PFaff versus Bernina
 

I am looking at a new sewing machine with a long neck (10-11 in) and cannot decide between the Pfaff and the Bernina. I would love to hear from owners of long necked machines about the positives of their machines. Thanks.

pjsandusky

Love my Pfaff!!

I love my quilt expressions 4.0 pfaff

You might want to look at where the specific model is manufactured. I know that only the higher end models of Bernina are still made in Switzerland; the others are made elsewhere. I think new Pfaffs are made in China. This may or may not make a difference to you. I have a Bernina 1230 that I love and will keep on using as long as it (and I!) last. Here is another thread about different machines and where they are made:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...es-t65966.html

I love my Pfaff!

I'm sure both are good machines. I have a Bernina 440. The BSR was the clincher when I bought it. Now I have a longarm, so I don't use the BSR, but it's there if I need it again.

Only the TOL Pfaff and Vikings are made in Sweden.
The only thing you might want to check is the bobbin. Most Berninas are vertical. The Pfaffs have gone drop in.

I prefer the vertical bobbin - it's easier to deal with. However, Babylock, Brother, Janome users might say just the opposite.

Love my Bernina 830. Berninas had also come out with a 7 series. Check out there website for more info regarding harp space. Whatever machine you pick, just make sure the dealer has a good reputation with their customers. Good luck.

mltquilt

If you are only looking for sewing and quilting (not embroidery) be sure to look at the new Bernina 710. It is affordable for a big machine. I agree with mltquilt about dealer support.

Hate my Pfaff! :thumbdown::(:mad:

I don't believe this is correct. Pfaff used to be made in Germany, not Sweden. Viking used to be made in Sweden but both Viking and Pfaff merged with Singer to create SVP which are now manufactured in China.

Bernina bought a factory in Thailand to produce some of their lower end machines. The TOL machines are still made in Switzerland.

I own the new 830 and if I could turn back time, I'd buy a longarm instead...

Hard to say. Yes, I love my Pfaff because of the IDT - dual feed feature. Both my high end and my mid range machines are great.

Berninas are good too. Though their feet are much more costly for when you want to get different or special feet.

My suggestion is to sit down and sew on each one then purchase the one you are most comfortable with. I owned a Bernina but was always intimidated by it. I bought it because my friend said it was the best. Fifteen years later I bought a Viking. I love it. It's like buying a car--- when you sit behind the wheel you just know you have to have this one.

Personally I think a sewing machine is even more personal than a car. I have a Janome 6600 and I'm seriously considering trading it for one of the top end Pfaffs. I also have a Pfaff 2030 and I love that machine.

Same here. But try both and see what suits you best.

I listed for a Bernina because of the knee lift, great machine bad dealer............good thing I wasn't a new sewer..........calla

Love, love my Pfaff

I have a Pfaff QE4 and would not buy it again. I have spent hours trying to use it to quilt and no success. The name of machine is Quilt Expressions - why won't it quilt? There are quite a few stories about this machine not working for quilting. I love it for piecing but that's not why I bought it.

Love my Pfaff QE4. Quilts like a dream.

I have a Pfaff QE4. I also have a love/hate relationship with it. Love the IDT, hate the not having a hand lever for raising and lowering foot. I use it to piece with, and apply binding after I'm done quilting on my Voyager 17 and that's all. I also do a lot of PP, but found the my older Brother was best for that.

Ditto - The new 7 series has I believe a 10" throat, even feed (IDT on the pfaff) and a mega huge bobbin!

I also have this machine and it just sits in it's box because this made in China machine is a piece of junk. I bought it because I just loved my older 7550 Pfaff which was made in Germany. Big mistake!!! I can't sell it or trade it in because no dealer wants it and I couldn't in good conscience sell it to a private person.

I have the Bernina 830. I think the 830 has 800+ stitches built in so you can do all kinds of decorative sewing. I now love it but use it the way I want to. I don't like the BSR feature, but I do a lot of FMQing on mine and it works great. If a quilt is larger than double size I send it out to a LAQer. I will say it took me awhile to make friends with the machine but now I love it!!!!

I also love my Bernina 1230, so much that I went on-line and bought a second one so that I have it to take to classes instead of having to pack up the one I use all the time.

I agree with mltquilt...I love my Bernina 830 too!

I have a Pfaff Expressions 4.0 and love it.

I have the Bernina 820 & it scared the heck out of me at first but wouldn't do without it now. Harp space, BSR, huge bobbin. has a feature that counts down the amount of thread left on your bobbin & lets you know when thread is getting low. It is quality from top to bottom but it is NOT a machine to travel to classes as it weighs a ton. One big feature for me is it is not made in China. Be aware of where your machine is made!!! Love my Bernina.

