aashley333

I couldn't take the other thread anymore! I love mine. Two 830 Records, a new Bernette, and a new Q16 sit down. I can't imagine hating my machine--at least for very long. I'd just fix it.

SusieQOH

I have two and love them. My 150QE has been the best machine! I also have a 770 and love it as well. But I also love my Juki and use it a lot. My first machine was a Kenmore bought for me by my parents so I'm really sentimental about it but always longed for a Bernina and got one as soon as I could.

Onebyone

I have the older 1260 and it's a great machine. Lacks a few of the newer features I am spoiled for now.

dunster

I bought my 440QE in 2006, soon after I started quilting. (Gosh, has it been that long?) I don't think I've spent more than $200 in repairs in all that time. I love sewing on it, and it has all the features I want. Perhaps that's because I've never had the newer features, like automatic thread cutter, so I don't know what I'm missing? One reason I bought that model was because of the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator), which I used on a lot of quilts before I started quilting on a longarm. I also purchased the embroidery module, which was a mistake. It had to be used in conjunction with software on a laptop, so it wasn't convenient or easy to use.

quiltedsunshine

Yes, I love my Berninas! I have old mechanical 540, 830, and 930. Plus a newer 230 and a 590 and a Bernina serger (made by Juki). I love all the bells and whistles of my 590, but have just given up getting the 1/4" seam allowance on it. I have my sewing cabinet set up so I can use my 590 or my 230 when I want to do piecing.

I am a sewing machine mechanic, and I realize that not everyone fully understands how to use a sewing machine. There are simple things to notice like pulling the top thread out of the needle plate hole before starting to sew, or holding your thread tail/s as you start to sew, keeping the bobbin area clean and oiled, not manually turning the handwheel, etc.

They're just machines. We need to learn how to use them. They can't learn how to deal with us.

petthefabric

Mine is a love/hate. I love the machine that is straight forward, almost no learning curve. Flip the switch and it's ready to go. Maybe 90% of my sewing is piecing quilts. The 1/4" on my mechanical machine is perfect. Feeds the fabric perfectly. But the machine it's limited in capabilities. When quilting or sewing garments, I love the Bernina.

The Bernina demands respect. It's in control and must be used according to strict requirements. Being an artist, I struggle with following the rules.

I've learned to walk into my sewing room and immediately flip the switch on the Bernina. The electronics takes a couple minutes to be ready to sew.

By moving the needle to the right, the material can be aligned with the right side of the 01 foot and the fabric still touches the feed dog on the right side. This way the fabric feeds evenly with both of the feed dog touching the fabric, I find the 1/4" foot difficult to maintain a 1/4" width seam. Since not both feed dog touch the fabric the fabric is pulled to one side and stretched crocked.

Sewing 1/4" seams is a minimal use, almost insulting for the capabilities of Bernina machines.

I think the Bernina machine is much better suited to clothing construction and embroidery than piecing quilts. The larger machines with larger harp and the fabric feed system on the top is excellent for quilting. For free motion quilting it's best to have the machine set into a table for the larger work surface. The 700 and 800 series are to large and heavy for standard sewing tables. They require the heavier tables. I'm considering the ~$500 price tag for the sew steady table. It folds up for storage and portability. My sewing room doesn't have enough space for another stationary table to put in a heavy duty Koala.

mkc

I have to ask, because I have never heard of it, why would you avoid manually turning the handwheel? It seems like that would be necessary if you were doing something like checking the needle drop location for applique and other location-specific sewing.

cashs_mom

I have a 475 Kaffe Fassett Edition, 2 Artista 180's and a serger (I can't remember which one) I love them all! I also had a 1630 and would love to have another so I keep my eye for one at estate sales. The 180 is my go-to machine to sew anything heavy or challenging or to do buttonholes. That machine makes the most beautiful buttonholes and they are so easy. Love my Berninas.

Thank you for starting this thread, Ashley. While Berninas are IMO an acquired taste, once you acquire it you love them!

quiltedsunshine

If you want to use the needle threader, the needle needs to be in the correct position -- the position that is determined by the machine's needle-up setting. Turning the handwheel manually can also tangle the threads around the toggle switches (in the bobbin area).

Of course, if you're appliqueing and other location-specific sewing, yes, turn the handwheel toward you. Not back and forth.

mkc

Ah yes! I always use the needle up/down button before threading the machine, for the needle threader, and to pull up threads. Good to know about the bobbin thread, which makes sense because a length of it could be fairly loose in the hook area allowing it to catch if you moved the handwheel back and forth.