Zigzaggers

Bernina Nova 900

by Stephanie Newman, an Australian quilter and designer who blogs and posts gorgeous pictures of her work here

Love it, hate it, or something in between? Love it! Aaah my Nova 900 -- it is a sweet machine, with very groovy red trim on the handle, dials, and wheel; and the foot control is red and circular! It has Bernina's legendary precision and quality, and is a delight to sew with. I love how simple it is to use and love the sound of it as it sews -- it purrs like a kitten. It has functional stitches, straight stitch, zig zag, three step zig zag/serpentine, stretch overlock, blind hem, scallop decorative stitching, and buttohole -- all the basics. It does a wickedly good satin stitch. It has no bells and whistles, but you can get into the machine properly for thorough cleaning and oiling -- the whole free arm top is removeable, as is the central bobbin hook, so cleaning couldn't be easier. It's also fun to be able to see what goes on inside a sewing machine. It came with 7 or 8 presser feet, a darning hoop, an extension table, and accessories. The old style presser feet can still be ordered, too -- I've already ordered the 1/4-inch foot. Bonus for me, it takes the same bobbins as my Bernina Aurora 440QE, so they can share.

When did you buy this sewing machine? Early December 2009.

When was it manufactured? The records indicate they were made between 1982 and 1985 in Switzerland. I know they made them in the red trim (maybe the most common) as well as yellow and khaki trim versions. I don't know if different colors were released in different countries or not, but I've not seen the yellow or khaki version around my own state. I've only seen two others in 9 years of teaching, so unless there are many well hidden in people's homes, I think they're not very common here. My mechanic is sad they stopped making them -- he loves them for their reliability and says they can be easily fixed. Bernina parts are still available, so these machines can be kept sewing for a very long time. He tells me it will outlast several of my lovely electronic computerized machines.

Where did you buy it? Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

How much did you pay for it? The sewing machine shop where I found it was asking for $399 AU, but I got it for $350 AU.

How many projects have you done on this machine? It's fairly new to me, so I've only had time to piece around 50 reasonably complicated quilt blocks with multiple points and many layers of intersecting seams; and I've sewn a micropolarfleece jacket, and repaired a couple of garment hemlines. What it has shown me is that it can handle both thin and thick layers easily despite having no adjustable presser foot pressure, and the stitch quality is typical Bernina: outstanding. My children have named it Supernova (because it is super), and I believe it had a previous life in a clothing manufacturing business -- I found the business name and "machine number 5" written underneath the removable free arm cover. I suspect it was part of a fleet working in a small scale factory or business.

I purchased it as a backup for student use in classes. At other times, it will be used at home for piecing and sewing clothes. I like to sew some large projects with several machines threaded in different colors, or set up for different techniques (for efficient use of time). When the children are older they will graduate to the Nova from the hand crank. If I ever see another available in good condition, I wouldn't hesitate to add a second to my herd.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. Patchwork. Lots of patchwork! Garment construction in stretch knit fine polar fleece. This machine is going to be used.

What do you like and what do you hate about it? I love its simplicity. I can set the needle position where I like and dial up specific combinations of stitch length and width. If I turn the machine off, the settings stay put. I like the stitch quality -- stitches look the same on the front and back. I like the all-metal construction with colorful plastic trim -- it's cheerful but solid. The handle is convenient for carrying, but it is not a lightweight machine -- I struggled to carry it down the street when I couldn't find a carpark close to the store. That's fine: I don't like flimsy machines! There is a separate light switch on the side of the machine so you can turn off the bulb if you have a sunlight area for sewing and save some energy -- just remember to pull the power cord out when you are done. Because I worry I might forget to do so, I leave my lightbulb turned on as reminder the machine is still plugged in, and check to make sure I've pulled the cord out when finished.

Because it's mechanical, if I have to go anywhere where electricity supply is erratic (which it can be even where I live) there is no mother board to fry and no electronic components that might be damaged by rough bumpy roads. The one circuit board in the machine can still blow, but it is not so expensive to replace. It is a robust machine.

Like many older machines, this one plugs directly into the wall socket and has a nice long power cord. It is wired directly into the machine so you will never run the risk of losing it. The foot pedal is removable. The hard case is hinged and articulated; it wraps around the machine and has a couple of positioning lugs and a latch to secure it around the machine. I have seen some hard cases with colored linings that have places to store presser feet and bobbins; mine has a bucket for accessoriesbut is missing the lining. The handle and the flywheel extend beyond the case and are visible once it is in place.

Bernina USA has downloadable manuals for a range of their old classics (under the website's support menu) -- a wealth of information is included in the manual. There really isn't anything not to love here. There is nothing I hate about it at all.

In summary, the Nova is cute and a serious machine that's capable of sewing consistent high quality stitches at speed. I'd say if you see one, grab it while you can!

Bernina 830 Record

 by Lesley Zampatti, who blogs here about her craftsy life in southern California; she's a transplanted Australian, so she doesn't have her much-loved Bernina with her at the moment -- she had to make a special trip down under to photograph it for this review!

