Would like opinions on Bernina vs Husqvarna

Hi Krysti, You will have so much enjoyment whichever one you chose. As for which is the best, all I can suggest is try each one. I have a Designer 1 and absolutely love it, however my neighbor has the Bernina and she would tell you she loves hers. I have had my Designer 1 for one and half years and had no trouble with it.

The dealer where I bought mine (and I believe they all are the same) each month has classes which are really helpful in learning everything the ma. can do. Good luck and lots of fun with either one you chose. Just let us know. Wanda

Wanda is correct as to buying the machine that "fits" you, it is like buying an automobile. My suggestion is: Take several pieces of fabric that you'll be more likely to sew, try both machines for a while, then go home, think about how each felt to you. You may need to do this twice, but you will find one "fits" you and that will be "your" machine. It's great you have the dealers nearby that offer classes and support, which seems to be rare most places today. Emily-who loves her Pfaff, but have friends who love their Berninas and Husqvarnas, too.

Yes, as with the other replies...it is a personal thing. I love my Bernina 180E and the biggest selling point was having a local dealer close by to service it and help me if required.

I personally like that the Bernina will automatically adjust the stitch density as it adjusts the design sizes.

It also has a front loading bobbin which is perfect when I'm quilting. I don't have to remove the quilt from under the presserfoot to change the bobbin. However, the bobbin is unique to the machine and is a bit smaller than a standard bobbin. I don't think you can use prewound bobbins, but I use lingerie thread in mine for embroidery. It is very thin and goes a long way.

Don't make a decision overnight. Make sure you test drive both and then test drive them again. It really is like asking if you should buy a Chevy or a Ford. Both are good, but it boils down to personal preference. One of them will "feel" more right to you.

Perhaps make a list of features you like or don't like for each of them. That might help you narrow it down.

Good luck

5 foot 2

we have a husq designer1. i especially like it because its very easy to use. i didn't know the bernina until i read your post and visited the website but that one too looks very impressive. i like the very large screen and the possibilities you seem to have with manipulating your designs on the machine. don't forget however that with such a machine you almost can't do without a good software package which should be able to do those manipulations with more ease. in that case you wouldn't need all those functions on your machine. i allways have had two frustrations when doing a lot of complex embroidery. the first is speed so when you try the machines (and you _must_ do that) check how easy it is to rethread them and refill the bobbin. you really hate it when you have a great design that requires

30 changes of thread. the second is size. our first machines were the husq rose and the orchidea which could only embroider 10x10cm (4x4") designs. very frustrating when you want to do something like a hellsangels logo or something on te back of your jacket. the designer 1 embroiders 30x15cm max with the megahoop which must be repositioned to do all of the work. i see the bernina does even 40x15 but i didn't read if the hoop has to be repositioned. furthermore, look at the possible options. what hoops are available? if possible, visit a class before buying. our dealer has evenings for customers where we can talk and exchange tips. watch them work, talk with them about their experiences. he invites people who are considering to buy too and they really enjoy that. i don't know much about sewing so i can only talk about embroidery. i'm a man. i only do straight curtains.

janm

Berninas are still the Rolls Royce of sewing machines. The model your looking at is well constructed and I have not had one in for repair since they were released. HV is farming out so much of their construction that we are getting more of these machines in for repair than at any other time in the companies history and the same goes for the Pfaff's. I still sell Pfaff but have been disappointed in the recent models. This is from a repair stand point only. You have to try the machines and compare the features. Bernina is more up to date than HV which means that there should be a new HV in the works shortly, or so we have heard. They have had nothing really new in 4-5years so it is due. In that event the prices will come down on the current models. Bernina is very proprietary though and so far not very good at allowing other software's to convert and use their embroidery format. Most now can only convert from Bernina format not too it, which is limiting. The CD can only read Bernina disks....a real short coming on their part. Some of the other brands are not even using brand software anymore and are using flash card technology instead which allows you to choose the software you want over the company brand. Embird is what I recommend to all my customers. Very good programme but you still need to get the designs to the machine which is where the flash cards are so good.. As for more for you $ have you checked out the Janome machines. They are the most current and up to date and lovely machines. While I do not sell these I do often recommend them to new users. Don't be so quick to get rid of your old Singer. The one you own is still in demand for the features it has and they are selling well on auctions sites and the like. You might be better with just a stand alone embroidery machine like the Janome 300e or the Bernina 330. Very simple to use and easily learned. I think the best thing is to see what is out there with all brands and then choose.

