SusieQOH

There is a fantastic guy on Youtube named Bernina Jeff. He has tons of info on Berninas.
I have a 770 and love that thing! But I agree about having a top notch dealer. It's a must.
I almost got a 570 but wanted additional throat space so I went with the one I have.

QuiltE

About holding the tails .................. that's why many do leader/ender projects to tackle that problem.

As for me ... I repeatedly use a scrap of fabric, so I can just sew wildly without having to aim for perfection!!

sewingpup

well....I did it, I now have a new Bernina 590 instead of the 570. I did sew on it and it seemed smoother than the 570 and was already updated to the new firmware. I do know that all new models of all the manufacturer's usually have a few bugs in the software that it takes all of us who sew in the wild to find. So, my plan is to try and use the 590 frequently and run her through her paces. Looking forward to going back to stitching. I also have heard from a few more people that they like their 590's and hoping that the negative reviews that I read from earlier were related to that firmware update. I however, really do think the 570 I had was one of the ones that had some issues. Again, I know every manufacturer has a few of those machines that escape the quality control process and the problems I had with the 570 were intermittent.

cashs_mom

Did you take the guide classes with your 590? I've had 2 Bernina's and my best advice is to go to the guide classes and take notes/pay close attention. I learned a lot of things that have made my Bernina experience very pleasure-able and basically trouble free. I even took the offered guide class for my Juki 2200 QVP Mini. It's a basicstraight stitch machine, but I did learn a few things and got to ask some questions. Well worth the time.

sewingpup

The shop is doing everything online, I was reading through the manual last evening and saw a few differences from the 570 already, I think the 570 had two "hover" levels while the 590 has more. I am planning on doing the embroidery one. Bernina does have a number of videos also I am planning on watching. Ugly cold weather the next few days, so I can stay inside and play with the new machine instead of tending to the yard which needs help, didn't finish all the raking last year and the snowplow guy had some new drivers who plowed up a lot of my gravel driveway and I now have gravel piles that need to go back into the driveway. Owning a house has it's trials, but what apartment would hold all my machines and stash? Thanks again everyone for your input, I sure was having problems making deciding on this one..

Dolphyngyrl

Me personally having sewn on berninas the last few years and seeing other people with issues with the new ones I would switch brands. There are many problem free machines out there. Should not be having problems with a machine that cost$$$$. IMHO.

sewingpup

I am not quite ready to give up on Bernina yet. The new 590 I got on the trade is so far a delight to stitch on. I really haven't done much of anything yet though other then piecing and watching some of the U-tubes. I think I am going to like the embroidery as I can do a lot of editing of designs right on the screen. I think the 570 I had was a lemon. Yep, though, I agree, you just can't sit down a one of the higher end Berninas and just start stitching away. Really need to take it slow, read the manual, take the classes offered with a new one, and watch the videos. It is so adjustable to what you want it do, that it is a bit of a pain to understand. For example. when you tap on the peddle, do you want it to raise or lower the needle, and/or stitch a knot, and/or cut the thread? You can program what you want. There are so many features on it, it is like learning to use an I-phone, or getting one of those fancy new cars with all the gadgets on it. There are days when I like the simplicity of the old rotary dial phones, my old 1968 cutlass supreme, my grandma's singler 66 treadle. (although got to say, I never did a very smooth treadle motion going as a 5 year old)

WesternWilson

FWIW I hear from sources I trust that the new machines are not as reliable as the older Berninas. Which is a real shame as that brand has been just amazing, and it was certainly true "nothing sews like a Bernina".

Consider repairing and selling your machine, perhaps on Ebay?, and buying an older Bernina that is reconditioned. This is what I did when I wanted a Bernina but could not afford a new one (the 700 series had just come out). I have a great local machine tech who I knew would be able to fix any little problems that came up and so I bought an Artista 170 from a reputable Ebay seller.

That machine has been a godsend, my piecing powerhouse. I added LED light strips for my older eyes and will never piece on anything else! I am fortunate I can set up separate piecing and quilting stations, for quilting I got a Juki 2010Q and finally a longarm of my very own. But the Bernina 170 is my favourite, we have spent so many happy hours togehter.

Onebyone

My Bernina 1260 sews smoother then my friends new Bernina 590. She had to admit the difference in quality. Of course her new one has many more features. I paid $450 used, one owner, fifteen years ago and it's still sewing great. Why didn't Bernina keep up the excellent quality and spotless reputation of these machines!

sewingpup

well...slowly working on learning how to do applique with my bernina 590. Set it for my foot (open toe), my fabric (heavy woven as it has a light weight fusible fleece on the back), Using the single blanket stitch, and now attempting to adjust the foot hover.so I can easily do the turning without needing to raise the foot (supposed I could use the free hand leveler with my knee...but...)I found this setting is different than on the 570. The 570 gives three presser foot levels, The 590 will let me set it from zero to about a 1/4 of an inch. Yikes....yep...a learning curve. Off to give it a whirl.