Love it, hate it, or something in between? I love my Bernina SO much that at one stage I knew it would be the first thing — after husband, kids, and pets — that I'd rescue if my house was on fire.

When did you buy this sewing machine? 1971-72? My dad bought this for my mum soon after we moved to Australia from England, which was in 1970. My mum used to have it serviced regularly and I still have all the log books showing when she oiled it! Mum gave it to me when my two youngest kids were little, in the late 1980s.

When was it manufactured? It was a new model when Dad bought it, so very early 1970s.

Where did you buy it? Perth, Western Australia.

How much did you pay for it? My dad can't remember, but it was an extravagant present. I remember my mum was ecstatic. She'd never have been able to afford anything like this when we lived in England. This was one hell of a machine! Still is.

How many projects have you done on this machine? Too many to count. And the Bernina has never, ever, lost a beat.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. The first thing I remember sewing on it, in mum's kitchen, was a leather shirt I made for my boyfriend (we were at university together in 1972), out of skins we bought from a tannery. It was like something a Native American would wear — with long fringes down the arm seams and natural edgings! I made him cheesecloth Indian-style shirts, and long skirts and flowing nighties for myself.

In the eighties and nineties, I sewed all the kids' clothes, in ordinary fabrics and stretch knits. I made their swimsuits and drama and ballet costumes. I made three quilts. I made slip covers for two settees and I re-upholstered a vintage armchair. I made Roman blinds for my family room. I mended shoes — re-attaching a strap to a leather sandal. Later, I discovered free-arm embroidery and made handbags and art pieces. I made an entire wardrobe of clothes for a neighbor going on holiday. My Bernina was my right arm!

What do you like and what do you hate about it? There's nothing about it that I hate. Its only slight flaw, to my eyes, is that it is very heavy. It comes in a big red plastic case the size of a sarcophagus. I'd be staggering in to quilting classes, huffing and puffing with it, while fellow quilters were skipping in with their little Elnas and Husqvarnas in their lightweight fabric cases!

This, though, is more than compensated for by the strength, endurance and sheer, non-complaining guts of this mighty piece of engineering. It's indestructible. It can handle anything. Seven thicknesses of denim? No worries. It just purrs along. Beautiful. It's easy to use, easy to maintain, and all its moving parts are steel (hence the weight) so I'll probably be handing it on to my daughter (she's making her first quilt right now — yay!).

While it is safely stored away in Australia, and because I simply cannot survive without a sewing machine, my darling husband has given me a Janome as a stop-gap. Not a top-of-the-range, but just a couple of rungs up from the basic model. It's okay, but when it stamps its little foot, I often tell this little Taiwanese-made show pony about my Immortal Swiss Warhorse. There's no comparison. I don't think I could afford this century's equivalent of my Bernina, so just as well I've looked after the one I do have. It will never die. I'll be unpacking it and getting it serviced for a longed-for reunion when we return to Australia next March.

PS: My foot pedal has broken in exactly the same way as Laurel's. I still have the piece that broke off, so I'll try fixing it, thanks to the comments Laurel received.

Bernina 830 Record

by Laurel Parrish, a theatrical costumer (i.e., heavy sewing machine user) who blogs at Yarn Therapy about knitting and other crafty and lifestyle topics

Love it, hate it, or something in between? Unconditional love!
 
When did you buy this sewing machine? It was a gift – my high school graduation present from my grandparents in 1983. I had my heart set on a Viking like we had at school – I thought they were very fancy and exotic compared to the little Kenmore I had at home. My dad, however, did the research and discovered that Berninas were less expensive and (this is what really sold him!) far sturdier due to their all-metal construction. He shopped around and got a good deal on a slightly used Bernina 830 Record, which has served me like a champ ever since.
  
When was it manufactured? I believe it was a year old when they bought it, so it’s a 1982 model.
 
Where did you buy it? I don’t remember the name of the place, but it was a store in Ventura, California. It came with a free lesson, where the owner showed me the bells and whistles like the automatic tension and the buttonhole.
 
How much did you pay for it? No idea – my dad thinks maybe around $300. I’ve been trying to find out what the original retail price was, with no luck.
 
How many projects have you done on this machine? Wow – 20 plus years worth of projects! I guess the answer is “lots and lots!”

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. What haven’t I done with it? I work in theatrical costuming, and for ten years I made costumes freelance in my living room. My Bernina has cranked out lots of theatrical and dance costumes, countless alterations, and three wedding gowns (so far). I’m just getting back into making clothes for myself, and I’m doing a little quilting.

It’s also been a great machine to have in a costume shop because it’s so sturdy and holds up to many different people using it. I even hauled it out to the Hamptons once to do alterations for a catalog shoot!
 
What do you like and what do you hate about it? I love pretty much everything about it – it’s an all-metal super sturdy workhorse that handles all weights of fabrics equally well. I’ve used it on everything from heavy upholstery to delicate silks to ultrasuede and leather. It’s particularly good with stretch fabrics, which was very useful when I was making dance costumes.

