This machine does everything and I mean everything...except piecing. If you're a quilter this is a big deal and I was very surprised. The person showing the machine and it's features to me just said, "well, you use your other machine for piecing and this one for quilting." Really? OK, obviously this machine does a lot of terrific stuff (it really does), you can check it out here, but in order to justify the expense (approx $7000+) I think you need to USE all of those features and I'm sure I wouldn't.
It's a pretty machine and a pretty large machine.
It's jumbo bobbin offers 40% more thread capacity, which is a feature I LOVE.
It comes with the Bernina Stitch Regulator.
Well, I'm a Bernina lover and I'm still not sold. If I'm going to use it primarily for machine quilting, I would rather have the APQS George. For just a few hundred dollars more, it's a more substantial machine in every respect and it's got a 20" throat space as opposed to the 12" on the 820. I still LOVE the George!
If you have one of these machines, I would love to hear your comments.
8 comments:
In 1966, my Dad bought me a brand new Mustang off the showroom floor. He paid $2,300. for it. Imagine a sewing machine for $7000.
What do you mean it won't do piecing? I know all the bells and whistles are way more than anyone needs but that bobbin does look great.
I can't imagine why the salesperson would say to piece on your other machine. If you used a straight stitch plate and found the perfect 1/4" stitch on the 820, it "seams" to me that it should do piecing as well. Now you have my curiosity.
I found your blog while browsing through Quilter's blogs and had to read what comments are being added.
I hear dealers are selling the 830 for $10,000, didn't know the 820 is $7000. Does the 820 have the wonderful buttonhole feature? And, I didn't think that the 820s were coming out until this Fall.
I heard that Bernina is coming out with a "Quilters" version of this machine. My local LQS sells the Bernina and the owner's hubby bores me with all the latest details (I'm not a machine piecer and he knows it LOL). Though for $7ooo, the machine better cook dinner while I'm sewing too.
Crispy
That is some machine, but like you I want my machine to be able to do everything. I have 2 Berninas...my old, heavy standby and a newer 150 that I use ALL of the time. I am not in the market for a newer manchine.
xo
I agree with all these lovely quilters. I don't think I would want to spend that much money on the 820. Just doesn't seem practical, and like you said, if you need the long arm, go with the APQS. I guess time will tell about this new machine. I will just keep piecing and quilting on my old Bernina :-)
I guess I should clarify a few things...
The 820 is the quilting version. The 830 is the embroidery machine.
Yes, it does have 7 different options for buttonholes which is a wonderful feature.
The reason it won't do piecing has to do with the new 9mm size of the throat plate/foot as opposed to the old 5mm size. So if you currently own a Bernina machine, none of those feet will fit on the new machine. I was also told there is no 1/4" foot available. The brochure has no additional information about this and to tell you the truth, once she said "it won't do piecing", the rest was a blur...
I'm now questioning the veracity of what I was told. If you have contrary information please be sure and leave it here!
Surprising that a $7k+ (they're more here) machine doesn't do it all. Crispy would want hers to cook dinner, I'd want mine to do laundry (and put it away) for that price!
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