I love my Berninas. I have an 801 and an 830 Record (the mechanical one) that I found on eBay and Craigslist.

White is a good machine too. Can you find someone that might teach you on the machine you have in order to make friends with it?

Cheers, K

I'm sure that most people think the machine they own is the best. I have had a Bernina Artista 200 for about 12 years. I love, love, love that machine! Yes, at the time I bought it, I thought it was expensive and all the extras I bought for it seemed expensive. Now, I think I got my money's worth. It has been an awesome machine. I also have a 1952 Featherweight. I like that machine too. I hope you can find a machine that you will enjoy using.

Thank you for the advice. I'm not entirely sure about the brand. I'm almost sure it's a Bernina. I'm going to go talk to the lady this week and do a little more research. If it is a Bernette, then I'll steer clear and go for either a Brother or a Singer.

I have a Bernina that my mom passed down to me that I learned on. It's as old as I am and I have learned all my sewing on it. I have used it for piecing, quilting, apparel assembly and some easy fancy stitches. I love that it is the one I am most familiar with and I think it's a fantastic machine. What I love the most is that I have used it to sew on everything from Silk to leather and it keeps going. My friends ask to borrow it all the time because it's all metal, and is heavy duty for a portable personal sewing machine.

As for things being overpriced. Yes that can be prohibitive starting out, but I believe it would be worth it in the long run as people don't tend to sell them at yard sales, they will them to their children.

Oh yeah, mine is an 830

for low price range, I strongly recommend getting a good used machine..often $25-50 at a garage sale, rather than a low end new machine. I am not a fan of Bernina in any case, as my high end one was a total lemon. My son refused to return my wonderful Viking, so what I now use in Janome, which I like very much. Our dealer took apart a recent high end Bernina and Janome and showed us the difference in construction. No comparison. The reason singer Feathers are so popular among quilters is their very durable construction.

I have two Berninas. One is an embroidery machine and the other is Activa 210, basic. I purchased my first Bernina 30 years ago, and have upgraded several times. I have never wanted another machine. They are a little expensive, but it is a investment and a good one will resale at a good price. If you have a chance to get one at a reduced cost, it would be a good investment. If it doesn't work for you, resale it. I feel sure you would get your money back.

Can you be specific here? What do you mean, no comparison? Which was better and why?

And what brand does that dealer sell? Bernina, right? If so, it would hardly be an unbiased evaluation.

All the high end machines are good. Some have different features than others, hence the price differences. I have Babylocks, and love them, but would not snub other machines.

There are hundred of thousands of people that buy Berninas so the price fits most budgets. Bernettes are made in a manufacturing plant under Bernina's supervision in Hong Kong. The high end Bernettes are nice and have a lot of extras. To enjoy sewing you have to like your machine no matter what brand it is.