Replies

1. 
   gailete | Oct 15, 2009 04:11pm | #1

   I don't know much about your machine, but I own several Janomes, 300E, 6500, and a 9000. I love each for it's special qualities. Janome machines are very good quality and I obviously love them. An 1100 is a very expensive machine so you really need to know if this is what you want. You mentioned an embroidery or combo machine. My 300E is embroidery only and with a giga hoop can embroider an 8"x8" design without rehooping although the design does need to be split. The 1100 can embroider even bigger designs, and of course has the sewing component and a lot of decorative stitches. What is important to know is that while embroidering out a large embroidery design, your sewing machine can't be used for anything else (a good reason to keep another sewing machine). That is why I would rather have a separate sewing machine and separate embroidery machine. The embroidery can be going along and if I am feeling well and my brain isn't foggy, I can also work on another project on my sewing machine. When thinking about your purchase check the price of a stand alone embroidery machine and a stand alone top of the line sewing machine. You may find that buying two machines is cheaper than one top of the line combo. But of course the top of the line combo may have abilities that neither of the other two have. I have found with my set up, I can do any kind of embroidery and sewing project that I want to.

   I bought my 9000 used (a combo machine) for the decorative stitches that I had been missing after trading in my original 9000 when purchasing the other two machines. I use it downstairs and since it came with several memory cards, I do use it for some embroidery work, but that is just an extra for me. I bought it to use as a sewing machine. I do most of my embroidery on the 300. Don't forget when looking at these machines (embroidery or combo) to use the embroidery most effectively you will also need to buy at least a customizer program of some sort which is another expense unless it is thrown in as a freebie.

   My website http://www.MoonwishesSewing.com has a lot of links to embroidery design websites that all have free designs you may want to start collecting! Until you know which embroidery machine you will buy, download the designs in the formats that you are looking at (they can always be deleted later if you don't need them). For the 1100 you will need the .jef and .jef+ and possibly .sew formats. I'm not sure of the formats for the other machines you mentioned.

   Have fun deciding what to do. I hope I have mentioned some thing that will help you think through this big step.

2. 
   Crazy K | Sep 12, 2010 04:45pm | #2

   Husqvarna Viking

   I have the Designer SE (well, two of them) and I love them for many reasons.  They are use-friendly, the lights are awesome, good power and they do whatever I ask of them.  I have seen the Diamond but decided I didn't need to trade up again.......I had the Designer 1 first, then got the SEs.  The Diamond looks like a wonderful machine but I have many of the features so couldn't  justify the cost of trading up.

   Good luck with whichever you choose.

   Kay