Well, I am now a Bernina owner and really, it was not the plan. I took my Elna in for service, DH doing the carrying. He asked the woman about Berninas and she told us about the "show special" from Road to California Show. DH wanted a demo, he loved it and now I have a Bernina. It was under $3000 (still a lot of money) but much less than I thought it would cost for a Bernina. I haven't gotten it upstairs to my sewing room yet so I've not tried it.

I almost feel guilty about my Elna, it is an incredible machine. I think I will finally be able to let go of my Singer Athena 2000. I think I only kept it for sentimental reasons. I made a lot of clothing for my children with it.

It's been very helpful to read your opinions, I really appreciate your offering them.

JoAnne in southern California

I took a class from Ricky in Minnesota and what he said there and I have heard from him in Super Seminar and at retreat is this. Buy the best machine that you can afford that will do what you want it to do. I would love to own a Bernina with the double blanket stitch and the BSR but right now I have two Vikings that do most of what I need and the rest I compensate for. Maybe someday the Bernina of my dreams will live in my house but if not, I will survive. I am a Happy Quilter and will live with what I have. Hugs to all of you, Ann

Amen! Same goes for cameras, or any other "tool"! A true artist can make any tool sing.

Have you "Tinkled" today?
BrinkOfNorway wrote:

Do you know what I think??? The best sewing machine is the machine that does what you want it to do in the way you like it to be done and dont exclude or include a spesiffic brand

It is with sewing machines as with cars...a greate car does not make you a greate driver! The difference are in the drivers skills

Conversely, I don't like the implied "Bernina Snobiness".

When I worked in a Bernina store people would avoid saying what they owned if it was not a Bernina. Somehow if I found out what they owned I would think the worst of them, or I would quit talking to them. Interesting.

I have to tell people at classes, or when I mention my machine, that I do not think that I am the best, that I have the best machine, etc. I am not that way, and it aggravates me to have to tell people that I am not that "Bernina snob" they make me out to be.

Where does this come from? I can't figure it out. Was there a herd of Bernina owners long ago that got together and each decided to be a Bernina snob? Anyway, I hope it melts away. It is silly.

I do not have a Bernina...And I do not want one eighter

But I do not mind if there are commercials for Bernina at this site..or Gammil....or anyone else for that matter
We live in a world where we find commercials every where, and the companies that are sponsoring movies, films, sports etc do not do any harm. As costomers we just need to know what we want and what we can afford, thats all there is to it

All of you who loves your Berninas feels the same way as I do for my Janomes. Good thing the kids dont live at home anymore...if house started to burn I will save my sewing machine and my quilts and leave for the others to save themselves :shock:

Any greate sewing tips regarding the Bernina can be translated to my machine

For what it's worth, Alex is also a paid Bernina Educator. It's her JOB! I am thankful that Bernina is able to put big bucks behind TQS for its survival, because I can't imagine life without it now!

I recently purchased a 1947 Singer 201-2 in a beautiful cabinet on e-bay because it's just like the one Mother taught us to sew on, and my sister got Mother's machine when she died 22 years ago. Just having that memory in my sewing room makes me smile!

The most recent show with Sue Nichols had Ricky and Sue demonstrating decorative stitching that is probably on any of the newer machines--I'm really learning alot from these demos!!! I did buy my Bernina with some of the inheritance from my Mom. I wanted to have something really nice to keep forever from her. I think most of us equate sewing with Mom--my Mother taught me alot about sewing even though I had home ec classes. JoAnne, if you aren't sure about buying an expensive machine right now, you should consider a Featherweight or the 301 machine that a member of TQS is offering for FREE. I have two Featherweights and I really love them--they're really a dream for piecing and taking to classes. The BEST thing about them is that they were meant to be completely serviced by the owner. I took a class at Road 2 CA a couple of years ago and now I never have to take it in for service. I do it ALL by myself!!!

I'd love to add a Bernina to my little collection, but I can't justify the cost. There are many things that are more important for me right now.
I am very grateful to Bernina and the other sponsors-I've gained so much from this site.
Have a great day,
eileenkny

ipquilter wrote:
Sherry, I've bought many things on ebay but never thought to look for a Featherweight! Hmm. A few years ago, my sister had one that she wanted to sell. At the time, I had neither the money nor the desire to have it. Times change many things.

JoAnne in southern California, where I got to meet Alex at Road to California. What a delight she is!

JoAnne-I got my Featherweight on e-Bay and got a pretty good deal. Check it out!
Sherry

JoAnne, Featherweights always come up second-hand, so you could buy yourself one.

Lorchen

It's very interesting to see how this thread has evolved--from a pet peeve to warm thoughts about mothers and memories! Just like a real conversation with a group of friends....we do digress, don't we?
Anyway, it has made me appreciate the fact that my mom, an 80 something, still comes for weekend visits with her friend, toting sewing machines and projects. The living room is transformed into a sewing room, where they are quite productive (I rarely manage to sew a stitch though
Happy quilting!
susan

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I spoke with my sister about it last night, we were together because we were both attending the Road to California quilt show (it was fantastic!). She agreed that a Bernina is the thing, even though she doesn't have one, but declined to advise me as to whether I should or not. So, I will put that amount aside and just save it. I've still got the last Christmas money my mother-in-law gave me in 1997. I've been waiting for something special. I think I will combine it with money coming from my mother and think about it. Thank you all, it's really helped to "talk" about it.

Both my sister and I would have loved to have the machine Mom taught us on, a Featherweight. But, Mom traded it in to Sears years ago, for a new machine! (Groan!)

JoAnne in a very warm southern California