Sharon,

I just got a Q20 about 2 weeks ago and absolutely love it. I am surprised you are picking up your Q20 and it isn't being set up for you in studio. Putting the table together is challenging, and both the table and the machine are heavy. I think it can be done without the dealer because the directions are clear, but you will need help and then getting rid of the giant boxes will also be a little challenging.

Nevertheless, I am pretty confident you will be very happy with it. It is not a complex machine like the 830 (I have one of those too and love that, but apparently you did not have the same experience). There is some information on the internet with videos, etc, and you can download the manual, which is different from the instruction book that comes with the machine. I have some blogs about my Q20: The Q20... and My own quilting retreat, in which I show some of my practice pieces.

The things I love about it: The stitches are beautiful and even. If you tried quilting on the 830 with the BSR, the BSRs on this are like professional tools compared to a nice tool to use once in a while. BSR1 works best for free motion movement; BSR2 works best for ruler work, and BSR3 is a basting stitch, then there is the non-BSR mode. Ruler work is really easy with it; You can really see what you are quilting and it will slow way down or go really really fast with ease.

But it requires a little bit of practice.
Best wishes...let us know how it goes.

Hubby said yes so I pulled the trigger and bought a Q20 sit down machine. I have to wait until next weekend to go pick it up. This is going to be the longest week at work ever!!!! I have been struggling with another sit down long arm since the day I bought it 2 years ago. Bernina only had rumors floating of a long arm then and they were rumored to be very expensive when they came out. Well after my 830 nightmare I didn't want to be the first in line! So I bought another brand. Boy was that a mistake, or maybe just my individual machine was a mistake. Two years later I'm quilting on my domestic and the long arm sits with 224k stitches on it.

So I can't wait for the new Bernina to come home to momma next weekend. Happy 4th of July to me!!! I have 3 quilt tops just waiting for it. One thing I'm really looking forward to is being able to use all different kinds of threads. My flop machine will only allow one type & weight of thread through it. And it does that horribly at best.

Would love to hear from anyone else who has a Q20 and any insights or suggestions you have are truly welcome.

Then to top off the day when I was at my dealer, I found myself face to face with Alex as she was in Sacramento teaching a class. What can I say, I was star struck! It was an honor just to be able to speak to her momentarily.

Sharon