Bernina Bernette 20

This machine is junk!!! – I have had nothing but problems with this machine - two solid years of issues that seemingly cannot be fixed, despite trips to the repair shop (and being told there's nothing wrong with it). Why then, does it not sew? Just one issue - it suddenly decides to stitch backwards when using the decorative stitches, despite that feature not being something it SHOULD do....beware of your fingers!! That's just one of the many things wrong with it. I will never, ever, NEVER buy anything made by Bernina and will never recommend them to anyone.

Good machine but – I'm really disappointed with a few things that become such a frustration when using it: The clearance space between the sewing plate and the machine is very, very narrow, compared to other machines I've had, which makes it tricky/a pain for doing anything like changing the sewing feet. While we're on that, I couldn't believe I had to unscrew a fiddly screw to take off the present zigzag foot & fitting to put on a darning foot. What a performance. I'm used to just depressing a lever & the appropriate sewing foot drops off/clips on. In a modern electronic machine, this seems like a backward step.

And woe betide if you have to undo the footplate to untangle threads. As there's not much 'headroom', the screwdriver provided doesn't fit height-wise for this task. Instead, there's a tiny metal thingy which you have to operate awkwardly to get the footplate screws undone. Let's hope I don't have to do that again in a hurry, it was irritatingly fiddly, to say the least. The sewing bed itself isn't huge so don't buy this if you plan on making quilts, you'll be fed up in no time (as I was) trying to cram and force all the fabric into the very tight space :((

The top loading bobbin is very hard to get out. There is no 'release' pin or lever to do so, which means scratching around with fingernails (if you have any) to try and prise it out. The shop I purchased the machine from, when I mentioned this over the phone, said, "Yes, it isn't good. I always use a pair of tweezers.' Not quite what I was expecting.

Ok, these may not be major gripes and when you're actually sewing, winding bobbins, have all the embroidery stitches printed on the pop up lid so you know which number to dial, this machine is great so I guess it "does what it says on the tin." But I do a lot of zigzag so I change a lot of bobbins. And threads can get tangled, which means I've had to remove the footplate once or twice. And I'm always changing the sewing feet. And the mechanics of doing those things is really, really annoying!!

Nice basic electronic workhorse- great for travel – I bought this for some travel by air as it is only 6.2kg without freearm accessory box,accessories and foot pedal. I know this because I weighed it as cabin baggage restrictions in my country are very tight. It makes a nice enough buttonhole in several styles including keyhole and round ended buttonholes, with automatic buttonhole sewing program, offers a good array of functional and decorative stitches totalling 60 stitches. Although it is a lighter machine, it doesn't have a weak feel about it and I appreciate that I won't have to sacrifice some of the modern features I enjoy in my higher end machines when I travel by air- it is also small enough for cabin baggage restrictions, but unlike the tiny travel sized machines has not traded off harp space around the needle. It is a standard domestic sized machine not a scaled down version. Consequently the motor is not smaller, and this is good for sewing through bulkier projects that very tiny machines seem almost universally have issues with. It is electronic, not manual. Lower models in the Bernette line are mechanical machines however, but they lacked a couple of features I really need for the sewing I do.

The handwheel is recessed into the end of the machine so that it cannot be damaged in transit, as well as looking extremely cool... infact the whole machine has a very streamlined design with clean lines.

A flat to the side of the machine wheel on the end is used to move between stitch styles as well as to alter length and width settings.

There is adjustable presser foot pressure on the top and the tension dial is also at the top of the machine, but sitting under the flap that displays the stitch patterns. Nice that these controls are not exposed when the flap is closed. Stitch settings display on the front in large red digital numbers that even visually impaired people should have no problems reading.

There is variable needle position across all of the 7mm wide stitch positions so you can customise the seam you might need for different applications. This was an absolute imperative for me for topstitching and understitching at specific increments for garment sewing. The model 20 appears to be the only machine apart from the 25 with the full range of needle positions accessible. The 12 and 15 purely mechanical machines do not allow access to all needle positions. If you need the needle to swing all the way to the left as well as to the right side, then you need the model 20, not the 12 or 15. I can change the needle position in 0.5 mm increments through any of the positions from 0 through to 7 mm wide.

The lighting is decent enough with LED bright lighting giving a good rendering of colour so its easier to match threads to fabric. I found no problems with sewing on a dull afternoon or even the evening with it.

The stitch quality is not the same as the Bernina bottom of the line Activa or upwards which really is exceptionally even and perfect. Not that I expected it to be at its price point. Nor would I say the stitch quality is in any way bad. The buttonholes are very neat and impressively so for such an inexpensive machine. It is easy to thread and I have not had a single incidence of thread jamming at any point.

The machine comes with all the basic feet you might need for most applications. but does not include a quarter inch foot nor walking foot - but these can be bought if desired.

The machine is a top loader with clear plastic bobbins that wind firmly every time. The bobbins have flat sides and seem to hold a reasonably large quantity of thread for a domestic machine.

Presserfeet are snap on and so there is a tiny bit of sideways play that I noticed. For garment sewing this doesn't bother me, but it possibly might if I were only going to quilt using narrow 6mm seams. I normally sew on Bernina machines where there is none of this sideways movement on the feet. which is probably why I noticed it. Still, this is no different than the other snap on feet from other brands in this regard that I have seen on other machines students or friends own, and it does have a good deal less sideways play than other brands I've seen.

Other handy features I like are needle up/ down at the touch of a button, along with start/ stop button for sewing with out the foot control, adjustable presser foot pressure and built in needle threader that actually works very well.

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At slow speeds the machine is nice and quiet but it does become a bit more noisy at higher speeds. It is no real problem but if super quiet operation is important to you test this out when trying the machine.

The machine appears to make use of some generic looking parts but they are well finished without any rough edges or peeling metal coating. This presumably along with manufacturing in non European country, accounts for the very affordable price tag. This is good when there is a possibility of damage or even theft of machine whilst I travel.

I believe the machine is made by a third party to Bernina's specs, and obviously the machine does not have the same quality as a Bernina machine as it is a different line. It is what it is: a good basic machine at an inexpensive price point. Having said that, the Bernette line appears to be perfectly functional, certainly for travel or moderate amount of usage, and has a nice finish for an inexpensive machine. It has enough needle penetration power to sew through several layers of denim and polar fleece (4 layers of thick, thick fleece with a 90 Ballpoint needle in the machine) unlike smaller travel sized machines I encountered. I probably wouldn't push it with this sort of bulk all the time- but know if I have to hem a pair of jeans it is totally up to the task with the right needle installed.

I would not classify this machine as one for heavy duty sewing but neither would I say it is ony suitable for occasional sewing or mending since it has proven itself quite capable of sewing through fine to very dense fabrics and showed no signs of hesitation during my initial testing of different fabrics. I did notice that the sewing of some very stretchy knits I didn't think was particularly wonderful with some rippling occurring even when reducing the presser foot pressure, but this undoubtedly would be fixed with using a walking foot. Something to consider if you plan to only sew knit fabrics and do not own an overlocker or do not want to buy a walking foot. On less stretchy knits it was fine and seams were nice and flat.

To summarise I have found this a very chic, sleek and reliable sewing machine that delivers a decent enough performance, is suited for my travel needs, at a very affordable price. Simple operation with many useful nice features for garment sewer or quilter- chic design at very affordable price