Monday
Feb232009
Decorative stitches and other cool functions!
Monday, February 23, 2009 at 7:55AM 
Today is play day! I'm playing with threads, stitches, presser feet... testing out my Bernina 830. This is the stitched out butterfly, one of the designs included in the machine. It's approximately 8 inches square. Lovely isn't it? I can see this combined with some of the Jenny Haskins roses.When the design was finished stitching out, the screen that popped up took me by surprise!
Instead of simply saying, "Design complete" with an "okay" button, it offers the option to turn your project into an endless hoop project. Instead of clicking on the green check mark and acknowledging that the design is done, you can click the endless hoop icon on the right and it will take you back to the embroidery screen, and stitch out alignment cross hairs for you to re-hoop and continue the sequence. Is that cool or what?
I also wanted to show you that the spool holder flips out to the side, or can be used snug up against the machine. When flipped out, it can hold a jumbo spool of thread, the one pictured is a 5000 meter spool of Isacord.This is great! I haven't used my thread stand once, and I nearly always used to use it.
I wanted to seek how some of the decorative stitches look sewn out. Since I had a spool of Isacord 40wt polyester thread on the machine, I started with that. The stitches look rather spidery and not overly attractive, but then I already knew that. Decorative stitches and heavy cotton threads go together like peanut butter and jelly!The bottom five rows are the Isacord thread. Then I switched over to my beloved Sulky 12 wt cotton thread. I adore this stuff! It turns a decorative stitch into something that rivals hand stitched embroidery! The next three rows of Sulky are repeats of the first five rows, for a comparison. Amazing isn't it? I'll be playing with 30wt Sulky blendables later on today.
Beautiful tension, no issues whatsoever switching, and I've not had to adjust my tension for regular sewing, decorative sewing, or embroidery yet. I've told the machine what presser foot I'm using and what needle I am using, and it selects the tension (which you can adjust of course). I'd heard you had to adjust the tension for everything, but I'm not finding that to be the case at all.
When I first threaded the heavy Sulky, I did manage to jam the hook. The machine displayed a screen showing the gears were jammed, then after I acknowledged it, it displayed this screen directing me to the page (how cool!) in the manual where to see how to fix it. Brilliant!Oh I forgot to mention. On your sewing machine, you know how you have to thread the machine with the presser foot up? No longer an issue on the 830. Whether it's in the up or down position, when you put the thread into the guide and start thread the machine, it automatically lowers the presser foot for the procedure, nothing for you to remember (or mess up). The bobbin also goes into the hook in the opposite direction from other Berninas.
Reader Comments (16)
Ooooo, I love that butterfly!!! Very pretty!
I am in love.
Me too. :) I don't think it's just a crush either!
I need a sugar daddy.
CJ, I love your machine. I won't be getting one for awhile, because I just bought the 630E 8 months ago and I do love it. I know I will love seeing what you do with the 830. Keep up the good work. Geri
I am loving all the pictures and things that you are doing with your new machine!! It seems like Bernina has thought of everything. The butterfly is just beautiful. Please keep sharing.
Cathy
I do always use my thread stand for sewing AND embroidery. Doesn't look like you'll need it with the 830. Is there a place to attach it if you'd like to use it?
The butterfly is beautiful. CJ, thank you so very much for all the visuals. I, for one, am more appreciative than you know. Hugs.
I need to start saving my pennies now. I SO WANT one of those! Keep sharing. It's so fun seeing what all it does.
Thanks for sharing your tutorials? :-) Very informational! Do you keep your machine plugged in using a surge protector? I notice that if you unplug the machine, the clock resets back to ??:??.
Are there any cross stitch designs included?
If I was betting woman I would bet you are having a blast with the new machine!
Have fun.
Heaven must be something like this--days spent trying out the features on your brand new Bernina sewing machine...
Love that heavy cotton thread stitches -- yummy! I'll have to find some of that and play with it. Isn't that 830 awesome - you really can't make many mistakes with it - it tells you when you do something wrong. Have fun playing with your new baby!
I always unplug my machines after using them Pam, I don't have in on a UPS system now but I have one on order.
Barbara, there are built in decorative cross stitches (they stitch out beautifully!) Or did you mean embroidery motifs?
I was wondering about the decorative cross stitches. Those were soemthing I found on my 450 that was not on the Bernina stitch conversion chart or any other machine.
I am registered to watch the 830 webinar on endless hooping. Hope to learn how to apply the technique with the software.
I was thinking about your room space dilema and wondered if you just might have to convert the garage into a studio.
Have fun!
Oh, after 3 quilt classes I bow before experienced quilters. There's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Maybe it should be called Precision Cutting and Piecing techniques.
CJ...Can you plug in your computer as well as the 830 on the UPS? How do you connect the UPS to the sewing machine? the computer? Do you have to buy any additional equipment? TIA
Pam, you just plug it in, like a power outlet. Yes you can plug a computer into it as well, as long as the UPS you purchase has enough power for both.
This is the one I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NDA5E0
I can run all 4 sewing machines on it if needed, but rarely have more than 2 on at a time.
No other equipment is needed.