I have been looking at the new top of the line Bernina but it is so expensive. Would you trade in a Bernina 440 with embroid. module for a different brand of machine that would have the same features as the top Bernina and more economical?? If you have done that, what machine did you change to and are you happier with that one? Thank you for your comments!

If I could afford it I would trade my 440 in on it.. or better yet sell my 440 outright. probably get more for it that way. My friend bought the new 830 about 6 months ago and has yet to unpack the embroidery module and has only sewn on it once.... :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: She has other things to do I guess, Good luck on your decision.

I have a Bernina 830 & a Pfaff Creative vision. They do about the same thing, but the Pfaff was less expensive. The new TOL PFaff is the Creative Sensation. I also understand Brother makes a good model. I use the 830 as my primary machine & the Creative Vision is a backup. Shop around, you never know what you'll find.
Cathy S./Willowwind

I would but Im not a bernina fanatic. If it were me I would go babylock or janome if I was trading in.

The new TOL Janome was just unveiled at $9,999 so it is fairly close to the Bernina; however, I would take any Janome over Bernina any day even if it were more expensive! But because when I had a windfall a year ago and Janome did not have what I wanted, I bought and fell in love with the Babylock Ellisimo! It is an incredible machine. Now it is similar to the Brother Quattro so if you prefer Brother, I would look at that. As to whether to trade in the 440, well, how much do you like/hate the machine?

Well, I have Vikings, the Diamond on down. I haven't traded any in. I like having multiple machines so I can do several things at one time. I use the old Designer I for my basic sewing and the Diamond for strictly embroidery. The Topaz has the same 10" throat as the Diamond so I use that for my quilting projects. Check your dealer for floor models or trade-ins, you can get some great deals that way, and dealers always have the trade-ins serviced to perfection (at least Viking does).

Choosing a machine is a personal decision. Investigate all machines. Make your pro's and con's list. Then decide. It all depends on what you want the machine to do for you and how you use it. You will probably get a better trade in value from a Bernina dealer because you have a Bernina. I have had Pfaff, Viking, Janome, and Bernina machines. All were excellent machines.

You might want to look a Elna. They have a new machine out that I have saw at the dealers bu have not played with it yet.

If you love your machine, keep it.

I used to work as an engineer in an equipment industry (not sewing!). I have tested "new, improved" products and they are not always improved, if you know what I mean. I have found this to be true for sewing also - I have an expensive-ish Viking machine and a vintage Singer 15-91. I do my piecing on the Singer, as it has a much much better straight stitch. I am keeping the Viking for its fancy stitches... but when I sew with Viking on the frame, I find myself wishing for something with better tension regulation for FMQ.

If you re-sell the Bernina, you will get a depreciated price for it. Just like selling a used car, except maybe more depreciation. How long will replacement machine last? If the electronics fail in 5 years will it be repairable? I am all for keeping what works.

If you want more (larger?) embroidery functions, maybe sell your embroidery module and buy a newer, bigger embroidery machine. (non Bernina to reduce the total cost)

Only you know how much u like your sewing machine! Before you trade it in, make sure it's waht you really want!!Don't have regrets!!

I know alot of people who had big ideas when they bought "top of the line" machines.... and years later little has happened in the way of projects.
First question can you really afford it? Is it a want or need? How much will you really use the new features? What does the machine do that you can not do now , and how much of that will you be doing?
Truth be told I have a few machines and 99 percent of the time I am sewing straight stiches.

Personnaly, I would keep my Bernina 440 and use it as a back up machine or a second machine.

What are you wanting that your 440 doesn't have? What do you like/dislike about your 440? I have several machines, including a 440. To me, the only things I wanted that the 440 didn't have were 1) a huge harp, 2) built-in walking foot like on my Pfaffs and Baby Lock Quest Plus, and 3) wide decorative stitches (less important, because I have them on my Quest Plus and a Pfaff). I looked at the Janome Horizon and sit down mid arms. But I'm spoiled by the precision and power of my Berninas. No extra stitch or two when stopping or reversing. No wonky feeding at the end of a seam. No trouble going over thicknesses-some Janomes and others have trouble going over patchwork seams in quilting cottons, let alone hemming jeans. I'm not dissing Janome, it's a good brand, but there's a discussion of this on PatternReview.com right now. I ended up with the new Bernina 820, their top-of-the-line sewing only machine, like the 830 with no embroidery capability, smaller (but still huge) touchscreen, no multidirectional stitches, and fewer (but still hundreds of) stitches. It's more than I ever thought I'd spend on a sewing machine, and totally worth it, for me. It has a 12" harp, built-in dual feed (better than on my Pfaff and adjustable), a 40% larger bobbin, all kinds of options and adjustments on every stitch, and that trademark Bernina power and precision. I can put it on a frame if I want. On October 22, they have interest-free financing for 40 months. The machine alone (no frame) has been $6299-6499. BTW, I kept my 440, it's better at narrow seam allowances, though just today, I was reading about an 830 user who makes 1/4" finished squares from HSTs. The 820 is heavy, so the 440 went to FMQ class with me. Any option you consider, test drive it with your fabrics, threads, and tasks, especially the tricky ones (metallic threads, flimsy fabrics, 1/8" seams, thick seams, curves, whatever). The only thing I'd trade in my 440 for would be a 630 or 635-another 5.5mm stitch width Bernina. Now to each her own, this is just my take as a 440 owner and quilter. Just don't let that 440 go until you are SURE that you have a replacement you love. It's been discontinued, replaced by the 550, which doesn't take the embroidery module. And the clearance prices weren't very much lower than the prices in the several months preceding.

Ditto.

Ah, Candace...wise, timely, and succinct! :)

:>

Double Ditto.

