Advice please on which Quilter to buy
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
[QUOTE=jcrow;5133308]
"Another thing to consider is the Pfaff will almost certainly have a dual feed ( IDT) which is the pateneted built in walking foot which you can engage or not at will with most of the other regular feet. meaning you can piece with a 1/4 foot and have the benifits of the walking foot at the same time. I don't know if the bernina has this or not."
I have a Bernina 830 and they came out with dual feed before Pfaff. I love my Bernina. I even have a Bernina long arm table that I purchased when I bought my Bernina 830. The Bernina 830 is made for quilting! I has a very deep throat. They sell the LATs with the Bernina 830s because they work so well together. The Pfaff is less expensive and is a very good machine also, but just wanted to set the record straight about the dual feed! I use that with all my feet. I buy the feet that use dual feed.
Actually Jeanne, Pfaff was the first manufacturer to come out with dual feed (IDT). I have one of the first Pfaff's with IDT, built in the 70's, model 1222. Which is a beauty of a machine! Pfaff held the patent on the IDT technology for many years and after the patent lapsed Bernina and other manufacturers now incorporate it into their new machines. Yes, the Bernina 830 and 820 have dual feed, but Pfaff paved the road for all of us.
"Another thing to consider is the Pfaff will almost certainly have a dual feed ( IDT) which is the pateneted built in walking foot which you can engage or not at will with most of the other regular feet. meaning you can piece with a 1/4 foot and have the benifits of the walking foot at the same time. I don't know if the bernina has this or not."
I have a Bernina 830 and they came out with dual feed before Pfaff. I love my Bernina. I even have a Bernina long arm table that I purchased when I bought my Bernina 830. The Bernina 830 is made for quilting! I has a very deep throat. They sell the LATs with the Bernina 830s because they work so well together. The Pfaff is less expensive and is a very good machine also, but just wanted to set the record straight about the dual feed! I use that with all my feet. I buy the feet that use dual feed.
#54
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Florida - formerly Montana
Posts: 3,504
[QUOTE=jcrow;5133308]
"Another thing to consider is the Pfaff will almost certainly have a dual feed ( IDT) which is the pateneted built in walking foot which you can engage or not at will with most of the other regular feet. meaning you can piece with a 1/4 foot and have the benifits of the walking foot at the same time. I don't know if the bernina has this or not."
I have a Bernina 830 and they came out with dual feed before Pfaff. I love my Bernina. I even have a Bernina long arm table that I purchased when I bought my Bernina 830. The Bernina 830 is made for quilting! I has a very deep throat. They sell the LATs with the Bernina 830s because they work so well together. The Pfaff is less expensive and is a very good machine also, but just wanted to set the record straight about the dual feed! I use that with all my feet. I buy the feet that use dual feed.
Jeannie, when you stated that you have the long arm table, are you talking about the Bernina quilting frame?
Brabant, I DO NOT HAVE, nor do I recommend purchasing the separate walking foot. (I believe it is #50) The 820/830 has the built in dual feed and I believe the #50 walking foot is overkill. I have been quilting with the 830 since it came out in 2008 and I haven 't missed or needed the additional walking foot. When you do purchase additional feet, if they come in the 'D' version, be sure to get that, as that is the version that works with the dual feed (the built in walking foot) if you have additional questions, feel free to send me a PM.
"Another thing to consider is the Pfaff will almost certainly have a dual feed ( IDT) which is the pateneted built in walking foot which you can engage or not at will with most of the other regular feet. meaning you can piece with a 1/4 foot and have the benifits of the walking foot at the same time. I don't know if the bernina has this or not."
I have a Bernina 830 and they came out with dual feed before Pfaff. I love my Bernina. I even have a Bernina long arm table that I purchased when I bought my Bernina 830. The Bernina 830 is made for quilting! I has a very deep throat. They sell the LATs with the Bernina 830s because they work so well together. The Pfaff is less expensive and is a very good machine also, but just wanted to set the record straight about the dual feed! I use that with all my feet. I buy the feet that use dual feed.
Brabant, I DO NOT HAVE, nor do I recommend purchasing the separate walking foot. (I believe it is #50) The 820/830 has the built in dual feed and I believe the #50 walking foot is overkill. I have been quilting with the 830 since it came out in 2008 and I haven 't missed or needed the additional walking foot. When you do purchase additional feet, if they come in the 'D' version, be sure to get that, as that is the version that works with the dual feed (the built in walking foot) if you have additional questions, feel free to send me a PM.
