Bernina 830 / 830LE

Fantastic machine full of features – This machine is just amazing I’ve had it 3 years bought as a trade machine from the Bernina Dealer Sews wonderful stitches and Embroidery is a breeze It’s a different bobbin system and takes time to learn but once you’ve got used to it it’s amazing I’ve free motion Quilted a king size quilt on this machine with the BSR it never missed a beat Show details

Bernina 830 LOVE IT LOVE IT.*********** – I Have just sent a review on my Bernina 830 , Please Contact me again if you Don't receive it, I have read some unfavourable Reviews, I want to ensure you receive it as I need you to know I havent had any of these Problems . Sincerely Carol. I am having trouble sending this review to you. August 12th 2018 Update: Love Love my… Read more

Bernina.

My Bernina 830 I have heard comments, too many bells & whistles, too complicated,etc, I understand these comments but it all comes down getting to know your machines , even though the 830 is now discontinued there's many models of Berninas that have 830 features plus many many more .

This machine has been nothing but a migraine everytime i use it – i just got this machine back from being cleaned and updated and i have done nothing but fix errors on it all day today ... i dread taking this machine out because there is something wrong everytime i try to use it. at one point the board went down and it had to go back to bernina to be repaired ... this is the worst purchase i have ever made  Show details

disapointed – I have an 830 with Embroidery. I just love what it can do BUT I have a lot of trouble with the bobbin area. The cotton get Jammed in it. I have to take it to be fixed every time and the cost is getting to much.I want to get a new machine but am not game to go back to a machine with the same bobbin as the 830. Having trouble as to what to do at this time.  Show details

VERY DISAPPOINTING PURCHASE – I have to agree with Tammy. Have had a number of different brand embroidery machines over the years and am a first time purchaser of Bernina. So many problems - threading, bobbin, tension, you name it. Have just had the machine serviced at a cost of $200 and still having problems. Am acquainted with another person who has had huge problems - response from dealer and Bernina NO REPLACEMENT. Extremely disappointing.

A Huge Pile of Junk – I have been sewing for 50 years and have NEVER had a machine that was such a huge disappointment. I spent $10,000 for this machine and it is money down the drain. I have a friend who has been repairing sewing machines for 35 years and he says he hates when this machine comes in, because it is basically a piece of junk. The place I bought it… Read more

doesn't stand behind it - a tiny little piece of thread always seems to be the culprit - REALLY? And then I am charged for the repair - bench time they call it. The President of Bernina NEVER answered my inquiries about this being a lemon - I'm just out the money. I wouldn't even give it 1 star - that is too high a rating for this junky machine. Over 8 repairs in 2 years - don't waste your money!!!!

Read a lot of reviews, and thought I should post mine as well, after having my machine for about a y – Hi, I have read all the reviews of this machine on here, and on many other forums the world over. I live in the UK, and bought this machine a year ago from my local dealer (2nd September 2013). In the UK Bernina offers a full parts & labour warranty for 7 years (at the moment on certain models). Well if you think about it what labour costs per… Read more

hour in the UK that in itself is a fair deal.

I must admit the machine is beyond expensive, you can buy a motorbike or a cheap car for the price I have paid for the thing, and not to mention the price of the accessories. The jumbo hoop set me back just short of £300, for a plastic hoop with a aluminium clasp, where Brother and Husqvarna hoops are a 1/4 of the price made from the same type of plastic, the Bias Binder attachments are £171 and that does not even include the foot you need to use with it.

Anyway, to pay £6400,00 for a sewing machine is outrageous, but I did it anyway. I have used the machine now for a year, and has had absolutely no problems with it at all, no bobbin issues, no thread breaks, I have not even broken a needle. I guess from reading other peoples reviews that they had some bad luck. But then again, there should not be any issues with a machine that costs so much. I would actually expect this machine to spin gold out of straw to be honest. I was a bit miffed about the purchase to learn a few weeks later Bernina launched the new 880 in the USA that is running the new software operating system as what is used on the newly developed 7 series machines with more functions in embroidery and more user friendly user interface than the 830. Bernina has also discontinued the sale of the 830 in certain countries, and only offer the 880 now. That that might be food for thought. The 880 also has a stronger/different motor that can run at 1200 stitches per minute compared to the 1100 on the 830.

