Janome 7700 or 8900
 

I have a chance to purchase a Janome 7700 display model (the original one with extension table, cover, and cloth guide) for what I think is a very reasonable price or purchase a new 8900 for $1,000 more. I currently piece on a little Brother project runway but am looking to upgrade and want to learn free motion. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

I have the 8900 and LOVE it. The wide throat space is fantastic. I haven't used the 7700 so can't speak on that one. I find free motion quilting on the 8900 much easier than it was on the 6600. Try them both and see which one you like better.

I have the 7700 and love it! It also has a wide throat space. I have 2 friends in my quilt group who use the 7700 and both only have good things to say. Since I have never used the 8900 I can't say anything about it. I agree with Heather you should try them both out. If you go to the Janome website and click on the tab for machines, they have a feature where you can pick 2 machines and compare them by features, accessories, speed etc. If you see they are pretty similar in most areas then it just comes down to which felt more comfortable and the price. Good luck.

I have the 8900 and I love it for piecing and quilting. It is a really good solid machine and has a lot of space.

absolutely go with the 8900 if you can afford to.
the accufeed system is much improved over the 6600 and the 7700.
the accufeet snap on and off the adapter.
i haven't used a regular foot since i got mine.
i just "snap" back and forth between accufeet.

i love my 8900 and am very glad i bought it. :)

I have had a 6600 and a 7700, and now sew on an 8900. This machine is quilter,smoother,and much easier to FMQ on...I have no problem using the invisible thread for appliqué or quilting. I love mine.

I love, love, love my 8900. Don't know much about the 7700 but am so happy I got the 8900!

I would go for the 8900 if possible. I've had a 7700 for 18 months now and love it, but I test-drove an 8900 at a quilt show this summer (just kicking the tires, or so I told myself) and will be talking with my dealer about upgrading in the next few months. The 8900 seemed quieter, the 1/4" piecing spot on, and I like the idea of separate stitch plates rather than the single APC plate of the 7700.

Michelle

I thought I was crazy for buying the 8900 about 3 weeks ago. I do not do much sewing. I have not stop sewing since I got it. I was going to post today to tell everyone how much I love this machine. I was sewing things for my grandchildren last night which was very thick. This machine handled the thickness with no problem at all. I would have had problems with my old machine [janome 9000]. LOVE THIS MACHINE.

My only caution about the 7700 is there were a Bunch of lemons, my cousin and I both got one. It is a wonderful machine, but take your own fabric with you and test drive it. The lemon machines had a terrible time with multiple layers at block corners. The fault was some kind of mis-adjustment in the feed dogs. If it sews through multiple layers like quilters do, you'd be fine with it, truly lovely machine. Tell us what the wonderful price is though...the 8900 might be a better buy.

My dealer switched out my machine for a 8900 and it is lovely also :)