I agree with Candace. I have two Bernina's. One is nearly 40 years old and I bought it new, and one I found at a yard sale, but still a very good machine. I would not get rid of either.

Last year I upgraded my embroidery machine and though I didn't trade it in, I do wish I would have kept it. You'd be surprised how much you can do on two machines!

Gran of 6, I want to come play at your house. I can only dream of having a new Viking. I have two older ones and the Diamond is my ultimate dream but I would take any of the other ones you have. Maybe someday!

I was a die hard Bernina user after Singers and Kenmores. Then Bernina began changing every year. The changes were not always so good. Also, you couldn't use the accessories on the newer machines. Then the prices went sky high. I switched to Janome and will never go back to Bernina.

no. I love my 440 and it serves my purpose. I make all sorts of things as well as quilts. If it was to go bad I would have it fixed why trade off something because the company makes something else bigger and better. Burnina will always be making more machines bigger and better, they are not going to stop at the 830 or 840 they will continue to grow as that is what business' do. I guess I am old fashion I like what I have and try to keep it as long as I can. But if you are not happy with the machine then trade, if it is not doing what you want it to do then trade, If you can afford it trade that is where I stand. Can't shoot me for thinking...

I cannot afford these more expensive machines myself. I have been looking at the Janome DC1050 and the 8077. IF you have to choose between the two of them, which one would you buy?

Ditto. I loved Berninas. I kept all my old machines and bought a Janome Horizon for the larger harp area. It's only a sewing machine and I felt the cost of Berninas were not worth it anymore. I'm glad I kept the old ones though, one mechanical and one computerized. I'm happy with the Janome and it has just as much power and precision as any Bernina.

I have the machine you are talking about and would not trade it in.

Personally I would never trade off a Bernina. I have a 153, a 440, and a serger. Nothing will separate me from them.....well maybe death. I don't think I'll ever buy any other brand.

I agree with 1,000 Projects' post. I traded in a Pfaff machine on the top model which never worked as well and is now dead. The repair man can't get it started and of course, it is out of warranty and it will cost $11,000.00 to replace it...Should have stayed with the one that worked.You can always use the older machine for classes or straight sewing whilst you have the newer one set up for embroidery.

. Bernina has only EVER had 3 styles of feet, two of which are still made new today. Basically old style and new style. Way less than other brands. They never changed this "every year". One of the big advantages of Bernina is sharing feet between models. Yes, they more expensive. They aren't just the clip on soles, except the lower end models, which accept the full shank feet also. The are hand-finished and much heftier.

I would keep the Bernina. No way would I sell/trade for another brand. I just don't think you would be happy with anything else. Why would you consider another machine?
Berninas are top of the line in sewing/machine embroidery.
(There is a dealer that is always trying to get me to trade my Berninas for a Phaff, my husband offered to buy me a new Phaff for Xmas because my Berninas are older models, I said No thank you, I love my Berninas and do not want a new Phaff)

I would never trade my bernina's off. I just bought a 440 but didn't trade in my 180. My 180 has so many more stitches and if i could have gotten a BSR for the 180 I would not have bought the 440 but i got such a good deal on one last month. I am sewing on it and loving it

I've had 3 Berninas and they are wonderful machines, very very pricey though. You will get little or nothing for your machine on a trade for that big bad Bernina, and you will get a big bad balance to pay off. It's not only the price of the machine with Bernina, it is all the extras you need to buy, software prices are astronomical, new feet, new this, new that, proprietary software and designs etc.

I am a very loyal Pfaffie now for just that reason. I switched from a top of the line Bernina about 6 yrs. ago to the Pfaff 2170 and never looked back. If I could afford a new machine, I would go for the latest Pfaff Creative Vision, but really have no need to upgrade. I have never had one problem with my Pfaff, andI like the fact that it doesn't take up half of my sewing table; the embroidery unit attaches at the rear and all I need to do to switch from sewing to embroidery is drop the feed dogs and change to the embroidery foot. As you can see from my Avatar, my Ragdoll fur baby loves it too. I got up to answer the phone and she made herself comfy in a quilted handbag I was working on. :)

There will always be a bigger and better to tempt us.

Crying out loud....I just don't understand the price of these new sewing machines..you can buy a "computerized used car for the same price!!

[quote=QuilterChick] As you can see from my Avatar, my Ragdoll fur baby loves it too. I got up to answer the phone and she made herself comfy in a quilted handbag I was working on. :)

What a cute picture.

Great information.

I have the Bernina 200 and now the 830. Years ago I never thought I would ever have any interest in owning an embroidery machine, but one day, about ten years ago, for whatever reason, I bought the 200 and I was hooked. I thought about taking the plunge on the 830 for about a year after they came out, but have had mine for a little over a year now, and I LOVE it--hate to sew on any of my other machines. I am hooked on machine cross stitch, and the 830 is absolutely marvelous! Am attaching a photo of a patriotic Santa that I cross stitched on the 830 yesterday. I am going to frame it and put it in our quild auction for November.

Here's that discussion about machines that do or don't sew well over thick seams: http://sewing.patternreview.com/Sewi...ns/topic/64038

Whatever you decide upon, I would just suggest that you have an excellent dealer to work with. Good luck.

I thought Elna went out of business a few years back. Did someone buy them out, and if so, what company? I have an Elna Quilter's Pro and love it. I've been worried that if something happened to it, I wouldn't be able to replace it. It is my absolute favorite machine.

I simply love my 440 and would not trade or sell it for any other machine.

I think Maia said it all I have the Bernina 440 QE with all attachments and I would never never sell or trade it how many other machines can you find with all metal parts most are all plastic also the 830 is very heavy you would not be moving it so keep your 440 for a back up

I surely do agree with you on the tension issues with the Viking. I use my Singer 401A slant needle or my featherweight whenever possible because of the tension on the Viking.