Help! How Many Machines Does One Need?
 

I have a 28 year old Necchi 549 which has served me well. During that time I replaced the motor belt and top tension assembly. It is now showing it's age and the top stitching is wobbly. The company went out of business over 10 years ago and parts are mostly unavailable. I have a lot of alterations to do and began quilting this summer, so I searched for a replacement machine.

I found a Husqvarna Viking Platinum 750 through a lady on Craigslist who had listed a different machine initially. I had done research on Vikings and the brand was high on my list of possibilities (if made in Sweeden). This machine was made in Sweeden and came with a Viking walking foot, Viking stippling foot and an 18x24 clear acrylic extension table for a great price after a bit of haggling. I bought it.

After sewing different things on it, I have discovered that it will not sew over garment seams when hemming without whining and balking. When it finally makes it over the hump the stitches are tiny. On the other hand, I found that I can do FMQ on it easily without any problems. Are most machines made today for one specific type of sewing? I really just want one machine that can do it all!

What are your experiences with a Bernina Record 830? Is this a machine that can sew over multiple thicknesses without hesitation as well as handling FMQ beautifully? I like that it can sew standard buttonholes, blind hem, and sew the blanket stitch. These are features I want/need also.

Can you recommend other machines that have all of these abilities. I don't need electronic or computerized--mechanical is fine--but reliability and longevity IS important to me.

Thanks so much for reading!
Sheddah

I know that the newer Berninas can sew over heavy layers -- like blue jean hems, and expect that the older ones do, too. I currently own 3 Berninas - one is a serger. I think it's nice to have multiple machines as I have one Bernina and one Singer in the shop right now for tune ups.

I have two machines - a Bernina 153 QE and a Janome Horizon 7700. Both are great, but each with its own strengths. The Bernina seems to do better at sewing over bulky seams without getting all those tiny stitches. The Janome is much, much better for FMQ - mainly because it has an 11" throat. Both machines are great and I do actually use them both a lot. I have a small Grace quilting frame and the Janome is far better for that. Also, the Janome feet are substantially cheaper than the Bernina, and it has a wonderful built-in walking foot (called Accufeed) which I love. The Bernina is smaller and easier to pack into a class. I wouldn't trade either one right now!!

I don't know anything about the Bernina 830, but I do know that Bernina is a good quality machine. I've had mine for 7 years and hope to have it for many more...

The Bernina Record 830 is a workhouse and also a valuable vintage machine. These Bernina's were made with really strong motors and it should have no difficulty going over thick seams. Check eBay's completed listings to see what they sell for there.

hand crank singer----- cause mum had one
electric singer----cause it is beautiful all gold markings perfect
tiny elna--straight +zigzag-----for work shops light as air
janome --couldnot resist $5 garage sale
pfaff 1424---just being retired after 15 years
2124 pfaff embroidery ---my fully toy
horizon 3 days old not yet out of the box
all machines work all are loved and i appreciate the fact i can afford them

i have 6 machines and love them all.

I have an assortment and love them all! I have a brand new toy machine that is only six inches high...and got it cuz it is cute on a shelf. My hubby bought me a vintage featherweight.....a brother that I have had for 15 years or so and is my workhorse, and he just also bought me an anniversary edition machine that is computerized and fun!!!!!

the obvious answer...just one more! :)

I have 3 Janomes and a Brother for embroidery. I use each of them for something different.

I have two machines plus a serger. Each machine has something I like for a specific task. If you are shopping make a list of the task you need and then determine the machine that can do these at a price you can afford. It is so easy to get "up sold" on all the fancy stuff once at a dealer.

Treadle Singer for when the power goes ou and it is pretty. Can sew through anything.
Two classroom model Singers, steel body, because they are workhorses. I have one set up for quilting only with the darning foot, and the other is for piecing and garments.
Singer overlock because I like seams on the garments done right and it helps in finishing the quilts before binding.

As my hubby will quickly point out to me...there is a huge difference between need and want. I have a brother pc-420, a juki serger, and a cheapie brother machine that is my emergency back up machine should mine have to go to the shop. Hubby tells me that's all the machines I need. I want a Juki f-600, an embroidery machine, and that new brother dreamweaver looks cool too.

I have four............

