Good Morning, Quilters,
It’s that time of year…
We are purchasing presents for everyone on our list–maybe even for ourselves?
Like my daughters, Faye and Nora, wouldn’t it be fun to start out the 2019 with a new sewing machine?
THE BERNINA Q20–ONE YEAR REVIEW
It’s been more than a year since I purchased the BERNINA Q20 Sit-down, long arm quilting machine (Read my first Q20 post and reasons for purchasing it HERE.)
Many of YOU have been asking for an updated review…
THE LONG ARM DILEMMA
For my entire quilting life, I have stitched on domestic sewing machines–in other words, all of my quilts were made on a tabletop machine with a small harp space. I dreamed of more harp space and more table space…
But I didn’t want a long arm for three reasons:
- I didn’t want to stand to stitch. I love to sit and sew!
- Long arm quilt machines are expensive.
- Long arm frames take up more space than I can spare.
What I was looking for in a machine
- Large harp space
- Beautiful stitches
- Easy to adjust tension
- Reliability
- Easy access to a dealer for help if needed
BERNINA Q20 LOVE
After more than a year of stitching on the BERNINA Q20, I can honestly say:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this machine!
It is all of the above and more–pure sewing enjoyment.
The Q20 is intuitive to learn, requires minimal maintenance and has been completely reliable. The stitches are beautiful. The tension is easy to adjust for different thread weights and the harp and table space=heaven!
BUILT IN STITCH REGULATOR
Unlike domestic machines, the Q20 has a built-in stitch regulator with three different modes. (Let’s save that for another day) At first, I resisted the stitch regulator, because I never used one on my domestic machine, but now I use it regularly.
I especially like the stitch regulator when I’m dabbling with ruler work.
TABLE CHOICES
When I purchased my Q20, the beautiful cabinet/table was the only table option and was included in the price of the machine. The table-which comes is several finish options (mine is white)- is 36 x 45 inches and comes with expandable inserts. The expanded table is 36 x 77″. (I keep my machine in the expanded position.)
Currently, the Q20 is still offered with the original table, OR you have the option of a foldable table at a lower price point.
USER ERROR
The only problem I have encountered is from inserting my bobbin backwards. The machine stitches for about twenty seconds and then the thread breaks. For some reason, my tendency is to insert it wrong. The BERNINA logo should be visible and it should rotate clockwise.
ONE SMALL DOWNSIDE
The one downside to the Q20-it doesn’t have the automatic thread cutter to cut the top and bobbin thread with the push of the button. This feature is available on the BERNINA 770QE, so I was surprised it was not available on the Q20.
(I believe it was not possible because of engineering requirements of the built-in stitch regulator.)
You must pull the quilt out and cut your own threads…
Do I sound lazy? LOL!
NOT A SEWING MACHINE
You might wonder…could you buy a Q20 instead of a sewing machine?
The Q20 is a quilting machine… not a sewing machine. It does not have feed-dogs which are necessary for normal sewing.
The Q20 does not replace a regular sewing machine.
CONVERSION TO A LONG ARM on a FRAME
The Q20 is a long arm quilting machine. I love that I can use it as a sit-down machine…
However, the Q20 can be put on the BERNINA frame!
That was a great sales feature for me. Choices!! I’m not interested right now, but I like having that option in the future!
BERNINA AMBASSADOR DISCLAIMER
As you may know, I am a BERNINA Ambassador. Because of my work as a blogger, author and educator, I was honored to be invited to the official BERNINA Ambassador program. This program allows me to attend BERNINA events, teach in BERNINA classrooms, and occasionally purchase BERNINA products for a slight discount.
I do not receive any reimbursement for writing about BERNINA.
This review is purely informational and I hope it is helpful.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE Q20
Overall, I can unequivocally say that I LOVE the BERNINA Q20 Quilting Machine! It has a huge harp space, beautiful stitches, easy to adjust tension and is reliable–no servicing required at all!
THE NEXT LEVEL OF QUILTING
If you have been sewing on a domestic sewing machine, the BERNINA Q20 Sit Down Quilting Machine is a natural progression to the next level of quilting. The extra space is liberating and the learning curve is less than an afternoon.
YOUR REVIEWS!
What about YOU?
Are YOU considering a sewing machine purchase?
Are YOU considering a quilting machine purchase?
What are YOU looking for in a machine?
Do YOU have a Q20?
What do YOU think?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Happy Stitching!
Lori
#moreroom
#morequiltingfun
Proud to be a BERNINA Ambassador!!
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com.
22 comments
Kathi Riemer
Thank you for posting this information!! You and I have the same thoughts about quilting machines. I went through the same discussion with myself and after looking at both a long arm and the Q20, I picked the Q20-afterall it can be turned into a long arm if I want one. Mine arrived yesterday. I’ve set up the table and unpacked the machine. Today the machine goes on the table and I start reading the manual. It’s so great to hear the rave reviews.
bbquiltmaker
I’ve had my Q20 for more than 3 years and LOVE it, fo all the reasons you discuss. And my quilting keeps getting better. Best decision ever!
