Hello everyone - Has anyone used the Bernina (Aurora) 440QE with the BSR, with the quilt frame available from a Bernina dealer for free motion quilting? I have been considering an 820 (can't quite justify the expense), and I will probably not take quilting other peoples quilts as a business, either part or full time; the machine and frame will be strictly for my own use piecing and quilting items for myself, gifts, etc. I currently own a Bernina 1090QE, no stitch regulator, good for piecing, not so good for free motion quilting. Thank you

I have a Bernina Aurora 450 w/BSR & just LOVE :D it !!! I can do anything I want with it. I was looking at the 800 series & I also can't put out that kind of money you would really have to utilize it all 8,000-10,000 is a lot of something you can spend it on. Good luck with your decession :thumbup:

I'm not sure about the frame. I have the machine and BSR and I bought the large plexiglass extension table. Love the whole set up.

I have seen the frame with the 820? on it. The frame is great, sturdy and easy to use. The biggest draw back I can see is the limited quilting space. You only have about 5-6 inches and that is with the 820? (the harp size is fine but as you roll the quilted quilt, it fills up the harp area)The 440 I think has a slightly smaller harp. If you just want to do side to side quilting it would work but bigger designs would be difficult.

I don't think you'd be happy with the throat space on it. The frame isn't cheap. I'd save my money for a larger throat machine or a longarm. The reason the 820 is showcased with the frame is because it's a midarm.

Very good answers here already! I'd hold off on the frame, and see what you can accomplish with the stitch regulator alone. The set up with the frame does work, we've tried it ourselves. You do have extremely limited workspace. The 8 series machines offer much more then just size. So are worth looking at! Good luck!

If you are looking for a frame and quilter, check out Bailey's 13 or 15 inch machines. I think you can get a stitch regulator for them too. Much cheaper than Bernina.

I have the 440QE with the BSR and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! Now I don't have the quilting frame so I am afraid I can't help out with that but I would HIGHLY recommend the 440QE!!

I have the frame, I love it. :-) Use it with a Viking machine. However, I would not pay full price for it. It is made by Grace, there are several frames to chose from in the Grace lineup, all of them lower cost.

Check locally you should be able to find a used frame.

I also love my Berninas, though I'm just getting into FMQ. I just wanted to say that the 820 is $6500, not $10K like the 830, which is the TOL sewing AND embroidery machine. I got mine for $7100 with the frame (made by the Grace Co, sells for over $2000), on a no-interest for 48 mos promo, so $162/mo. Yes, a 9" Juki straight stitcher on a frame would have been less expensive. But the 820 is also the TOL non-embroidery sewing machine. For me, the 820 was a great value, as it's a luxury, high-performance sewing machine, has the BSR, built-in dual feed, larger bobbin capacity, 12" harp, and can be used on or off the frame. I haven't put it on the frame yet, just working to "master" it now. I'm telling y'all what it costs because so many people assume it costs as much as the 830. PLEASE no comments about how it costs as much as your car, etc, it cost much more than my car. I earn it (I'm a nurse, BUHlieve me, I earn it), I spend it. I give to charity, pay taxes, support my family, etc. I just want to let other quilters know what's available out there. Just one fabulous option :)

I love my Bernina 440 QE - the BSR is wonderful. I have a Grace quilting frame. As long as the quilt isn't big I tend to just use the BSR. If I get to Full or bigger I go to the frame.

I LOVE my Bernina but I'm considering buying a more affordable long arm - the area you can actually quilt (when you get the quilt rolled up etc.) is limited.

I wouldn't trade or get rid of my Bernina - the long arm would be in addition!

Good luck - the BSR is worth every penny.

I have the Bernina 430 with BSR and love it, especially for smaller projects. I tried it on my frame, but was unhappy with the small sewing area because of the smaller throat space. I put a Janome 1600p on the frame and use my Bernina for other projects.

Hello, I just read this thread and I was wondering if anyone has any more info. I have an aurora 430 with the BSR and I want to get a grace queen frame. I'd like to use the 430 on the frame and get a simple machine for piecing as it seems a waste of the whole BSR function if I don't use it and it would also save me a lot of money as I would not need the grace stitch regulator (I live in Germany and these things cost a fortune in Europe!)
but I am concerned that the throat space with the 430 would not be enough for a big quilt on the grace queen frame.

does anyone have any experience with this? I don't really understand why Bernina made this super duper quilting aid and then kept their aurora machines so small!
Thanks!

I can quilt a king size quilt on my 430- so the throat isn't small. But I don't think it would be very good on a frame. The frame itself would take up too much space and you wouldn't have much room, you'd be limited in the kinds of designs you can do, and the throat space.

The BSR doesn't need a frame. One of the fabulous things about it is it will keep your stitches even without needing a frame.

I wanted a frame also but then I saw some quilts done without it - it is still a matter of practicing so I will just practice on my 830 with the BSR. That is a fantastic feature!