Embroidery Hoops for the Bernina

[Liberata T.]

Now that I've taken courses on QU for quilting with my Bernina Embroidery module, I want to do more and am considering investing in additional hoops. I have looked at the Bernina USA site that lists the hoop-it-all but I saw something called a Magna Hoop which uses magnets to secure the quilt on the hoop without stabilizers. The manufacturer explains that the magnets do not affect the embroidery module but as with all magnets, you keep it away from data sources.

Does anyone have experience with these hoops? If so, what is you opinion? I currently own the large oval and the mega hoop. While the megahoop is longer, it isn't very wide.

[Liberata T.]

I was a little disappointed in the magna hoop. You can't hoop through thick layers, as the magnets won't connect. It's really good for small things, but I thought it was more for "hard to Hoop" and found out it wouldn't hoop through fabric with batting.

[Jules M.]

My Bernina dealer gave a demo on the Hoop it all in August during our embroidery club. I don't have one (yet) but it sure looks great!

I am checking in with her about getting one for my machine. It is ordered for your specific machine as the base is made for your model. Because of the new Bernina machine coming out, Bernina is not going to be a hoop it all dealer anymore. :cry:

I have this on my "Christmas list" to my dh but will try to order it from my dealer b/c she was giving a good deal b/c they weren't going to carry it anymore.

I have done 2 blocks from the Aquamarine Ambience book and want to do the quilt. The hoop it all would be wonderful for that!

Joyce

[Cheryl K.]

I have a Hoop-It-All and I like it fine. I am currently making a Christmas pillow that will be about 12" square using the HIA. The HIA has several hoops and I have them all....about 12" of emb space x 12", 14", 20" or 24". However, the machine will only read a space the size of the Large Oval Hoop, which is a standard hoop. Since you have software, you can "build" a quilted square and then split the design into segments that can be sent to the sewing machine to stitch out. There is a new HIA clip that allows the sewing machine to read and sew designs the size of the Mega Hoop (an optional Bernina hoop). To be honest, I enjoy the HIA for embroidery but would not use it to quilt. It is not a Bernina product so support is a little lacking. Also, it requires a wide sticky backed stabilizer to embroider (or quilt) since the "hoop" is just a square (or rectangle). There is not inner & outer hoop like traditional hoops. If you to quilt using the embroidery module, it might not be the best option.

I do use the Mega Hoop and love it. It's not much wider than the regular Large Oval but it is long and I can rehoop pretty accuratly. It uses less stabilizer than the HIA and I often find it's just less hassle. But again, I use it for embroidery and but not for quilting. However, since you can actually hoop your quilt, it might be possible to avoid stabilizer of any kind for quilted designs.

I have no experience with the Magna Hoop. Hope others can advise.

[Liberata T.]

I've done some investigation too. From what I've heard, the magna hoop reduces the size of the area of the standard hoop. I believe its main advantage is in the reduction of the amount of stabilizer one has to buy/use.

The hoop-it-all does require a bit of fiddling around and since I am a quilter who embroiders rather than an embroiderer(sp?), I am not sure I want to make the investment and then get a supply of the adhesive stabilizer. I already have enough problems with supplies.

DH talks about the new Bernina. Let's say he is not opposed to the idea. My Bernina dealer won't get one in the shop until March 2009 (the USA gets them first). He already has orders for it. He has offered to let me use the workshop when the 830 arrives and give it a good workout for quilting. So you can say I am "flirting" with the 830 or maybe 820.[/list]

[Cheryl K.]

Go...go...go...go, girl! I am going to the Houston Quilt Festival and I can't wait to see one up close. Given what you do, it sounds perfect. Large embroidery area [/i]with exact placement feature, larger sewing bed, larger bobbin, BSR....yumm! I know that it won't be in my immediate future but I am celebrating this new machine.

[Liberata T.]

I was hoping that Bernina would have one at the European Quilt show this week but there wasn't one . I guess they're reserved for the USA. I will just have to wait for the Spring when I get to California for a visit or when my dealer gets his. At least it won't be a impulsive buy decision. By then there may be some reviews on the forum.

[Cheryl K.]

I was able to play with the 830 this weekend. My dealer just got one in on Wednesday and she had it at a local quilt show. It's pretty impressive. I love the size and there are a ton of little features that I love. The machine was embroidering at the show and at one point the video showed that the bobbin needed filling. I was able to remove the bobbin, wind a new one and replace and go back to the point of stitching where it left off ...without help! There are little videos that lead you through the steps. Very newbie friendly. (I did manage to screw up the design because I played around with moving needle positions all around but that was me.)

I also played with the directional stitching and combination mode. Currently, we can stitch in 16 different directions and combine directional stitches using templates and inserting extra stitches to make them line up. Now, you just key in the stitches, hit the preview button and drag the designs in place in order to line up. No more templates! Also, you can stitch any built in design in directional mode, changing directions as you go. This will be so cool for crazy quilt or pictorial pieces. There is also tapering, which I hope to learn about soon.

Fun, fun, fun.

It's funny. When I first saw the picture of the 830 I thought it was kind of ugly. Now I think it is a totally gorgeous machine.

Better start saving.