I own four 930’s and love them. My mom bought one for my college graduation in 1984 & bought one for herself. Then mom needed one to keep at her lake cabin so I bought her a second one. Years later, I bought another one. Mom has passed. I gave my daughter one of mom’s machines. I use mine at home. I teach a beginning sewing class in middle school, I start out by having 2 students work on my 930s with me between them. 930s are working horses!
I agree with your assessment of vintage machines but since I like to use "fancy" stitches once in a while (yesterday, actually) I need a machine with a few of those and a machine I can push a quilt through. I'm in the market for a new or used machine that has thread cutter and needle down ability plus those "fancy" stitches. My arthritic hands need all the help they can get at this point!
Hi Betty, you are correct, modern machine definitely offer some benefits that vintage machines cannot. If you message me with a budget and a brief description of the type of sewing you want to do, I’d be happy to suggest a few modern machines that fit your needs
Hi from RI. Budget can be up to $2000. I quilt a lot so need a larger area to push a quilt through. Always had a pfaff because of the Integrated walking foot which I use 99% of the time. Some decorative stitches, needle down, thread cutter and speed control. I know there are probably others that would be useful also. Thanks for any suggestions! I love to quilt! I always look forward to your articles. You're doing a great service to all who sew!
Can't wait to hear about the Bernina 830! My parents gave me this machine as a graduation present from college & it is still my workhorse machine. I do have a lighter, i.e. more portable machine when I need it. I love my Bernina, but consider it "transportable" as opposed to "portable"!!
I really look forward to your articles! I am a die-hard Bernina user, and IMHO, the 830 and 930 were the best machines ever built. I know there are other great machines out there, but I think these make THE best buttonholes. (Yes I know I could do buttonholes in an embroidery function-I worked for SVP for a bit as the Ditto travelling education specialist, so yes, I sewed on a Pfaff Icon 2 and know all about that). My art to wear pieces rely heavily on perfect buttonholes, and these Bernina are the best. I am an old-school, manual buttonhole person. Anyway, I love these pieces and your shop although we move out of CA a few years ago.
Well-written article, Cale. It goes to show how important design and engineering plays in a machine’s longevity. My hat goes off to Bernina’s engineering department.
I am the lucky owner of a Bernina 930 Record which I found second hand about 10 years ago for a very good price. I love it! I have done a lot of freemotion embroidery on it. It handles my thick felt pieces so well!
I LOVE my 930, after 42 years this month, we are still creating and it is my workhorse. I have other machines, but depend on the 930 and always enjoy hearing about others. I look forward to your great Newsletter to learn more. I do not take it to classes anymore because it is just too heavy and I think was the last machine Bernina made that has so no handle on top, making it a pain to wrestle out of the cabinet and into the case for carrying. It never has let me down.
I have an 830 Record with a complete set of feet, accessories, case etc. It’s the machine I bring when we relocate for the winter to California from Illinois. Amazing smooth feel, easy to thread, change feet, etc. Capable of a wide range of sewing - though I don’t love the button hole capabilities of the machine (I don’t sew a lot of clothing so it’s a minor point). I do almost all my own service on the machine and I marvel at the engineering every time I open it up. One of my favorite vintage machines.
I LOVE my Bernina 930 Electronic. I bought it used in the early 90's and it has served me impeccably, no problems whatsoever. It's so steady and reliable, I will use it till I die. I bought a walking foot finally during Covid, which is great for quilting baby blankets and most of my sewing now.
One thing I'm confused about though- mine stops with the needle down, always has, the one thing I might change if I could. I have a vague memory of a friends machine stopping needle up. Could it be an early version of the 930 without that feature?
I fell in love with Berninas after using the 830 Records at school. After leaving school I purchased a 1030, which is even better. It is still a pleasure to use.
Cale, you state that the 930 will operate in a mechanical mode without electronics. I have a Bernina 930 that blew what my (now retired) mechanic says was the motherboard that routed power to the machine. This happened several years ago and he had to look for a machine to cannibalize. He also advised me to look for a used 830 as a back up since the 830 was "all" mechanical which I have done. I do love my old machines and think the ones I have are the best. If I had to pare down to only one machine I would want an old style Bernina 950 semi-industrial and outfit it with a servo-motor.
