Viking Designer Topaz 30

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Viking Designer Topaz 30

by Barbara
(Australia)

I previously owned a Viking Rose machine for 10 years and had been very happy with it but, as I am now teaching machine embroidery basics, I wanted a more modern machine with larger hoop capabilities. I bought the Viking Designer Topaz 30 sewing machine as it was well priced and I was impressed with the test sewing I did on it.

I am very happy with the Topaz 30. It performs both sewing and embroidery tasks with ease. The quality of the stitching is good and I have not encountered any problems with stitching out the more difficult embroideries such as the thick thread velvet or lace designs. It is relatively easy to change from sewing to embroidery mode with the embroidery module being very easy to put on and take off.

I love the sewing adviser which tells me what needle and foot to use when I select the type of fabric I am sewing. I have just started sewing a silk jacket and so far it is coming together nicely with the machine taking the silky fabric in its stride.

I have not yet tried free motion embroidery but I am sure it will perform beautifully.

The Viking Designer Topaz 30 is a quiet, fast machine and I would recommend it to anyone considering a sewing machine with embroidery capability.

The user guide is well written but does miss a few important points such as how to step back through menus. An accompanying CD or DVD with demonstrations of the most important features would be useful.

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Viking Designer Topaz 30

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Sep 10, 2009
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happy customer
by: helena llewellyn south wales uk

you are very lucky to have found a machine that works perfectly for you. i hope you have many hours of perfect sewing and enjoyment. it is really nice when things come together without a load of hassle from a new machine. enjoy.

Nov 07, 2009
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Thread nests and shredding
by: Anonymous

I have encountered great difficulty with my Husqvarna Topaz 30 with the thread nesting in the bobbin area accompanied by bad shredding of thread just above the needle area. In fact, it is so bad I cannot use it for the quilting or big embroidery designs I bought it for. As usual, the dealer blames it on thread, etc. This is the second Husqvarna Viking embroidery machine I have owned, and I will never buy a third. Both have had serious stitching problems.

Jan 23, 2010
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Viking Topaz 30
by: Karen

My Viking Topaz 30 sewing machine is a year old....has had some problems since the beginning and it has been in for service but the technician says they can not recreate the problem. The thread seems to get hung up in the first thread guide and then it lets go and this jerking motion causes the thread to then form a loop in the bobbin area which then causes a rats nest. It worked fine for about 8 hours of sewing after the last serving and then gradually got so bad that it won't stitch a 3" seam without this happening. The machine seems to embroider fine but I bought it for more than that! It goes back to the shop again tomorrow....what a pain!

Apr 11, 2010
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threading problems
by: Carol

I have owned a topaz 30 for a year now the problem I have is that the thread comes out of the uptake arm and this causes the rats nests underneath if I am not there to watch it as it will stitch on until the thread breaks, I have taken it back to the dealer and they can find nothing wrong but then they don't do a big embroidery, of over 4,000 stitches. If anyone can help please let me know a sI can not afford to change it and I want to do lots of embroidery on table coths and napkins for my family and any mistakes will show up. Thanks Carol

Apr 15, 2010
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Thread Take Up lever
by: Barbara

Carol

Try threading the thread take up lever from left to right, you may find that it helps keep the thread from jumping out of the lever. Another thing to try is to turn off the automatic jump stitch trimmer. You could also try putting your threads onto a separate stand at the back of the machine.

Regards

Barbara - still enjoying my Topaz 30

Jun 11, 2010
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Topaz 30 thread problems
by: Carol

I have a topaz 30 and have the same problem having been told its the thread, needle , stabiliser the way i am threading it but the answer is to have the modification to the up yake lever fitted by your dealer I found this out when I went to Malvern Quilt Show on May 13th 2010 I was told this by Jamie the Eduction Educator my dealer was made aware of this and said onlt threepeople to his knowledge complained about the problem, if this is so why did they do a modification, hope this is useful.

Jun 15, 2010
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Need Topaz 30 help!
by: Anonymous

I just purchased a Topaz 30 and used it once to embroider...did great. Now every time I try to use it, it tells me to attach the correct hoop, even though I am correctly attaching the hoop size the machine recommends. I have used the SET menu to add my hoops and even if I try to use another hoop compatible with the design size, it tell me the same thing. Can anyone help????

Jun 16, 2010
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Hoops
by: Anonymous

Dear Anonymous
When you load an embroidery, it may have a hoop size designated that does not match the hoop you have in. Click on the hoops menu and make sure you select the hoop size that you have in. Also make sure that the hoop is properly clicked into the holder.
Regards
Barbara

Jun 16, 2010
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hoop sizes
by: Carol

Hi I had this probleem when I only added the hoops I had so my tutor at the day I had my training told us not to do this because you are limited to the hoops you have . If the hoop is smaller than the ones you have then you can not stitch them out so you need to go to the next hoop size to do this hoop up your fabric in the hoop you have that is larger than than the one asked for and attach it to the embroidery unit and then go to hoop sizes icon the one at the top and then scroll to find the hoop size and make sure you place a x in the box then ok it and hopefully fingers crossed the machine will alter the hoop size for you. i hope this works if you have software to alter embroideries you can go in and change the size of the hoop or resize the embroidery so it fits in the hoop you have. Make sure you have the resize button clicked as it will then alter the stitches for you as well. Best of luck Carol

