IT'S NOW MINE!!! - The Viking Sapphire 870 Quilt

[HomespunMary]

The retail price is 1200 US dollars??? Well, in that case, I'm afraid I lost all my interest... LOL!

Needlenoise, thank you so much for the info! And thanks to both you, Diane and Kadie for your kind words about my quilting. When I did free motion on the boat quilt, I kept thinking that my stitches were really seriously uneven, and that my lines were not always exactly where I wanted them. That's when I started longing for a stitch regulator. But, when I went to a Swedish quilt show the other week, I got to see others' free-motion quilting for the first time (I had only seen free motion quilting in magazines and in pics online before that), and could compare it to my own. Then I realized that my stitches were not at all as bad as I had thought...

So, maybe you're right. I too think this Fabric mover might not really be something I'd use a lot... In any case, I'm begining to think that I probably shouldn't factor in possible stitch regulators in this possible machine purchase. I'll try to focus on the machine as such...

And, needlenoise, your quilt is so adorable! I love it!

[carrieg]

If you want to compare machines, try www.patternreview.com. That helped me when I bought my Janome Memory Craft 6600P. I bought this machine over the Saphire after some research. It has the large throat space too.

There's so many choices out there, it sure makes life difficult LOL

Carol

[grammy65]

Needlenoise...you're a girl after my own heart with that bright quilt. Glad to hear your input on the SR. I knew they were spendy, but hadn't really priced them.


Maria....glad you have realized just how good your stitches really are.

Diane

[HomespunMary]

Thanks for the tip, carrieg. I'll check it out.

Just out of interest, though, was that the new "Saphhire 870 Quilt" that you didn't choose, or was it one of the previous ones? It seems to me that the 870 has a lot of things that the other Sapphires don't.

[carrieg]

I know it was Sapphire, but I can't remember right now if it had a longer name. LOL It just came out here around March.

[HomespunMary]

Well, just had a look at the web site you posted, and only found one extremely brief (but very positive) review. The 870 has apparently only been out a few weeks, and I'm guessing that's why I can't find too much info on it from people who have actually tried it yet...

[grammy65]

Hi Maria....just got back from Rapid City. Stopped by my Viking dealer. The Sapphire 870 is so new they don't even have one in yet...or a price on it. The 840 runs about $1400. It does have a 10" throat and it can take the stitch regulator if you would want it. It also has the sensor foot lift. What I don't understand with sewing machine companies is....they make the throat longer, but they don't make it higher, or they make it higher and not longer. Why can't they make it BOTH!!!! Sure is a nice looking machine..at least the 840. Don't know when they are getting the 870 in.

Sorry I couldn't find out any more information. It's pretty new to them.

Diane

[HomespunMary]

Diane, thanks a lot for this! Yeah, I too realized it is a bit difficult to get info on a machine that's barely reached the stores yet...

What I have noticed is that there is quite a few big differences between the various Sapphires, and IF - and that still is an IF - I get one of them it'll definitiely be the 870.

In any case I'll eventually have time to go see my machine dealer tomorrow!!! I know he has the 870 because I saw it last weekend! Never got close enough to touch it though... Will spend tonight making a long list of all the questions I'm going to pester him with tomorrow..

[Oasis]

Hi Maria. . .I got a chance to go to the Viking Dealer here in town. They tried real hard to sell me the Bernina 440 but was lucky to later find a salesperson that owns a Viking Designer 1. She loves it. So I used the Bernina stitch regulator, don't even have to use the foot pedal as the foot moves when you move the fabric/hoop. Didn't really like it as you have to move the fabric fast in order for the machine to go fast. Maybe with a little practice.

But then I got to sew on the Designer SE and the Platinum and the Mega Quilter. They didn't have anything, machine or literature, on the Saphire yet. I think I have pretty much decided on the Quilt DEsigner 2. But will wait and sew on the Saphire before I buy anything. The DS2 is $2300.00 and the embroidery unit is $1600.00. They had a quilters package that is $300.00 and will probably get that at the same time as the machine. The embroidery unit can wait till I get a handle on all the bells and whistles that these machines have. It was so quiet when it was running. And of course the 10 inch throat was very nice. The extra light in the top of the throat area was a plus also. They have a person that is authorized to work on the machines right there in the shop so makes it handy to have it cleaned once a year. Of course this is all hinging on winning the Lotery. LOL Maybe after the first of the year. By waiting I still have time to research other machines and especially the Saphire. I also got to see and try the Janome 11000. Now that is some machine. A little out of my price range though.

Let us know after you get a chance with the Saphire. I'll be anxious to hear how you like it.

Linda/Oasis

[HomespunMary]

LOL, Linda and Diane, do you know what this means? I've actually identified one thing that I can buy here that you guys can't - not yet, anyway...

I eventually got to try the Sapphire 870 Quilt today, and I am totally convinced that's my machine! There is no longer any doubt in my mind! I also got to see the new extension table, and that in itself would have been enough an argument to buy the machine, LOL!

In order to be an informed and serious customer, I also tried a Bernina with a stich regulator, and it was really, really nice too. But, the Sapphire is less expensive and has far more little extra things that I want, including the large space under the arm.

Linda/Oasis, I also looked at the Designer machines, but the ones I saw didn't have the 10" throat. If I had been interested in embroidery, however, I think I would have seriously considered one of them.

Carrieg, I would have also tried the Janome, but ran out of time. And, I figured since I found a machine that I loved and that is also produced here in the country, I'll happily support the local industry...

So, now all I have to do is to figure out how to pay for it, LOL! I'll have to work something out really fast, because I want my new Sapphire NOW!!!!