When you have had the same sewing machine for a number of years and feel it’s time for an update, how do you know it’s the right thing to invest in a high end machine?
I took overly long pondering this exact question, here’s what I thought once I had taken the brave pill and opened the box on my new Bernina 770QE Plus.
Jump straight to:
- Summary
- How we tested
- Bernina 770QE Plus review
- Where to buy Bernina 770QE Plus
- Our verdict: should you buy Bernina 770QE Plus
- Looking for more sewing machines?
Summary
A premium sewing machine with a huge selection of features. Its spacious, well-lit throat space makes the working area feel fantastic. Its huge touch screen display means I can stop and start stitches exactly where I want them to.
The solid feet are strong and, with the built in dual feed facility, the machine coped brilliantly with all sorts of projects from quilts, jeans, zips, and delicate nets for making sewing pouches. I’m excited about getting to know this incredible machine!
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How we tested
The first project I tested this machine on was a Today’s Quilter cover quilt and it didn’t let me down. I moved on to some dressmaking projects, including delicate fabric for a graduation outfit, wool trousers and linen shirts.
These sort of projects meant that I had to move around different stitches, different feet and changing threads. As it was a new machine, this meant that I had to use the manual and the inbuilt tutorials. As usual for me, dotted amongst the sewing for pleasure garments, there are always magazine quilting projects.
Bernina 770QE Plus review
Key features
- Dimensions (in): 20.5i x 8.4 x 14.1
- Throat dimensions (in): 10 x 5
- Weight (kg): 14
- Touch screen: large colour touch screen with a touch pen
- Lighting: 30 LED
- Number of stitch options: 1809 including alphabets
- Stitch width: 9mm
- Stitching speed (stitches per minute):
- Auto needle threader? Yes
- Auto thread cutter? Yes
- Bobbin holder: Large, holding 70% more thread than standard bobbin
- Extra features: Detachable table; Transparent area to see lower bobbin; Knee lift and programmable pedal sensitive foot control.
- Carry handle/case: Soft cover/case with pockets for the pedal, power cable, slip on table, knee lift and accessory box.
- Warranty: 7 years parts and labour
- RRP: £4250
Stitch options - 5/5
There are a huge variety of stitches within the machine - 1809 in fact - including several alphabets. These are grouped into folders e.g. general stitches (Straight, Zigzag, Blind-hemming, Overlocking, etc), 18 automatic Buttonhole stitches, Alphabet fonts, Decorative stitches, etc.
There are probably way more stitches than I will need, but when you have such a magnificent choice you don’t feel like you are wishing it offered more.
This Bernina has been designed so that you can adjust and manipulate stitches to suit your project. There are eleven different needle positions allowing for accurate adjustments. You can also adjust the stitch length and width.
These features are all clearly displayed in the large screen. The screen will show the needle position as you sew, this means that if you want to stop and start stitches with precision you can.
Again, this is always something that has been manual on the Bernina 140QE and really down to user skill – and I didn't always get it spot on! The Bernina 770QE Plus certainly made light of this.
Bernina is well known for its reliability with its stitch, and this machine doesn’t let that history down. The Bernina 770QE Plus has a built-in dual feed facility that can be brought down and used with various feet.
It works like a walking foot, helping any bulkiness in the seams or fabric pass through the machine. This, along with the solidity of the Bernina feet, helps create consistency over the stitches.
Ease of use - 5/5
The touch screen is large and central on the sewing machine, allowing for ease of use and clear visuals when working. It’s very easy to glance at the screen whilst sewing and see stitch length, width, or any other settings. The graphics are magnificent, with incredibly clear visuals on such things as decorative stitching and button holes, highlighting exactly the position the needle is at.
The manual is handy and clear to find pages with good images, but there are also inbuilt, touch screen tutorials (built-in manual) and creative consultant information which is also within the touch screen. If you are a visual learner like me, this is a super help.
