I purchased a Husqvarna Viking, Sapphire 875 quilt machine in March and I'm not sure I like it that much. I just can't get used to no pressure foot to lift up..I'm thinking about going back to my Bernina. How do you like your machine? I would like to hear how everyone likes their's...

I have had the Viking SE for about 5 years. I have not one complaint on it. I love the way it sews and embroiders. Like I said, I love my Viking!!!

I love my HQ/V. It's not the Sapphire though. It is the Platinum; Quilters edition. Why no pressure foot to lift? Does it have a knee lever? If it does, you will not want to go back to a manual lift, ever again. :-)

I have the Viking Quilt Designer and I love it. I quickly got used to not having to lift up the foot and when I use my older machines(Singers) it feels odd having to manually lift the foot. You will get used to it and enjoy it.

Same here. No complaints.

I have the same machine and I love it. I love not having to lift the presser foot, love the auto cut, and the auto tension , You will get used to the presser foot and then will think it strange having to manually lift it. I think it's a wonderful machine

Absolutely love my Viking Mega quilter. Do all my FMQ on it. I had the Viking Sapphire and I hated that machine with a passion. When my sister's machine broke and was unrepairable I shipped the Sapphire off to her. She likes it ok. I found a Singer 401 for 47.oo in a table and that is what I do my fancy stitches on now. If the Singer does not have what I want which is not often I have a Brother and Singer Confidence for backup.

I have 4 Vikings - two with manual presser foot lifts and two without. It does take an adjustment and you feel really silly after reaching for the lever for the fifth or sixth time! It will feel natural if you just give it time.

I have 2 -a designer se and a diamond-and love them.now I get bothered when I use a machine that is not auto on the presser foot-really great for applique

I love my Designer 1!!

I love mine too. I also have a Freesia. I do prefer the no lift to manual.

Love, love, love my Sapphire. But I know what you mean about the presser foot lift. It takes a while to get the hang of it. I've had my Sapphire for a few months now and I still reach for the lifter. But the stitches are so good, it makes perfect buttonholes every time and I love the sewing advisor. The extra light and large throat are also fantastic features.

Is there anything else that you dislike about the Sapphire?

Mary

I love my Vikings. You'll get use to not having to lift and lower your presser foot.

I love my three Vikings (QDII, Lena, and Rose). The QDII has the needle down/presser foot up option, and I love it!! I also have a Pfaff QE4 that does the same thing. It might feel strange at first, but you will learn to love it. It is very handy when doing machine applique and chain piecing. I have gotten so used to it that if I use one of my other machines that doesn't have it, and I am at the end of a seam, I sit and stare at the presser foot for a few seconds, waiting for it it lift up before I realize what machine I'm using...LOL!!

Same here except I usually start sewing without putting the presser foot down. That just doesn't work. LOL

I've got a Viking Sapphire 830 and love it! It does take a while to get used to the automatic things. I do forget to put the foot down on the Featherweight now especially if I've just come from the Viking.

Does your dealer offer classes? I found it very helpful to go in a couple of times when I got mine.

I have the Sapphire 875 and i love love it. I started sewing about one and a half year ago with an old fashion brother machine and when i started getting vikings now i think will never know how to use any other machine. I got recently the Emareld 203 and has many beatiful features but with manual presser foot and for the love of God it is so hard to get used to it, but i am trying because i need a backup. I hate to be using my SE a lot for sewing.

its so funny reading all of these- i also sew on a viking...and i love my machine but the one thing that (was) a problem was that dog=gone pressure foot going down all by itself!
(not that it does)

before my viking i had a brother- my chocolate lab insisted on laying right under me when i sewed- she was constantly (trying) to lay across my foot pedal--with the brother- not a big deal---brought that viking home and set it up---if i got up to walk across the room to the ironing board sure as... that dog would lay across that pedal and ZOOOOOOMMM down some seams (after all she weighed 90 pounds- she drove fast!)
it was a problem-
but one i miss- my poor ole dog had spent her 14 years with me- it's been a bit over a year now- and i sure miss her underfoot- and under my sewing table...and now that i don't have to (watch) that feature all the time i find it a great feature- i can hold on to the fabrics and know the foot will go down when i step on the foot. :)

I have the Viking Platinum as well - not a Quilter's Edition though. Wouldn't trade it for anything. My friend also just bought a new Viking - sorry can't remember the model. When you touche the foot pedal the presser foot drops automatically and when you stop sewing it automatically raises. It's a little freaky to me as well but I'm sure I'd get used to it. If this is what yours does and it bothers you maybe there is a setting to turn that feature on/off???