#55
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
O.k. here are the feet you would get with the 820. "Bernina’s exclusive solid presser feet, including: 1C standard foot, 1D standard dual feed foot, 3a automatic buttonhole foot with slide, 4D dual feed zipper foot, 5 blindstitch foot, 20C open embroidery foot, 37D dual feed patchwork foot."
So, you will need to purchase the walking foot and SITD attachment. I had to also. It's great. I have to disagree with the prior posting. Bernina and my dealership recommend the walking foot for quilting. The dual feed is great for two layers, but the walking foot is recommended for 3 or more layers for the Bernina. You can try it without and see. As I did. And I found the walking foot is much better with quilting and especially for bindings. Hope this helps!
So, you will need to purchase the walking foot and SITD attachment. I had to also. It's great. I have to disagree with the prior posting. Bernina and my dealership recommend the walking foot for quilting. The dual feed is great for two layers, but the walking foot is recommended for 3 or more layers for the Bernina. You can try it without and see. As I did. And I found the walking foot is much better with quilting and especially for bindings. Hope this helps!
#56
Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 89
I have a Pfaff QE4 and love my machine. I have had it for about a year and have had nothing but pleasure sewing with it. I beat the heck out of her by sewing almost anything that fits into the couching foot hole...ripped strips of fabric twisted together, thick cording, leather strips, fat fluffy yarn...you name it, I shoved it through. she hasn't balked once. The built in IDT just can't be beat. Many of the presser feet can be used with IDT, you are not limited to using just one foot. If I wanted the large harp (which was a must on my check list), I would have had to pay 10 grand for it at my local Bernina dealer. pffftt. I would just like to say to really think about what you want and what you are willing to scarifice to get it. Don't let a name influence your decison. They are all computer driven and are destined to fail. A Berinina dealer tried to lure me by bragging that Bernina's are the "caddies" of sewing machines. She asked me what I would rather drive, a Kia or a Caddy!!??. I told her that in this economy and the price of gas???? The Kia would be a more intelligent choice. I told her that this is still just a sewing machine , not a car lady and left. I am lucky enough to be able to afford that machine but I'm won't swallow a hedonistic treadmill lie that over priced sewing machines are better. My Singer Red Eye cost me 200 bucks- including the beautiful oak cabinet that she sits in. She will out sew any Bernina on the market today. She's 100 years old this year...she was there before the Bernina's, Pfaff's etc. and she'll be around long after the Bernina's, Pfaffs etc are tossed into the dump. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer but as consumers, we have to look at these things. That Bernina, Pfaff etc. are no better than the Singers sitting in the same class... no matte what they say.
#57
I have the 830 but found out the 820 has more quilting options than the 830! I think the feet would determine what all you plan on doing but I always buy the feet with "D" behind the number when there is an option.
#58
Hallo everyone,
My dealer came back to me last night and offered me a demonstration Bernina 820 with a reduction of 800 euros on the price and the full new machine Guarantee. The deed is done! I have gone for Bernina.
Thanks for all the advice and help in making up my mind. In the end it became obvious to me that the Bernina will be more than a quilter to me: it'll do all I want to do. I shall simply upgrade the software to the new Pfaff 5D for my good old German built Pfaff2144 and have the perfect solution all round!
Happy but poorer!
And again so many thanks for all the help and advice from all of you.
Especial thanks too to Candice who has taken so much trouble to answer all my questions. What a stunning website this is. Cheers Brabant (He was my beloved fourth Bedlington Terrier, now sadly dead but followed by little Cassis , my name is Jane).
My dealer came back to me last night and offered me a demonstration Bernina 820 with a reduction of 800 euros on the price and the full new machine Guarantee. The deed is done! I have gone for Bernina.
Thanks for all the advice and help in making up my mind. In the end it became obvious to me that the Bernina will be more than a quilter to me: it'll do all I want to do. I shall simply upgrade the software to the new Pfaff 5D for my good old German built Pfaff2144 and have the perfect solution all round!
Happy but poorer!
And again so many thanks for all the help and advice from all of you.
Especial thanks too to Candice who has taken so much trouble to answer all my questions. What a stunning website this is. Cheers Brabant (He was my beloved fourth Bedlington Terrier, now sadly dead but followed by little Cassis , my name is Jane).
#60
I have to be a little patient till we go back to Germany in July, menwhile 'I have downloaded the Manual in English and have some bedtime reading. Yes I am very pleased indeed, over the moon........
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