1 strictly embroidery only
1 heavy duty machine (no bells or whistles)
1 sewing machine for daily use (making quilt tops and clothes etc.)
and my Bailey long arm for...well you know......:)

i think if your Viking is having a little trouble it may just be time to take it in & have a good cleaning/tune up done on it.
i've used my viking for all sorts of sewing without problems for over 10 years- i do now have a 1956 singer i use as my (travel) machine- it is a simple straight stitch machine but at home-for sewing/garment/costume/home dec & quilting i use my viking. I love the ease of zippers, the button holer, the fact i can go from sewing a pair of denim jeans right to working on a silk quilt block with just a change of needle & a couple settings.

If you want one for bulky seams I would go with a juki, they specialize mostly in industrial but do have a home sewing line, but also have some of the most powerful motors I hear

I have seven sewing machines: two sergers, vintage Singer treadle,Singer featherweight, Bernina embroidery machine, Brother 1500, and a White machine. My old serger is a Singer, hard to thread. I bought a BabyLock Evolution this year to replace it. Wow, it is great! I quilt mostly with the Brother and piece with it too. It is really accurate and easy to use. My Bernina is the old Artista 180 embroidery machine. It does beautiful embroidery and also sews everything else beautifully. I would love to have the newer Bernina 830 or 730 embroidery machines with a larger hoop capacity. I use the other when the mood strikes me except for the treadle. I like to take the featherweight when I go on a trip. It still sews great and it was made the same year I was born. I think you should have as many sewing machines as you want or can afford.

I only have a pfaff hobby 919-1....twice:D
I bought mine about 20 years ago and do all my sewing on it, quilts, curtains, clothes , furniture, jeans, leather and FMQ.
Because it's already an old lady I wanted the same one for reserve.......and after being patient I found one for a very, very reasonable price.....only three years younger than mine but looking ( and working) like new.
And I'm one happy lady now!!!!

1. Singer Quantum - Fancy stitches before I got into quilting
2. Singer 15-90 in cabinet- just had to have it
3. Singer White Featherweight- a gift from a stranger: she asked if I wanted it she had several and was downsizing.
4. Janome Jem Gold- to take to classes
5. Another Janome Jem Gold - DD bought and left here
6. Singer 301- gift from a friend
7. Bernina 1260 - too good a price to pass up
8. Brother 1500 - won it

I use them all.

Yes, what katier825 said! :-)

I use the hump jumper to go over heavy seams it came with my Viking #1+. There is another name for it, it raises the presser foot to the highth of the seam and you insert it in the back of the presserfoot and sew along. If that makes sense.

I have "several"(ok maybe a few more) machines and can't find the perfect machine that does it all. Some machines are definitely better at some things than others. I always have at least three machines set up, threaded and ready to go. Currently I have four and am using my Husqvarna #1 Plus to machine quilt a single sized quilt, my Singer 201 to replace zippers in DH's coveralls, my Janome 6500 to stitch an old UFO top and I'm playing around with a vintage 530-1 Bernina which looks brand new that I couldn't resist for $40. I don't think that they make the perfect machine that does it all and $'s don't seem to ensure a great machine. I paid by far the most for my Janome 6500 ($2000) and it doesn't stitch nearly as well or as fast as my freebie Singer 201. My Husqvarna and my Bernina also outperform my Janome in many ways. You just need to find a machine that will match what you are doing. If you have the space, it is fun to play with more than one machine and the older ones often outperform the new plastic ones. I think every quilter should have at least two machines. You always need a back-up machine and one you can pack up easily and take to a class.

Some machines can sew through lots of layers, but not over humps. My Janome has a button on the regular foot to lock it in horizontal position so it goes over humps better (like jeans). That way the foot doesn't tip up against the seam "hump."
You'll notice that a lot of dealers will show you how great a machine is for sewing 8 or even more layers of jeans. But, they use a flat layer, not going on 2 layers and then trying to get over 7 or 8 layers. Most machines balk at those kinds of radical change.

Thanks to all for your helpful and thoughtful replies! I think that I have finally accepted the fact that one machine won't do all. I thought this Viking Platinum would be more robust than it is, but it seems that the plastic computer machines have limits that are way lower than the robust mechanicals of past years. For me (just coming from one of those past machines) this has been an eye-opening disappointment. The dealers will never admit this either--for the most part anyway.

I am now looking at pre 1990, mostly metal, mechanical machines for a second primary duty machine. (I presently have a serger also.) At first I thought a Bernina 830 or 930. But the parts are becoming harder to get and to my understanding some parts aren't available at all. So I have turned my sights towards an older (perhaps 10 years old, mostly metal) Bernina 1008--which is still being made today. Any thoughts about the robustness of this unit? Can its sail over humps?

