I have a Brother XL2230 and plan to upgrade this year. I only started sewing back in April and my Brother has been a great starter machine but it was a cheapie to see if I'd get the sewing bug, and I did, and now I want more! I plan to do more quilting, and start making clothes, am not fussed so much on embroidery type things but I want a machine that is going to last me and allow me to try new things as time goes by. I am thinking of an overlocker for next christmas if things progress well with the clothes but for now I just want a really good new sewing machine. I don't want to spend more than $500 max and I won't be looking to buy until June this year. I think I saw a post where someone said they quilt, I figure there must be some more sewers in here ...so, what machine do you love / what would you recommend bearing in mind the above? Cheers!

I quilt... And have two machines... A preloved janome mc6500 and a janome 1600p QC that sits on my quilting frame....

You will find thatbpeople love their own brand... Tho many machines are made in one factory and just liveried up differently... Eg my 1600p is made by janome, but the the pfaff GC is the same model made in the same janome factory...

You need to look at what the machine is used for... What it comes with, what features you cant live without and what you can afford.... Then DO YOUR RESEARCH.... I would never buy an embroidery machine because I quilt and they have never really combined the two functions successfully.... Bit like if you want a 4x4 you buy a range rocpver and if you want performance you buy a ferrari... You know what I mean????

Good luck in your quest!

I think you're going to struggle to find a quality machine for less than $500. My basic Janome was (IIRC) about $800 five years ago.

This http://www.sewingmachines.com.au/shop?page= has some prices.

Thanks for replies

Have been researching and I think I can get something pretty good for $500 if I keep an eye out for discounted machines and use vouchers. Meantime I will just keep on sewing and see how I go. Having my first go at making clothes from pattern this afternoon, a dress for my little girl

I keep thinking I need a sewing machine. I have no idea why. It's probably more of a "want" than a "need", but even then I really have no idea why ... so I don't buy one - but I still need/want one

The only time I ever used a sewing machine was for 1 term in the first year at secondary school. I made a skirt - it was rather good although I never wore it because although it was quite well made it was somewhat dorky. I'm sure if I put my mind to it I could make more dorky skirts that I would never wear. Clearly I need this machine.

My machine is annoying me as I can't get it to sew properly. It keeps leaving big loops and the thread keeps getting cut. I've rethreaded it and adjusted the tension many times but no joy. And it isn't easy to thread with eyesight as poor as mine.
Might need a service methinks. Anyone know of a man who will come to your home in Sydney rather than you lugging it to his workshop? Used to have a lovely old man in the UK who would regale me with tales of the old machines he'd worked on.