Hello All, I have a Janome 11000 and have had for 7 years..thinking about a new machine now that I am a more educated embroidery nut. Can anyone suggest their opinion of the best machine for embroidery? I am not a sewer but love to embroider and want larger hoops..thanks

I have the Ruby too and love it. The large hoop was the main reason I bought it (and gave my Designer 1 to my daughter). I was pleasantly surprised by the price, even more so when my dealer phoned me three days later to tell me there was an introductory offer and he decided to refund me €500.
It has an automatic cutting function, but I turn it of now and again as it sometimes means you have to re-thread the - silly enough only when the hoop makes a forward move in the jump.
Make sure you have a reliable dealer close by - if anything might go wrong you want good service and answers to questions that might arise.

I have the Ruby by viking and LOVE the large hoop 200 x 360 (8x14). I find that with time and experience you make more elaborate designs and a big hoop is wonderful. It all depends on your budget (viking is expensive and I do not know the other machines listed)and as others have mentioned, it is very important to have a good relialbe dealer. Good luck.

I have the Brother Quattro 6000D - which is a twin to the BabyLock Elissimo. It has up to a 200x300 embroidery field (about 8x12). It also has automatic jump stitch cutting (also available on the 4500) and a "snowman" placement system with a camera (only available on this machine). They are expensive machines though... My first machine was a 780D which goes to a 5x7 embrodiery field and I was not unhappy with it (just wanted bigger and the automatic jump cutting, and snowman). My suggestion is to get the "biggest" machine in your budget (no one ever seems to say they wanted smaller hoops, etc.) and to test drive whatever you are considering at the dealer. I believe the dealer is also important to the purchase - having them for questions and issues is very helpful (and many places give lessons, etc. too with the machine). Good Luck to you.

if you like janome have a look at the new memorycraft 12000 on the janome site It is being released on Oct 1st

What is the closest dealer to you and how do they treat their clientel?

I own a Babylock Ellegante2 and I adore it. My machine has several sizes of hoops: the tiny one that I don't even know the size of, 4x4, 5x7, and the 7x11.75 - I use all of them but the tiny one, even though I have used it now and again.

You do have to consider what size hoop you really are needing - what is the amount of money that you want to spend to get that hoop and how often would you really use it.

I love the babtlock machines. I have the Ellissimo and the enterprise. Suzanne

I love Janome, i had a 5700 for years and just bought the Janome 350E and love it. It just does embroidery and has the 4x4 and 5x7 hoops. Great price and embroiders lovely.
Hugs Lee

I like the Bernia's. I have the 730 and wish I could get the 830. The 830 has a several hoops available and the largest is 8x12. My "when I hit the lottery machine." Good luck with your choice and have lots of fun when you get it.

If I had the money I would look for a used multi head machine, go on Kijji , Craig's list ect. I have seen the for as low as $4,500.00 ca. to rich for me. Why spend all the money for functions you don't need.

This depends entirely on how much money you want to spend, I am a brother girl myself. I have a janome that is about 12 years old but I did not get great results for embroidery and now I only use it for sewing. I have 2 multineedle brothers I love them but they were expensive so they would not suit everyone.

I guess what you need to consider is how big a hoop you may want. Too, how much you want to spend. Have fun test driving them all.

check out the new 12000 Janome....it is just now on the market....has lots more bells and whistles than the 11000 or the 11000SE which I have. My dealer says it is a dream but had mine only for almost 2 years....the new one has a mega hoop with it and more.
Lots more embroidery stitches....about 400 I think....

I have a Brother 780D and the largest hoop is 5x7.

I don't really know about all the others..... but if you are not going to sew at all --- why pay the huge price for a combination machine. I would go for the best stand alone emb. machine.