Your thoughts appreciated!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 10:35AM You’ll probably think I’m crazy, but I am considering selling my Bernina 830, or trading it for a Brother PR1000. Maybe even the PR650. I would love some feedback on this, as I’m sure you all will suggest things I haven’t thought of.
While I do adore the machine and use it more than any of the others, really the only thing I’d be sad about losing would be the embroidery… I really do enjoy machine embroidery.
I don’t think I’m really interested in a commercial embroidery machine, the ease of use of the multi needle home machines suits me… needle threading, etc. While I do use my machines more than the average hobby sewer, I don’t use them enough that I think I really need a commercial machine either.
It’s funny, I rarely use my Bernina 630 anymore, but I do not believe I will part with that machine.
I don’t know anything about the quality of the Brother multi-needle machines… durability, etc. Self serviceable? Best of all would be feedback from someone who has one AND the Bernina 830!
Reader Comments (16)
Hi CJ,
I am surprised to hear this but will venture forth with some comments/questions even though I have neither of these machines.
I'm still lusting for a Juki like yours, but I have gone around and around about it; mainly trying to figure out why I want one so badly. I tend to over analyze! Anyway, here goes with some advice that is worth what you are paying for it!
Before saying goodbye to the 830 have you had a "trial separation" where you pack it away and try to live without it? I did this with my harp and it was a good test. However I have to say, six months after selling it I miss it terribly but I do wonder if it is the Christmas season playing a part. Perhaps there is some similar "environmental factor" playing a role for you?
Would it be possible to buy the Brother during this time to see if it is a good match...or borrow one?
I'm sure you have tried a pros/cons list about the Brother....dealer as you well know is key.
Funny, I have thought about selling mine as well. I bought it for the bigger throat space, but overall I am not impressed. I find it a bit of a pain in the a** to use most times. Also, the quilting is not that great for the money. This is my 3rd Bernina. Miss my 440QE and the money. Maybe I am just being a spoiled brat but I didn't think I would recommend this machine. It was my present from my husband after he retired from the Sheriffs Office and I became a Sergeant.
I cannot believe you would even think of selling the 830. I know with all the machines I've had and still have I would not know what to to with out the830. I love the space for the embroidery and the ease of the embroidery. The only machine out there with that hoop space and not having to turn the hoop or anything when embroidering the large designs. I do believe you should put it away for alwhile and not use it. See if you miss it.
Hi CJ,
I don't know too much about the Brother multi needle, but I have the Baby Lock BMP8 (I think it is the same as the Brother 6 needle) I can not begin to tell you how much I love this machine !!!From day one it has been a pleasure to use...no classes needed, very user friendly...I have my eye now on the ten needle, but not sure if it is worth the $$$. Although it does have one feature (the digital camera) that has really gotten my attention. It is a machine that allows embroidery on projects that you can not easily do on regular machines....think if you do it you will be more than happy...Merry Christmas..Laura T.
PS...one other thing about this machine..it is not as sensitive to everything that the high end combo machines are ...
I saw the Brother 10 needle in action at the Sewing and Quilting Expo in KC. It produced a beautiful piece of embroidery;large and intricate. I don't know anything about the reliability or durability. I tend to think that it would be durable as a single task machine. As an owner of a dozen machines, including the 830 and 2 other Berninas, I can say that selling my 830 crossed my mind, as well. I was Bernina brand loyal for over 30 years. The 830 almost did me in. I love what my 830 can do but sometimes I don't like it at all. It can be finicky and the most annoying thing is the noise level. It's bothered me that Bernina came out with the LE; makes me think that the first 830's maybe weren't ready for public consumption. Although I have other combo machines, I feel that the 830 does..too much. I probably should explain that; regular sewing, embroidery, and quilting. I have the Bernina frame too and let me say that it's a pain to take it on and off the frame. So now I have a longarm. Maybe one sewing machine does not need to be the do-all, be-all, sewing machine. It seems like allot more work to me and I am less productive...hard to multi-task with one machine! If you sell it, you still have another Bernina, plus a few others. If you prefer a single task machine for embroidery, maybe that is the way to go.. geez...if it has an auto-threader!
CJ, I've had a Brother Pr600 machine for probably 10 years and wouldn't part with it for the world. I've never had to have any service on it and use it exclusively for my embroidery. You can set up the machine and go do something else without worrying about problems. I've embroidered everything from hats to jackets without problems. I've never found any embroidery thread it didn't like. I purchased mine to be able to sew while embroidering and it has served me well. I've been very pleased with this 6 needle machine.
