Bernette B79 Sewing, Quilting and Embroidery Machine

Description

The flagship of the Bernette range

The B79 is the machine people buy when they want to do everything and only have room for one machine. It sews, it quilts and it embroiders to a standard that would have cost you a great deal more a few years ago. If you are choosing between this and the Bernette B77, the sewing side is essentially identical. What you are paying the difference for is the embroidery unit, and if there is any chance you will want to embroider, it is far cheaper to buy it built in than to add a second machine later.

The embroidery side

The embroidery area is 260x160mm, which is large enough for the things people actually want to make: a full back design on a jacket, a decent sized hoop panel for a cushion, a name and motif across a bag front, without splitting the design and lining it up by hand.

There are 208 designs built into the machine and seven embroidery alphabets, so you can be stitching something worthwhile within minutes of unboxing it. When you want to go further, the USB port takes your own designs and the machine reads a broad set of formats: EXP, PES, DST, PEC, JEF, VP3, VIP, HUS and ZHS. That means almost any design you buy or download online will open, which is not something you can take for granted at this price.

Three hoops are included in different sizes, they clip on and off with a quick release system, and the machine detects automatically which hoop you have fitted and adjusts. Embroidery runs at up to 850 stitches per minute.

The sewing and quilting side

You get 500 stitches: 22 practical, 133 decorative and 35 quilting stitches, plus 17 buttonholes including eyelets and three alphabets for lettering. Maximum stitch width is 7mm and the machine sews at up to 1000 stitches per minute.

For quilting, the two features that matter are both here. You get 230mm, or nine inches, to the right of the needle, so a full size quilt rolls through rather than jamming in the harp. And the dual feed is built into the machine rather than being a walking foot you clip on, feeding your fabric evenly from above and below so layers stay put and the backing does not wave at the end of a long pass. It does the same favour for stripes, checks, vinyl and anything slippery.

A screen that helps rather than gets in the way

Everything runs from a five inch colour touchscreen. Alongside the settings, there are three things on there worth knowing about:

• The creative consultant. Tell it what you are working on and it recommends the stitch, the foot and the settings, so you spend less time sewing test samples.
• The stitch designer. Draw your own stitch on the screen and save it. Nobody else’s machine will sew it.
• Built in tutorials for both sewing and embroidery, so the machine can teach you the basics when we are not stood next to you.

Comfort features you will use every day

• Semi automatic needle threader with an integrated thread cutter
• Automatic thread cutter and automatic tie off
• Knee lever, so you can lift the presser foot and keep both hands on your work
• Programmable foot control with back kick, so a tap of the heel cuts threads or lifts the needle
• Start and stop button for sewing without the foot control, which most people prefer for free motion work
• Needle stop up or down
• Adjustable presser foot pressure
• Four bright LEDs lighting the whole work area
• Drop in hook, quick to load and easy to see

The slide on extension table is included as standard. Take it off and you have a free arm for cuffs, sleeves and hems.

Specification

Sewing

Embroidery

Controls and comfort

What’s included

• Embroidery module
• Three embroidery hoops with quick release
• Ten presser feet
• Slide on extension table
• Knee lever
• Foot control
• Three bobbins
• Two needle assortments
• Seam guide
• Spool discs, felt disc and spool pin
• Brush and seam ripper
• Screwdriver
• Lubricator
• Dust cover
• Power cable
• Instruction manual