Was in Bernina dealer & saw a LA machine with the Bernina name on it.Don't know anything at all about LAs, but this was a compact size, maybe 8' wide.I could sure find room.
Asked the clerk for details, but she didn't seem to know anything.
Has anyone seen.tried it?

where does that 8" measure?

You probably saw an 820 or 830 on a frame. Those aren't longarms, but with a 12" throat people do put them on quilting frames.

That would have been either the 820 or 830. I have had the 830 for almost two years, and it's a fantastic sewing machine, but it's not a longarm... not by any stretch of the imagination. If you are looking for a machine strictly for quilting, there are much better options in that price range.

This was most definitely a LA machine.The clerk said it'd work with any machine.

duplicate message

Do you mean the frame perhaps then? There are no Bernina longarms. Bernina does have a quilting frame, made for them by the Grace company, that you can use any domestic sewing machine on, but not a longarm.

A longarm refers to a machine with a throat of 18 to 30 inches.

Is this the machine you saw? This is my 830. The 820 looks nearly identical.

I have the 830 and the quilting frame. I LOVE it but the only thing is that the machine is HEAVY and you have to be able to lift it up and over to get it on there. And I've already had to replace 2 of the plastic ratchet gears. I'm not hard on them...I was just putting one of them in their slots and it must have been off just a bit and the piece snapped off. When we called to order a replacement the lady told my husband that they had to order them all the time. I got the frame as a "freebie" for buying my machine. While I love it and use it alot I almost wish I had gone for the jumbo hoop. And when they came to my house and set it up they set it to the full 10' AND took the other poles with them. I have no choice but to leave it as it is. Not something I'm all that happy about. Someone needs to make one that you can set to the size you need and able to fold away or something like that when you dont need it. Wishful dreaming....

And I think its kind of "odd" that the lady didn't know anything about it....its kind of a big deal for Bernina.

OK...thats what I saw, the frame with a machine (don't know what machine).I remarked the machine sure looked heavy & she said VERY heavy.The clerk may have been new.


Bernina does have a quilting frame, made for them by the Grace company, that you can use any domestic sewing machine on, but not a longarm.

[quote=justme2]OK...thats what I saw, the frame with a machine (don't know what machine).I remarked the machine sure looked heavy & she said VERY heavy.The clerk may have been new. quote]




VERY heavy. you have to make sure you have a firm grip before you lift it up & over. I'm 5'5" and am almost too short to do it. I was thinking that maybe a small step would help me. I have had to make sure the table doesn't move. I've lifted it up just to have the table zoom away..scared me to death! I about dropped everything! =) I really do love it though. But I find myself dreaming of a full fledged quilting machine..... more wishful dreaming... =)