30x15cm

I've seen large designs from both machines - but not while they were being made. Have no idea if the hoops were repositioned.

This is a good suggestion! Thank you for responding. In fact, Thank you to everyone who has responded :-) Krysti

Part of my research was to 'Google' this group's past posts about both machines, and I did find many, many mentions of the Janome. No one around here sells it though - and I'd prefer being able to take the machine to be serviced, instead of mailing/shipping it somewhere - that's why I narrowed it down to the Bernina and Husquvarna - interesting that you pointed out the HV machine is an older style, and might be due for an update - several of the google posts discussed that machine as far back as 3 yrs ago! I am going to use the suggestions of taking my own fabric in and sewing on the machines. I do realize the Bernina is more proprietary, but a couple of the google posts mentioned that was being, or had been changed. Thank you again to everyone! I've learned quite a lot lurking and reading :-) Krysti

You seem to have it under control. If your not able to get to a Janome dealer, then go for the Bernina and don't just dump the Singer. It is still a very good machine and may be all you need for your sewing construction needs. Give the Bernie 330 embroidery only machine.....same as the Janome but made for Bernina a try. Very easy to use and beautiful embroidery uses ATA cards that are cheap and hold loads of designs. You can download directly from the internet in the format needed, put it in the machine and do the embroidery...quick and easy to do. Most of us with embroidery machines have picked up others to sew on while the other embroiders. I have several machines but always keep a Singer or two threaded up for quick repairs or when I just want to sew while the Pfaff embroiders. Good use of the time as some of these new designs take half an hour or more to stitch out. No machine is ever out of date as witnessed by the number of Vintage machines selling now or the number of Singer 301's that the quilters are using. My suggestions to you would be to download a couple of free designs from some of the web sites.....Dainty Stitch's is one

she has good consistent work and it isexcellent quality. Put the designs on a floppy or CD and take to thestore with your fabric and your thread. See what it will take to dothe design and that should help with what you need to get started asfar as software etc....Embird does have a demo that you can downloadand try. Still the best software around and the most bang for yourbuck in that department. Have fun while you test and enjoy theexperience.

Singer.

I will download and take a design with me! Thanks for suggesting. As far as my Singer - I'm not letting it go, it has been well maintained, and runs as well as it ever did. It's just outdated compared to the bells'n'whistles that now come on the most basic machines, for a fraction of what my Singer cost! Back then it was a stretch for a relative newlywed to buy - in fact, I didn't want to spend that much but my husband insisted on buying it instead of the less expensive model. No longer have the husband, but the machine is still stitching right along :-)

The new HV Designer SE was available here in North America last September.

gwh

On Mon, 04 Apr 2005 10:15:13 GMT, G. Wayne Hines wrote:

Have not found it to be all that 'new when you get down to the nuts and bolts. VSM has a habit of re-issuing machines with new numbers and letters and new housings but little in new technology. The USb is nice but others have done that before. What these machines now need is to be more computer compatible and less dependent on the brand software. Embroidery machine users are becoming very sophisticated and demanding more professional software over the brand stuff. They are also pricing themselves out of the domestic market and aiming at a very limited group. Sales of the stand alones in the $1500 range are astronomical and I think there will be more of them soon. Combo machines, while nice to have are limiting when embroidering, Janome, Brother and Bernina seem to have accepted that fact. Many of people with perfectly good sewing machines like the Singer mentioned above are discovering that all the bells and whistles are not necessary and not used much so are keeping the older machines and opting for a less expensive but very good stand alone embroidery machine for design work. Most of my customers now have a dedicated embroidery machine, a quilting machine and a general purpose machine with all 3 costing less than a combo machine. They also are now purchasing Vintage Singers like the 301 for quilting classes were only a straight stitch machine is needed but light weight for carrying is important. Some of these combo machines are reaching the weights of the old black cast iron straight stitch Singers.

VSM is still saying an all new machine will happen soon. VSM also have a bad habit of increasing the model number and decreasing the features, or putting out a 'Special' model with fewer features than the same one not labeled 'Special', granted the Specials are normally cheaper but not always. Check the 'features' and pricing carefully before going for the Specials.