It has a knee attachment for the presser foot lifter, which is invaluable for speed and precision work. The flat bed is nice and wide and easy to remove to access the free arm.

The best thing about this machine is its simplicity. It has a wide variety of stitches, but they’re all very straightforward and easy to use. Threading is a breeze – no funky wire loop thingie for tension; the thread just slides through a groove. You can’t wind a bobbin while it’s threaded, which doesn’t bother me – it does have two thread holders so you can wind bobbins from a second spool if you want.

I’m searching for something not to like ….. I guess the buttonhole could be a little more refined – they don’t look as nice on very lightweight fabrics. It’s really heavy – I consider it portable, but only with the aid of my luggage cart. It’s so heavy that I know if my apartment ever gets broken into no burglar would ever bother trying to steal it.


My foot pedal cracked in half years ago –  I epoxied it back together which held for a few years but then it broke again. Since it still works just fine, I haven’t bothered to replace it. Ebay has made it so much easier to find parts, though, that I will probably look for a new one soon.

I could go on and on and on about this fabulous machine….. I know the 830 is a popular machine these days, and I know how lucky I am to have one! If anyone has any specific questions about my machine, leave it in the comments!

Bernina 1008

by Susie Bright, sex writer and sewing columnist for CRAFT magazine 
(the picture above shows her partner and her daughter at the latter's Bernina 1008)

Love it, hate it, or something in between? My sewing machine is the last mechanical Bernina that Bernina makes... the one that isn't a computer.

My sewing teacher swears it's the only mechanical machine worth owning, and that Bernina is practically the only manufacturer not currently producing swill. She would recommend people buy used machines from twenty years ago rather than most of the new ones today. She told horror stories of the cheapies for sale at Costco that cannot even reliably sew forwards, backwards, and zigzag.

Nothing is more discouraging to a new sewer than a machine that backfires, it makes you feel so incompetent. So I was excited to get this machine. It did indeed make me feel like a pro, simply because it handles fabric so well, and with such intuitive design.

When and where did you buy this sewing machine, and how much did you pay for it? It cost me about $600 ten years ago, from a local dealer who, ironically, just closed their door and filed bankrupcy yesterday. They run a repair shop and there's about a thousand angry women ready to storm the doors and get their machines and scissors out of the back room.

I also have my mother's Singer Featherlite from 1955, the first item she ever bought on a loan. Her first credit line was to buy that machine!  It still sews straighter and stronger than anything you could buy today on the consumer level.

How many projects have you done on this machine? I've sewed every week on this machine since I got it, I have no idea how many projects that is. My daughter sewed custom pillowcases and bought one for herself, which is now side by side with mine, since it's handy to have two machines set up at any given time.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I like to sew clothes; so does my daughter. We're slaves to our own peculiar fashions. I made a ballgown out of a sleeping bag flannel one time.

My husband uses it to make marine rescue supplies, scuba gear belts, all kinds of stuff for the lifeguard service. I have no idea, but it's rugged. I've done knits, chiffon (don't forget to run a roll of adding machine paper underneath it!), wool, plastic, leather, everything. This machine can do it all.

What do you like and what do you hate about it? I love everything about it. It should come with the walking foot, which is IMPERATIVE for working with textured fabrics and knits.

I have no plans to replace it. I got a serger, the basic Babylock. If there is such a thing as an easy, fast, coverstitch machine, I'd like one of those. Otherwise, I'm done!

Bernina Record 730

by Melissa of tinyhappy

Love it, hate it, or something in between? I really like this machine- even though there are few things wrong with it- the needle isn't quite aligned properly and is prone to shifting during sewing. This means that the zig-zag and other decorative stitches don't work very well, but i don't mind. I love the weight and sturdiness of it, and its quiet purring noise as I sew. And its olive green and cream colour scheme, of course.

When did you buy this sewing machine? A friend who I met through blogging, Emily http://www.ravenhill.typepad.com/ lives nearby, and, after reading on my blog that I hadn't brought my sewing machine with me from New Zealand, she very kindly brought me the Bernina Record to borrow. I think she found it in a thrift store here in Norway a while ago. It came in a beautiful old suitcase-style box, with some great accessories- a chunky green foot pedal, and a green tool box, with little drawers for keeping threads, bobbins and needles in.

When was it manufactured? 1965-66

How many projects have you done on this machine? Quite a few since January. I make baby shoes to sell in an etsy shop, and have made a few batches of those, plus about 20 other small projects for friends and family.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. Most of my projects involve basic straight-sewing- but I have been really thrilled with the neat, even stitches that this machine makes. I bought an overlocker in Sweden, so I use that to secure my seams and edges, rather than the zig-zag stitch. This machine is capable of doing a total of 22 different stitches, and I think if I took it to a repair shop to fix the needle, these would work better. But for the kind of projects I've been doing, the straight stitch is adequate.