I've always loved the look of the old black machines from days gone by. And I truly appreciate their reliability. They were built to last, and they do. I have so many I am embarrassed to tell the number, and I love each one, although some get used more than others.
So, why am I feeling like a traitor? Last week, I attended the Machine Quilters Expo in Portland, Oregon, and took some machine quilting classes. The machines that were provided for us to use were Janome Horizon quilters edition, and I have to say, I really liked the machine. It provided 11 inches from needle to post, more room even than my old reliable Singer 15, 201, 27, and all the others. It came with a whole slew of decorative stitches and it handled all different types of threads without complaint. I used 30 wt, 40 wt, 60 wt, bobbin thread, even metallic thread and that machines just kept chugging along.
The machines used in the classes were being sold at reduced prices, and if I'd had the $$ I would have bought one. A few people in the classes DID buy one. Since I came back, I catch myself mooning over them online, checking prices, comparing features. Still, there's that nagging thought that keeps recurring, about the fact that it is a computerized machine, that surely wouldn't last as long as my old reliable cast iron models have.
