This weekend I went to my quilting ministry at my church. I use a carrying case for travel (TUTU - I think) and had gotten it out of my car. My sewing room is downstairs so I was putting off returning it there -VERY Heavy- During the day, my DH was helping me clean house and moved the carrier to the top of stairway. Well, it immediately fell down the stairs; hit a table (broke the legs) and finally landed! My artista looked ok upon picking it up - but damage was hidden. It would only sew two stiches, the threading bar - not working, the throat plate knocked off, well, you get the idea! I took her to the doctor yesterday (Atlanta Sewing Center) and found out that it was so damaged, as well as older, that it might be too costly to fixed, and might be used as parts to fix others. I get an estimate on Friday. Before this happened, I had already thought about getting a lighter weight machine for "stow and go" quilting classes, retreats, etc. The end result was that I purchased the new Series 3 (380) Bernina that was much lighter for carrying. All the employees at ASC were helping me determine which machine was lighter and had the same great operating system. If the artista is fixable at a reasonable price, I will keep that for my sewing room and use the new machine for travel. I have been a customer for over 20 years and have always gotten good prices and lots of good service - the same owners are there. So, just wanted to share my story. Has anyone else had any kind of accident with their sewing machine?

No - Thank Heavens!! Congrats on your new lighter weight machine and I hope your Artista is fixable.

No but I don't take my Bernina with me. It's so darn heavy.
Your poor girl!!
I love Bernina machines and service. Hope you enjoy your new one!

Oh my, that sounds terrible. Your poor machine. I hope they can fix it without it costing two much. Having two Berninas would be great.

Years ago, I took my machine on an airplane trip down to florida. I didn't have a cover or hard shell case for it. I used pillow case to cover it up. BIG mistake. It did fit nicely under the seat in front of me, though. Anywho, getting it out after the flight, I broke off the thread spindle. Poor baby. Never been the same since. Tried super glue many times but no such luck with that. Now I just use a coffee mug for a thread stand.

Be sure to check with your insurance about the damage and replacement costs. Even with your deductible it may help. Sometimes we forget that things like this are often covered.

Jan in VA

Oh I'd be just sick if I dropped one of my machines. I hope your baby isn't too expensive to fix!

Oh I feel your pain...Can't imagine if I lost my Bernina 1090...I have been looking at Bernina's lighter weight machines as my old girl is as heavy as my truck.....:)

The poor thing! My Bernina is a great, heavy old thing, but I like the weight. The metal parts will last and last and she'll probably still be sewing long after I'm dead and buried. If I need a machine for travel, I think I'll just get a little Janome mini. Luckily, I haven't had to take her anywhere, though. I hope your Bernina can be fixed!

So sorry about your Artista. Hope she gets better soon. I have a Bernina 380 and love it.

Oh no! Never had one damages but did have my Janome stolen. Our machines are such a part of us. Sorry this happened to you.

As Sandra-P said... our machines ARE a part of us!! so sorry this happened... hope it can be fixed... the thought of TWO Berninas is just dreamy! I still have my original 830 Record... college grad gift from parents and love it... despite the weight...

Would love to have a light-weight machine for on-the-go...

Thank you for your sympathy! I just had to tell this story! I also left my foot 37 I use for 1/4 inch seams,so I GOTTA have that. I hope to hear from them soon!!!!

I am glad to hear that someone else has a Bernina 380. I am planning on trying it out today!

I added the larger foot pedal that will raise the needle when you tap on the back of it. It works great on my 380 but was pricey as anything with Bernina on it is. I understand wanting your 1/4 inch foot. I got mine last year and don't know how I ever stitched without it.

I love my little Bernina. I hope you enjoy your new machine.

Hi Karen, First, my sister, Iris, lives in Dublin, (GA for those who don't know) say hello for me. (Everyone in Georgia, knows everyone)

OH my, chills ran up my spine as I read your story.

Sending prayers, she will be fixed, but if not she will be in Berninia Heaven helping others.

I have a new baby...a 440 with embroidery...oh what a girl. Just thinking of your girl, I ran to my studio and gave my baby hugs! :thumbup: :thumbup: :wink: :wink:

Bummer about your machine!!!!!

I have a 630 and it is getting too heavy for me to carry and lift onto a table. I'm thinking that I will have to sometime get a smaller lighter machine to take to classes and such.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: I took me yeas to save up for an Bernina and if something like that happen I would :cry:
))))Hugs(((( hope she will be ok very soon.

Thank you all so much! I DO have the larger foot petal that I left with my machine and I WANT it back if my machine is too sick to fix. Also, since my sewing room is downstairs, I really wish I could move it on the main level. I have a "living room" on one side of the foyer and a dining room on the opposite side. I want so much to move my sewing room up here, but my living room (must be for show - the living room has never been used. We have a keeping room and that is where we hang out. We also have an office on the main floor that would work out better because it has beautiful built in shelving and possibly more space. (I will have to measure both). Right now I have a hodge podge of items in my sewing room, so I would need to kinda spruce it up - like I use two tables with bed risers to work with quilting. Have any of you found cutting tables and furniture that cost a fortune? Can't hurt to ask, can it!

Kola (sic) The very best I have ever seen. Truly Dreamland. Happy Hunting

Oops, just a note....my studio is downstairs, and I use a rolling case to deal with the up and downs.

Also, someone from my dealer always carries and lifts my machine for me for class.

Just ask.

Oh, heartbreak! Nice that you can get a new one, but still, that hurts.

I have 2 Berninas and love both of them! I have that big 830 and my repair guy tells me all the time how to transport it. I do have a tutu bag too. I have read on a few message boards that I need to get some padding for it so don't mess up the screen and nobs. I have not only take in the car only for service and some learner classes I will take my 200E for classes! I think Berninas are heavy too!

