| Bernina:830E (Sewing Machine) | | Viewed 1279 time(s) |
19 more reviews for this machine | Review rated Helpful by 4 people Very Helpful by 13 people | | Reviewed by: | GothDom | 
 | About GothDom | | OR | | Member since: 3/24/10 | | Reviews written: 16 | | Sewing skills:Advanced | | Favored by: 2 people | | sewing machines reviewed: 15 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 2/15/13 4:09 PM | | Approx price paid: | $5000 | | Had this machine for: | 2 months | | Recommended? | Yes | | Online Merchants: | Amazon.com |  | Features
- Computerized
- Needle Threader
- Needle Up/Down Setting
- Embroidery Stitches
- One step buttonhole
- Drop-In bobbin
- Free Arm
- Adjustable Stitch Length and Width
- Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure
- Adjustable Needle Position
- Embroidery Machine
- Auto Threading
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Discuss Sewing Machines with PR members Sewing Machine Forum | | What GothDom likes about this machine
First off, I bought her used, so most of the 'interesting' bits I've encountered would probably have been covered in the mastery classes.
Probably.
This is an insane machine.
What do I mean by that?
Simple, it does pretty much anything, all while telling you how to do it better than you're currently doing it.
Lets take things from the beginning:
Threading the bobbin.
First off, winding a bobbin could not be simpler.
the on screen animations show you exactly what to do.
Putting the bobbin in the machine is a little trickier.....oh who am I kidding?
Once again the instructions on screen provide very specific direction.
There's almost no way to mess up.
Almost.
The whole robo-bobbin thing freaked me out at first, being used to vintage machines that don't hum or whir at all. But I've gotten over that.
A big part of my getting over it? The ease of adjusting the bobbin tension! The machine comes with this handy little multi tool thingy. One of it's functions is changing the bobbin tension.
You just sort of slide it left or right.
I learned this when I was trying to sew silk and was getting terrible results. I pushed the help button and found out exactly where I was going wrong. Once I made the changes they suggested....perfection.
Threading the upper thread..just as easy. Follow the on screen animations, and you're done.
Adjusting the upper tension is a matter of touching the screen and twisting a knob.
I made a few mistakes when I tried to interpret the animations rather than just following them.
The needle threader is awesome. Just awesome.
The buttons on the head of the machine are exactly the ones you want right where you're looking. Needle up/down, foot up/down, tie off, pattern end , and thread cutter.
Thread cutter...
Wow, for someone who's used to scrabbling for a pair of embroidery snips all the time, this feels positively swanky!
The start/stop button and speed control.
Let me get this straight, I can sew without my feet, and have complete control?
It's taken me a little while to get used to trusting it, but when I hit stop, it STOPS. So nice.
I'm going to skip the screen, because it's too much. It's in the like section, if I tried to go through everything I like about it, we'll be here all week.
the needle position and length/width controls are pretty much the same as ever.
The variety of stitches this machine has built in is just goofy. I started making a stitch bible, but I got like 4 pages done and I was on the second set of stitches....no one has that much time to waste. Sew stitch sample or make things, it's a simple equation.
I haven't poked enough at the embroidery to make a educated statement, so we'll let that lie for now! What GothDom does not like about this machine
This machine has the rep of being finicky, and I can see where that comes from. The problem is it's not true.
This isn't really a dislike, BTW, it's more of a 'learning curve'.
It's a precise machine. It wants you to do things the way it wants you to do them.
If you ask it, it will TELL you how to do them.
So, trying to do things the way you've always done them might yeild less than spectacular results.
READ THE ADVICE SECTIONS!
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Love this review! Sounds like you are really having fun learning your way around this awesome machine. Leslie
2/15/13 6:49 PM
Great review Goth! I love the fact that you went from being the mechanical sewing machine queen, to the pinnacle of all computerized machines. I love the way you let logic dictate as that is really what computers are, right? In this case you have a computer that sews. Enjoy.
2/15/13 7:25 PM
Excellent review. SOunds like a terrific machine The fact that you love it shows it has raised the bar! :)
2/15/13 7:53 PM
I like your approach. It makes sense. Yet there are people who have tired of the learning curve involved, sold their 830 and bought a 580, which they really love.
2/15/13 9:49 PM
Super review! I know you've done a LOT with this machine already... with a lot of variety of tasks and fabrics. It helps that you're fearless. I think there's an intimidation phenomenon with the 8 series. Something goes the littlest bit wrong, and we freak, thinking "oh no, I've got a lemon!" (And there ARE lemons). So a keep-calm and problem-solve attitude is essential. I just got the dreaded gears-of-death for the first time, after 20 months of ownership. I just followed the prompts, and was back sewing in no time. Your perspective as a vintage machine aficionado makes your review of particular value. Thanks!
2/15/13 10:00 PM
Wow, I was excited to see your review and I enjoyed reading it. Glad you got another great machine!
2/15/13 10:30 PM
So glad you are enjoying your awesome machine. I think you are on the right track - listening and obeying. You will love this machine more and more each day. Congratulations.
2/16/13 0:15 AM
Nice review. Loved the part about the stitch bible and how long it would take to make a complete one.
2/16/13 12:28 PM
Great review! I've owned my 830 for 20 months and have yet to do a review. :) Glad you are loving your 830. It is a wonderful and amazing machine!
2/16/13 2:19 PM
I've gotten the gears of death once already, and that was actually what made me less afraid of the machine. I did something stupid because it was how "I thought things should go!" rather than actually... you know, following instructions. When in doubt, look at the documentation!
2/16/13 7:39 PM
Thank you GothDam for a great review. I really appreciate the points you bring up about following directions.
2/17/13 1:02 PM
It's really easy to think "I know what I am doing! I've done this 100 times before" without thinking about the fact that this machine is in fact a piece of highly sophisticated equipment. Following it's directions will save you time and effort, and stress and .....
2/17/13 1:55 PM
i have not taken my 830LE out of the box yet. trying to make room for it. your review has lit a little fire under me to get a move on to let the machine see daylight. happy it is a positive review. Thanx.
2/17/13 3:49 PM
I think remembering this is a computer first and a sewing machine second helps. Only a sophisticated computer can make a machine do so much incredible stuff. Obviously the more it can do the more the user needs to learn how to do it too. I know Bernina does webinars but I wish they would put together a class in the Craftsy form(with the ability to ask questions in each section..again like Craftsy does with the teacher getting back in a few days with the answer) to teach the new purchaser all the ins and outs of the machine. I think they would be better served with this . As it is they rely on the dealer to teach the customer. Most the dealers don't know what they are doing with this machine and certainly do not have the time to teach each customer to the level needed to operate this particular machine to it's potential. Why create a fabulous machine and not inform the user how to operate it properly and to its potential.
2/17/13 7:25 PM
I am so glad to see your review. Thank you so much. I am in the process of looking at the 830 and the 580. I am also going to go look at the Babylock Ellisimo. I am so confused right now. I currently have the Pfaff 2170, with every hoop plus and MANY extra feet. I love the machine just not my dealership.
2/18/13 5:10 PM
I looked at the 580 too, and quickly realized I wanted the Dual Feed thingy and the larger harp size. I make some big dresses
2/18/13 10:07 PM
Nice review, and you are exactly right that the 8 series machines know how they want things done. Once users get that the 8 is the boss and do things it's way it's a joyous machine!!
2/19/13 0:59 AM