Bernina 880

[Heather H.]

I have great difficulty relating to the problems that others are having with the 8 series models in general. I have had the 820QE for almost a year and adore it. In Western Australia we have back up that is second to none and every six months or so we have free 820 days to learn latest tips and tricks and to solve any issues of customer concern. Our man Brad is absolutely brilliant!!!!!! I sigh with wonder every time I turn my machine on.................it is sewing perfection. I have spent a lot of time learning my machine inside out as I appreciate that they are extremely sophisticated. Surely it's not that I am just lucky, is it?
Maybe other Bernina stores around the world could follow in the footsteps of our dealer her in Perth and offer the same customer support. Maybe it is worth you all requesting this help?
Very Happy Bernina owner.
Heather

[Lotti D.]

I'm also a happy 830 owner. Bernie and I play well together. The problems I encounter are always due to not taking the time to to set to the right fabric/thread conditions. I certainly don't make full use of my Bernie yet, but that's also because I don't have as much I e as I would like, and get sidetracked into other projects so much.

[Lorna B.]

I agree with Heather and Lotti. I am also a happy 830 owner. I think the biggest new item on the 880 is being able to create stitches that you want.

Lorna

[Lorna B.]

When the 820QE was launched, the 820 was no longer manufactured. I know that many of the 820's were reliable and were no problem. There were quite a few that were not. I am glad you are happy with the 820QE and the 830. I think the 820 story and history is complicated. I know that the Bernina Headquarters in Aurora, Il were inundated with 820's for repair. they went from a 2wk turn around to[ 3 months. This was in 2009 to 2010, and maybe into 2011. I would be surprised if you can find a new 820 at a Bernina dealer.

I corrected the turn around to 3 months not 3wks.

[E.M. T.]

Thank you for your remarks. The thought of it makes my stomach turn...that they didn't/won't stand by
the product and make it "right" with their customers. I know many who have had wonderful experiences
but some of us have had frustration and expense in great abundance. :cry: Doubtful that I will ever buy
another Bernina...not because of the machines as much as because of company policies.

[Barbara L.]

I have had my 830 since they first were introduced & have to agree with Lotti. Whenever there has been a problem it has originated with me. This is one powerful machine whom you need to respect. I love BB (Big Bernie) & truly learn something new every time that I sit down to sew.

Our dealer, like Heather's brings the area Bernina rep in every few months to update us on our machines & trouble shoot any problems that we are having. She gave 2 of us individual lessons on how to properly seed the bobbin & made sure that we had mastered this skill before we left the shop. This turned my life around with BB.

Does BB still have a few idiosyncrasies- you bet-she is just like any member of the family. One tip that that I would pass on to any of you who are tearing out your hair: Before you begin sewing bring the bobbin thread up. If it doesn't come up easily the thread needs to be reseeded in either the bobbin or on top (I keep the top grey plastic cover off to ensure that the take up arm has picked my top thread properly). Taking the time at the start of your day will make your sewing a pleasure. & once you see those pesky gears flash- stop sewing immediately & address the bobbin area. The bobbin thread has unseeded itself & the top thread will have wrapped itself around the bobbin case.

Trust me, BB & I have been through almost every situation possible but we soldier on: I try to learn from every experience we have been through.

I love my 2 Berninas & after owning every other brand will never sew on any other brand again.

[Barbara L.]

I am an B820 owner. I traded a Janome Horizon toward it- never having owned a Bernina before. It did have a learning curve-- and because I did not buy it from a Bernina dedicated dealer, I found that I had to go take classes at a dedicated Bernina dealer shop to fully appreciate the machine.

A part of the issue I found in my own case was: both my purchase from dealer and myself at home, between the both of us, really did not have a proper table for a machine of that size, weight and power.

Originally I only had a six foot long cosco collapsible "picnic" type table. Well that is the sort of table my dealer hosts classes on as well-- The BSR couldn't get a steady read on the fabric with the machine movement from being on an unsteady surface, if I got too fast. I figured this out when I went to the Bernina machine shop (dedicated machine sales/not a quilt shop), and low and behold....once I experienced that machine on a rock solid surface....the angels sang. That was the secret handshake for being able to really let that machine rock to it's fullest.

I hate the wrap around slip on tables because for me, the entire work surface begins to get too high and it is not ergonomically correct. It makes long hours of sewing too painful. Having the flatbed ability now with a cabinet is another piece of heaven.