The SE is much more than a D1 in a different package. The on-board software is much more capable, and easier to use than on the D1. You don't need ANY proprietary brand software. Got a CD full of Singer or Brother designs? Pop them into your computer's CD drive, hook up the USB cable to the SE and browse the CD from the sewing machine. Don't want to bother with the computer? Plug a USB CD drive into the sewing machine and pick the designs as you need them. The new wireless server from Silex should work with the SE. Download designs onto your computer and use the wireless network to get them to the sewing machine.

And the Bernina is a rebranded Janome 300e.

Don't be surprised if that new Husqvarna machine is almost identical to a new heavy Pfaff that does only a straight stitch at 1600 per minute. :-)

gwh

Wanda: The machines are NOT all made in Sweden. The TOL are assembled there but many of the HV line is done in other countries and have been for some time. They only need to do a certain percentage of the machine to be able to say Made in....this applies to every thing manufactured and sold here. They own a manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic and ALL sergers no matter who's name is on them are from 3-4 plants in Asia. Janome, and other companies also do some of the HV models badging them for HV>this has been normal practice since the 50's. HV could not possibly do all their own line in Sweden it would not be cost effective. This is not to say they are bad machines,and there is no need to 'Defend' them. They are good machines, we are just getting tired of high prices for not much difference. Adding more computer stuff is not really changing the actual machine. As I mentioned the nuts and bolts are staying the same. Other companies have quietly moved past HV and other high priced machines with innovative technology beyond the computer components are very good machines and should be looked at.I see these things from the inside most of the time, and am annoyed at the short cuts being taken in order to put in high priced computer components. You cannot buy a machine on name alone anymore it does not make sense with so many other choices out there. Brand loyalty is ok, but I advise my customers to look at everything before making a choice. Often they do come back to me but I have at least shown them there is more to life than HV or Pfaff. The Continuous Hoop or Endless hoop was brought out bay Singer a couple of years ago. Very easy to use and most of the embroidery companies now have them. A couple of gals of have the Singer XL6000 and are using quilting pantographs to do continuous hoop line designs.

And VSM has issued this Janome made machine for Pfaff without dual feed, another one of their lapses in judgment considering that it is being pushed as a Quilting machine. Queries today of VSM personnel again are saying new 'embroidery' machine is most likely due. They have to catch up and they are aware of that fact. While all the computer stuff you mentioned is ok it is not new. Other machines have had the same things for some time. Why go to the bother of attaching a cable to the machine to view designs when the computer screen is bigger and easier to see. Ok, don't use the computer buy a separate device and view that way but, again they are forcing the use of cables and devices hooked to the machine for viewing and transferring. Singer has a similar system. Much easier to use Embird and a flash card, and much cheaper. Under $20 for the readers and cards are $30 to 50 for large capacity.Embird comes in at about $100. I did say the USB thumb drive was great but not 'new' to embroidery machines. Ok I know you do not NEED the proprietary software but there are dealers still pushing it and it is very very expensive for what it is. Also the statement that if you do not use VSM software you void the warranty is just ludicrous, and there are dealers who do make that statement.

No need to apologize! I am finding the discussion among everyone here very helpful!! THat is why I asked the question. The Husqvarna machine and Bernina machine seem very much the same to me, that at one point I felt the ambiance in the respective stores would tip the balance for me. It's kinda like buying a new car - the machines all do so much more than the old one, it's hard to make a decision. Krysti

So far, the only real drawback to the Bernina - for me - seems to be the need for Bernina only CDs. On the other hand, they have such a large selection, including some licensed designers I particularly like...but if that is changing, it will not be a concern. I'll have to verify that on my next visit. Also, the 2-3 ladies who work in the Bernina store are extremely knowledgabl. So are the ladies who sell the Husqvarna/Viking machines - but often there is only one of them on duty, and if she's tied up, it can take awhile to get help.

Another thing I found out, the Bernina machines are usually servied on site. The Husqv. machines are sent out....I live in the Atlanta area, so they are probaby repaired locally. In fact, if any of y'all are familiar with the North Atlanta area, suggestions of where I could shop for Janome machine would be appreciated! Krysti

Their website should show the locations of dealers in your area. I am not familiar with N Atlanta, I have spent several nights along I-85 when traveling to/from Spartanburg, SC, but don't remember the names of towns. Emily

I went to

it does show dealers in different zip codes, as I thought it would. Emily