I have a love/hate relationship with this machine!!! When it is working properly, it is a total dream. Then the problems.. the error messages, and now "could not lock hook" message. GRRRRR Stitch Performance I haven't had a lot of stitching issues.... Ease of Use There definitely is a learning curve. I have had my machine for two years and am still learning new things. Fabric Handling With correct stabilizer, all is well.. Versatility Love the embroidery part of the machine..... and love the regular straight stitching when I dont have problems. Design Love the large bed. Love that you don't have to remove the embroidery module to straight stitch Durability Good machine -- wish the bobbin area construction were different

lhcmom77

Lake Havasu City, AZ

I love my Bernina 830LE. I have had it since February and it has been wonderful. I was warned there was a steep learning curve but my dealer is committed to helping me do it. I did a baby quilt in the hoop from a pattern my dealer digitized and it turned out well despite my being very nervous. I just did a quilted sewing machine cover using my walking foot and my BSR for the first time outside of my guide class. Again, the machine was great. I have learned that the big deal with this machine is hold the tread taut while threading and make sure you hear it "sing" as thread goes through the top tension disc area. Also never pull the thread out of the tension disks backwards. Cut off where it goes into machine and pull it out through the needle. I am a beginner who wanted a machine that could help me avoid a quilting frame as I am also learning to quilt. The machine has been great but I can see where you could have a lot of problems if you didn't have a good dealer. I was also instructed to keep it clean, don't use yucky thread and oil, oil oil. I am off to the Bernina retreat this weekend in Chicago and hope to learn even more. I hope ladies who want this machine will #1 find a great dealer as I did and then go for it. I'm so glad I did.

erinsluck

Charles Town, WV

I have owned & used Bernina sewing machines since 1968; I decided to upgrade from the Artista to the 830 because of the large throat. The build quality of the 830 (& 820) has been sacrificed for gimmicks. Far too much cheap plastic has been used in its construction. What happened to Bernina's beautiful stainless steel bobbins & carrier? Why oh why did Bernina have to automate the bobbin carrier? It's a nightmare to thread; this expensive machine comes with a cheap, plastic dentists mirror because you have to check if the thread is correctly placed. The bobbin carrier on the older machines is by far superior. I hate the cheap plastic bobbins. The thread take up leaver is hidden behind a thin grey plastic cover - WHY? I do love the embroideries, multi directional sewing, & choice of useful stitches.

quiltinguk

Nottingham, NH

My Bernina 830e has made sewing and embroidery so easy and so much fun!  I have never enjoyed sewing more.  Yes, it is a highly specialized sewing machine that is also a computer.   You can create your own stitches, sew in different directions without moving the fabric. Create, design, import and adjust embroidery designs without needing a separate software program.  It sews at 1100 stitches a minute and embroiders at 1000 stitches a minute. It has a library of almost 1200 different stitch designs.  I continue to learn more with it everyday.  It's that powerful. I bought the extra hoops and use them all. I can embroider down a sweater or do a large design on a jacket without having to split the design or move the hoop.  If you have to stop in the middle of an embroidery design, the machine remembers where you were and takes you back like you had never stopped. Threading is a breeze, fast and so convenient, especially when you embroider a multi-color design.  You just push a button.  It is 99.9% accurate.  The extra large bobbin is wonderful. You don't have to change so often and you can tell it how much to fill the bobbin and the adjust the filling speed, handy if you are using a special thread or doing bobbin work. You don't have to hand wind yourself. I can go on and on. Yes, I've had some blips. Most of it is user error. You can't treat it like a mechanical machine.  Problems have been minor. I've not had many problems with the sensor. It recognizes your presser foot and tells you if you have the wrong one. A nice feature to stop you from breaking a needle. What's most important about getting this machine and having success, is that you buy from a good dealer who gives great support. This is KEY!  The sales assistant at my dealer has been with Bernina for 40 years. The owner has been a Bernina dealer for at least 20 years. I don't regret my purchase and this is my first Bernina.

