Favorite machine features
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,337
I love the "hoover" function on both my viking D1 and my Bernina 570. This raises the foot automatically just a bit when you stitch. I usually put it into stop in needle down position....so when I am turning a corner....I stop stitching, the needle goes down and the foot comes up so I can turn the quilt without having to manually raise the presser foot....also wonderful when appliqueing by machine as it makes it way easier to do those curves and angles. I also loved the knee riser on my old bernia without the hoover function to turn corners with.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,042
I love the "hoover" function on both my viking D1 and my Bernina 570. This raises the foot automatically just a bit when you stitch. I usually put it into stop in needle down position....so when I am turning a corner....I stop stitching, the needle goes down and the foot comes up so I can turn the quilt without having to manually raise the presser foot....also wonderful when appliqueing by machine as it makes it way easier to do those curves and angles. I also loved the knee riser on my old bernia without the hoover function to turn corners with.
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,489
Yes! This is what I want also. I want to turn my machine on, and sew. I honestly don't need any bells and whistles. I like a good workhorse machine. I will admit my BFF keeps telling me "You don't know what you're missing", but maybe that's the point. I can't miss what I don't have!
#18
I'm generally optimistic, but I don't think I have that many years left.
I usually sew on my Bernina 440QE. However I also use my vintage Singer 301. The thing I miss most when using the 301 is the knee lift. The Bernina doesn't have all the bells and whistles of newer machines, but I don't miss what I've never become accustomed to.
I usually sew on my Bernina 440QE. However I also use my vintage Singer 301. The thing I miss most when using the 301 is the knee lift. The Bernina doesn't have all the bells and whistles of newer machines, but I don't miss what I've never become accustomed to.
#19
My main machines are Bernina 770 and Juki 2010 TLQ. The threader on the Juki is junk. (but I love the machine) When I got my Bernina it had a needle threader that works every time!! I love that. Also love the large bobbins and warning when it gets low.
#20
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,379
Needle threader.
Thread cutter.
Knee lift.
Extension table.
Sturdy, reliable, mechanical machine, no computer boards or chips that are cost-prohibitive to repair/replace.
I have all of these in my Brother 1500. I realized since I acquired it, I haven't touched my other machines, so I sold or gave away all of them except for my Pfaff, which has a buttonhole stitch (and I actually use it for buttonholes!).
A lot of people complain that the needle threader on the 1500 doesn't work, but time after time it turns out they didn't understand *how* it works and so were using it improperly.
Thread cutter.
Knee lift.
Extension table.
Sturdy, reliable, mechanical machine, no computer boards or chips that are cost-prohibitive to repair/replace.
I have all of these in my Brother 1500. I realized since I acquired it, I haven't touched my other machines, so I sold or gave away all of them except for my Pfaff, which has a buttonhole stitch (and I actually use it for buttonholes!).
A lot of people complain that the needle threader on the 1500 doesn't work, but time after time it turns out they didn't understand *how* it works and so were using it improperly.