Knock me over with a feather!
 

I've been sewing on a Bernina 440QE for the past couple of years and really loved her. By no means had I learned everything about her either.

Back track a bit....I stepped into a hole in my local Wal-Mart's parking lot in Sept of 2010. Broke my ankle and also did a lot of damage to muscles, ligaments and tendons. The break healed but the other has bothered me until March of this year when they finally did surgery to clean up my ankle.

We've been going back and forth with Walmart on the settlement for the past few weeks and came to an agreement last week.

I've wanted to upgrade my machine for a while but didn't know if I wanted one of the new 7 series and had no plans to get an 830 at all. Yeah I would have loved one but....

Well my husband told me to go get the 830!!! She's previously loved and has no blemishes at all on her!! She's got 1.6 million stitches. Her name is AllieB. In honor of both my grandmothers who sewed and quilted.

I'm so ready to jump in with both feet but am making myself hold on and try and learn about her before getting too overwhelmed. :)

Good thing I live some 30 miles or so from my dealer! Watch out world!!! I'm coming through with both guns blazing and ready to sew all my fabric!!!

Hugs!

Congratulation! At least you will get some joy after all your pain and suffering!

These machines are truly a wonder. I traded my 440 for the 580 which I love, but I work on the 830s. The space available in awesome even before you consider what else it does. I hope you have many years of stitches with AllieB.

I bought my 830 2 1/2 years ago. I love her but I have problems with thread. She likes 50 wt. I had to buy some 30 wt. to do my binding and every few stitches the thread would break. I had to get out my Viking Quilt Designer to do the binding. Talk about a difference in machines. I didn't feel like I had control of the Viking...I couldn't slow the speed down and my binding looks horrible. I need to figure out why I can't use different thread on my 830. That is the only problem I have with her. I am so use to using the 830 and all its features, that when I used the Viking, I realized how spoiled I was. Go for the 830. They make sewing a dream. If I can only figure out the thread thingie, everything will be okay.

Glad you've reached a settlement and can enjoy sewing again.

Congratulations on your 830. I have had mine for about 2 years. Have used only 50 weight and Isacord embroidery threads. You might need to check for tension settings for 30 weight thread.

mltquilt

If you haven't had your 830 in for a service in awhile, have her go in for the update (another one!) and a thread protector. These are under warrant and very easy for your tech to install. This may help alot with thread breakage.

after all the pain you well deserve the joy---remember to get up and walk around frequently--also become able to use either foot on the pedal

I also have an 830 and it has taken me two years to get my machine to sew with specialty thread (metallics, etc) I put it on a thread stand away from the back of my machine so the thread has time to untwist before it gets to the tension. I also use "Sewers Aid Lubricant " on the thread spool itself. I talked with a Bernina educator in September and she said she puts specialty thread in a cup on the floor to help untwist it. Use a 90/14 or 100/16 Topstitch needle to quilt with or sew with the special threads. I hope this helps you not have the headaches I did when I first got my machine. I was ready to return it several times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gosh, I'm so sorry for all the pain you've had to go through. I hope you really enjoy the machine. You deserve it.