
My Hello Kitty! She is going for good on Monday! My Mother said she taught me to love sewing now I need a big girl machine! LOL
Hey Guys!
This has been an eventful week! On Sunday my Hello Kitty Janome started acting crazy. I was in the process of quilting and the bobbin kept acting up. Then the bobbin winder would only wind half of the bobbin. Well this was not the first time I have had problems with the machine since getting it, so on Tuesday I called Janome about my warranty. The sweetest lady said, “Ms. Porter, we will fix it for free but you will have to pay $40 in shipping or you can get it repaired in Atlanta at one of our dealers and pay for labor.” Ummmm that’s not free! She then suggested for me to call the people I purchased the machine from. I did and they gave me a FULL credit! How amazing is THAT!
You all know I went to the Expo last weekend and was thinking of a Babylock. Well I went to the (no where near Atlanta) Atlanta Sewing Center to check out the Babylocks in person. While I was there, the dealer showed me this:
I really liked the Babylock. It came with 14 feet and a table attachment. I felt like this machine was practical and it also came with a case/cover for travel. I am really an accessory girl at heart! I have always wanted a Bernina, (a Bernina is on my Quilting Wish List on my Pinterest board) but never thought it was in my price range…well people it was! Once I told the lady I wanted the Babylock she was like, ” I would really like for you to look at a Bernina.” I said okay and after she showed me two Berninas she had me demo the 350 Patchwork Edition. It sewed effortlessly! Then she said, “If you like this machine, we have it in a special edition. It has hand painted flowers on it.” I am really a sucker for graphics too :0)
After seeing the machine, I went and got the Happy Husband. He was impressed that the Bernina has a steel frame because he knows I can be a little clumsy! Safer for the machine, I guess! Any who, I had to wait until he made the final decision. He saw the machine on Wednesday and finally said I could get it on Friday. Oh Joy!
Here are some pictures of me unboxing it!
My Happy Husband grabbed the manual and helped me unbox it. I swear he read through the whole book. He is capital A-Amazing! Here are pictures of the accessories.

Bee comes with 8 feet, one of them being a walking foot set. Not pictured is he quarter inch foot is on the machine. The foot in the case is a free motion foot. Also, a number of tools.

This is a full shank foot. It has a hole at the top of the foot that you match with the machine then you pull down a clasp and you are ready to go! NO MORE SCREWS!

I have not learned how to use this walking foot yet. I did not know the walking foot had three variations. The Bernina comes with three classes that teach you about the features of the machine.

These are all the stitches and it comes with along with two fonts for creating labels for your quilt.

I actually got my machine on sale! It came with a $100 notions shopping spree! I attempted to spend wisely ;0)

