Machine Blanket Stitch
 

I want to do a blanket stitch for the applique quilt I am making. I thought I could use my machine. It is a Bernina 830 from 1972. However, The picture that looks like the blanket stitch on the machine is really a blind hem. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this? The applique quilt has over 1000 pieces so I want to get it right the first time and now have to rip it out.:confused:

Have you looked at your machine's manual? It should list and show designs of all the stitch patterns you can do on your machine.
I followed Carol Ann Waugh's suggestion of making a stitch bible. You go through all the stitches for your machine, switching the length and width of the stitch to see different variations. I love it and refer to it all the time.

Don't forget to use some kind of stabalizer to avoid puckering. Good luck!

Make a test block to see if you like it, the name of the stitch doesn't matter as long as it works!!!!

There is nothing more fun that "playing" with all the stitches on your machine....wondering what you will use them for. Good chance there is some stitch on your machine that you will like and feel good about using. Will look forward to seeing a picture of this quilt.

Definitely make a stitch sampler of every stitch on your machine. Libby Lehman has stitch technique videos on The Quilt Show. I have learned how to manipulate the stitches with her lessons.

I just got a page of instructions on the blanket stitch for applique in a advertisement for a quilting magazine. It says if your machine dose not have that stitch you should experiment with your blind hemstitch or any other decorative stitch.

I've always wondered about this, too. My machine has a stitch that is supposed to be like a blanket stitch, but it looks like the stitches are slanted. I think that would look funny for applique. I don't know how I could adjust the machine to get them to go straight. I always figured I needed a different machine to get a true blanket stitch, but I've found not a lot of machines have that – most have this slanted stitch.

The vintage 830 RECORD doesn't do a blanket stitch. Bummer, I know. It's the only stitch I really wish it had. You'll have to use another machine if you really have to have the blanket stitch.

I have my Mother's 830 Record that she bought in 1982. She always used our Memory Craft 7000 (New Home) for blanket stitch applique. I still have both machines even though my DH bought me a Bernina 630E Artista for our 36th anniversary! Ain't he sweet!!?

Thanks for hint of making a stitch sampler. What a wonderful idea.

same here... I finally learned how to do blanket stitch by hand... But I still love my "old 830"... (I got mine in 75')

You may not be able to do the blanket stitch on your machine, but it is a good idea to try out all the stitches on your machine, and try changing the lengths and widths if you can. You may find a stitch that almost mimic's the blanket stitch by doing that. The blind hem stitch may be one of them. If that doesn't work, you could use your machine's zig-zag stitch to do applique, if you can adjust your width and length to something that will cover the edges well.

I would practice with a heart or a gingerbread man piece. When I worked in a quilt store, this is what we did. They have curves and points to practice on. Hope you get it figured out and enjoy the process. :)

I was confused with the number of the machine also - I have the "new" 830 and it has a couple button hole stitches. Those Berninas last forever don't they!!

I have not done the blanket stitch by machine, sorry.

you can use the blind hem stitch and shorten the stitch lenght and it almost looks like the blanket stitch. just test it out.

No help from me:( I'm still trying to learn everything that my new Brothers will do. It is fun though. I like the idea of a stitch Bible.

My babylock machine doesn't have the blanket stitch either but i just tried the hem stitch and shell stitch using a smaller number and they don't look to bad....thanks for the suggestions

Page 24 of your 830 Bernina Guide manual shows the Blind hem stitch... You can use this stitch but with a different foot (maybe zig zag foot?) you'll have to PLAY with width and length to get the LOOK you want. When you get the look you want - WRITE DOWN THE stitch width, length, needle position and foot used. That sounds like a no brainer but how many times have I NOT done that ???? One of the BEST deco stitches this machine does (IMHO) is the # 2 (I call it serpentine stitch) It is the BEST for stitching down bindings on the FRONT... Really FAST and cute. My 830 is the envy of my quilting friends for that binding stitch... they come over to "borrow" my machine... I LOVE MY 830Record...... NOT to be confused with the computerized 830... A dealer said they named the NEW one the same as the old to get people to realize that the NEW is just as good as the OLD.... Fine and Dandy... It is still confusing as ****.....

My Bernina 830 Record is the twin of yours - same year. They were the Lamborghini of sewing machines when new, and are still going for big bucks on eBay. I've had mine for about 8 years and use it a lot.

The #1 stitch, when you use a very short stitch length and about a 3 width, looks more like the blanket stitch to me than the #4, despite the illustration on the machine. (Maybe I never worked that out correctly!) The truth is I like to use the Elna Supermatic (even older, with removable cams) for blanket stitch on binding, but don't give up on the Bernina for applique until you've fiddled with stitch #1. It has a slightly rounded shape, that looks a bit like scallops going around, and I think it will look nice. It will be zigging to the left, which is okay for applique, but drives me nuts on binding because the entire quilt has to go through the throat of the machine. You'll definitely want to work it out on scraps prepared in the same way as the real thing. The 030 embroidery foot might be better to use, but the 0 foot should be okay.

One more thing: I hope you don't have to pull any of these tiny stitches, but it's not as impossible as it looks because you can rip the wider ones in the zig on the top, and then the little ones are not too bad to pull out on the underside - not fun at all, but not impossible. I know about this because I was crazy enough to decide I hated the binding I put on six place mats, and I have pulled all of it out. I mean I really, really hated it, and pulling it off was therapeutic.

The 830 I got back when I was sewing cloths. I really knew that machine. I got a new Bernina and kept the 830 for the 4H kids (the store wouldn't give me much for a trade in). When my daughter married, I gave it to her and she's still using it. I don't remember a blanket stitch, but then I wasn't interested in it at the time.

I have sewn on a 830 record since 1974. It does not have a true blanket stitch, it only has the hem stitch. I made it work as a blanket stitch by using a heavier thread. You will have to have another machine for a true blanket stitch. I now own a Bernina 440 and use it mostly, my 830 being in semi retirement. The 830 is a great machine and I will never let it go.

test your stitches. there is one on the original 830 that makes a nice crazy quilt stitch. i have the same machine, well my daughter has it now, which is why i can't tell you which stitch it is. it is towards the higher numbers.

You could also use a Zig Zag stitch to applique.

I have 2 machines. a Brother D270 & the blanket stitch is wonderful. Not so much on the New Home (which I use more). It is a hassle to change about. but "you do whattcha you gotta do!"

I also have the "original" 830 and it is a real work horse. I checked and there is no blanket stitch on that machine. I got a 440 three years ago and but just couldn't part with the 830. It's an oldie but a goodie.

I have an older Bernina also. It does not have a blanket stitch so I used a stitch that looked similar. Now that the quilt is sitting around while I hand quilt it, no one would EVER notice that I did not use a blanket stitch. It is the overall view that one notices.
Someday I will get a newer Bernina, but it will be a while....lots of other priorities first.