I am unsure how to copy just the link on my IPad so here is what I wrote on here a year ago. Originally, I only wanted the embroidery for doing monograms. Do I use it. Yes, but not as much as I should. There are so many aspects to quilting, that I don't have enough time to do it all. Right now, I am into FMQ. What the others have said is true. The stabilizers and other supplies are expensive. If I had it to do over again, I would not have gotten the embroidery module. As for Bernina machines, I have a love hate relationship with them.
[h=2]Bernina 830 fixed!!![/h]
In the end of March, beginning of April, I posted about all the trouble I have had with my Bernina 830 and the embroidery module since purchasing it almost 5 years ago. I had it in for servicing 8-9 times in the first year or so. Thread breakage was such a problem. Well, after getting all new thread and eventually they changed the hook, it was a lot better but not perfect. At least I could sew. I was resolved that the embroidery part of it was a several thousand dollar mistake. I purchased it about an hours drive away so I was not happy with all my car trips to the dealer! Well, I retired Dec 31st and have been enjoying it and tried once again to embroider, only to have it keep coming up with a sensor, which I thought was thread breakage but the dealer said is bobbin empty. It would come up 100+ times in a 3x3 embroidery piece! Seeing that part of the warranty (5year) was up in May, I asked for suggestions on this board on if I should send it back to bernina for servicing or go back to my dealer as I decided I really should be able to embroider on this expensive machine. Well, I took it in for servicing with a list and told them if they couldn't fix it, I wanted it sent back to Bernina. They worked on it, said it was fixed, I brought it home and it wasn't.
So the short of this situation AND A FIX FOR ANYONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MACHINE, is to be persistent and insistent. I went back to the dealer prepared with a quilting sample, embroidery hoops already sandwiched with the stabilizer, my walking foot, fabric for sewing and my thread. I set up in their classroom area (no classes going on) and they worked with me on and off for 4 1/2 hours. Initially, I worked with the salesman and showed him the problem with the embroidery sensor. Eventually, the technician got involved and they even called Bernina. There are apparently 8 sensors. Also the tension for the embroidery module is different than regular sewing. They also calibrated the embroidery hoops. With all the servicing they did, then the walking foot wasn't working right. So they fixed that. EVERYTHING IS WORKING GREAT NOW! I am adjusting the top tension as needed. I always do a test sample and that is ok with me. You don't know how happy I am after so much frustration.