Cathy
Thanks for your review. I’ve been fmq on my babylock symphony for 5 years now. I’m doing more ruler work and I am struggling a bit with the throat space and the placement of the ruler. I would love to have a long arm, but not enough space nor money. Then I realized the mid arm would be perfect. It will be in my near future. I will be checking out differant brands next year. I have a local Bernina dealer and will check there first. I like the idea of the built in stitch regulator. Your review was very helpful.
Granny G
The Bernina is a great machine. A member of my quilting group uses one (a regular machine, not a quilter) and she swears by it for both sewing and quilting. Even though I’ve been sewing since I was a kid, when I retired and joined my church quilting group about 2 years ago, I knew absolutely nothing about quilting. But It didn’t take me long to fall in love with the creativity and the process! Unfortunately, neither my 30-year old little Baby Lock nor my newish standard size Brother machine were up to the task. I like both brands so I went looking. I wanted a machine with lots of technological features; auto foot lift, laser guide, bobbin winding while sewing, the largest throat space I could find on a domestic machine, a large selection of stitch styles and more. Originally, I wanted the Baby Lock Crescendo with its 11.25” throat space & super features but nearly choked when I saw the price. Then I came across a Brother Innovis VQ3000, which is virtually the same machine, right down to the large throat space! (I’ve read that many Brother/Baby Lock machines are manufactured at the same factory.) It was a demo model for 1/2 price & my sweet hubby bought it for me. I’m extremely happy with it! It has lots of useful features including auto-cut & needle down which I find very useful for quilting. The throat is large enough to handle a queen quilt and I think I could get a king in it too. It sews beautifully and is super for learning FMQ. I’ve become much more confident trying different FMQ motifs (especially yours) since buying it.
I’ve not had a demo for any sort of long arm machines because they’re WAY beyond my budget and will most likely not be affordable – for me anyway – in my lifetime. Frankly, I don’t have the room for one, let alone I can’t even see myself using a big stand-up long arm and moving the machine rather than the quilt, I don’t think I have the right motor skills for that. Perhaps I could work with a Sweet Sixteen sit-down machine or something similar but I’m blissfully happy with my Brother machine. I can do all sorts of sewing on it, from clothing to leather to quilting.
Still, it’s delightful to hear other quilters are happy with their Q20’s etc. We’re all different and we have different quilting styles, so it stands to reason that we would like different machines. So, aren’t we lucky there are so many good ones to choose from???!?!!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy Hanukkah everyone!
Barbara Wrobel
I have a Viking Platinum 16. It came with a stitch regulator but I just don’t like using it. It is a wonderful machine and was more affordable for me. I love free motion quilting and so enjoy the machine.
Rosemaryflower
I love your review. This machine is a dream. I can see that you love it
I would really love to have a machine like this, a sit down one. I can focus better.
I do not make huge things where I need to be standing and I like to be in control too.
I have looked at the Sweet 16. I believe that is the least expensive. Not sure
Thank you for sharing your marvelous visual review!
Rita
I`m glad your Q20 has worked out so well for you. I`m still just using my domestic machine, but it`s a Janome and has a good-sized harp space. Some day soon, I hope to look into a quilting machine like the Q20.
Lorraine Doyno Evans
Hi Lori, I have a HandiQuilter Sweet Sixteen. My only complaint is that it seems to take quite a long time vs a stand up long arm. Stand up longarmers seem to be able to zoom through a project while I have my quilt under the needle for months. Any advice on that? Also, does your Q20 stitch regulator work like a mouse that you have to hold and drag along with your quilt? I never got the hang of mine and abandoned it. My stitches seem to be ok without it.
quiltbabe (@quiltbabe)
I still use my Virtuosa 15 QE on a regular basis. I’ve been considering a long arm, but have started looking at sit down long arms, for much the same reasons as you. I have the studio space, with a bit of rearranging, for a sit down long arm, even with a table like yours, kept expanded. Still thinking about when to start testing machines…
Pamela J Remley
I have been quilting on my Bernina 153QE since 2001, and on a Montgomery Wards machine from their catalog for 20 years before that. I have wanted a longarm machine for many years, but did not have the space or the money for that. I have followed you for a couple of years now and I was very impressed by your original post about your Q20. While I was in Idaho visiting family I had an opportunity to take a Q20 for a test drive at a quilt shop in Boise. OH MY GOODNESS. Life changing. Based on your recommendation and that test drive I was determined to make this happen. When I returned home to northern CA I went to my LQS, a Bernina dealer, and inquired about this machine. I waited for a bit until they had a special deal going on, and ended up buying the floor model at great savings. It only had 55,000 stitches on it (and I’m fairly certain that many of those were mine!). I’ve had “Q” since May of this year, and I love, love, love her! I have the Q20 on the white table also. I agree with every bit of your review today except the thread cutting issue. Never having had that feature on a machine before means I don’t miss it at all on this one! My only wish is that my LQS was more knowledgeable and supportive of this particular machine. The owner/salesperson did not even know how to thread it. If it ever needs service or parts I will probably have to travel three hours to Sacramento for that.
