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Member since 12/7/06
Posts: 653
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Posted on: 12/30/08 3:08 PM ET
I have sewn flat fell seams for years by pining and sewing the seams with some success. I have never liked the look of the narrower seams as much as I would have liked. I just got back from my Bernina dealer with a #70, 4-mm felling foot and a #71 8-mm felling foot. I did a couple of test seams with each of them and if they aren't the Bee's Knee's of specialty feet, then I don't know what would qualify. The 4-mm is especially helpful as that sized seam is the most problematical as it is so tiny and gives the most trouble for these chubby, tool damaged fingers. I assume that other machine makers provide a similar product, but the Bernina ones are wonderful. It opens up another option when you don't want the serged seam look. On a shear fabric blouse material, that tiny 4-mm seam is so small and petite looking, that it would enhance any shear blouse you could imagine. The 8-mm is great for sports wear and Levis or other heavier cotton clothing, so it should provide the strength that is sometimes necessary for these type of clothes. I am so happy to have a new set of tools that makes the job easier and faster and more finished looking. Like I said, I did it the old fashioned way for years but these feet are a step up in quality of finished product. Thanks Bernina.

John
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Member since 3/28/08
Posts: 393
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Posted on: 12/30/08 4:18 PM ET
In reply to neither
John, Could you post a picture of a sample seam? I love Bernina feet also, and would like to see how you used these.
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Sheila

God's love is infinite!
  
Member since 12/7/06
Posts: 653
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Posted on: 12/30/08 5:48 PM ET
In reply to SheilaAnn
Here is a front and back view of the respective seams. I really didn't play with the stitch length or any fussing about perfection. I just ran them through the feet so you could see what they look like. Obviously, if you are doing anything of an important nature, you would test out the various stitch settings until you came up with a combination you liked.

John



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Member since 12/7/04
Posts: 879
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Posted on: 12/30/08 6:07 PM ET
John,
How much do the feet cost? I find that I really want them immediately.
Kathy
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Sewing and reading about sewing are daily pleasures.
I hope to use up lots of stash in 2023. I am also starting to give away fabric, tools, etc that I am not going to use in an attempt to downsize.
  
Member since 12/7/06
Posts: 653
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Posted on: 12/30/08 6:48 PM ET
In reply to Tall Mary
I paid $12.65 for the 4mm and $17.25 for the 8mm. Now you must understand that I get my feet from a local Old Order Mennonite dealer that isn't into the high pressure stakes of major market selling of "Capital B" Bernina sewing machines. I have seen the same feet for about $25 or so at the upscale Bernina stores. When I called him yesterday and asked if he had them, he said yes and that they were at the old price because they still had the old price tags on them. That is the kind of place that this is. They are very old school type of folks and very low key. These feet are for the older mechanical machines so if you need the newer feet they would probably be a few dollars more as that is usually the case that I found when I was buying for both the new computerized machines, and the mechanicals. I now only own the mechanicals so that is all I am interested in or have knowledge of as to pricing. I do know that Bernina recently had a price increase on everything, so let the buyer beware. I don't think that this dealer sells anything that is not on site, so they might not be able to do mail order and I know they don't have any internet sales, because they don't have any internet connection. They don't even have any electricity inside their house. Just to the shop out back that is for Bernina sewing machine sales and service. Kind of quaint, if you think about it.

John
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Member since 11/3/07
Posts: 169
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Posted on: 12/30/08 7:06 PM ET
In reply to Tall Mary
My dealer sells these feet for about $26.00 to $28.00 for the 440 (computerized 5mm feet). Fancier feet like the teflon coated ones and the 9mm feet can be up to $48.00.

I have the #70 but haven't yet made use of it in a garment. I have recently purchased a couple of feet using either a 20% or 40% off coupon from my dealer so that makes the price a little more tolerable. I bought the #10 edge stitch foot and don't know how I did without it. Also recently bought the #13 straight stitch foot which was also really nice - I tried it on a silk purse. Some things are so much easier with the right tool. See all the feet here: http://us.bernina.com/product_search-n25-sUS.html
  
Member since 12/7/06
Posts: 653
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Posted on: 12/30/08 7:34 PM ET
In reply to QuiltersFan
I know what you mean about wanting all the feet. I probably have as much invested in feet as I do in the machine. The only saving grace about that is that I have 2 of the same machine. One electric and one treadle conversion. They both use the same feet so there is a bit of savings in that regard. Some of the more exotic feet like the bias binding feet are next on my list of must haves. I have and use the 10 also. This is a great foot and very versatile. I haven't used the 13 although I have one. I guess I just have a foot fetish, so to speak.

John
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Member since 5/18/07
Posts: 520
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Posted on: 12/30/08 7:39 PM ET
Wow, John, thanks for sharing the info on these feet. Your samples look great. I'm going to have to go to G street near me and get them. They are 25% off now and I'm heading there tomorrow to also get the invisible zipper foot. By the way, I saw you sold your Aurora 430. You were the one who convinced me to get mine and I love it. I just had an opportunity to purchase the Artista 730 with Embroidery and it's only 1 year old from my friend for $4,000. She hardly ever used it, but I declined as it is more machine than I will ever need as I'm a garment sewer. I did get the embroidery module for my 430 and only use it for baby blankets as gifts. The 430 is great and I have been really loving it, so thanks again for steering me right! Happy New Year to you! Wendy
  
Member since 12/7/06
Posts: 653
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Posted on: 12/30/08 7:51 PM ET
In reply to Wendy J
Happy to have been an enabler. I made a major decision to cut down on a lot of stuff in my life. and that meant sewing machines. I know that runs contrary to the perceived wisdom of he/she who dies with the most sewing machines wins, but I found that I was using the mechanicals more and more and the computerized machines less and less. Not that there was anything wrong with them, but the mechanicals do everything that I need a sewing machine to do. I was under utilizing the computerized machines, and I only have so much space to devote to machines. Soooo! Out the door she went. I sold it to a gal who lurks here on PR and lives just to the north of us in another county so it was a local sale, and I guess she loves it, but I haven't heard hide nor hair from her, good, or bad. Now I have 2 Bernina mechanicals, one of them treadlized and a Janome mid arm. They do all that I need done so I am a happy camper, with some change left in my pocket. I am just amazed that people will spend $10,000 and more for a sewing machine. That is too rich for my blood. But, if you got it, flaunt it, I guess.

John
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Member since 3/28/08
Posts: 393
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Posted on: 12/30/08 9:37 PM ET
In reply to neither
John,
I travel 2 hours to my dealer near Lancaster PA, who is also Mennonite. He sounds just like your dealer. He sells at very reasonable prices. His shop is on his farm, and all his family know the machines inside and out. They take turns working the farm, house chores, and working in the sewing machine shop. I bought my 440QE for probably $1000 less than most other dealers were selling it for about 3 years ago. He will almost always give me full trade in price if I trade up, and yes he sells the feet for much less than other dealers. I think partly because his overhead is less, being he owns the property, and also the Mennonite philosophy, for lack of a better way of putting it, is to make a fair living, and not take advantage of people. They are a very kind and intelligent family who have found an interesting way to supplement their farming. I have many fond stories of their shop and farm. Its like stepping back in time when you pull onto the farm, but then you go into the machine shop, and you are in a modern world, but the family is still dressed in the old order Mennonite clothes, and talk with a very thick German accent. There will be cars and horse and buggies parked outside. It's an adventure every time I go!
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Sheila

God's love is infinite!
  
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