Tension has not been a problem in my experience-- the manual does recommend tension adjustments for certain stitches, and I just make sure it gets it's annual service. But other than those things, no real tension issues.

The threader does have a delay, and if you get too fast with it can be fussy. I have managed to get my pace and technique down to where I can get it threaded just about a hundred percent now, BUT needle is a factor. I like topstitch needles and they do have a bigger eye, which also helps prevent thread breakage issues regardless of machine. I have to concede: The Brother Company did invent the best needle threaders. My favorite is the kind with the lever up on the head of the machine, it's so funny, they put it on their cheapest machines...and it's the best built in threader ever...LOL... :lol:

I am tempted to trade for the 880, but in order to add embroidery cabability and all of those stitches, but after seeing that Bernina had to redesign parts for the 7 Series after their roll out...I wouldn't even consider it for a good 18 mos after the introduction, just to make sure they were doing good. But at the end of the day-- The 8 Series I think, really have a limited audience because of how they function, which is another reason why they are expensive. Bernina probably knows off the bat, they will not ever sell as many as the Quattros and Ellisimos...they seem to really be going for a very targeted audience.

If I don't trade up-- I will probably add a Viking. Their hoops are really aimed at quilters and they have some unique advantageous features that appeal to me.

[Barbara L.]

Cat
Thanks for your feedback. I am currently working on an 8 foot table & I do get vibrations when I am motoring in the BSR so I may get a more stable table at IKEA. I actually like BB on the table top & not in a cabinet.

Thanks for the threader tip. I recently purchased the Superior Threads new Thread holder & it is well worth the purchase. It is fantastic for larger cones & since I have used it I have never had any message that the thread is not being sensed in the eye.

I looked at the 880 but really what do I need with more stitches. Look at the 500 series, don't they have a hoop option?

[Betty J.]

I love my Bernina 830 LE. I will say it took quite a lot of learning, and it does have a lot of different responses for each different set of threads and needles. Once I learned that they were consistent with each type, I began keeping a notebook, and now I just look it up for each and the stitches are fabulous. I particularly love the dual feed and the BSR, once I learned how to set it up. I have seen a lot of complaints about the machines, but it just hasn't been my experience with it. It is wonderful. I am really sorry for those who have made this investment and been so frustrated with it.

I don't think I need to move to the 880, because together with the design software I think that covers most of what the 880 seems like it will do. But I do have a really responsive Bernina dealer.

[Barbara L.]

Betty Jo
I am with you a 100%. I too have kept a journal on what works best & find that this saves me lots of time & trouble. A terrific Bernina Dealer makes a huge difference. BB is not for the faint of heart-she keeps me hopping & I love her.

[Elizabeth T.]

I have an 830 and initially had problems with the bobbin and it took 3 trips back to Bernina in Sydney who were great to rectify. I think that a lot of the problems are user as it is not any easy machine to learn. I still have the occasional problem with bobbin and I really don't like it when threads get caught in the bobbin case. If the new 880 has the same bobbin system I wouldn't entertain the idea of purchasing it as there are many machines out on the market with the large hoop area with better bobbin feed.

[Elizabeth T.]

I agree with those of you who have learned the machine and it's quirks. I figured lots of ways around the "no thread" problem and some of the tension problems. I did not like the bobbin case, but loved the large bobbins. I worked with another person who was well versed in the in's and out's of the 820. I had a love hate relationship with that machine. When it worked it was wonderful, when it decided to be wonky it was very frustrating. I believe i purchased to soon, i should have waited for a couple of years and purchased the 820QE when the kinks were ironed out. I really really wanted it to work and so did my dealer.

[E.M. T.]

I feel pretty much the same......

[Betty J.]

I am sorry for those of you who have not had a happy experience with your series 8 machines. I have been able to do things I never could have before I got mine. Here are a couple of examples--all done on my B830 LE:





Every now and again I go to http://www.exnovodesign.com/ and download a video or two to see if there is something I am missing or have forgotten. It really has helped me. And I want to thank Renata for that. She is the one who first turned me on to those videos.

[Renata L.]

Thanks, BJ. Always happy to share information when I learn about it. Always nice to have a few good tools in the toolbox! You've certainly taken advantage of all the features of your 830LE in your work!