At one time I had both Bernina and Pfaff, each from a different dealer. Found the Pfaff 2170 harder to learn the embroidery unit. And when the Pfaff quit working after 4 years of very limited use, the dealer was awful. Wound up having it sent to Pfaff in Atlanta and it cost me $675 and 4 months to get it fixed. Traded it for a Babylock and never grace the door of the Pfaff dealer. Yes and this was in the wonderful city of Paducah, KY!! LOVE my Bernina and my Babylock machines!!

I have a Bernina 1130 and love it! I have never had a repair on it and I have been seeing them sell on eBay for $800-$900. I just smile because I would never trade in my 1130. I own numerous vintage straight stitch electric and treadle machines as well that are wonderful machines. I do dream though of having one of the new Bernina 7 or 8 series machines. But wow, the cost! I will never buy anything else but Bernina.

Twenty six years ago, when I purchased my first machine, it came down to a Phaff or a Bernina. I sewed on both and really liked some of the features of the Phaff, but in the end, it was the customer service and the knee lift feaure of the Bernina that sold it for me. I am a "Bernina Babe" to the end. There is a reason they continue to get top dollar for their machines. Spend some time on both, visit with each dealer. Regardless of what machine you buy, that dealer will be your new best friend in the next few months as you get to know your machine, so you need to be able to feel comfortable with him. Both are very good machines, so take dollars saved or spent out of the equation, and compare features and customer service, and make your decision from that.

I have a Bernina 1130 that I purchased in 1985 when they first came out and use it daily. Over the years I used it to make clothing for the public including wedding apparel. For 10 years I used it to fabricate draperies and window fashions. Then,t was on to quilting. I quilt all of my own quilts on it. The technician who services my machine says he has never seen a more heavily used machine. Over the years I have had to replace the circuit boards and replace a couple of parts. The foot control had to be rebuilt. It had been a real workhorse and I plan to use it for the rest of my quilting days. I also had the older 830 model for lots of years before I gave it to my sister. I have considered the 430QE but have not made the purchase. It would be a vanity purchase because I really love my 1130.

It is correct. The Pfaff 2170 showed on the back - Made in Czech Republic. My 2140 and 2144 both say Made in Sweden. If it says Made with German Engineering, it isn't made in Germany.
Viking, Pfaff, Singer merged again as VSM. Viking is still in Sweden. Major conglomerate. Make tractors, chain saws, dirt bikes, you name it. Only TOL are made there.
The Viking 1+ I had had the Husqvarna crown emblem on it.

Pfaff also never renewed the IDT. That is why it is showing up on other machines. Babylock got it on the first Quest. Worked just like the Pfaff.

Love my Bernina's
 

I've been sewing on an old Bernina 830 Record from 1972, I added a BabyLock in 2006, then needed a machine that would embroider and added a Bernina 165. Then needed a machine that would do a really really narrow sitch (for blind applique) and purchased a Bernina 1230.......Just love those Berninas. They are all true workhorses. The BabyLock is OK but nothing beats those Berninas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love my Pfaff with the 10" throat. I have owned 4 Pfaffs over the past 20 years. No problem with them, I have just upgraded a few times. I recently bought a "baby" Pfaff to take to classes and love it, too!!

I have a Pfaff Ambition 1.5 take a look at it . you might be surprised.

I have a baby lock 6150 which I took to a FMCG class. Poor baby wasn't able to FMCG so the dealer let mr use a bl decorators choice. Loved the machine and bought it on the spot. Think it was $700.00. Didn't realize how great it was. The harp (is that what you call the area on the right side of the needle?) is 10 inches, has a knee lifter, needle down and thread cutter and lots of fancy stitches. Does nice FAQ but really loved the walking foot for straight line quilting which also fits the 6150. You might want to check out Babylock.

I own a Pfaff creative vision, sewing, quilting and embroidery machine. I bought it second-hand from a dealer at 1/3 the price of new (still not cheap), and I couldn't be happier with it. It FMQ's like a dream. All tension and stitch length setting are automatically set with the push of a button and this thing can move. It is super fast and does beautiful stitches. My machine is a 2009 model and has more features than I will ever figure out how to use, but I love it and would buy it again in a heartbeat! The best advice I can give is to find out what kind of service your dealer offers. My Pfaff dealer is GREAT to work with and always helpful. I have heard horror stories about some others so I would sure check that out.

You'll have to test them out, and see what you like. I have a feeling this conversation won't really help you as so many of us are loyal to our particular machine. Also, make sure you like the dealer. Sort of like asking Toyota or Honda? Chocolate or vanilla? Good luck with your choice - either one will be wonderful!

Love, love, love my Bernina 830