Jun 16, 2010
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Need Topaz 30 help...still
by: Anonymous

Hi, I'm the one with the Topaz 30 not recognizing the hoops. I went in and de-selected my hoops like someone suggested, but still no luck with the machine recognizing my hoops. The one time that it did work was with the same design that I am trying to get it to work with now (I tried another design, too, same thing). When I choose the design from my USB stick, it tells me to use the 240 x 150 hoop and that is the size that I have the shirt hooped in and installed correctly, clicked into place, everything. The first time I stitched it out, I went into the hoop section and chose to up it to the really big hoop, because I wanted to try the hoop out. The designed stitched out fine. Next I hoop up a t-shirt with the same largest hoop, go in and change to the larger hoop size under "hoops" and it tells me to attach correct size hoop. I rehoop the shirt with the suggested size (240 x 150), change the hoop choice to the suggested one instead of the larger one, still same command to attach the correct hoop...ugh! I currently have a Platimum 955 and just wanted to upgrade to the Topaz for the big hoop size. I bought it on ebay, factory sealed, brand new, but now I can't even ask my local dealer for help because she will be upset that I didn't buy it from her (she really will), but I got it for $700 less than she was going to sell me a floor model. Have I bought a lemon?? I just want to use it to sell my monogrammed items and now I feel that I have made a huge mistake. Any more help???

Jun 17, 2010
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hooping problem topaz 30
by: Carol

I don't know how your husquvarna dealerships work in the US but in the UK any Husquvarna dealer will look after your machine as I had a similair problem and went to a different dealer that the one I brought it from and they were OK about it. Just try and see what she says I am sure she will be able to help as it does come with a guaranttee so no you haven't bought a lemon and I expect it is something simple that has happened.

Jun 23, 2010
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so far so good
by: sue

I got my topaz 30 on the 18th of May. I used the snot out of it for a week doing some embroidery work I'd promised someone I'd get done, only to find my poor old Pfaff 7570 couldn't cut it. So, had been planning on a new machine and the Topaz 30 fit the bill. It did that embroidery work excellently and, I had no problem transfering my knowledge of the PCD software over to the new package I got with the Topaz 30. So far, so good.

BUT THEN when I went in for my classes I started to brush away what I thought was a cat hair from the frame only to find out it was a crack...my machine had been 'demoed' to someone else and had been dropped, then sold to me!

The dealer was embarassed and made it right immediately so I had no complaints there and in fact they were so fair with me that I would not complain.

But I noted the replacement they gave me had some issues with thread tension. So darn tight I couldn't sew a flat seam with it. I had to go in and lower the tension manually to something really low.

THEN I noticed that while sewing with other threads I didn't have to do that.

The problem was with a newer spool of Coats and Clarks' cotton black thread. I've never been real keen on C&C anyway but this is one of the new spools that doesn't have that "slit" in the cap. Still it was horrible going through the tension. I tried some others, gutterman and even a really old spool of monalycke they all worked great with the machine setting a the default for tension.

I'm still working with the unit and so far I like it. My suggestion to anyone with issues is be sure the thread isn't causing you a problem. I know it's cliche but it's also true.

Aug 13, 2010
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Topaz 30
by: Anonymous

I have successfully used the Topaz 30 for a year, had the initial problems of thread breakages and shredding but with dealer support, these have been ironed out.I consider the Topaz, in conjunction with a computer close by, to be an embroidery work horse.
However, I miss the colour screen and cursor showing embroidery progression. However, vigilance and knowledge of design sequence are a compensation. I love the larger hoop, and choice as to what hoop to use. I have kept my D1 as a backup sewing machine, the Topaz having highlighted its positives. The bottom line seems to be: not to buy a machine immediately it is released unless you are prepared to deal with the frustration of many trips back and forth (which I had!) It was a significant growth curve!

Aug 14, 2010
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Wrong hoop message
by: Anonymous

I see identical problems from several people. I created a design on my computer and chose the Designer Topaz 120 x 120 hoop. When I attached it and began to sew the design the machine told me to "attach the correct hoop". So I got on the Internet and tried to find an answer. I read your suggestions and tried several things but it still says the same thing. I have contacted the HVS support group but have not gotten a response yet. Do you have any suggestions on how I can get this hoop to work?

Aug 15, 2010
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Selecting Hoop Size
by: Anonymous

If your machine says that the incorrect hoop is loaded then press the hoop button and go to the menu and choose the 120x120 hoop. You may find that this gets the machine to accept the hoop. Also check what hoop size is displayed on the screen when you load the design - you may find that it has defaulted to 100x100 and hence you need to take the step I just described. Yahoo have a very good Topaz Group on which people can discuss the problems and joys of the Topaz machines.

Aug 29, 2010
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Viking Topaz 30
by: Pauline

I have never learned to sew but I fell in love with the Viking sewing machine when I was about 22. It was the first really free-arm sewing machine I had ever seen. I signed up to take a beginner quilting class (crazy), so I had to buy a machine. After looking at many, I decided to buy a Viking & my husband went with me to purchase a Viking Topaz 30. We were told I would receive lessons on how to use it but the lessons were so terse, short and I just could not grasp all the information.

