Mary Ellen Lowry

I purchased a Bernina 830 about 3 years ago with some inheritance $$$ from my mother, who instilled my love for sewing. I have been sooo disappointed! Due to my schedule since her death, I have had more limited sewing time (used to sew everyday for stress relief). EVERY TIME I sit down to do anything on this machine it takes me 1-3 hrs to get it to sew correctly and it seems to be that it just has to decide for itself when it is ready to work because what I do to fix it one day does not work the next. Yesterday I spent all day trying to get it to work and it never did. I have had it to the shop several times and it always sews fine there, but I get it home and it is a completely different story. I have tried different thread, needles, stabilizers, everything with no luck. I am DONE with this machine! I need a machine that I can sit down and sew or embroider that works when I sit down. This Bernina has made me dread sewing....something that I NEVER thought possible! Please give me some recommendations for sewing/embroidery machines. I want a larger throat and something that will accommodate a larger embroidery hoop. Thanks so much!

Onebyone

Honestly I would have pay for a repairman/dealer for an hour or two to come to my house. When the machine is not working stop and leave it as is. Then schedule the repairman/dealer to come and don't touch the machine again until the appointment. For the cost of the machine that expense would be worth it. The first new 830 had a lot of problems that a good dealer would know how to get corrected.

ManiacQuilter2

Is this the older 830 or the newer model. I only use Aurifil and Mettler Silk finished on my Bernina 1530. I have it serviced about every 18 months and I have only had one problem with it since I bought it originally in the late 90s.

peaceandjoy

I do not personally have any experience with the 830, but have heard that they do take some getting used to. Did your dealer offer classes on the machine, and did you take them? I love my Berninas, but do not want to do any embroidery so do not have a machine with that feature. Are you able to sew a basic seam without trouble? Is it only when using the embroidery that you are stymied, or is it giving you trouble regardless of what you do? For what a Bernina costs, I'd be going back to the dealer, plan to spend some time there to show them what is happening when you try to use the machine and have them show you how to do it correctly or find out exactly what is wrong so that they can fix it.

Candace

My 830 had so many parts and sensors replaced in the first year that I was about ready to throw it out a window. It had to be sent to Bernina HQ and took a month to get back. Still not fixed! Luckily my local tech was able to get the bugs worked out and then the embroidery mother board died. It's now a great machine 2 years later, but for the price paid I should not have had to deal with a product that had so many issues and needing so many parts. I want to scream at all the people who claim it's user error and to take a class to know your machine better. Having a machine full of faulty sensors and needing about 20 trips to a dealer for repairs is not user error. LOL. Now, I'm happy with it but if I had to do it all again I would not buy the machine.

Dolphyngyrl

I love my brother Dreamweaver XE VM6200D. It has 11.25 inch harp, wonderful lighting, an awesome dual feed foot with so many available attachments. I just got the 1/4 inch piecing attachment and quilt guidebar attachment, there is also a SITD, couching and open toe foot for this dual feed can do 10 layers of denim , no hump jumper need perfect tension and stitching even when piecing I love love this foot. It is huge but it is detachable. sew straight laser can be used for a few different techniques. The penpal is used for stopping at precise locations for stitching, adjust sew straight laser position, needle position, stitch width, what doesn't it do. It also adjust positioning for embroidery hooping straight and adjustment for turning. the embroidery foot comes whith a led droplight for easy positioning of start point. Nice features include speed adjutment, needle down, lock stitch, pivoting feature, AHA for perfect stitch tension, knee lift, FMQ beautiful, large user friendly screen with tutorials built into machine. Option to add multifunction foot pedal(worth the investment) and optional upgrade to 8x12 hoop since 7x12 hoop size comes on the machine. I used all features right out of box. Manual is super thorough. This machine has been an absolute dream to use. A few things I did not like about the machine. They only provide you with 2 hoops when most other machines came with 4, wide table not included when machine is made for quilting. the free arm is a little thick okay for bags but not sleeves. This feature I mention next cannot be remedied that the machines is a beast weighs well over 50lb, lots of metal so delusions of it being a great class travel machine are out the door. I feel like I get a hernia everytime I have to move it. It is compatible with the new dream fabric frame which is an awesome frame except for the fact of previous statement of this thing being huge and heavy. Despite the lack of hoops and huge size. I think this is a great machine for quilters and sewers. I have sewn minky, fleece, modal jersey cotton, vinyl, denim flannel all with easy this machines does anything I ask of it. My favorite features are the dual feed foot AKA Muvit foot, the penpal attachment, the pivoting feature, the foot pedal and how it FMQ with foot and straightline quilts with the muvit foot. I do not regret my purchase. This was my first ever embroidery machine and embroidery placement has been super easy the machine screen is user friendly. This brand is by far the most user friendly of any brand with the exception of babylock since their TOL machines are made by brother and have twin versions to every brother line. The twin to my machine will be the Babylock Unity. 2 differences between the companies are the embroidery designs built in will be different, and brother has the my custom stitch feature, all of the utility and decorative stitches are exactly the same, the screens will look different since they install their own software but it is similar style. The outer casing will also look different since they only purchase the insides

Pennyhal

I got a 580 for Christmas and I'm having a ton of problems with it. Had it one week before the motor started clacking. The people who have the 830 say it is finicky. So you are not alone in dealing with problems with that machine. There is a Yahoo group for Berninas that you might be able to get support form.

Nammie to 7

Sorry you are having issues -- I've had my 830 for quite a while and LOVE it! I've never had a problem with mine. Hope you are able to solve your problems!

Onebyone

I would suggest a Brother stand alone embroider machine and a separate machine with the features you want for sewing. There is no reason to have to buy from a dealer. All how tos and answers are on youtube, blogs, forums and Facebook now. And buying online, at Amazon for instance, you can return the the machine if you don't like it. Try that with a dealer.

Maureen NJ

I am having trouble copying the link to the post I started almost two years ago. Mary Ellen, I see you are new to the board. Welcome. I know exactly how you feel about the Bernina 830. I was also extremely frustrated. Please read my post about it being fixed. Click on my name. Go to profile and latest started threads and scroll down to my Bernina Fixed!! I was determined to have it fixed and it now works beautifully. I clean and oil it regularly. Check your threading. Lots of Bernina YouTube videos, including that. I am afraid to take it in and have it serviced as I'm afraid it will be screwed up again. I also am afraid to do the updates and my dealer said not to as it can affect the tension and sensors. I don't mind adjusting the tension as long as it stays and works properly. I now love it. If you still want a new machine, Dolfyngirl had some good points. Good luck. You will love this board. It is the best resource source and the people are so nice.