Bernina 640

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Bernina 640

by Deb Baley
(Merill, Ore. USA)

I thought I loved it. But I bought it for the BSR and have had nothing but trouble with adjusting the bobbin to make the back of the quilt look good.

It is impossible to make the bobbin stitch look right on the back. I would like to have the company take it back. But I have had it over a year and do not know if they will take it back.

I am so frustrated that I do not even like the machine anymore. I just want to be able to get going on a quilt and do not want to have to spend hours trying to adjust the bobbin. I have never been able to get the bobbin right.

My dealer says you have to work with it. Well how many hours do you work with it before it take all the fun out of it.

I wish I would have never spent the money. I feel ripped off.

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Bernina 640

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Mar 22, 2009
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Getting help from your dealer
by: Anonymous

Deb,
That sounds really frustrating! You say you have talked to your dealer, but can I make a suggestion? You should be getting better service!

Can you schedule a time to take a sewing sample and YOUR machine in to the dealer, and set it up there in her shop (or her classroom) and show her what problems you are having with this stitch? Bernina shops should have staff that know the machines inside & out and are experienced sewers and quilters that can help you.

Did you take a class from your dealer? I bought my Bernina 440QE just for the BSR* feature and took a free 4 hour class a few weeks later called "Mastering Your Bernina", which was a hands-on introduction to our new machines, where we sewed stitch samples and took notes. Bernina makes a free workbook specifically for these introductory classes. Our dealer offers many other sewing classes, including several classes specifically about the BSR and everything you can do with this feature.

I'm guessing that you need to adjust either the bobbin tension or the top tension, or use a different weight thread. Did you change the foot pressure? We were instructed to change the foot pressure to 35 with the 440QW when we practiced with the BSR on a sample quilt. Did you try a brand new Schmetz needle from a different pack? (Stitch formation problems can happen with a defective or damaged needle.)

If your dealer doesn't offer classes (I don't think Bernina would allow a dealer to get away with that, but it's possible I guess!) you might want to look to a local quilting guild, or find a quilting fabric shop, to find a machine quilting instructor familiar with Berninas and the BSR.

I hope your dealer will work with you to get you back on track, as the BSR is really a marvelous machine quilting tool! If not, start calling around, and asking other dealers for advice, and travel to another shop for a class.

If all else fails, perhaps you could plan a vacation to lovely Lancaster PA and schedule a visit to the Hinkletown Sewing Shop, owned by a Mennonite family, and located in an outbuilding on a rural farm in Northern Lancaster County. This shop has been the # 1 Bernina Dealer (in a single location) in the US many times in the last 20 years. People make day trips from all over the East Coast just to purchase a machine here or to have theirs serviced or repaired! This is a shop with expert staff and affiliated sewing instructors who teach here & in other locations nearby. Several people in my recent class said they called the shop with questions, when they had a problems with their new machines, and one of the staff could often suggest a solution over the phone.

This shop will always take your used Bernina (and sometimes other machines) for a fair trade-in on another machine from their inventory.

I love the BSR feature. Please don't give up until you get a satisfaction from your dealer, or find another dealer that can help.

GGS
March 2009

Nov 12, 2009
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Similar Issue with BSR
by: Anonymous

Hi I was surprised that you have the same issue I was having when I first started using my BSR. For some strange reason I decided to change my thread. I was using a King Tut variegated thread and it was causing loops on the back of the quilting. Then I used a Mettler silk finish and didn't have a single problem (besides running out of thread three or four times with those small spools). I tried going back to King Tut but saw the same loops. I'm convinced it had to do with the thread for some reason. Good luck and I hope you don't lose hope. I agree with the previous commenter, the BSR is a great tool!

Nov 12, 2009
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Bernina 640 with BSR
by: Anna

I LOVE my Bernina 640 with BSR! It sews like a dream and I love the stitch regulator. Once I figured out the correct type of thread to use it works great! It has really boosted my confidence in my ability to quilt my own quilts!

