Favorite machine features
01-19-2021, 06:23 AM
#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.
01-19-2021, 08:25 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,042
Originally Posted by sewingpup
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.
01-19-2021, 08:50 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,489
Originally Posted by sandy l
The most important things that I don't want to do without are the up-down needle feature, the thread cutter, and a large sewing bed. A lot of other things are nice to have but are kinda like "frosting on the cake"
01-19-2021, 09:14 AM
#18
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,143
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Repairable for at least 50 years after purchase!
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.
01-19-2021, 10:08 AM
#19
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 15,165
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.
01-19-2021, 10:18 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,382
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.
