nursie76

I have the Bernina 330 which is the least expensive of the 3 series. In fact I am sewing on it right now. I also have the Bernina 730E, but the 330 is my travel machine.

It is a really nice little machine. I believe that it retails around $850. We traded a used Janome Gem Silver in one it (I won it and didn't need/care for it), so we got it a little cheaper.

I like sewing on it. It has needle up/down, multi position needle, auto buttonholes and more decorative stitches than I would ever need on a travel machine. I do miss the thread cutter and the knee lever (hands free presser foot control). Also, with my big machine, I can push my heel on the front of my power control foot pedal and the needle goes up or down, the foot pedal control on the 330 doesn't. But, I found that the foot pedal from the big machine works in the little one and I regain the up down needle option. (I can pick up a used one at my dealer or $40 then could keep it packed up with my 330 for travel and wouldn't have to switch. Also, for $70 one could add the knee lever option. The 330 also doesn't come with the table extension, but that is an option for $35. Bottom line, some of the extras come with the slightly higher priced of the 3 series, so you would have to crunch numbers and decide which model would be the better value. My way of thinking was that could purchase the extras as I had the money rather than expending the money all at once. Any way, I don't think you would go wrong with any of the Series 3 models. Some of the extras I wanted were because I was spoiled by having them on my 730. If you have not become accustomed to those features, then you wouldn't miss them. But you would still have the option of adding them later if you wished. Oh, and you would probably want to purchase the 1/4 inch or patchwork foot if you have a problem making a perfect 1/4 seam (I still seam to have problems :oops: )

My DH insisted I attach a pic of my 330 whose name is Eva. Sorry for the mess, we are at our DS's place in NY and I am deep in a project. (See, I really needed a travel machine, don't want to leave home with out my quilting...now if I could just figure how to take it all with me to New Zealand in February :roll: )