I did go out to Joann's & the ladies were extremely helpful, even though I had not purchased my machine from them. It is difficult for me to cart the sewing machine to a class - it is big, heavy and I am not young. I really need to learn to sew because I do want to make some crazy quilts & other things.

I have spent all this money & I can't just let this wonderful machine sit gathering dust. I realize this is a problem many people would love to have but I need some advice on what to do. Are there any books I could purchase that would help? The Viking books all seem to go immediately into embroidery & difficult sewing - no books for beginners.

I can't expect my husband to buy me another machine since this one was so expensive. Please help. Books or classes or both. I am open to suggestions. Thank you.

Aug 29, 2010
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Viking Designer Topaz 30
by: Barbara Powers

I have had nothing but problems with the Viking Designer Topaz 30 sewing machine. I have three sewing machines and this is the only one that I have problems with. The L shaped arm that catches the thread keeps messing up.

I have had it fixed four times in the last few months (and would have had it fixed more often if I used it more). I don't know what the problem is, but would love to find someone that could fix it so it stayed fixed.

Aug 29, 2010
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Topaz 30 sewing problems
by: carol

I have had my topaz 30 for 18 months and Viking have brought out an adaptation for the uptake lever it took the engineer about 1/2 hour to fit it and also to update the software on the machine It has taken me since March to get it fitted and now it purrs like a sweet pussy cat no more bird's nests and contantly watching my machine to make sure it does it properly. I live in the UK but according to my dealer only the first batch of machines had this fault. You could try contacting Husquvarna direct to see if this is the problem with your machine,

Aug 29, 2010
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lessons
by: Carol

In the Sewing world magazine they were advertising some DVD on how to use a sewing machine and the titles lead you through most simple steps. I know how frustrating it can be when you get your new machine and you want to learn how to use it. Another good place is the internet, try typing in sewing machines for begginers and you should come up with some suggested sites, that is how I learn't to machine quilt. I live on Exmoor in the UK and I am very isolated and find a lot of useful things on the internet. I hope this helps. carolyn Duncan also does some very good dvd's on sewing and are simple to follow she is in Austrailia but she ships world wide. Hope this helps.

Aug 30, 2010
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Love this Machine!!
by: Debby

I sew for a living & purchased a Topaz 30 just before Christmas last year. I have had absolutely NO problems with it! I love this machine. I sew leather freqauently, as well as sewing custom slipcovers and embroideries. No problems. Sews easily. Never thought I'd find a machine better than my old #1+, but this one is. For those of you complaining about lint build up near the bobbin case, disassemble the bobbin and the part under it, then hold a vacuum hose above it to suck out the lint. I do this and it works like a charm!

Dec 15, 2010
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am looking for
by: Cheryl

I am looking for a basic embroidery sewing machine that will do the alphabet. I currently make dog clothes for a breeder and she would like her name of her kennel embroidered on each article. Any suggestions ? please contact me at hippyskitten@live.ca

Dec 16, 2010
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BEST SEWING/EMBROIDERY MACHINE
by: Carol

I bought a Topaz 30 which has had an upgrade which comes as standard now with these machines mine came with 4D organiser and 4D Quick Font this allows you to use any font on your pc to make embroidery fonts the Topaz in the UK is about £1700 and for its money is fantastic value.

Dec 21, 2010
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Take up lever thread problems
by: Judy

I've had an issue with my Topaz 30 since I bought it about a year ago. The thread was jumping out of the take up lever and causing the bobbin to act abnormally. To fix it I had to repeatedly re-thread the machine. Annoying to say the least.

A month ago, I took it in to my dealer who retro-fitted the take up lever with a device designed to stop the thread from jumping out. He knew of the problem and the part was under warranty. Well, now, the problem has returned. Has anyone had this problem AFTER it has been fixed?

Dec 22, 2010
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UPTAKE LEVER
by: Carol

Yes I did have problem when I was doing embroideries and to solve it just take the speed down a step or two as when the machine is at full speed and there are alot of jump stitches the thread is pulled through to quickly and then it jumps out. I know the embroidery will take a sligthly longer time to do but at least your not spoiling your work.

Dec 23, 2010
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Problem Solved!
by: Anonymous

I'm the person who posted this past summer about the Topaz 30 always giving me a message of "attach correct hoop," even though I was using the hoop that it suggested. I spoke with a Viking dealer nearby and she nailed it right away...I was pressing the "button" that you push to release the hoop (located to the right of the needle, where the hoop attaches to the embroidery arm) when I slid in the hoop. You are NOT supposed to push in the button when attaching the hoop-- only when releasing the hoop. Now that I just push the hoop in without pushing down that button, no problems whatsoever!

Also, I have has a few problems like others with the thread nesting under the hoop and it has always been solved by not pulling up on the thread when the machine starts and cuts off the thread with each color change/step...I just let it go, push the start/stop button, trim the thread or jump stitch and then press the start/stop button again.

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