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Quilting on Berninas
ycavaz Member since 2009 Posts: 4	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/19/12 9:52 AM Hi everyone! This is my first post although I've been a member for a year and a half. My sewing machine is broke and its not worth it to get it fixed so I've been shopping around for a new one. I quilt and would like to learn garment making. There are 3 machines I'm looking at: Janome Horizon 7700, Bernina Aurora 440QE, Viking Sapphire 875Q. My question is, is it possible to sew larger quilts on a Bernina despite the small harp size? I love the harp size on the Janome and Viking but I'm worried about the stitch quality. Thanks, Yvette
Skittl1321 Advanced Beginner IA USA Member since 2007 Posts: 638	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/19/12 10:00 AM Many of our guild members have done king size quilts on the Aurora 440. I was trying to decide between the Janome Horizon 7700 and the Aurora 430, and went with the 430, because at $1000 less (about $2000 for the 430) it also did embroidery. However, I've heard a lot of people getting the 7700 for $1999 now. If the prices were the same when I was looking, I might have gone with the Janome, and gone for harp space over the embroidery feature. On the 430 I've quilted a twin, with the entire quilt in the harp to do the edge without having to quilt upside down. That tells me half a king will fit without too much hassle. I thought the stitch quality on the Janome was fine, but I love my Bernina. I also recommend looking at the Brother Laura Ashley NX 2000 (I think)- large harp, tons of accessories, great price.
ycavaz Member since 2009 Posts: 4	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/19/12 10:12 AM How difficult was it to sew the twin size quilt on the 430?
Maia B Advanced Beginner IL USA Member since 2010 Posts: 1855	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/19/12 10:24 AM iSewQuiltArt's review of her 440 was very influential in my decision to buy mine (used), a decision I have not regretted. Solid, powerful, precision, dependable workhorse. Gorgeous, useful stitches, plus lots of fun and pretty extras. BSR worth every penny to me, a total novice at FMQ. I haven't done a large quilt on it, but plenty of other quilters have. ------ Berninas 820 QE, Artista 630 PQE, Aurora 440 QE, Activa 240, 930 Record, and 731 Baby Lock Quest Plus, Featherweight 221s...
ycavaz Member since 2009 Posts: 4	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/19/12 10:38 AM Wow! Thanks for the advice that was a great review! I'm going to take my quilt up to the dealer and try it out on the 440.
SouthernStitch   Advanced USA Member since 2002 Posts: 5858	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/19/12 10:45 AM Personally I think that it's not so much fitting a large quilt in the harp as it is simply wrestling with the whole quilt. Right now, Craftsy has a half price class on quilting on a smaller machine. I am seriously considering taking that class! It CAN be done. Two of my quilting heroes (our own Isewartquilts) and Leah Day have been testament to that. Nowdays, Leah does use a Janome 7700, but for many years she used a normal sized machine. She still has videos on her website about this topic. Many of my ASG buddies who quilt say that even with a larger harp, it's just not worth the hassle of wrestling the whole quilt. They did appreciate the larger harp area, but said that was only part of the solution to quilting a large project. OTOH, you can pay a LOT and wait a LONG time for someone else to do it for you! I really don't want to go that route, unless it's going to be my own bedroom quilt or something like that where the top came out super nice and I don't want to ruin it. I'm going to try my best to quilt things myself using the Bernina BSR, and see how it goes as projects get larger and larger! ------ Bernina 730E, 350PE Babylock Audrey Singer 201, 221FW Viking 6570 When life gives you green velvet curtains, make a green velvet dress.
Skittl1321 Advanced Beginner IA USA Member since 2007 Posts: 638	Login to reply to this post In reply to ycavaz Like this post Date: 1/19/12 11:35 AM Quote: ycavaz How difficult was it to sew the twin size quilt on the 430? Absolutely no issue at all. I even put the entire quilt into the harp so I wouldn't have to do designs upside down. If you quilted from middle out it would be a breeze. The 440/bsr were out of my price range, but the stitch quality on the 430 is so beautiful I had instant improvement in my fmq over my Kenmore -- Edited on 1/19/12 11:36 AM --
Doris W. in TN   Intermediate TN USA Member since 2004 Posts: 6055	Login to reply to this post In reply to ycavaz Like this post Date: 1/19/12 11:49 AM Quote: ycavaz There are 3 machines I'm looking at: Janome Horizon 7700, Bernina Aurora 440QE, Viking Sapphire 875Q. My question is, is it possible to sew larger quilts on a Bernina despite the small harp size? You can definitely sew any size quilt on a Bernina. Machine quilting it will be more of a challenge due to the smaller harp size. That said, it never stopped many international teachers and quilt show winners. The larger harp will feel like a football field, when FMQing, compared to the Bernina. But I would not let that be the only reason I buy a machine if it is my main machine for sewing as well. You need to sit down and thoroughly test drive all three of the machines with your own fabrics you use in any and all sewing applications (clothing, lining, batiste, whatevs). Talk with other people in your area who sew and ask about each dealer regarding customer service, repairs, etc. Find out what type classes each dealer offers in using the machine, other types of classes, and look at their teaching space. When you buy a machine, you buy the dealer/dealer experience, too.
ycavaz Member since 2009 Posts: 4	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/20/12 10:42 AM Yesterday I took a lap sized quilt to a Bernina dealer and for me I found it difficult to quilt on it. So I bought the Janome Horizon 7700! Thank you everyone for your advice.
Skittl1321 Advanced Beginner IA USA Member since 2007 Posts: 638	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/20/12 11:35 AM Congratulations on your new Horizon!!! Trying the machine is definitely the best way to go.

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