I own four 930’s and love them. My mom bought one for my college graduation in 1984 & bought one for herself. Then mom needed one to keep at her lake cabin so I bought her a second one. Years later, I bought another one. Mom has passed. I gave my daughter one of mom’s machines. I use mine at home. I teach a beginning sewing class in middle school, I start out by having 2 students work on my 930s with me between them. 930s are working horses!
I agree with your assessment of vintage machines but since I like to use "fancy" stitches once in a while (yesterday, actually) I need a machine with a few of those and a machine I can push a quilt through. I'm in the market for a new or used machine that has thread cutter and needle down ability plus those "fancy" stitches. My arthritic hands need all the help they can get at this point!
Hi Betty, you are correct, modern machine definitely offer some benefits that vintage machines cannot. If you message me with a budget and a brief description of the type of sewing you want to do, I’d be happy to suggest a few modern machines that fit your needs
Hi from RI. Budget can be up to $2000. I quilt a lot so need a larger area to push a quilt through. Always had a pfaff because of the Integrated walking foot which I use 99% of the time. Some decorative stitches, needle down, thread cutter and speed control. I know there are probably others that would be useful also. Thanks for any suggestions! I love to quilt! I always look forward to your articles. You're doing a great service to all who sew!
Can't wait to hear about the Bernina 830! My parents gave me this machine as a graduation present from college & it is still my workhorse machine. I do have a lighter, i.e. more portable machine when I need it. I love my Bernina, but consider it "transportable" as opposed to "portable"!!
I really look forward to your articles! I am a die-hard Bernina user, and IMHO, the 830 and 930 were the best machines ever built. I know there are other great machines out there, but I think these make THE best buttonholes. (Yes I know I could do buttonholes in an embroidery function-I worked for SVP for a bit as the Ditto travelling education specialist, so yes, I sewed on a Pfaff Icon 2 and know all about that). My art to wear pieces rely heavily on perfect buttonholes, and these Bernina are the best. I am an old-school, manual buttonhole person. Anyway, I love these pieces and your shop although we move out of CA a few years ago.
Well-written article, Cale. It goes to show how important design and engineering plays in a machine’s longevity. My hat goes off to Bernina’s engineering department.
I am the lucky owner of a Bernina 930 Record which I found second hand about 10 years ago for a very good price. I love it! I have done a lot of freemotion embroidery on it. It handles my thick felt pieces so well!
As always, your knowledge imparted by your newsletters, are valuable. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us.
I am the original owner of a Bernina 730 Record and still use it almost every day!
I LOVE my 930, after 42 years this month, we are still creating and it is my workhorse. I have other machines, but depend on the 930 and always enjoy hearing about others. I look forward to your great Newsletter to learn more. I do not take it to classes anymore because it is just too heavy and I think was the last machine Bernina made that has so no handle on top, making it a pain to wrestle out of the cabinet and into the case for carrying. It never has let me down.
I have an 830 Record with a complete set of feet, accessories, case etc. It’s the machine I bring when we relocate for the winter to California from Illinois. Amazing smooth feel, easy to thread, change feet, etc. Capable of a wide range of sewing - though I don’t love the button hole capabilities of the machine (I don’t sew a lot of clothing so it’s a minor point). I do almost all my own service on the machine and I marvel at the engineering every time I open it up. One of my favorite vintage machines.
Thank you so much for such an informative article. I really enjoy your writings.
I LOVE my Bernina 930 Electronic. I bought it used in the early 90's and it has served me impeccably, no problems whatsoever. It's so steady and reliable, I will use it till I die. I bought a walking foot finally during Covid, which is great for quilting baby blankets and most of my sewing now.
One thing I'm confused about though- mine stops with the needle down, always has, the one thing I might change if I could. I have a vague memory of a friends machine stopping needle up. Could it be an early version of the 930 without that feature?
Kim in Seaview
I fell in love with Berninas after using the 830 Records at school. After leaving school I purchased a 1030, which is even better. It is still a pleasure to use.
Cale, you state that the 930 will operate in a mechanical mode without electronics. I have a Bernina 930 that blew what my (now retired) mechanic says was the motherboard that routed power to the machine. This happened several years ago and he had to look for a machine to cannibalize. He also advised me to look for a used 830 as a back up since the 830 was "all" mechanical which I have done. I do love my old machines and think the ones I have are the best. If I had to pare down to only one machine I would want an old style Bernina 950 semi-industrial and outfit it with a servo-motor.
Theresa in Tucson