (Quilter's Dream). I'm happy with it, when I
somehow manage to carve out time to sew on it. But, a set up of
machines at the state fair caught my DH's eye today, and he has been
researching Brother embroidery machines this afternoon - a possible
Christmas present for me! So, I have a few questions for you. Do any
of you have any of these models? 950D, 1200D, 1500D.


http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1500D

http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...ductID=NV1250D
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewin...oductID=nv950d

The fact that the 950D doesn't seem to have automatic tension control
scares me, because I used to have horrible issues with tension before
I upgraded to my current machine. Is this fear unfounded?
If I were to get the 1250D and sell my beloved Elna, would I be
missing anything? Setting aside the embroidery aspects, would it be a
suitable machine for machine piecing?

I know these are kind of specific questions, but my husband asked me,
and I instantly thought of asking RCTQ!

Thanks!

-Lynn (formerly of MA)