littledentist

Hi ladies. I have had a Bernina 350 for about 8? years or so. I love it. Except...these days I'm really realizing that pinning every single thing every time I have to sew (even a 2 inch piece!) to make sure the seams are the same at the end is getting very old. I feel like I'm wasting so much time. For the longer pieces, I can handle it but to feel like I have to do it for everything all the time is really starting to frustrate me. I have a q20 for quilting but I really want to upgrade to dual feed for better accuracy and quite frankly, efficiency. Right now I get 20% off of a Bernina 570 which I think it probably the smallest machine that has dual feed. I feel like the 770 is just too much machine for me and in these times, I can't even really justify the 570. I was considering a Janome for accufeed but I've always had a Bernina and at least I have a dealer here that can help me. That said, as far as efficiency, am I justified in upgrading or should I just pin and not think too much about it? I feel like if the dual feed is everything that dreams are made of, I can be okay with the investment. All thoughts welcome.

Iceblossom

Well, I'm a pinner because I believe I get better results that way. I have friends who go to remarkable lengths to never pin. Our end results look much the same. Even though I pin and have extra steps that way, and even though I prefer to cut large so have the extra trimming step each time too, I'm generally considered to be a speedy piecer and finish projects very quickly, typically faster than my friends if we are working in a group setting.

I have a Bernina 820 (currently in shop, non-related issue). It has the built in walking foot option as well as the BSR. I'm pinning anyway, but don't see any real huge difference in using the walking foot for basic initial seams or not, but I typically keep it in walking foot mode as my default because I do feel it makes a difference going over the lumps once I'm putting in a piece with a couple of seams. My friend who gave me the Bernina also kept it in walking mode.

SusieQOH

I have the 770QE and absolutely love it. I also have a 150QE that I won't ever part with. My 150 is going strong after like 19 years with no trips for service. (other than routine maintenance)
I love Bernina and have a wonderful dealer, which is a "deal breaker" for me.
I don't know what the 570 runs. I got the 770 for the larger throat and the BSR. I love having dual feed.

I don't think I'm any help here!

bakermom

I have used the 770 in a few classes, wonderful machine. in talking to a few that have it, you are right. It's a lot to learn and truly utilize the machine. one lady had decided to sell hers, she just didn't feel she was getting the investment out that she had made=I think it was an impulse buy due to excellent financing op. Another person, that was the instructor has had hers well over a year and hasn't begun to master all the features. Again, a wonderful machine but if I were in the market I would go for a lower model. at this point in my life i can't justify putting that much into a machine. DH would like me to get a sit down quilter, but even that, as much as I would like it, is still more that I am willing to commit to. Good luck with your search!

farmquilter

If you put a dot of washable school glue before/after each seam it would keep them together and not use pins. You could do a bunch and let the glue dry or some press the glue, then sew away and just hold the beginning and ends.
Just a thought but I have a Pfaff with the even feed and love it and I rarely pin, finger hold in place.

quiltingcandy

I use the Elmer's Glue stick instead of the white glue, then put a clip on it to hold it while I get ready to sew. I don't iron it - never caused any problem with the needle or machine. My Janome MC6600P is my main machine - and if necessary I would go with the newer model 6650. I still have to guide the tail at the end. My friend has a Bernina 770 and she has to hold the end or it wanders. But I believe all machines will do that.

littledentist

Right? I feel like maybe a little glue would do the same job as dual feed. But then...I'm not pinning but I'm gluing! I was considering the 770 but it honestly looks like there are also a lot of frustrated 770 owners, although that's probably and most likely the vast minority. I feel like the 570 is a good middle ground. I have the q20 so I only really need a machine for accurate piecing. Which is probably part operator, part machine, right? I'll give the glue a shot. I just fantasize about sewing more and fidling less. Is it worth the plunge to have a machine that's a little more accurate or suck it up and glue/pin away?! And then there's the 20% off. The $60 million question...

Iceblossom

It's finding what works for you, litttledentist!

Something else to keep in mind, my fancy machine is in the shop. I also have my trusty vintage machine in the shop. I'm currently sewing on a low end Brother that probably cost less than $100 new. Working beats non-working!

I'm missing my bells and whistles, my knee lift, my thread cutter -- but the Brother is chugging away making masks just fine.

So let's go back to the pinning part -- do you press open or press closed? If you press open you pretty much need to pin. If you are still pinning with your seams pressed to the side, you may find your speed and accuracy increases greatly by pressing open. Otherwise there is much to be said about the order in which you construct things and which way you sew when you press to the side.

I did the Bonnie Hunter mystery this last year in my usual construction style which is pressed open, cut large/trim down. I think next year I will follow her directions and press to the side. I've tried it both ways before and always went back to open as being what works for me, but it's been awhile since the last try.

littledentist

I just recently started pressing my seams open. And I find that things lay flatter and sort of appears to be more accurate. It's kind of a pain but it's grown on me. I know, lots to think about here...

Iceblossom

I say the pinning and the pressing are the secrets to my success. And I hate ironing! It's so ironic...

It does end up that I pin about every 4 inches or so most of the time, but I always pin at leading seam edges so with little pieces like on that Bonnie Hunter Mystery, I'd have pins every 1-1.5-2". I have a huge pin cushion and go through a lot of pins in a stage. I typically do my pinning while watching tv, or take that stage to my work group if it needs more concentration. Most of the way I work is not very portable other than pinning or the hand sewing of bindings.

When you press open you need a pretty small stitch length, I'd say any machine default is probably too long a stitch. This is also true when you are doing any sort of strip piecing/cutting combination where you are cutting through stitches.

If you gently pull a seam apart at the beginning, there should never be entire stitches that come out. It's ok if there is a little V of loosened stitches, but you do want it pretty tight. That's a problem with my vision issues, so I try to be as precise as I can with my sewing and cutting because I don't see well enough to take stitches out easily. Besides, who likes taking stuff out??