By the way, where do you all find all the bargain/free machines?

We got our older machines from E-Bay.
Currently in use.
* Bernina 640
* Bernina White Pearl
* Viking Mega Quilter
* 3 featherweights
* Singer Treadle
* Singer Model 15
* Singer Model 301 (2)
That doesn't count the 3 Singer 128's; 99; and a couple of others waiting for a tuneup before I use them.

When I saw the title of this post, my first thought was "As many as you want!" :-)

The 830s are as good as you hear and my favorite.

As many as you want, can't count all that I have.

1 Pfaff Stretch and Jeans for rag quilts
1 Pfaff 1540 Select for regular quilts and clothes
1 Singer Featherweight 75 for clothes and one step buttonholes
and I'm looking for a Singer 301 and a Kenmore like I bought new in 1990 that had a tumble down cement steps (I cried) my favorite machine ever. I always look at any machines I see because I never know what I might NEED until I see it! One more, please! (They are addictive)

My Bernina 830 and Viking does the same thing when going over a seam in jeans. It makes tiny stitches. I think that is kind of normal. Or more normal than you would think.

I agree with the other posters that the Viking might just need a good tune up. I have that same machine and don't have those issues. I do piecing, garment and home dec sewing on it with no issues whatsoever. Good luck with your quest for a different machine though.

How many machines does anyone NEED! One.

How many does anyone want? As many as you have money and room for!

I have a Viking Lilly 550, a babylock serger and an old Kenmore machine. The old Kenmore was just given to me, so I am not sure how great it works. I use my Viking for everything, and I do sometimes make clothing. I love it. I need to play with the Kenmore and see how great it works. It helps me to have an extra machine for days my daughter comes for sewing days, and then she doesn't have to bring her machine.

I get my 'bargains' at garage sales, from craigslist, and/or eBay. I personally prefer pre-1980 machines. Newer machines may have plastic or nylon gears which don't last.

Well I did find and buy a 1954 Singer 201 as a second primary straight stitcher. These certainly are beautiful, quality, well-made machines--smooth and quiet. The 201 is in great shape, and I am still working on its restoration. I have even replaced the "Bakelite" original pedal with an electronic version to gain more control and to avoid pedal heat-up during FMQ. It sews the same hems (french seams and all) like butter that the Viking 750 balks at and sews so poorly. I am going to have the Viking serviced, but I spoke again to the lady whom I bought it from she said that Viking resolved the problem of thick intersecting seams with the included "hump jumper." She also assured me that it sews the same as it did when new. She had previously told me that it had been serviced just before she purchased her new machine. It had then been stored a while before she decided to sell it.

On another note, I test "drove" the Bernina 550QE. To push its limits and see what it could do, I sewed a french seamed, double turned hem piece of canvas on it. I was shocked and impressed to see it sail right over that seam!! The stitches got a wee bit smaller, but not really noticeably. I think I found my one machine that can do it all (for me). But I am in sticker shock and don't know if I'll ever recover!

If I ever do recover, I might just buy it and sell the Viking. I think I'm getting too attached to the 201 to sell it though...we'll see.

Thank you all for sharing and helping. I'll update after the Viking gets serviced, and of course if I end up buying the "Nina."

My answer is yes different machines excell for different tasks. My Pfaff that has the IDT (built in walking foot) is so wonderful for regular sewing, piecing quilts and stitch in the ditch quilting. However my Viking D-1 is an embroidery machine but has wonderful built in stitches that are great for quilting and deco sewing that the Pfaff doesn't do. Also the D-1 has a walking foot but requires you to put in a different shank to install so takes a little time to adapt. I love both of them.
I have never traded a machine in and have kept them all including the old Bernina in the red case that I let the grand kids sew on. Plus three old singers.

My Viking has been serviced. It's performance is better--no longer makes noises nor does the light fade in and out when going over seam intersections. The piercing power is good now. But it still makes small stitches when going over seam intersections. One example is an eight triangle pinwheel using regular cotton quilting fabric. This seam is not bulky, but is multi-layered. It is not really a "hump" and too flat to use a "Hump Jumper." It seems like a "feed" issue. Is this common with most (brands) of computer machines? What about those of you who own computerized Vikings--do you have this problem also?

Is there anything that can be done to correct this problem?

Some newer machines need a little plastic booster plate to put in front of the thick seam to help the presser foot climb up the thick layers. I bet this is all your Viking wants....a little boost!