Bernina Bernette Deco 600 Review
Easy To Use Embroidery Machine

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If you are new to machine embroidery or want to learn the skill, putting in some time on the Bernina Bernette Deco 600 embroidery machince is possibly one of the best ways to learn.

The Bernette Deco 600 sewing machine is not new. In fact, it's been around for about ten years or so.

Some may be tempted to call working on the Bernette Deco 600 "Machine Embroidery for Dummies." It's just that easy.

The Bernina Bernette Deco 600 is designed for home use only and comes with standard 220 volt wiring.

Users in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta are cautioned to discard the standard electrical plug that comes standard with the Bernette Deco 600 and replace it with one that is compatible to the electrical current available in those countries.

They are further cautioned to replace the fuse cover and never use the plug without the fuse cover in place.

The Bernina Bernette Deco 600 features hands off operation, meaning that once you begin producing your design, it is not necessary for you to touch the machine at all. It is so easy to operate, it not only tells you how long it will take to complete your embroidery project, it also tells you how much time is left once you get started.


Before you even start sewing your machine embroidery project, the Bernette Deco 600 will let you know how many thread colors each design requires, and its hands-free operation stops to tell you when to change thread colors. It will also alert you as to when the bobbin thread is low in order to avoid that annoying problem of running out of bobbin thread in the middle of an intricate project.

Bernina Bernette Deco 600 Review

The power switch and electrical connections are conveniently located on the right side of the machine. From threading the machine to choosing a design through execution, the Bernette Deco 600 takes you through the entire machine embroidery process with ease, yielding high quality results every single time that even the most savvy, experienced machine embroiderer would be extremely proud of.

Even if you do not have immediate access to the owner's manual, the user-friendly LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) touch screen will walk you through every step. The illumination on the LCD screen can be adjusted to the room light. The instruction panel changes with each function, providing detailed instructions and how-to tips for the novice machine embroidery artist.

The panel of six selection keys located on the upper right front of the Bernette Deco 600 provides prompts for instructions and guides that are visible on the LCD panel. Each key brings up a different set of instructions and options. The selection keys and their functions are:

• The 'characters and designs' key brings up the options or embroidery characters and patterns.
• The 'basic operation' key helps users learn how to use the Bernette Deco 600.
• The key marked 'modify and advise' helps the user trouble shoot any problems that may arise during operation of the Bernette Deco 600.
• The 'card' key is engaged to access designs stored on the memory card installed in the slot at the lower right side of the machine.
• The 'memory' key is used to retrieve previously used designs and patterns stored in the memory of the Bernette Deco 600.
• The 'stitch adjustment' key is used to change the design's stitch width. Users should be aware that this option is not available for use on every embroidery design.

If English is not your language of choice, the Bernette Deco 600 can be programmed to provide on-board instructions and guidance in ten different languages, including Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, French and Portuguese. Once a different language is selected, all instructions, error message, and guides will appear in that language until the language choice is change once again. Switching back to English is as easy as the touch of a finger.

Decals on the top and face of the Bernette Deco 600 make threading as simple as child's play, and your eyes can rest because the needle is threaded automatically. All you have to do is make sure the needle is in the uppermost position.

Winding the bobbin is just as easy with the handy on-board bobbin winding guide mounted on top of the machine. After the bobbin is threaded simply go by the easy to follow guides to place it into its see through case beneath the throat plate. Don't worry about pulling the bobbin thread up through the throat plate because the lower thread comes up automatically right after you snap the bobbin cover shut. The Bernette Deco 600 even cuts off the excess thread for you.

Once it's threaded, operating the Bernina Bernette Deco 600 is as easy as selecting one of the pre-loaded designs or choosing a design from one of the many design memory cards that can be purchased separately.

The original accessory package that comes with the Bernette Deco 600 includes: a cleaning brush, a screwdriver, scissors, needles, large and small spool caps, horizontally and vertically marked embroidery sheets, bobbins, seam ripper, an extra spool pin, an embroidery hoop, a plastic machine cover, and a net to be used to control the release of metallic or very fine embroidery thread.

If you purchased your Bernina Bernette Deco 600 used and some of the accessories are missing, finding them is not difficult. New embroidery hoops and design memory cards, compatible with this Bernina Bernette model are readily available at sewing centers and on-line vendor sites such as e-bay.

However, it may not even be necessary to purchase additional design memory cards anytime soon. The Bernina Bernette Deco 600's 32 pre-loaded designs span a broad range of choices, including monogram fonts, children's designs, wildlife, floral patterns and many design more options. The Deco 600 gives you the freedom to adjust your finished embroidery design height and width from the size of a dime to up to 4" by 4".

Loading the embroidery hoop with fabric and stabilizer is a cinch. The adjustable screw mounted on the side of the embroidery hoop allows fabric and stabilizer to be set snugly without any fuss. The hoop then very easily snaps into place on the guide bar located on the base of the machine.

When embroidering onto a very small piece of fabric, a corner or the edge of a piece of fabric or on ribbon, it is important to use two-sided tape a basting stitch to secure your fabric to another piece of fabric before inserting it and the stabilizer in the embroidery hoop. This will avoid bunching or binding of your threads while the design is being created.

This machine is so smart, it even stops when it detects that either the upper or lower thread has broken. Fixing the problem is easy with the Bernette Deco 600 'back-up' feature.

If your thread should break while working on a project, simply rethread the machine and select the 'back' option on the LCD screen. The Deco 600 will automatically go back to the point where the thread broke and pick up where you left off. When you press the start-stop button, you will be able to finish your machine embroidery design just as if the break never took place.

