Bernina - is it just me?

Tina, I'm so sorry you're not having a good experience with your Bernina! I had some small issues with my first Bernina, purchased about ten years ago or more, but the one I've now had for the past 2.5 years is just a dream. I love it. I wonder if you somehow got a lemon? It can happen to the best of people. Good luck getting it to cooperate.

Tina, to be fair, I don't think that the newer Berninas are as sturdy as the '50's Singers or the Viking 990. Those older girls are tough! However, there are three Berninas here; two are the 155 model which I think is very, very similar to what you have. Looking at your questions, one by one, let's start with the fancy stitches. If you'll look on the end of your SM where the cords plug in, you'll see a dial. Honestly, I've never touched it but I believe its purpose is to do fine-tuning on the fancy stitches. You might play with it sometime to see if that makes your fancy stitching a little prettier. On the other end, there's another dial that has to do with foot pressure. If you're attempting to feed something thick through on a fancy stitch, you will need to ease up on the pressure with that dial. I had to go get some technical advice on the next one. DH agrees that lots of sewing could indeed cause your bobbin case to tighten up. Adjusting a bobbin case is easy enough. We'll teach you how if you're not comfortable with that. The bobbin cases here do need to be loosened about once a month. I don't mind; actually I'm rather proud that I know when it's needed and can do it. Two crib quilts per week is the average here - sometimes more, and often as not, I have a neighbor stitching along with me. So - I think it's safe to say that Berninas hold up beautifully with lots of constant stitching. Mine are right cranky about what kind of thread we use and they do love a sharp new needle - other than that - nothing sews like a Bernina. Nothing. (sort of prejudiced) Polly

"TinaR" My first "good" machine was a Bernina 1090 which I bought used from a

Somebody can correct me if I am wrong, but tht line of machine is made in Asia under contract to Bernina with Swiss parts By local Asian workers. As I understand it, they are not up to the same level of quality as the Swiss made machines. i know, from personal experience, that the Activa 220 i had was a piece of junke and needed 2 different motherboards and was still not right as traded back for a Mechanical Bernina 1008, which is made in the same factory as the Activia, but has no electronics in it so it is not as prone to go south on you. I did have a problem with one of the functions of the reverse lever and fixed it myself after 2 attempts to have it fixed under warranty. I think the asian models are not quite up to the same standards as the Swiss ones. But that is just based on my personal experience and may not reflect general opinion.

John

The first Bernina I got was the 153. I liked it OK but traded up to a 440. I LOVE this machine! It has worked like a charm (2 years) and nothing has gone wrong so far. I clean it frequently and oil it regularly. It seems sturdier than the 153.

When I got my first Bernina, the get-to-know-you-new-machine class was taught by a woman who had sewn on Berninas for 30+ years. She taught us how to open them up, clean them really well and where to oil them. Her machines have always worked well and not needed to send them to the shop for a servicing.

Happy quilting,

Lenore

I don't know what the solution is here. This group has John who could not love his 440 and others like Lenore who are well-pleased with theirs. And we see the Janome cheered or bemoaned. I'm thinking that if Tina is unhappy with her Bernina, that she needs to find an SM that makes her happy as soon as time and $s permit. Life is too dear to spend one minute of it cussing a sewing machine. Polly

"John" > My first "good" machine was a Bernina 1090 which I bought used from a

Somebody can correct me if I am wrong, but tht line of machine is made in Asia under contract to Bernina with Swiss parts By local Asian workers. As I understand it, they are not up to the same level of quality as the Swiss made machines. i know, from personal experience, that the Activa 220 i had was a piece of junke and needed 2 different motherboards and was still not right as traded back for a Mechanical Bernina 1008, which is made in the same factory as the Activia, but has no electronics in it so it is not as prone to go south on you. I did have a problem with one of the functions of the reverse lever and fixed it myself after 2 attempts to have it fixed under warranty. I think the asian models are not quite up to the same standards as the Swiss ones. But that is just based on my personal experience and may not reflect general opinion.

John

On May 20, 5:13=A0pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:

it for clothing construction. I love the buttonholes, I love all the fancy = decorative stitches, I even love, well, like the lettering capability. I mig= ht get to love the free motion capabilities of the BSR, it I tried too. I d= o not like it for piecing of quilt tops. What is the difference you might as= k? Well, the difference is that the 430 and every other computerized Bernin= a that I have tried, takes a half step when starting out the line of stitchi= ng, and that is "very" disconcerting to me. The Mechanical machine starts ri= ght from the git-go, when you press the pedal, and that is the way I like it= to work. Also, the computerized ones seem to take an extra half step forwar= d before reversing when you push the reverse button, and then ends in either= needle up or down, as you prefer. I know where I want the needle to stop a= nd I don't appreciate the machine going any ways beyond that point. Especial= ly if there is a pin waiting there at the end of what I want to be the last = stitch of the sewing line. The reason is, I am forced to un-pick that half s= titch, in order to create those excruciatingly beautiful points on all the i= nset seams on the many pieced tops you accuse me of being locked into doing.= ;>0 When I am sewing a line of stitching on clothing ,there is not as much= of an issue as it generally runs off the end of the line before I stop and = I don't care what happens after I am off the fabric. In all fairness, the 43=

0 is billed as, and sold as, a clothing embellishment machine, so I guess I = should expect it to perform rather well in that requirement. I just don't th= ink it does as well based on my sewing requirements for quilt piecing. The B= ernina 1008, and the Janome 1600db, don't do that sort of thing and I am abl= e to use either one of them for the piecing of the quilt top without tearing= out my hair. Which if you have seen my picture, is a physical impossibility= , do to my shaved head. Well there you have the cold hard truth about my lov= e/hate relationship with the 430. I still respect it for what it will do, se= w clothing; but I won't love it in the morning, when it comes to piecing the= quilt tops.

