Richard gifted me with a beautiful new Bernina Series 830E in November of 2009 from California Sewing. We knew and liked Roza for the years we were Bernina dealers. I’ve blogged about this machine before, but I’ve also had my share of problems with it. After having it only 2 months the sensor died. One day I turned on the machine and the machine wouldn’t boot. The bobbin mechanism kept spinning and the machine couldn’t be used. We took it back to Roza who took the sensor off the store machine and the tech installed a new one. I was working full time and really didn’t explore the machine, yet it did seem like it worked okay when I used it. The bobbin threading requires you to thread it ‘blindly’ from the bottom and then check it with a mirror. The thread has to be between a ‘fork like’ thing for regular sewing and inside a clip for embroidery. This is unlike any sewing machine I ever used, and it really took a long time to master the technique. After threading the bobbin, I have to put a mirror under it and then use a flashlight to make sure it’s threaded correctly. That brings me to the actual bobbins. It’s true as Bernina says that the bobbins have 40% more thread then older models but it comes with a price. The bobbins are black plastic with silver paint on the front. (I never thought Bernina would use plastic bobbins) After about a month, the silver paint wears off in spots and wreaks havoc with the sensors in the machine. With this machine, Bernina has introduced updating via the internet. You download a Bernina supplied file; put it on a USB drive and plug the drive into the machine. This worked well until the last update. After the update is installed, the feed dogs no longer lift when going to sewing mode. For the past few months, Bernina has pulled the update off of the web site and instructed you bring the machine to your dealer. For me, it was after this update that the needle threader stopped working. Honestly, before that, it functioned but only about 80% off the time. (for a $12,0000+ machine, I expect 100% of the time) We brought it in to California Sewing and Roza called me a few days later telling me the machine needed a new ‘needle threader’ and it usually costs $300 to fix. He further told me that ‘for me’ he would charge me $150.00. The documented warrantee stated 5 years for circuit boards and 2 years for electrical parts. I was angry, but I did learn a lesson. I decided to name my machine Miss Hilly and sharpen my understanding of the machine.

After watching the DVD again, I downloaded the instructions for the Bernina 830 Tote Bag. The set of instructions I had was sparse and even though I’m an experienced sewest I found them hard to understand and unclear. I want to thank Sue Halter for her help in the completion of this bag. It turned out that there was another more comprehensive set of instructions for this bag.

I do love using this machine. The features are wonderful and it does drive like only a Bernina can. I do have a new favorite goodie Bernina gadget:

This gives me a guide to place the stitching the exact measurement from the last stitching.