Linda Seitz
I have the Q24. I really liked the Q20, it felt like home as I had been quilting on my domestic Bernina. The deciding factor for me was that I seem to do quite a few larger quilts, and I liked the idea of not having to find a large surface so that I could baste my quilts. I did not purchase the computer for my 24, but that was also a consideration. The learning curve in going from my domestic to the stand up was considerable. When I tried the Q20 at my dealer it was just like quilting on my domestic. I love my Q24, but often wonder if I shouldn’t have gone with the Q20 on a frame so that I could have change to the table as my needs and physical abilities change.
Betty Jo Tatum
I too love my Q20, which I have set up as a sit down with the extensions on the table all the time. It is amazing and I do use the stitch regulators and the kick start. I love your blog. Cheers.
dianne birnie
Lori, I’m so envious! I would love to have a Bernina Q20. I purchased another brand which doesn’t have a stitch regulator and I sometimes find it difficult going from a long-arm with a regulator to a mid-arm without one. Anyway, you were having a problem with cutting the bobbin thread without removing the quilt from the machine. Google APQS Video Tutorial “How to bury threads”. It shows you their technique of how to cut the bobbin thread. If you want to cut the bobbin thread very short, us the technique and cut the thread off right as it pull through the fabric. I use this method even on my Bernina 550QE to cut bobbin threads.
Piecequilts
Oh— i love my Q20. It just purrs. I clean it regularly. Recently i have been using it for basting i pin baste first then machine baste. I know it is extra work,but, i have issues with sprays. And this works nicely for me. The stitches are beautiful as are the stitches on all of my Berninas. My 530 Record, purchased in 1969 is getting very tired. I used it at least 5x a week for 20 years. My 1030 is happy, my 1090 is on loan to my daughter and my 440 is for taking to classes. I use my 780 almost daily. It is an absolute joy‼️ Frequent cleaning, oiling, as well as needle changes especially using the correct needle for both thread and type of fabric, keep my babies very happy.
Darlene B
My dream would be to have a Q20 machine. I love the orientation of the machine and think that alone would help with managing the bulk of a larger quilt. I appreciate your updated review – I was wondering how you liked it after having time to play with it!
kathy nyquist
I, too, LOVE my sit down long arm machine. Mine is an Artistic Quilter SD18. It stitched like a dream, and the table that comes with it is nice and big with a fold down leaf. Even though I’m getting pretty good at self regulating my stitches, I wish it had a built in stitch regulator. Hmmm….I may have to go take a look at the Bernina Q20 and consider a trade in!
Brenda Perry
I love, love, love my Q (almost as much as I love your blog!)! I bought a floor model “Q” almost 20 months ago. It has nearly 8 million stitches (at least 4 million are my own) and is still going strong. I also did not think I would use the stitch regulator, but now I love it!
Cheryl L Isaac
I have a similar Bernina – a 153 Virtuoso and I still love mine as well! I’ve seen the Q20 at a local quilt shop but purchased a used floor model Handi-Quilter Sweet Sixteen which is a sit-down like the Q20 because it was very affordable.. But I love the fact that the Q20 has a built-in regulator would definitely consider one when I’m ready to up-grade. Thanks for the review!
Mary
I had mine for a year and I love it. I still have a lot to learn and practice but this machine is GREAT !!!!
Deb
Lori…….I love you blog & especially your tutorials! They are very informative and helpful to me that doesn’t seem to have a creative thought in my pea brain! My mom & I had been drooling over a Q20 for a couple years then stumbled upon an almost new Q20 that a quilter was selling due to health issues so we jumped on it! I am the lucky one that won the “fight” to have it in my home! No fight……I had the room. We’ve had the Q20 for more than a year and I am still practicing……….a lot. I find I have to know exactly how something works before I can master it so I’m still learning but I love it and also have a Bernina 430 sewing machine. I use bsr2 for ruler work also but wonder what mode you use when fmq. I find manual mode smoother. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please continue to post your tutorials…..I always look forward to them.
Theresa Kennedy
Hi Lori
As a fellow “Kennedy” and quilter, i have been following your blog and articles for quite some time but have never commented before. Free motion quilting is a skill i intend to master, go beyond the stipple and love your doodle method. I can barely draw a stick figure so practice and patience is my mantra. Your review of the Bernina Q20 has me intrigued and I hope to find one to look at in 2019. Saving my pennies! Thank you
Cheri
I would at least like to try a Bernina, but I’ve been a fan of Pfaff for as long as I can remember. I do have a long arm machine and love, Love, love it, but the fact that Bernini can be a sit down or a frame machine is very tempting!
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