I used to sell sewing machines and found the easiest thing to do was use the manual while sitting in front of the machine. Get a note book and jot down questions. Staple samples in it and write down the settings used. I personally don't own an embroidery machine but the Bernina would be my first choice when it comes to embriodery. You can do it!

Saw today that HSN has a special Singer sewing machine and Singer serger for one price of $599.99 with n/shp.

bvillie

please someone help me i just bought a new brother he240 machine with usb port and i am trying to down load a design and dont know how jillie

I also have a 440QE with embroidery module. I just love it. and I went very slow. I have mastered the embroidery module. it was easier than I thought once I got the computor programmed,. THe BSR is giving me troubles. My stitches dont look correct. but practice will make perfect.

thank you im not real sure about what to do on the computer iguess il just have to to keep trying jillie

I need to do that, I have never even used mine

I bought the 430 a few years back. Used it quite a bit at first, was comfortable with the BSR and the machine, then got busy with life and didn't use it for a year or so. OMG I felt like an idiot. I started using it again after my dealer finally had weekend classes. It's like riding a bicycle, it comes back to you real quick. I thought my bobin winder motor was out....called the dealer and found out my motor speed affects the bobbin winder...duh!!!! I think most of the dealers are very helpful and want you to master the machine. Anyway, we all feel stupid at times, just get it out and use it!!!

Momwood, I can help, I have the 640 also. PM me and I'll give you my email addy and we can take it from there.

I have a Bernina 440QE and I love it. It doesn't have embroidery, I never have gotten into that. If you can't get to take classes from a Bernina dealer, there is a Yahoo group for Bernina owners. If you join that group, there are links to different stores that have uploaded master class books. You could go through these books to get ideas on how to use your machine.

I think if you go out on the Bernina website you will find classes on line...you will love this machine, I haven't read all the comments, I have a BL and have worked on the Bernina's at the shop I work at...i think the front loading bobbin is great don't have to move my hoop when I run out, the BSR is awesome it's a stitch regulator for free motion quilting. You can also get free designs for the embroidery off the website. if you want i can PM you a list of other websites that have free embroidery designs.

I have a Bernia 200 and 730. They are wonderful and you will love the embroidery. I will help you if you want to email me personally at [email protected]. Put Bernina Help in the message area. I am working today at my job but will gladly help you if I can.

that embroidery module is the best... I was so excited the other day whe I made a fleece throw for a friend of mine. The one where you just tie the ends. Well WhenI was all done. It was purple camo, it looked plain. So I got out the module and went to work... I put a RED rose and the words maggie on it .... Wow did that ever look great. It was so fun.. I do not have enough hours in the day to create what I really want to . Whomever has one,they are sooooo much fun.

I would love that.

I love this board. People are so friendly and helpful. The world needs more QUILTERS!!! :P

Make getting to the classes a priority. The ones I had were great.

I believe you will love it once you get over the "fear".

I purchased a Bernina 240 about a year ago and love it. It does not have the features that you have but I have a Babylock embroidery machine etc on and on. Want to work up a trade?

Blessings,

Sharon

Go online to the Bernina site and they have lots of online classes that can help you familiarize yourself. I love both my Berninas.

I got my machine back and I was able to embroider my name! I know that isn't much but it is a start! YEA!!!

Hooray!! I started with a couple of names too! =) Going to try graphics this weekend.

Everything has a beginning...look out now your on your way!!!!!!!!!

I found that Bernina was over priced and they do not offer computer support for their very expensive embroidery machines after a certain time and you are left with a $6,000 machine that cannot be used with the computer. Also, I found that they are made with plastic that breaks without even looking at it. The shop that I purchased the machine at refused to let me come back for any classes to refresh my memory on how to use the machine and the repair tech was extremely rude every time I needed repairs. The Viking store here fixed the Bernina better than the Bernina store. Would never buy a Bernina again!!!

It sounds like you have a dealer who won't be in business very long based on their customer service. I would say that the Dealer you purchase any high tech machine from is on of the most important things to consider. If you dealer sucks, you will not have the support to learn the machine, ask questions, etc.

My dealer offers lifetime machine classes for free. Their service dept is knowledgeable (owner's husband) and I have called him many times when I had an issue and he walked me through it at no charge. They are in Florida (Lk Mary) and I would not trust either of my Bernina's to anyone else for repairs. The "Bernina is all metal parts" as far as the inner workings of the machine. The embroidery hoops are plastic. The Bernette sold by some dealers is not the quality of the Bernina. I also have an Elna, 3 FW, and a touch sew singer and the singer my Dad bought my Mom when they first married so I am pretty familiar with a lot of machines. I chose the Bernina over the Viking because the staff at the Bernina store was so much more knowledgeable and helpful than the Viking people at JoAnn's. I visited each store (3 different JoAnn's) and the Bernina dealer multiple times before I decided on my Bernina 200. At the viking store inside JoAnn's, they could not answer my questions and would only demo the embroidery for about 30 seconds. I had whole designs from the Bernina store that I brought home each time I went in to ask more questions or see some other feature of the machine. I wish you had had a more positive experience. The dealer and customer service is high priority when you spend that much money for a machine.

I have asked every Bernina rep I could find since there have been several Bernina stores that have newly opened and there is no software made by Bernina to make the 800 work with the computer, even e-mailed the main reps. Bernina no longer supports it. The store I bought the machine at finally did close--a plus for the community.