Sounds to me like a 2 edge sword. Congrats are in order of course, but I can not imagine loosing my Bernina I love so much!

I have an old Bernina which I am devoted to, and its set into a cupboard if you know what I mean. Although I can just lift it out I don't take it to classes or anywhere else because of the weight. So I have a small Janome that I can fit into my 'box on wheels' bought at Hampton Court Flower Show (UK). This will also accommodate my bag with material/thread/etc. It works for me!

Poor baby. I feel your pain.

Sorry to hear about your dear Bernina, I hope I never see my Berninas injured. Sure hope she can be fixed.
They are like the Energizer bunny, they just keep going and going.
:thumbup:

Also I heard about a lady had her 830 wrapped in a seat belt and got into a accident and it went forward and cracked the screen and broke the nobs off! I was be very upset with that! Repair guy told me that the screen always get faced to the back so that don't happen! So learn something every day!

OMG, what a story I feel for you. I have a Bernina 450 that is attached to me all the time if you know what I mean. It is my right hand person & no one touches it unless necessary. I had an extra one that I took to Church as we do "Project Linus" & 'World Relief' quilts & in the mean time my grandkids needed to use mine which was ok BUT, now, someone had donated us a machine for Church & my extra is back home for the GK's to use now. They can take away my TV but not the machines. I also have 2 Bernina sergers & love them, so FAST & QUICK for other projects.

I went to Wal-Mart & bought an inexpensive traveling piece of luggage (pink, of course) that you pull behind & put my Bernina in this (- the top cover that comes with it) so much easy to handle when you go some where & not having to lift it. My friends love this idea so they all bought luggage to. :) :thumbup:

I completely understand your situation. My sister and I were traveling in Lancaster, PA and there were no elevators in our lodging so another guest offered to assist my sister and you know the rest of the story . . . Fortunately the machine did work during our vacation. The repairs were around $150.00. I keep my 1230 in my laundry room so I don't have far to carry it to the car for classes. My newer 440 lives in my upstairs sewing room.

I am a very loyal Atlanta Sewing Center customer also. I have always had excellent service and advise. I love my Berninas!!

Good Luck from a fellow GA quilter.

I got the Janome Gem for that reason and then inherited my Featherweight. I take them both to classes etc. cause some girls are in the same boat.....too heavy machines.

You are so right Jan. I would have forgotton about that. Thanks for the idea.

Sorry about your injured baby, Karen.

I have two Berninas. A 1260 for all my daily sewing and a 930 (35+ yrs mechanical/electronic) for my "van machine" to take to classes. It is heavy but lives in it's rolling carrying case and can stay in the van even in hot or cold weather. Still sews like it is brand new and I don't have to worry about the computer.
Sorry about the injury. I can't imagine not having my machine.

Hi Jan in VA! I took your advice and e-mailed my insurance guy and using the prices given to me by Jack (I called him to check on comparable prices to the machine that is sick). My insurance guy (also a friend of mine) is checking on it. I will keep everyone updated. Karen

Latest news from Jack-my repair guy and owner of ASC. While I was checking prices for insurance purposes, he was updating what they have found so far: Damage to front of the machine and a circuit board. This may be the only damage - which would mean my Artista CAN be repaired. I am still wondering what the cost would be! Circuit board especially! I should get an estimate on repairs on Friday. I will keep you guys updated!

A friend of mine had her circuit brd damaged & it would of cost her a mint & then they said there was no more warranty on it so they advised her to get a new machine. You should also ask about the warranty if something should happen to see if they would replace that.

[quote=Karen Collin) my Artista CAN be repaired. I am still wondering what the cost would be! Circuit board especially! I should get an estimate on repairs on Friday. I will keep you guys updated![/quote]

Sounds like good news, keeping our collective fingers crossed. Looking forward to your final answer.

Just read Grama Chris...the cost of repairs might be more than a new machine...you just never know how well a repaired machine of any kind is going to hold up. Good luck.

I broke down and bought a Singer Featherweight years ago to take travelling, and to classes, as my Janome 10000 is a homebody, doesn't like to be carried (I don't carry her, too heavy). I would be heartbroken if she got injured. I bought a New Viking Sapphire last year, for the bigger harp, and hate it. My Janone and I have been through miles of sewing, we know each other well.

So sorry about your machine! We don't have the excess cash laying around to be able to fix something like that! Glad you are able to get the new one, and even possibly fix the old one. Good luck with that. I'm sure glad nothing like that has ever happened to me. (Of course, we live all on one floor, so I don't really have to worry about mine falling down stairs!)

Regarding the warranty, I am almost positive that my machine is too old for paying for any repairs.

Many years ago before I purchased my Aurora 440qe my husband bought me a Brother. Even though I knew how to sew I never had my own machine. It was from Costco. Not fancy but it had some decorative stitches and I made drapes on it and my first quilts.

I didn't have a sewing table so I would sew on the kitchen table. I was trying to finish up a project so rather than than take everything down we had dinner in front of the television and I went to finish up after. I stepped away from the table for something which is when the carnage occured:

My husband opened the backdoor (right by the table) to let one of our German Shepherds out. The second one, hating to be left inside ran between my chair and the wall and caught the cord on one of her legs. The machine literally flew out the open door onto the concrete steps. It was a terrible site and even worse sound! I picked it up and tried to bend back the the threader and a couple other parts. I took it in for repair but of course it cost more to repair than a new machine. I was sad but grateful too. If that machine had hit one of the dogs in the head it would have killed them.

When I bought my Bernina I made sure that I had money to purchase a table as well. She stays in the table. I haven't taken any classes so I don't have a travel machine yet but I will not take ANY chances with her. Ever.