hokieappmom

I was very happy with my 730 also, which was why it was such a hard decision for me. I'm still learning about the 830 and what it can do. One main difference is the longer arm and more height in the sewing area to give you the largest of any home sewing machine. The arm is 15 inches and allows a full 12 inches of sewing area to the right of the needle, so quilting larger quilts is much easier. The touch screen is also larger, allowing more functions to be right at your fingertips. If you embroider, you'll love the improvements in that. It is so easy to combine motifs by dragging and dropping and you can create an endless number of border designs and larger designs. You can even import most sewing stitches into the embroidery software. And endless embroidery is SEW easy (like borders on sheets, etc.) The software places registration marks on your design that allows you to know exactly where to line up your design when you re-hoop. I was always scared to try that, but believe me, your designs will start exactly were they need to each time you re-hoop. You can also use the improved slide-on table with your embroidery module - it just slides underneath the module. Not sure if the 730 may have this, but the 830 can baste around your motif and/or hoop before embroidering to give more stability. And the 830 is also faster with embroidery or regular stitching. The 730 has multi-directional sewing, but I THINK the 830 has more increment changes within the 360 degrees. Another unique feature is the dual feed control to keep the top and bottom fabric from sliding while sewing, which is especially good for matching plaids or sewing on slippery fabrics or ribbons. I sewed a ribbon onto minky fabric and it went on like a charm. The dual feed uses special presser feet that come with the machine (or at least several do). It also has a spool holder that can hold two spools at the same time. The bobbin is much larger also, and holds 40% more thread. These are just some of the things I know about, and I'm sure there are lots I will still learn. One drawback is the size and weight of the machine. I don't know how much, but it is right much heavier than the 730 (the machine, not the embroidery module), so some people prefer to take a smaller machine to classes. I didn't have another one to take, and don't mind carrying the 830, but give me more years on age and it will be difficult. And there is a learning curve to getting the bobbin thread in exactly the right place for regular sewing and embroidery. You use the same bobbin for both, but it's threaded differently, whereas the 730 had a different bobbin for embroidery. Because it is so cumbersome, my dealer does 3-day classes at her house, with 4-5 taking them at a time. She has had a 3-day basic class, and a 3-day beyond the basics. I don't know how other dealers have their classes, but I like the way she does it (we leave our machines there instead of taking them home each day). The negative on that is if you work like I do, I've taken 6 days off to learn about the machine. Hope this helps some and if I've misinformed on anything, I'm sure someone can correct me. I don't regret the upgrade at all. If you want to know anything else, just let me know. (Sorry this was SO long!)

sewNso

i have loved my janome 6600. it's 5 yrs old. i have prob put at least 60 quilts thru it. and even quilted them. i've always figured it costs enough for the material, batting and backing to then pay for the quilting to give them away. when i lst started doing quilts i had top of the line sears, but it wasn't made for this quilting stuff. a 1978 model. i went thru several $300 machines, and one $600 quilting machine, before my janomee. my local independent quilt store recommended this janome, and had told me that it would be the last machine i owned. she was wrong!! but i still love it.

JudeWill

Thanks so much for all the info--not too long at all. And now I'm jealous! I do have the basting motif, but really didn't realize what it is for. Now I will try it. One thing that intrigues me is the dual feed. Is that different from the walking foot? That was one feature I liked much more on my Pfaff. To engage the dual feed all you had to do was bring down a thing that went between the sides of the machine foot. You didn't have to change feet. I really appreciate your taking the time to tell me all this. ~Judy

hokieappmom

Yes, the dual feed is different from the walking foot. It sounds like what you had on your Pfaff - an attachment slides down from the back and clips on to the foot. Not all feet for the 830 are for dual feed. I think it came with two that are dual feed and they are marked with a "D" after the number. I'm sure there will be more to come in the future. I'm just amazed at all the different presser feet Bernina has. If you mainly sew, the upgrade would not be worth it in my opinion, but if you embroider and/or quilt, the enhancements are a huge plus. I never used the basting stitch on my 730, but have on the 830 and like that feature. And ask away, I don't mind at all if I can help!

JudeWill

It does sound like the one on my Pfaff. Now, I'm really jealous. That is the one feature I really, really miss! Thanks again!

JudeWill

Just like getting a computer. You get one & then they come out with a better one and you want that! But computers are not this expensive! :mrgreen:

hokieappmom

You are so right! This will be the last machine I buy though. It's way ahead of my time, at least for now. At one of our classes, we decided that the only thing the 830 can't do is open a bottle of wine.