Are Bernina machines worth it?

[Shellymoon]

I've been saving up for a new machine and started looking around.

Last year Consumer Reports did an article about Sewing Machines and Bernina came out on top.
They are really pricey, but I'm ready for a really good machine.

Does anyone have a Bernina and what do you think about it?

I've heard they are expensive to buy accessories for and to maintain. Anyone know about that?

Trying to decide if I should just keep saving until I can buy a Bernina.

[bridesmom]

My sister has a Bernina Artista something or other and absolutely loves it. It is an older one now, but she has the whole embroidery program with it. She's never change to a different brand, definitely a Bernina girl. Me, I'm a Pfaff person, although I own a Brother Innovis. If I ever get another machine, it'll be a Pfaff. I think the best way to figure out what you want is to test drive. And go with the best you can afford, if it means saving for a longer time, then do it.

[DorothyL]

I'm a Pfaff girl too, but the people I know with a Bernina love theirs.
Dorothy

[MartySews2]

I'm a Pfaff girl also. Love my Pfaff. I've tried sewing on a Bernina when I was taking classes at one of the dealers. I didn't like it. The best way is to test drive different machines to find out which is the right one for you.
Marty

[sewingmom]

My aunt bought a Bernina when I was a teenager. I'm 61 now and the bernina is still going strong. I used it 2 yrs ago and it worked like a dream.

[LeapFrog Libby]

That is the thing about Bernina. Do you know anyone that has one that does NOT like it.. I don't. The dealer here is a young man the same age and a friend of my DS. He married a wonderful seamstress and they opened a business about 25 years ago. She is one of the few people I know who has purchased more that one. My friends who have them say they will never need to buy another machine. I never hear about any problems with maintenance. I would love one, but they are too far out of my price range. And I'm too old now to buy a new machine. (75)

[Magot]

We use Berninas at school, a solid workhorse that just keeps on sewing.

Mind you - they only ever sew in a straight line at school....(but I use them to repair clothing that meets with unfortunate accidents in the school day.)

[DorothyL]

Mind you - they only ever sew in a straight line at school

There are times I wish I would only sew a straight line!!
Dorothy

[Shellymoon]

Pfaff machines also scored very high, so I'll try to find a dealer here in Dallas and test drive one of them. The Pfaff Select 3.0 and select 4.0 both ranked high on their list of mechanical machines, but I want an electronic machine with some extra capabilities.

One of the Brother Machines (Innov-is 40 Project Runway Limited Edition) also scored very high, but they said it didn't do so well on Denim. With a 4'11" tall daughter one of my most common sewing jobs is hemming jeans, so I need one that can do that well. I have a Brother that I got in 1986 and really liked it. It finally bit the dust this year. Has some major electrical problem and the electronic display flashes random things. It won't sew at all. DH tried to fix it for me (he's got a degree in electronics and can usually fix anything that plugs in). He fixed a few things on the machine and then told me to just get a new one. Last time I took it to the shop it cost me $95. The machine only cost $200 when it was new. It's mostly plastic parts so I'm guessing it's just worn out.

I had considered the Janome machines (I have a 10-year-old Janome serger that really like), but they didn't rank well at all and most of the user review sites gave them low marks as well. So, I guess their quality has gone downhill over the years.

Of course, Singer machines were rated as pieces of junk in almost every category. Sadly that's the machine sold at JoAnn fabrics so there are probably going to be a bunch of them frustrating a new generation of people trying to learn to sew.

When I go out to test drive the machines I'm taking some denim and testing them out. Thanks for the input everyone! I guess I'll be saving for a little while longer.

[sewingmom]

I have 2 janome machines and love them. Of course they are the best machines I have ever had so I have nothing to compare to. One is a Janome Memory Craft 5000 it is around 12 years old and I bought it used for $200, 3 years ago. It embroiders on a 4x5 field and it sews like a dream but does not handle denim well, I have a 1 year old Janome Memory Craft 6600 Professional. It has handled everything I have thrown at it if I use the correct needle for the job (sStretch needles for stretch fabrics, jeans needles for denim and I usually use a leather needle when making a purse with multiple layers of fabric to sew through). It has a slide switch that adjusts the speed and I only use it half way up to fast. It has a knee lift for the presserfoot and a button to push to cut the top and bottom thread at the end of a line of stitching. Does have some neat built in stitches but does not embroider.