Bee also has a canvas cover. It has three pockets, one for the extension table or books, one for the pedal & cords and one for the accessory bag. I did not break the machine down for this picture but you can also see the knee lift. I am unsure if I am going to use it. Do any of you have a knee lift? Do you use it?
Well guys, I am just the happiest girl in the world right now! There are really no words. I am so happy that I have a great machine that can help me further progress in my sewing. If any of you have Berninas please tell me how you feel about your machine! Also, I have a lot of Janome bobbins if anyone wants them let me know and I will pop them in the mail for you!
Until next time, Sew Pretty!
~Kare
March 17, 2013 at 5:46 am
Oh I am so so jealous. Your new machine is beautiful!
March 17, 2013 at 6:50 am
I’ve had Bernina machines for almost 20 years. They have always been super reliable. Never had a bad one! I use the knee lift constantly. Once you start using it you won’t know what you did without it! The walking foot is a little tricky to get on, meaning you need to turn it at a bit of an angle to get it on correctly. I’m sure they’ll show you in your classes though. 🙂 all my Berninas need a drop of oil every other bobbin and I thoroughly clean out all the fuzz every other bobbin too. You’ll immediately be able to tell if it needs it, the machine will sound different.
I’m currently sewing on a Janome 7700, it’s a great machine but you have to unscrew two screws whenever you need to clean out the bobbin area. It also has a knee lift, which I love.
Congrats on your new machine! I know you’ll love it!
March 17, 2013 at 8:34 am
I’m a Bernina girl also. You will not regret your decision. Have fun sewing on your new machine!
March 17, 2013 at 8:54 am
I can see you’re going to have a lot of fun bonding with your new machine!
March 17, 2013 at 9:00 am
Bernina is the best. They’re proper little workhorses. Enjoy your new machine.
March 17, 2013 at 10:06 am
Sweet! Your new sewing machine looks amazing. Enjoy. There is not telling what you will be cranking out now. Lol! I’m not that familiar with Bernina, so thanks for the introduction.
March 17, 2013 at 12:20 pm
You sound like my friends!
March 17, 2013 at 10:35 am
Congratulations, Kare! I remember when I got a new machine last year. I’ll never forget it, and enjoy it everyday 🙂
March 17, 2013 at 11:37 am
I purchased a Bernina 380 on Friday, March 15, 2013. I am so excited as well, and now I know you are enjoying your new machine, as much as I am enjoying mine. I did not get the graphics, those are beautiful! Have a great sewing weekend. Shelley W
March 17, 2013 at 12:09 pm
I hope you will post about it! I love how it sees my seam are always perfect!
March 17, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Ohhhhh! Love, love love it! Congrats!
March 17, 2013 at 10:27 pm
Wow! Congrats on the new machine. Those pretty graphics are inspiration in themselves to create beautiful quilts. I’m a little green with envy at the walking foot, 1/4 inch foot, and free motion foot. A quilter’s dream! Have fun with the new machine!
March 17, 2013 at 10:28 pm
If you like it that much you should get one yourself!
March 17, 2013 at 11:15 pm
Ok, I love your hello kitty. LOL. But your new machine is beautiful too. I will have to get a fancy machine someday.
March 17, 2013 at 11:16 pm
Hello kitty was pretty cool….but Bee is amazing!
March 18, 2013 at 6:06 am
Oh so pretty! My 35 year old Bernina is waiting to be serviced so that my girls can use it, and I replaced it with a Janome (budgetary constraints) – so I did the opposite of you! But if I had the option of a Bernina as pretty as that I would have been buying it a.s.a.p! Enjoy it!!!
March 18, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Is your machine really 35 YEARS OLD? That in itself is AMAZING! Does it still run good?
March 18, 2013 at 3:24 pm
It was running really well but the tension started to play up – which is why it is waiting for a trip to the machine doctor. My mother’s first Bernina is about 40 years old, and in the last few years, after she replaced it with a new Bernina, she donated it to a women’s prison and the prisoners are still using it now as they learn to sew. It really is a good brand!
March 19, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Congrats on the new machine – love the design on it! I am a Babylock girl but of course Bernina is such a great brand. Thanks for linking up to our blog hop this week!
March 19, 2013 at 4:55 pm
My Bernina came from Atlanta Sewing Center, too! The classes are really worthwhile, they show you different feet (so you’ll buy more…but still…) and how to clean and oil her. And YES you must use your knee-lift! I had never had one before this machine, and I can’t live without one, now! 🙂 I blogged about my Bernina in the hop (CabinFibers) if you want to see her. GL!!
March 19, 2013 at 6:52 pm
Oh, I’m trying not to be jealous!!! =) I have the same machine, which I bought last year…but it’s not so pretty!!! So happy for you. Did it really come with all those various feet or did you have to pay for them separate? Mine only has snap on feet. I had to buy the walking foot and the free motion foot. I’m so curious as to what sort of deal you got on it…and a $100 shopping spree!!!!! That is too cool. Wow. I know you’ll love the machine. I LOVE mine…it sews quilts and bags like nothing. Did you happen to see the #57 foot? If not, that’s one I’d recommend getting if you are a quilter…perfect 1/4″ seams all the time.
Happy sewing!
March 19, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Yes the feet came with it along with the quarter inch foot! It’s an amazing deal! For once I am happy my Happy Husband made me wait or I would not have got that deal!
March 20, 2013 at 10:49 am
I bet you’ll love your Bernina…I love mine. I named her Bunny!
March 22, 2013 at 2:10 pm
It’ll be sad to not see pictures of Hello Kitty anymore, but your new machine is gorgeous! May it bring you years of even tension and the pure joy of stitching 😉
March 22, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Oh Bee! How I love thee!
She’s BEAUTIFUL!!!
Hahah, your Hello Kitty machine cracked me up! 🙂
Thank you SO much for linking up with us for the Hop – I’ve had a lot of emails from ladies looking for their next machine, and they’ve found this hop absolutely invaluable.
I had a tonne of fun reading your post!
Best,
Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy
April 5, 2013 at 7:55 am
Lovely! I’ve been researching this machine for months. I’ve only been sewing for 9 months and started my first quilting class last week. Your enthusiasm is contagious! I feel like today may be the day.
Enjoy!
April 5, 2013 at 3:06 pm
Oh Boy! I hope you get it! I will be checking your blog to see…..they would be cousins! ;0)
April 5, 2013 at 11:21 pm
I did! I got it! It looks just like yours. I started a tumbler quilt kit I bought 6 months ago when I had no idea what quilting was all about. I’ll try to get a photo up when I finish the quilt.
Thanks for the encouragement!
April 5, 2013 at 11:38 pm
That is so exciting! I love the way it sews…is your painted like mine too? It’s sooo pretty! I am very happy for you and glad my enthusiasm helped ;0)
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September 29, 2014 at 9:18 pm
I know it’s been a while scince this post. However I just bought that Hello Kitty sewing machine on Amazon. If you still have the spare Janome bobins, I would live them. I’m just learning to sew myself. Thank you.
September 29, 2014 at 9:34 pm
Sandy,
I no longer have the bobbins, it has been a long time since I sewed with HK! I recently bought a new Bernina…but seeing this comment today made me want to post so I may just share abit about the new machine in my life! I would recommend using the same type of thread and thread weight with that machine. I often sew with Aurifil on that machine. Other than that she is a good girl! If you buy bobbins, make sure they are the correct size for that machine or it will not be good! Believe me I know! HAPPY SEWING!
September 29, 2014 at 9:50 pm
Thank you! Thise are great tips. Looking forward to reading your blog. It looks so interesting!