@Sewingforfun,

You find Valentina is not user friendly because you don't know where to find the numerous sources which are provided to learn it.

We have an English speaking Facebook group. I cannot post links here, but you will find the group by entering 'Valentina en pattern open source pattern making software' in the FB searchbar. We are not very numerous for the moment since I created the group some weeks ago, but it grows. In this group we have provided short tutorials and we answer to questions.

We provide a manual too at the price of 20 € as a contribution to the project. It is complete for beginners and advanced users. I have translated it myself from Russian, we have a French manual too, and we plan to have a Spanish manual someday.

The forum has been closed recently since nobody used it. But nobody used it because we have a chat channel in Telegram, where everybody can ask for help and assistance (bilingual Russian/English, with an automatic translator). Roman and other members answers each day to questions, so it is far more efficient than a forum to get help for Valentina.

We also have a wiki in Miraheze (google 'Valentina pattern making miraheze' to access to the wiki page), it is not complete since I lack of time, but you can begin to work with this.

So we provide many user friendly sources.

Seamly 2D and Valentina were the same software until 2018 but have split. Seamly 2D has no contributing developers, so Valentina has far more improved since 2 years, the 0.7 test version is quite stable and offers a lot of new features.

@KayK, yes, I am just in love with my TL. I've owned 'her' since 4 years and I've never had the least issue with her. Except last summer when I used a too thick thread and she said 'stoooop !'. Well, I dismantled and cleaned her up completely, and she worked like a new one. She is the best machine I have ever had, she sews very thin silk and very heavy jeans as well. I know she is very appreciated by quilters (which I am not), but she does the job wonderfully for sewing clothings too.
Unfortunately, I never found a second-hand one, I had to pay the high price to get her, but I don't regret a second ! 

Well, you are so friendly and active here, I just wonder why I did not register in an English sewing forum before  . Well I am a little bit unfair, as we have a great forum in France too which is named Threads and Needles.

This forum is just a wonderful place and very well organised (which is important for me).

Even if I won't explore everything since I have no skills in certain activities and topics, I will definitely stay and help in the fields I know best ! 

Interesting topic.
I owned a 930 Bernina during a year a few years ago. I had bought it 50 € in Switzerland, so it was worth. I loved it. But I apply to the opinion that it was not a semi industrial machine, just a very heavy and solid domestic one.
Unfortunately, the motor finally crashed (this is their fragility, the metal pieces hold, but after a 40 yers service, well, the motor has issues).
Thus I searched a new one.
I finally chose 2 new ones : one I call semi industrial or professional for straight stitch, and one domestic for zz and stretch stitches.
Talking about the semi industrial one, this is a Juki TL series. I am not afraid to call it semi industrial due mainly to its characteristics whose some are implemented from industrial series. This is not an industrial one, of course, its speed is 1500 / min only, but for the rest, it is quite comparable.

Thanks a lot @Iminei !!

I am French, so I don't know English needles. My (far ahead) favourite ones are French Bohin needles. I use mostly 11, 10 and 8 with Mettler thread, sometimes from 3 to 8 when needed.

Hello !
I am a 46-year-old French sewer.
I have a passion for beautiful hand-made clothing, pattern making, open source softwares and pattern making softwares ... and I love to talk in English
I am already a member of 2 French sewing forums, but I love to read other ressources and English chats are often more active !
So I am very very happy to join you !