One issue I had from the beginning is the auto needle threader, the thing is temperamental and does not work every time, it also depends on the size & type of the needle you are using and also the type of thread you are using. I think this machine has threaded 3 needles in the time I had it. I spoke to my dealer about it and he said I can bring it in to have it adjusted. I have not done that as the machine weighs about 20kg and is not easily transportable. That said, Bernina offers a 2 full day course in London where they show you exactly how and what the machine can do and how to use absolutely every function the machine has to offer, free of charge, I did attend this course and were the only person there on those 2 days, and the lady working there has been working for Bernina for the past 30 years, and she knows this machine like the back of her hand. The machine I used at the course were threading perfectly every time all the time. So I guess my machine just need a minor adjustment.

Another issue, and I am referring to another review, is the model number. Yes, 830 and when you look for parts and accessories, you learn there is a Bernina 830 Record that was made in the 70's, I mean honestly, could Bernina not have thought of another number? Anyway.

Coming to the bobbin, hmmmm, well, I am quite technical savvy and I am a male as well so the bobbin don't bother me in the slightest, it does take a while for you to figure it out, but I know how to thread the bobbin in my sleep for sewing and embroidery. I know some people will have issues with the bobbin, that said I wanted to get my Mom an 830 and the dealer suggested a 7 series machine that has a newly redesigned bobbin system, but which is more familiar to people as it uses a bobbin and bobbincase like the older machines.

I have to say in my years using sewing machines, I have owned a few different ones that the build quality and finishing of the Bernina machines are superior to any other machine on the market. The machine is absolutely solid, the workbed is stainless steel, the buttons, clips, clasps, hinges is made to last. The way the hook is made and designed is absolute high quality. No other machine on the market has the quality of workmanship the Bernina machines has, none. I cannot stress this more. I do however admit that the Bernina embroidery system lack a few features that you can find on Brother and Husqvarna machines. One is the way the camera works on some of the Brother machines, as well as the snowman sticker you can use. Another feature some of the Brother machines has is the laser grid guide it projects onto your working fabric. One feature you don't have with other makes of machines are, the presser foot recognition system as well as the build in dual feed system. (have dual feed build in as well) In many of the new machines the thread uptake lever is just a piece of bent wire, the Bernina's is stainless steel, specially formed and designed. Bernina's are also the fastest in embroidery and it makes a difference when you need to embroider a lot. My husqvarna is so slow, it takes ages even on the fastest setting to do the same design.

I do agree with some of the reviews that this machine were not tested enough before it hit the market and had a lot of teething problems. I must be lucky in that I had not had any problems or issues with mine. I have updated my machine to the latest firmware and it sews perfectly all the time.

I hope this review helps anyone wanting to buy any sewing machine really. Solid build quality, stainless steel work area, well made presser feet, lots of space to the right of the needle, 7 year all parts & labour warranty in the UK. Big bobbin. Fast embroidery speed its very heavy, but you can expect that as all the inner parts are metal,

Now sold on Bernina – My machine was a gift from my Husband and it seemed so much bigger and complicated compared to the machines I already owned, however the more I used the 830 the better I liked it and once you realise the machine and the bobbin aren't hard to thread and changing the feet is simple it's all good. The large work area Arranging lessons

Perfect in every way, try this machine and you will be absolutely hooked like I am – I also have had many machines over the past 40 years and have been sewing since I was 12 and embroidering for 5 years, this machine was a surprise to me as my husband purchased it for me, I went to the opening of this machine in my sewing shop and I fell in love with it so much but I didn't know that I was getting one. Now that I have my beloved… Read more ·  3

830 it is my most treasured possession in my sewing & embroidery world.The many features are more than I could even dream about let alone having them now. Ladies if you are considering a new machine Please Please check this machine out. Everything the features and performance and reliability are second to none. In the 2years of owning this machine I haven't found any reason to list a con in here