If the machine cannot detect the exact point where the thread broke, you can use the 'reverse search' option which will go back to where you started with that particular color and then select 'forward' to take you to the place where the thread was broken. Then all you have to do is press the start-stop button and go on to finish your design.

To begin stitching your machine embroidery design, depress the start-stop switch. The needle will move slowly at first and speed up once the button is released. Then just sit back and watch your embroidery design come to life. It's not even necessary for you to touch the foot pedal.

The machine will stop on its own when it is time for you to change thread colors. When it does, the needle will stop in the up position. So all you have to do is change the thread color and lower the presser foot then just relax while the Bernette Deco 600 does all the work.

Storing finished machine embroidery projects in the Deco 600 memory is achieved in just a few steps. And retrieving saved designs is even simpler. The memory function is not only easy for the novice machine embroiderer to use, it's easy to follow step-by-step instructions are displayed on the LCD screen.

The only thing to remember is to insert a memory card with enough space to store your design and re-insert it when you are ready to retrieve and re-create your brand new design. Be sure to turn the power off before inserting or removing a memory card. Failing to do so may cause potentially irreparable damage to the memory card. If that happens, the designs on that particular card could be severely damaged or lost altogether.

Care must be taken when inserting design memory cards, however. It is essential that cards be inserted with the arrow pointing in the proper direction. If inserted improperly, the card connector could be permanently damaged, rendering the card unable to be used. To prolong use, design memory cards for the Bernina Bernette Deco 600 must always be stored in their original cases when not in use.

The only feature of this machine that is not automatic is the tension adjustment. Adjusting the tension on this Bernina Bernette is so easy that it can be accomplished in one or two simple steps. As with other machines, thread and fabric density must be taken into consideration before setting tension.

In addition, it is always advisable to take a few minutes to test the tension adjustment using the threads and fabric you selected for your project prior to beginning any new machine embroidery project on the Deco 600. This way, you will be certain that your final machine embroidery design will come out the way you want it to look.

Users are cautioned to plug the Bernina Bernette Deco 600 directly into the wall socket for optimum operating results and to unplug the machine if a power outage occurs. Not only will this avoid the possibility of damage caused by a power surge, it protects your unfinished machine embroidery project as well.

The drawback, however, is obvious. If the power goes out while you're in the middle of a project - especially an intricate one - you may think that you have literally wasted time, fabric and energy creating a design that is essentially worthless because it is unfinished.

In lieu of a surge protector with back-up battery power - which is ill advised for this particular machine - unplug the machine and wait until it is safe to turn it back on. Then follow the directions for finishing the project after the thread breaks using the 'forward search,' 'reverse search,' and 'forward,' and 'back' options on the LCD screen. The same holds true for users who find that they must stop working on their machine embroidery projects on the Bernette Deco 600 before completing them.

Changing the light bulb on the Bernette Deco 600 requires using a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the cover, located on the left side of the machine. Be sure the power switch is turned off and the machine is unplugged before making the change.

Maintenance

The Bernina Bernette Deco 600 embroidery machine requires lubrication every 100 hours and takes only a few seconds. You can purchase a light weight machine oil to perform this task at any sewing machine dealer or service center. The lubrication process requires just a tiny drop of oil applied to each of the lubricating points at the top and bottom of the presser foot. Just make sure the machine is turned off before you get started.

Cleaning the Bernette Deco 600 is not so simple, however. After turning off the machine and unplugging it, you must use a screwdriver to remove the presser foot, needle, throat plate and the inner rotary hook (bobbin housing) along with all of other the removable parts beneath the throat plate.

Use a lint brush to clean the entire mechanism and remove all thread snips, lint and dust. After replacing everything to its original position, reconnect the machine to the power source and turn it back on. Then give it a test run by sewing a sample embroidery design.

If you cleaned and oiled it properly, and got rid of all the lint, loose thread and debris, your Bernette Deco 600 will be humming along, creating lots and lots of trouble-free machine embroidery designs for many years to come.

Pros & Cons

The Bernina Bernette Deco 600 is an excellent choice for beginning machine embroiderers, but the home sewer with lots of machine embroidery experience may not be satisfied with its simplicity. The Deco 600 is lightweight and easy to move from one place to another, but unlike a traditional carrying case, the soft plastic cover is not conducive to moving it around.

Retracing your steps after a power outage or stopping before finishing a project is challenging. It may be easier to simply discard the unfinished project and start over.

If you get this machine used and the manual did not come with it, you will find that it is not available online. If you go to the Bernina/Bernette website and search for out of date manuals, you will discover that the only out of print manual for embroidery machines is for the Bernette Deco 500, which is available in six separate PDF documents. Go ahead and download it. The graphics and instructions are identical to those in the original instruction manual for the Bernette Deco 600.

Final Rating

The home sewer with limited work space will not find the Bernina Bernette Deco 600 to be a practical selection. When home embroidery machines first hit the market, they were more viable. However, with the increased availability of machines that sew as well as embroider, a machine that embroiders only may not be the best choice.

When you consider the price tag - between $300 and $600 - purchasing a machine with such limited functionality seems even less appealing. If you want an embroidery machine and are lucky enough to find a Bernina Bernette Deco 600 for $100 to $200 or to receive one as a gift, then go for it. Just make sure you have the space to accommodate it.

We would like to thank Pfaff Sewing Center for lending us a Bernina Bernette Deco 600 for this review.

Have you been using a Bernina sewing machine? Tell us what you think about it on the Bernina reviews page or take a look at already submitted reports!