Husqvarna Emerald 183

Very disappointed – Worst machine I’ve ever had will never purchase husqvarna again! Show details

Tha best i ever had – Great work, even on big thickness. Does brodery with a complete alphabet. The best i ever had, 10 years old and still work perfecly fine. Show details

Wouldn't Buy Husqvarna Again – I've owned my Emerald 183 for 10 years. I recently took it to a repairman as it was continuously getting knots underneath the fabric. In the 10 yrs. I've owned, I would estimate I've really used it for 5 yrs (5 yrs off for schooling). The repairman was incredibly blunt with me in that I needed to invest in a "new" machine as my Emerald would… Read more

eventually show more issues and repairs would grow costly. He recommended I get a really heavy, old machine from Salvation Army and only use my Emerald for its special features such as buttonhole creation. Further, because this is a Dutch product, original parts aren't easily purchasable. Not even in the store I purchased the machine! I'm very disappointed as this is a very expensive machine. I paid $25 for an old Singer and plan to use that primarily. Be wary of Husqvarna quality.

No Customer Service – I bought this machine at JoAnnes about 10 yrs ago. I thought I was getting a fantastic machine what with the Husqvarna name and all. Not the case. Manual is virtually useless, foot pedal has mind of its own, skips stitches constantly and is generally not user friendly to someone that has not sewed much for the past 20 yrs. Sewed several things… Read more

and put it away for 10 yrs. Recently pulled it out to do quilts and it certainly isn't a good machine for that. Can't figure out how to sew a narrow seam and it has to be actually pulled thru the machine even with a walking foot. Can't hardly get 2 or 3 layers of fabric under the dangers foot! I hate my Husqvarna 183. Next machine will be a Brother. I'd like to ship this thing back to Sweden!

Very happy with my Emerald 183 – I can't believe the reviews I'm reading- I've had my Emerald 183 for about 11 years, and I absolutely love it. I've spent the last 3 weeks sewing all new decor for my bedroom, and I've had no problems; never have. This is my second Viking Huskvarna. I just wish I had more time for sewing!  Show details

Turned me off sewing – Never been happy with it - continually being repaired for sewing issues and biggest of all it jams every time I used it - throwing it out - Going back to Brother - too embarrassed to keep taking it back to repairer all the time - need a reliable machine.  Show details

Zero stars if possible – Not enough room to move fabric around if you are taller than 5'2". Poor lightening. Worthless manual. Threader has been replaced several times. No instructions on how to program. Manual says general sewing should be done at '4' tension, but the sewing machine icon is on '3'. I've had it 7 years, and still can't figure out how to make a nice zigzag stitch. Look elsewhere.

Love My Emerald 183 – Wow! Surprised by the reviews! I bought a 183 about 7 years ago. It has worked perfect; have never had an issue; has never had to be taken to a repairman. I quilt, sew costumes, etc. It was my first new machine. I use a quality thread (Gutterman) exclusively. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.

Pretty Bad! – I liked mine for about 3 months. After that it was just one problem after the other, so like an [word removed] when my husband said 'well let's get another type' I said yes. I got the Sapphire 850 & it's just as bad!! For all those of you who love Husqvarna, your time will come, believe me!

More trouble than it's worth – Worked well to start - but the bobbin housing of my Emerald 183 continues to pop up. I can't stitch for more than 10-15 minutes before having to take it apart and reset the housing. I thought with the husqvarna name I was getting a good machine - definitely did not. I'll be looking for a new machine. I ended up having to replace the entire bobbin housing in less than a year. Still gets a bit moody 3 years later  Show details

Nice machine – I have had my machine for 4 years with no problem at all. It has plenty of features to do what I need. Quilting and work uniforms. I am pleased.

Worst Machine I've ever used – I bought it at JoAnns. Had it back numerous times. I've had the foot pedal issue, the. Other board go up once, and just started to go up tonight. Beyond frustrated. Maybe not the most expensive machine but it was a lot of money for me.

Unhappy with my Husqvarna – Thought I would treat myself to a GOOD machine and have been unhappy since week 1. I do a lot of quilting and every time you sew over a seam going in the opposite direction it buckles. Took the machine baack to dealer I purchased it from in MA. who suggested I lift the presser foot and adjust the seam manually every time I come to a seam. Ever… Read more

heard of anything so ridiculous, a quilt could have 100's of seams. Anyone know how I contact Husqvarna because the dealer is useless, Oh unless I want to pay her husband to look at it. Also said you need to buy HV bobbins and parts. Gone back to my cheap Sears machine which works great.

what a horrible piece of crap – My husband bought this machine for me for my birthday a few years ago - that was the first mistake. A sewing machine store should not let a man pick out a machine for a woman. I basically just want it for regular sewing and it can't even do that well - the light bulb works when it feels like it, it won't run at a fast spend and the foot pedal… Read more

works when it wants. Tonight I am trying to replace the light bulb - it stopped working totally - and am frustrated beyond belief. I just want a plain Singer or Kenmore - no more foreign crap. I know he spent a lot of money on it - but I may just donate the thing to Goodwill.

the worse sewing machine ever! do not buy the Husqvarna Emerald 183 – I am sorry I ever bought this machine in 2008. It has made many repair trips and the repairman said they are known to have electrical shorts in them. The board just quits working and none of the buttons work! Buy a Brother or Singer! I had a 1969 Husqvarna and loved it but the new ones are junk.