John

I think the real solution is to sit and test every machine you can, before you buy one. Whatever the machine there will be people who love it and others who can't stand it. Some machines are intuitive for some, not for others. I love my Husqvarna/Viking machines. Have had not great experiences with both Bernina and Pfaff and don't ever want another Brother (unless some things have really changed. ) The Singer I used to have, a Fashionmate, was great for a "small" machine. Wish I hadn't gotten rid of it. And of course, every brand will have the occasional "lemon". A good dealer is key to many of those problems.

Tina, hope you resolve your machine issues and find one you really like. I am waiting to see what the new Husqvarna machine is like.

Pati, > I don't know what the solution is here.

I have a 145 bought in 2003, and my mother has the 153 that is a couple of years older. I really love mine. It does not do heavy stuff well, but I don't do it that often and just know that isn't it's cupa' so I use another machine that handles it better but isn't as nice for my quilting. My mother really likes her machine, but not as much as I love mine. She had an 830 she used previous to purchasing her 153 that she likes better as far as durability. She still has it and does sew with it, but mainly uses the 153 because of the 'bells and whisles' that make things easier. She would part with her 153 if given enough incentive, but not that 830! I think Bernina's quality has gone down a bit over the years by the way it sounds (not that they are bad machines - just not what they used to be for durability).

I wonder if it isn't the quilting not the piecing that is causing more wear on the machine and giving you issues. Or perhaps it was just 'one of those machines'. Every company has machines that for some reason just don't last like they should no matter how good the comany is.

JM2C

Thanks, Polly! Are you machine quilting with the 155?

I have adjusted the bobbin tension before (I am actually not a bad SM mechanic - my mother taught me to sew on a really old industrial Singer head which had a motor rigged to it - she worked at the Princess Peggy dress factory, and was able to get a "retired" machine) but it seems like with the volume I am doing, that shouldn't have to be done THAT often.

The fancy stiches are just okay, IMHO, and I am not really concerned about them. It's the machine quilting which I have noticed has been less than stellar on my last two quilts. I am religious about thread and needles, also, and did notice that on this last one, the Gutterman I was using in the bobbin was AWFULLY linty. The one before that, tho, I was using Sulky bobbin thread, which the 'Nina usually loves.

Tina, I am a pitiful coward when it comes to mechanics. Just inserting the beaters in the electric mixer or putting the grids in the waffle iron intimidate me. OTOH, I've become comfortable with making tiny adjustments on the bobbin case; just ' 5 minutes at a time'. Oh my, yes indeed, the Bernina 155 can do beautiful machine quilting. Very often, I load mine with red thread (or purple) and you would have to call it 'showing off'. I'm not aiming for competition level but 'nice' is doable. As to sturdy, it is possible to simply wear out a Bernina. One of the computer things in the 1230 has become moody. She will decide mid-stitch to change her mind and toss in something truly surprising such as making a satin stitch bow right in the middle of my 'intended' feather-stitching. Just guessing, that old girl has about 12 years and millions of miles on her. Do take your Guttermann thread and give it to somebody that stitches on some other brand machine. There are hundreds of old spools of thread here and sometimes one of them is needed for something peculiar. Usually, I get away with it but I don't push my luck very often. Polly

"TinaR" Thanks, Polly! Are you machine quilting with the 155?

There is an update for the 440 so possibly also for the 430 that fixes it. This was covered under the warranty BUT . . . . the dealer could charge a service charge - which mine did.

L>the difference is that the 430 and every other computerized Bernina that I

have tried, takes a half step when starting out the line of stitching, and that is "very" disconcerting to me. Linda PATCHogue, NY

That stinks. Shame on them. TAria

WitchyStitcher wrote:

You were all really puzzling me so I went to see if my Berninas do that. Here's my discovery: if they are in 'needle down' mode (which is how I usually stitch), when I press reverse, they go backwards - right then. If they are in needle up position and I press reverse, they obstinately come 1 stitch forward and then reverse. Since I have my stitch length set rather short, it's obviously never been a problem. Doing an inset seam, I always control the exact landing spot with the hand wheel. That's probably a carry-over from my garment making background. Polly

at I have tried, takes a half step when starting out the line of stitching, = and that is "very" disconcerting to me.

My 430 is a 75th anniversary edition and comes with the upgrade. It is a problem that exists, when you use the machine in needle up position, which I prefer, to allow for better vision. I realize I might be rather picky about something that might not affect other peoples choices. But that is what it is all about. There is no "one" best machine for everybody. There are only choices, and isn't it nice that we have them. It doesn't make my or anybody else's choice good or bad, just our own. And, as stated in my post, I do like the machine for clothing construction. I will probably just keep it for those times when I sew clothes. Polly's posting will explain.

John

That is how I control my inset seam duties, also. That is how I learned to do my clothing construction, also. The mechanical machine is just a continuation of that process, and probably explains why I prefer it and continue to faver it over the other machine for those purposes.

John