To house my new Bernina( not to be opened until Christmas day- My Dream Machine) I need help.Arrow Model 98500 Compact and Versatile Cabinet with Convenient Air-Lift - Oak Finish
Arrow
Hello folks. Anyone have the above mentioned table. Need a compact one but not sure if this is any good. Your thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated.

congrats on your new toy......I would go crazy not being able to open & play with it..!

I had the 300 model of the Arrow cabinets and loved it! My only problem was it required assembly and I have a non-mechanically minded DH! Have fun and enjoy both!!!!

I have an Arrow cabinet with lift and the extesion table on the back. I have been very satisfied with it. I just looked and can't find the model number, but it is called Big Bertha on the website! It folds down very compactly though. It did take a lot work for my DH to put it together initially, but worth it! I bought it from an on line company and it worked out well. If you want me to look into it further to find the company name, ect., send me a PM.

Use this machine in a quilt shop I used to work at...you will love it...A friend of mine has one also and she loves hers....Merry Christmas and Enjoy!

San

Congrats on your new baby. :) Pea green with envy here LOL Enjoy it :)

So great to see all your replies. Thank you so much

I love my bernie 440. Couldn't do witout her.

My first Bernina was a 440QE, it was wonderful and I am now hooked! I have traded up to a 730. You will love your new baby. What is her name?

This is fun. Can't wait to take my 440 QE out of the boxxxxxxx

Congrats. Shall we all message the giver of that treasure to explain that to ENJOY it on Christmas, you must set it up and start learning it now? Let us know how you find it for quilting, as you learn and play.

Love the black lab. What is his name? We have just rescued a second " minilab"

Maia, my husband laughed out loud when I read out your post !

Congrat's on the 440QE - I've had mine for over a year and love love it. Hope you like your cabinet. I stand up when I sew and have mine on my island. Don't know why you can wait - Happy holiday and have fun!!! :thumbup:

Still haven't decided on the cabinet yet, but great to have info from everyone here.

I have the Bernina 440QE and also the Horn table I quilt all of my own quilts and would not be able to do it without the BSR and the table My daughter came over to use them to finish a quilt and said she did not know what she liked best the machine or the table

You will love your machine, I just got mine and am still learning all the bells and whistles...

Wish I could give some advise, but my "sewing table" is a five foot wide computer desk with a ton of leg room that I picked up at a thrift store. We cut a hole the dimensions of the base of my machine, and slipped her inside the hole to sit snuggly and securely on the keyboard shelf. I did make sure the shelf was VERY well secured to the sides of the desk before trusting it with the weight of my "baby" (Naomi the Janome). Actually, the fit is so snug that I doubt she would fall through to the floor if the shelf gave out.

It has worked out wonderfully with the exception of it only being the depth of a standard desk. Luckily the desk has wheels so if I need to work on something large, I can pull "my table" away from the wall and put something behind it to support the quilt. I'll put up with that inconvenience for the gobs of money I saved not having to buy a traditional sewing table. The desk only cost me $30....and half a day of blood, sweat, and tears trying to get the perfect sized hole. I went through a lot of sand paper! My husband kept asking me "Are you sure you don't want me to take a little more off with the saw?" It was tempting, but I knew the results would be better if I just kept at it. And they are! A perfect fit, if I may say so myself.

Anyway, congrats on your new Bernie. I'll bet she is going to be an absolute dream. Do you know how much space is to the right of the needle on the 440? Perhaps it's the bed, the arm, the throat, the harp....I've heard it called so many terms.

My DH took an old sewing machine cabinet and enlarged the opening to fit my Bernina 730, then he found a place to buy the lift like that which is in the Horn tables (cost about $100) and installed that. Now I can use my machine flush with the top of the table for most sewing but easily pop her up to use for free arm stitching or embroidery. The lift was a little pricey, but still way less expensive than the professionally manufactured tables.

If I remember correctly the 440 has about 7-1/2 inches to the right of the needle...but don't remember exactly.

I have the same Bernina and have been looking for a cabinet for the past year. I hesitate to order on line because I have heard people buy one (no particular brand) and then it is flimsy and not sturdy. Let us know what you decide.

Sorry, I don't have a cabinet but wanted to congratulate you on your Bernina. Mine is 4 years old and I love it so much and I know you will also.

Don't have much space in our office/ bedroom so may buy the

Arrow Model 98503 Compact and Versatile Cabinet with Convenient Air-Lift - Black Finish

Sorry my iPhone sometimes posts without me realizing it., remember as a kid saying . " it wasn't me, he did it!"

This is the same company I ordered mine from, SewVacDirect. I ended up calling them with a question so ordered on the phone. I believe they said they have a person who quilts on staff to help with questions related to quilting furniture, etc. Received the cabinet very quickly, good customer service. I think the Arrow cabinet is a good value for the price. Mine is not flimsy at all. I didn't want to invest the money for the Horn or Koala. Arrow suits me just fine. ( I think Ford compared to Cadillac. They will both get you where you need to go.)

That's what I think too. Mine isn't in a cabinet since I don't have the space, instead I have a SewEzi table for it. I love my 440!

Thanks Sue. It looks good for me. I think the oak one will suit me fine and tuck away into a space I have in the room. Was this the model you chose?

You will love the 440QE. I have mine in a Horn cabinet, got a good deal on it from the dealer. I have seen them on craigslist occasionally for really good prices. I like mine because it has extra room behind and to the left of the machine.

I have that same machine and I love it.

I saw these at the Lancaster Quilt show this past year (yes, I go to quilt shows) and I saw this brand http://www.traceystables.com/
I thought for the price they were made well. I have noticed since my wife started quilting that the machine is just the small purchase of things to come. You will love your Bernina, they are very well made machines.

Oh great! Is that your beautiful

Is that your beautiful quilt, catrancher? Wow!

Love my baby bernie.....QE440.....Mine is on a big knee hole desk & that works good to leave me lots of room for my bobbin case etc.I use a beach towel to cover the 440....fancy huh?

Great. Iove these resonses. Been feeling a bit low and you have all really cheered me up. Thank you all, Kiki

What torture !! Waiting that is ! And what happiness soon to be ! Enjoy !

Here's the cabinet I got for my 440QE

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-55069-1.htm

Wow. That is nice, but a bit big for the place I have. I like the troll. Are you part Norwegian like me?

I have the 98702 in cherry finish. http://www.sewvacdirect.com/arrow-98702.html

Oh how I envy your latest quilting addition. I think I'd sneak it out of box late at night when everyone was sleeping and that her for a spin.Then slip her back in the box and feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing what I had waiting for me on Christmas Morning. Update us after you've given her a good workout. What a wonderful DH you have.