I highly recommend Berninas to anyone who can get one, and with some financing options these days it's not really just a far away dream anymore. Just beware, once you sew on one, you'll never want to use anything else!

Nov 17, 2009
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Bernina 640E Sewing and Embroidery Machine
by: Anonymous

The Bernina 640E sewing machine is not user friendly. It is a difficult machine to learn to operate especially when using the embroidery mode. The accessories are extremely pricey. Most presser feet are $30 and up. The cost of updating Bernina Embroidery software is two to three times as much as other brands plus the updated software is a CD--no new hoops or accessories.

I have owned several top of the line machines and will never spend my money on another Bernina. I went to the Babylock Ellegante2.

Jan 21, 2010
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640E
by: Anonymous

I've had my Bernina for 1 year ---and it is a hate relationship. Never have I been so displeased. I have a Kenmore that is 40 years old and a small Singer that have never given me problems. My Bernina has been in the shop more times than I could count --- it was even sewing backwards for awhile. They had to change out all the boards -one by one - so I had little usage during the year. It is extremely sensitive and the cost of the bobbins etc is astronomical. They should warn you when you buy it that it is so costly for the parts--$700 for a BSR -- come on ---- they talk you into buying it for that feature and then say "Oh yes, that part is extra"

Feb 20, 2010
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I have the Bernina 640 and the NEW 830!!
by: Carolyn Malone

I started out with an old treadle machine when I was in high school. When I first got married my husband bought a very basic Singer for me, which I still have. About 15 years ago I bought a Husqvarna/Viking, which I gave to my daughter in law after I bought my first Bernina. My first one was the 430 Aurora. I traded it back in to the Bernina dealer for the 640 Artiste, which I love!!!

When the NEW Bernina 830 came out I thought I had to have it also. I bought it too, but I still sew more on the 640, I suppose its because I'm used to the 640. It does everything I need to do and I will not be selling it or trading it, but I would not buy the big new 830 again. Its truly amazing what it will do but it gets complicated at times, and it was very expensive!

Apr 04, 2010
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Bernina 640E
by: Cheri

While using the BSR it just stops every 15 minutes or so. I have to turn it off and on again to reset. I brought it in and they said my BSR foot needed to be upgraded.... well that wasn't it, because it still happens. I know others love theirs but mine is surely a lemon.

Apr 12, 2010
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Bernina 640E
by: Ann

Nothing but problems! I have had the Bernina 640E sewing machine since Sept 09. It has been in the shop on 3 different occasions and has now been sent back to the home office. The sensors go off every 30 seconds, the thread lopes and the embriodery unit jumps when embroidering.

They have replaced the bobbin sensor twice and the board once - still doing the same thing. I've asked to have it replaced or my money returned but they refuse to do either. They just keep supposedly fixing it.

I am very disappointed with this machine. If I could get my money back, I would purchase anything but a Bernina!

Oct 26, 2010
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Embroidery good; daily sewing nope
by: Anonymous

I have to agree with those who want to love their machine but end up doing more cussing than sewing. I thought at first my problem was getting used to an computerized machine. But still problem persisted that always seemed to be with the threading. Just how many times can this be done so it's to the machine's preference? I also purchased (at a separate time when on sale) the BSR and haven't had a good time with that either. One last thing that bugs me is that the needle is slightly off-center (off to the shop for it) so it's very hard to get an accurate seam. For many things I make, I require a very accurate seam. Some seams are nearly to the thread. Of course, my results are great too when I get the seam desired.

I do use good thread; been a fan of nice threads for a long time. I'm not new to sewing; been stitching for nearly 50 years (started quite young). I like my old Viking (33 years old) and a newer one, the Quilt Designer (that I bought over frustration with the Bernina), and even my ancient treadle (no I'm not the original owner LOL).

I do like the embroidery I can do on the Bernina so I keep it for that. Embroidery takes a little futzing anyway and this machine can crank out some nice things. But for everyday sewing, I'm on my Viking.

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