Originally Posted by katybob

I have two -- a Bernina 820 that I bought in a weak moment several months ago when I was feeling sorry for myself because I don't have room for a longarm and an Elna that is maybe 3 or 4 years old. I don't regret buying the Bernina -- it's a wonderful machine -- but I'm glad I did't get rid of the Elna. I discovered recently that the Bernina doesn't believe you when you try to sew without thread (so you can poke holes in a template or stencil) and just quits sewing and the pre-programmed alphabets are much prettier on the Elna. I'm not an embroiderer -- not yet, anyway! -- but I do use the alphabets for quilt labels.