Judy in MO
Don't give up on a professional embroidery machine instead of the Brother. The pro machines aren't as user friendly, but you are perfectly capable of understanding them. They are designed to be user maintained, and they sew beautifully and fast! I have a Happy Voyager, a home pro machine (as opposed to a full pro machine), but I would enver go back. Twelve needles, fast to change threads when needed, easy hooping, huge embroidery space, the distributor provides a full maintenance manual and service information for do-it-yourself maintenance.
I personally prefer single purpose machines that are designed to be as good as possible at a single job rather than multi-purpose machines that inevitably have to have compromises. Your vintage machines and the Juki you have are oustanding at sewing, so it makes sense to have a specialized embroidery machine.
Pam
I"m sitting back reading.....
I am reading this with interest as I never bought the 830 because I wanted either the Baby Lock or Brother multi-needle. Still my dream to get one of these so I will be reading the comments. I said I didn't need the 830 as I don't hardly ever sew and really do more embroidery.
jnet
I have the Quatro which is the combo machine. At a seminar last year we used the PR1000 and it was wounderful, so easy and produced beautiful embroidery. It has a camera built in so you can scan your item and then superempose the design right on it to see how it looks or line it up. Brother has been making commercal emboridery machines for years and had the first hobby emboridery machine. I have had a Bernina and never again. My Brother machine never lets me down.
CJ,
As skilled as you are with machine embroidery, I wonder that you may really be happy with a commercial machine even though you don't think you would want it. I don't know how busy you would want to be but I would imagine you could have all the work you wanted by doing embroidery for customers. I know I could be very busy if I wanted to get in to this kind of work. Just a thought. But above all, you must be happy with what you get.
CJ, I don't have the 830, but I do have a Babylock BMP8 and it is definitely a no-brainer! It is so nice to be able to set up the design and do something else while it is embroidering -- and it can be pretty much self-maintained. It has a needle threader that is easy to use -- and never (well almost never) gets thread nests. As soon as it senses a problem, it stops rather than embroidering until its hopeless. Mine is happy with just about any thread and is very gentle on needles besides. The other things I was frustrated with on my Bernina 180 are probably addressed with the 830, such as auto thread trimming and the smallish hoop, but it has been a delight to embroider hassle free. The only issue I can think of is the noise level. It's fairly noisy, but I see the 830 is too. Like I said, a no-brainer!
I have a Happy Voyager - 12 needle and a 830. I also have a 630 and 730 waiting for me to spend some sewing time with them too. There are project that I do with my Happy and there are other things I would do with the 830 instead. I would suggest that you try out a Brother, Babylock or Happy first before you sell your 830. Although our sewing / embroidery does change I think you would miss many of the features of your 830.
I don't have either the 830 or a dedicated embroidery machine. But I will tell you that last year I made the decision not to buy an 830 because I felt the money would be much better spent on a dedicated embroidery machine. I felt that I would use the 830 'mostly' for embroidery and I do not want another combo machine. I really don't. And I am just not as thrilled with the 830 as I should be for the price. The 10 needles are to die for in my opinion. They are so very easy to use. I have spent quite a bit of time on research for the Brother and Babylock, both 6 and 10 needle. I feel they would both be easy to maintain myself. I have kept waffling because of finding the right space to deal with the noise factor, the only thing about the multi-needles that bothers me.
This is a very interesting discussion. I am glad to hear the experience/comments regarding the 830. It is a wonderful machine in many ways, however the objective comments hit home with me as well.
Too many functions in one machine makes for more possible problems and future repairs and limits the machine to one function at a time. Separate machines and sensible self "maintenance service" would make a lot of sense.
Please could you keep us up to speed with the testing of the suggested machines that you may look at and your comments.
In the meantime may you and your husband have happy and relaxing holidays.
I've had a Babylock EMP6 for nearly 7 years. Believe me, this is a workhorse! Pretty much anything you can hoop, it will embroider with ease. I've needed only one actual service call--for a loose wire--and other than that I've given it regular maintenance and cleaning, and professional maintenance about every year to 18 months. I run a small embroidery business from my home. I love it, and am very very happy with how easy it is to operate. Plus, I have a great service tech who give it the same loving care I give it! And while the ten-needle would be nice, if and when I ever do move up, I'm thinking about the Happy, having seen that in action at my Bernina dealer's shop.
Happy shopping!