Good machine – I bought my Emerald 183 six or seven years ago. I've not had any real issues with it. I've not experienced the same problems others have mentioned here. My only complaints are that in order for the embroidery stitches to line up correctly you have to maintain a very firm "window formation" type grip, which can be very tiresome for your hands and… Read more

arms. Also, over time it seemed to get noisier and make a thumping sound as it sewed if you went fast. My biggest complaont is that the bobbins wind coneshaped because they try to slide up off of the metal holder that used to secure them during this process. Otherwise, I have no complaints. It's been a good machine. Sews fairly quietly. Good even stitches. Lots of stitch options. Will sew easily through many layers. Bobbin winder doesn't work properly after a short time of ownership. It winds the thread into a cone shape. Embroidery stitches are difficult to sew properly. Thumping noise when stitching fast.

The Good, Bad, & Ugly – I purchased this machine 5 years ago, and had no problems for 4 years. I regularly had it serviced, and quilted on it often. Last spring, the 'foot pedal' problem started to happen. (see other reviews). and last week, my mother board computer screen went ka-puts! well, at a $300 fix, i'll say no thanks. good machine at first, but went bad fast:(… Read more

Could sew through anything! needle would keep sewing after foot taken off pedal, mother board went bad after only 5 yrs

Great machine - and easy to fix the foot pedal problem others mention – I bought this machine after lots of consideration - really glad I did. It sews well, with good quality even stitches (something sorely missing on many of the other machines when I actually tested them). Zooms through thick wodges of fabric (even multiple layers of denim) and is whisper quiet. I really like the function that moves the needle to… Read more

the left or right - helpful for sewing seams right up to the edge. Loads of stitch options, and the letters are nice for putting on ribbons for wrapping new baby presents.

I too had the problem where the machine continued sewing after you took your foot off the pedal. I took it to my helpful local store who showed me the problem straight away. When the machine first arrived new in the box, the wire to the foot pedal was curled up tight and squeezed inside the foot itself. This creates kinks in the wire which cause the problem. They simply smoothed out the wire, and off it went no problem. They then curled it up tight again, plugged it back in and the problem was back. When I told my dad (who's an electrician) he said that can often happen - can't believe I didn't ask him first - doh!

I no longer keep my wire curled up - I just coil it loosely. I've not had a problem since, and would recommend this machine to anyone without hesitation.

By the way - I think the unhappy man who gives this machine a bad review is talking about a different machine. The Husqvarna Emerald 183 doesn't have a touch screen! Stitch range, quality build, quiet, 5 years trouble free sewing Foot pedal problem - but this is so easily fixed when you know how. Otherwise, Nothing! :-)

Terrible – Can you believe I read another review on this website and decided it was just one persons experience and didn't mean the machine was a dud?? On first use the machine was really noisy when the bobbin was winding. After about 3 uses a humming noise started coming out of the control panel and so I took the machine back to the place of purchase (Sew… Read more

Simple, ACT - not recommended for decent customer service). The bobbin problem was fixed first go however the humming has continued and now when I use the machine the foot speed is eratic, when the slow speed feature is in use and sometimes you have to take your foot back off the foot peddle to get the machine to start. Take it back and get a refund you say??? No can do, Husqvarna do not do refunds at this store - even after persuing through the Office of Fair Trading. Do yourself a favour, buy a different brand. The price was within my budget and it came with a 5 year warranty - your gonna need it!! It is a bucket of shite!

Terrible – Thought it was a great idea at the time. You know, a missus that can sew is a real plus especially when your daughter takes up dancing and the bills for the costumes start to roll in. Anyway, within the first 3 months niggly things begun to happen. Foot pedal, bobbin, touch screen, touch screen again and of course the inevitable no power at all… Read more

routine. Oh, did I mention problems with the touch screen???

The place out at East Maitland where we bought the damn thing conveniently went out of business shortly thereafter and the only joint in Newcastle who touches these things are in Hunter Street. (I won't mention names but we all know who they are).

A simple warranty repair strangely evolved into a complicated $350 nightmare, one 12 months later I am still experiencing.

Not happy with the machine, and even unhappier about the alleged 'expert' repairs.'

People from Newcastle beware:

Stay away from these machines.

Stay away from alleged Husqvarna repairers in Hunter St.

They hold as much credibility as each other. It looks nice and I thought was the perfect xmas prezzy.........then I took it out of the box. Big mistake! I've had nothing but whining from the missus since.

Just doesn't have enough weight as a boat anchor.

Terrible – how interesting to read the other two reviews and know that other people have experienced the same problems as me and also interesting that one reviewer also purchased their machine at sew simple at philip in the act, where I have been told on four occasions that they could not find any problems, From the very first time I used this machine I had… Read more

a problem with the foot pedal and took it back 4 times to be fixed and was told that they could not find anything wrong......very odd, I have persisted with this machine but to no end, I had a problem with the bobbin which i managed to fix and now the top stitching is not right....and of its own accord it had now started to gather....I rang the husqvarna representative in gosford and when he called me back he said he was ringing about my sewing machine...and I said you mean my piece of junk...his reply was and I quote " If you are going to take that attitude i will terminate this conversation,and i told him i would take my problems to husqvarna in sweden, and hung up on him so much for customer service , I have also been reading lots of complaints about husqvarna machines in general and there are a lot of unhappy people out there, my advice...do not buy any husqvarna sewing machine

My wife loves her Viking 183 – It is unfortunate to hear the problems a few others have had with this machine, because my wife loves hers. I bought it for her for Christmas and she is sewing like crazy. She loves the stitch quality, and the stitch selection. There is a lot of bang for the buck with this machine compared to other machines I looked at for her. Not one bad thing to say from her about this machine! Stitch quality, stitch selection, durability.