Ep081598

San Carlos, CA

The new Bernina 830 is the most remarkable embroidery/sewing machine I have ever used.  The features are usable, easy, mechanically and automatically correct, and fast!  The fact that it has a huge bobbin, about 40% larger than any other embroidery machine on the market, makes it ideal for designs that require huge thread counts.  It is quiet, and very stable.  The screen set-up makes adding multiple designs and "regular" stitches to the "stitch-out' is extremely easy and well thought out.  I can even SAVE  these new design configurations and stitches as a single design!! The lighting in the sewing area is fantastic--7 halogen.  The spacing under and accross the sewing area is very large and makes it very easy to manipulate large projects: quilts, jackets, wall hangings. This machine is a work-horse with a couture attitude! As a garment maker and design conscious sewer, I cannot imagine owning any other machine!

cavalierking7

Hercules, CA

This is the best sewing machine that i have ever used! My mom inherited this from my grandmothr several years ago, then she taught me and my 5 sisters how to sew on it. Since then she has another one, and has given me the 830! I was so thrilled to finally have my own machine. I have used others machines, some of the newer computer ones, which do not even compare to my old clunker! She sews with precision in very straight lines. As long as i keep it tuned up, it runs without snags of any kind. I love the back stitch, it is very simple to do. I love how you have to hold the back stitch button up while you stitch. That was i am sure that i have full control and will not sew farther that i want to. I also love how quickly it can sew. If i push the foot pedal down all the way it will sew very quickly. That comes in handy when i am sewing long straight lines like hems or pillows. Without the computer in the machine, it tends to be more sturdy. I have never had to take it into the shop except for tune-ups. I have never had a problem with it ever! I would definitely recommend this machine to anyone!

maracrosby

Orem, UT

I bought the new 830 Bernina with the quilting frame last year. I have had nothing but problems with it. Took it to a sewing class at my dealer's shop and could not get it to sew with a double needle. I have a king size quilt on my frame trying to quilt it and the thread is constantly breaking or the BSR is skipping 3 to 4 stitches at a time...it is a mess. I am so disappointed. I bought my original 830 in 1980 and have never had an issue with it. I consider myself to be an expert seamstress after sewing for more than 40 years. I bought it as an early retirement present for myself and now don't even like to go to my sewing room to use it...so sad and expensive! Anyone have any help...I have done everything recommended..high quality thread, cleaned and oiled, single needle throat plate, new needle, adjusted tension, into the shop, etc. Where do I go from here?

humphreybogart

Colorado Springs, CO

Why oh why did bernina change the bobbin mechanism. Why cheap plastic what happend to the stainless steel bobbin & bobbin case? Insert bobbin then you spend ages trying to get the thread under a metal clip - and the have to use a dental mirror, suppled by Bernina, to check that the thresd is in place. If you are thinking of purchasing one ask to be allowed to thread top & bottom before making up your mind. I am very, very suspicious of the 5 star reviews - are they a retailer or someone from Bernina? I have three friends all who feel the some about this poorly designed plastic mistake.

9patchquilter

Achille, OK

I just bought the Bernina 830.  I owned the greatest machine prior to that time, the Bernina 200 upgraded to 730.  But Bernina did it again, they beat themselves better by putting out this machine. Not only is the screen much easier to read, but the icons and the versatility of items on the screen are much easier to understand.  The auto threader is a cinch and you just step on the peddle and go. Without having to using your hand (once you get used to the idea) for lifting of lowering pressure foot, you have it made.   The embroidery is just tremendous, much faster and easier (how can that be??)  I have not received the largest hoop yet, but when I do those quilt are going to have the prettiest embroidery designs on them. You can change the number of stitches you want for locking at the beginning and end of your work. You can change needle up or down very easily, and I just love the hover position of the presser foot at the beginning of stitching.  Soooooo much more, you will just have to try it out yourself. 

milly9

Williamsburg, VA

I bought an 830 in January of 2009. I have had more problems in one year with this machine than all of the other appliances in my entire home for 36 years put together. It has looping, skipped stitches, constant pop up messages, freezing up of bobbin, bsr skipped stitches, and can't sew on metallic threads. Its been in service but still has the same problems. As far as quilting a king size quilt, forget free motion. The quilt is too heavy to handle even though the throat space is larger. Bernina keeps coming up with little upgrades but they don't seem to work for all the machines.  This machine costs way too much, is much too sporadic in performance, and is painfully heavy to keep bringing to the store.  It must be brought in for classes, service, etc. and it is a backbreaker. I wish I had never bought it. To its credit, when it works it is a dream machine. But you can't depend on that.

sewnlove

Hernando, FL