Anyone have experience with a Babylock...

[crazy_eights]

Sewing machine? I'm thinking of buying a Decorator's Choice that looks like this. I'm comparing Babylock, Pfaff and Bernina - can you tell me what you think?

[smarmie]

Just thought I would bump this up since I am doing the same thing!

[crazy_eights]

I still haven't bought anything, but I am on the verge of going ahead and buying the Babylock. It seems to be just as nice as the Pfaff and cheaper (at least from the retailers around here!)

[smarmie]

Well maybe we can help each other!

I looked at the crafters choice and the quilters choice and liked them both a lot! I am wondering if it is worth the 200 dollar difference for the larger stiches, extra stiches, and letters on the quilters choice. Then I looked at a bernina in the same price range but it didn't seem to compare. The only Bernina that was comprable was $1800 and that is more than I wanted to spend. I have also looked at a Viking and really liked it. I still want to go hit the pfaff's before I decide. Have you looked at any others that you really liked? And what is it about the Babylock that you like so much more?

[vkberes]

I have a basic Babylock and I have been very happy wih it. Yesterday I was sewing some pretty fluffy stuff and I was quite surprised it just kept on going. I would recommend them.

[crazy_eights]

Originally Posted by smarmie

And what is it about the Babylock that you like so much more?

It sews well, it is the machine that my girls have been taking lessons on, it seems a similar quality machine for less money than the Bernina or the Pfaff. Um, those seem to be the highlights. I can get a Decorator's Choice for $700 and a similar quality machine in the Pfaff is over $1000. The review sites and people I have talked to have warned me off the 'low end' Berninas and Pfaffs. The consensus seems to be that if you are going to do any 'real' sewing, go for the better machine or stick with the Singer that I have.

The only advantage when talking to people between the Decorator's Choice and the Quilters Choice is that the QC comes not only with more stitches (which really isn't an issue for me), but with the sewing table, which if you decide later you want it, is $100 itself. I'm really not sure how helpful the table is having never sewn on a machine that had one, but the difference in price between the two is $100, so if it *is* something I would want eventually, it would be worth it to get it now.

[smarmie]

So where are you at? I am in NC, and the babylock machines I looked at are 800 for decor choice and 1000 for quilters choice. Hmm, I wonder if it is worth the road trip to save money...

[crazy_eights]

Originally Posted by smarmie

So where are you at? I am in NC, and the babylock machines I looked at are 800 for decor choice and 1000 for quilters choice. Hmm, I wonder if it is worth the road trip to save money...

I'm in Missouri. Wow - they are $700 and $800 at the place I looked here and you can get 6 mos interest free financing.

[crazy_eights]

So I did it! I went today and bought the machine. I was set to buy the DC, but b/c my kids are taking lessons this summer at the place we bought it, they offered a discount - so I got the QC. It wound up being only $48 more than the DC. We had a ton of fun playing with it this evening and my dd (age 8) made some stuff for a doll. She starts a skirt class tomorrow, so we are good to go. Thanks for your input.

[smarmie]

I am a little ticked off that the local store is selling them for so much more. I really wanted to buy from there because they offer 5 weeks of classes to learn all about the new machine. But I don't think it would be worth paying the extra $$.

Congradulations on your new machine! Hope you all enjoy it. Let me know if you find anything that you really really like or don't like about it!