I have a Topaz 30 and just LOVE the auto lift on the pressure foot. I think it would be hard to go back to a manual. I did laugh at myself when I first started using it as I was reaching behind it to lift the pressure foot. In a short amount of time I'm sure you will get use to it and wonder how you ever managed without it.

Me too. LOVE them both. I'm so used to the auto presser foot that I had to put a sticky note on my Tin Lizzie "Put the Presser Foot Down".
Don't know if the Sapphire also has this feature: when you stop sewing with the "needle down" selected, the presser foot lifts just a bit so you can pivot or feed the next set of piecing thru. Don't need no stinkin' knee lift!

That is what I find myself doing. I reallylike the automatic lift... It did take a little while to get used to it but,,, love it!!!

I have a ruby and love it. i too have a hard time getting used to the automatic things. one day i used my old machine and realized how much i loved my ruby.

Yes, when the presser foot comes up automatically after I'm done sewing, that's what freaks me out...Sometimes I just want to stop for a second and don't want it to come up all the time. I'll have to check to see if I can stop that from happening...I still have to go to another class to learn how to do a lot of things with the machine...Thanks everyone for all the input...I really love all the different stitches that come with the machine though...

I also have the Viking Quilt Designer and love it. Had no problem getting use to the auto "step on the pedal and go" system, grin. Just got a Saphire for the larger arm space and love quilting on it. Amazing how quickly I get my quilts quilted now. Love my H. Viking's.

I have the Sapphire 830 and love all the bells and whistles.
My complaint is the low area where the needle is. It is hard to get your hand in there to change needles, and put on the walking foot etc.

I Love my vikings!! Not sure I would buy anything else!!!

This is the only complaint I have with it too. I thought maybe it was just me. Glad to hear that I am not alone. Other than that, LOVE, LOVE my Viking. :thumbup:

I am currently on my #3 and #4 Vikings..have never sewn on anything else except for Singers in High School Home Ec. classes..Mine are not the fancy ones mentioned here (my jazziest is the Lily 545) but I LOVE them...

I have a Lily and a Designer SE - I love, love, love my SE and hoping to buy the new Diamond when I completely master the SE.

I agree with all of the above. I absolutely love that when I touch the foot control, the pressure foot automatically comes down and I can sew right now! You'll get used to it. Just do some chain piecing and the rest will be history.

I have the same machine and it was a bit weird not to lower the foot but quickly found when I was holding pieces together it was great not have to lower the foot. Now I have gotten so use to it, when I switch to my other machine, I forget to lower the foot....I've had my machine for almost 2 years. I did take a "get to know your machine" class after I had it for about 4 months and that was great. hang in there.

Same here. Makes me feel better now that I know it's not just me being a clutz, smile. But I still love the Sapphire 830. I'm also still learning the in's and out's of what I can do with it.

I have an 850, went back to sew on my older machine with a walking foot and it drove me crazy cause I kept forgetting to manually lift the foot. You will get use to and learn too love it takes time!!

I have a Sapphire also and have had it about 3 years. I don't use anything else. Have no complaints and absolutely love my machine.

I absolutely love my Designer SE (had a #1+ that I loved unti I traded up). It does take some time to get used to no presser foot lift (a button to push instead) but once you do you will never miss that lever.

Ditto, same here, I LOVE my SE, I also have the D1, my youngest DD has claimed that as her machine. :thumbup: :thumbup:

My D1 is the best of the best of all the brands I have: Janome, Singer, Kenmore, Elna, Kenmore, Brother. I have one word for it...LOVE!!!

Hi! I just found this thread and I just got a used Sapphire 870Q; does anyone have this model? I go it used from Ebay for $500......a little nervous..........can anyone give me any tips?

I mave all Vikings except for my Featherweight and love them... Just bought a new Topaz. I love the presser foot, leaves both hands free to hold my fabric when I start.