There is a general similarity when threading any sewing machine. This level of Bernina has an inbuilt lowering of the foot as soon as you bring the needle threader into action. This immediately creates more space to complete the threading.
The Bernina 770QE plus comes with bobbins which hold 70% more thread than the standard sized bobbin.
The bobbin connects with a sensor in the bobbin case area to tell you when they are nearing the end to warn you before you run out. This can be deactivated.
There is a thread trimmer in the bobbing area to trim the thread to the optimum length, which reduces long tails when sewing.
Like most electronic Berninas, even my trusty Bernina 140QE, the Bernina 770QE Plus recalibrates every time the power is switched on.
It is very easy to switch between stitches, and the machine will also return to the size and width of a previous style of stitch e.g. if you switch between straight and a zigzag, decorative stitch etc.
One example of how this machine makes stitching easier is when I needed to add seven buttonholes to complete a shirt. After testing and setting the desired size for the buttonhole, the machine automatically remembered it, eliminating the need for me to adjust it each time.
Seven perfect buttonholes were created effortlessly. All I had to do was position the needle and sew. This process was much easier than with the more basic Bernina 140QE, where I would have had to manually monitor and instruct the machine on which part of the buttonhole to sew.
The Bernina 770QE Plus comes with a BSR function. This is a Bernina foot that becomes integrated with the computer technology within the machine, regulating any free-machine stitching. This allows the user to keep stitches consistent no matter the speed you like to free-machine quilt/sew.
There is no doubt that this is a machine you must familiarise yourself with to learn all that it can do.
This was not my first Bernina, but it was the first time I have had a needle threader and semi-automatic thread cutter - that can be set up to work from the heel tap pedal control. Needle-up/down can be programmed or deprogrammed.
Portability - 5/5
The Bernina 770QE Plus is a big machine. It is 20.5in x 8.4in x 14.1in. This is a heavy machine, there’s no getting away from it but that’s what gives it its strength.
It comes not only with a 10in “throat” – that is the space to the right of the needle area, but also a 5in space height in the throat area. It has two thread spool holders.
I would say it is not the sort of machine you could comfortably carry back and forth to classes. I have taken mine to a class and enjoyed using it but I would highly recommend a trolley for this. In fact I still have my Bernina 140QE for exactly this sort of thing.
Initially I was disappointed that this machine did not come with a hard carry case like my older Bernina 140QE.
The Bernina 770QE has a soft cover with enough pockets to accommodate the power cable, pedal, knee lift, detachable table and the accessory box. It is a soft slip cover which protects the machine from dust rather than a carry case/cover, but in that respect it doesn’t add any extra weight.
Without question the Bernina 770QE Plus has the standard superior quality feel of a Bernina sewing machine. It is solid, robust and really feels like it will cope with light and heavier weight fabrics with plenty in between.
Bernina sewing machine feet come as one whole piece which are easily interchangeable, even with one hand. There is a built in dual feed mechanism which interacts with many of the presser feet. This can also help when sewing with heavier weight fabrics.
The Bernina 770QE Plus comes with 7 year warranty for parts and labour. This is not something I have had to use previously which highlights the reliability of the brand.
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Machine results - 5/5
I am predominantly a quilter and my sewing machines have always been purchased with that in mind, however when choosing this machine I did take into account my increased interest in dressmaking.
Working in cottons and linens that are my regular go-to fabrics in patchwork are a dream on this machine. I have worked on PVC in bag/accessory making and found using a regular foot with tissue paper worked perfectly. The machine coped admirably. There is a Teflon foot to aid with this if you choose to add this to your collection.
The price and quality of Bernina is reflected in the smooth running and sound of the machine. In this case I would say, you get what you pay for.
The Bernina 770QE is a quiet giant. It is enormous compared to my old last Bernina 140QE.
Within the accompanying accessories, a small bottle of sewing machine oil is included and the machine will let you know when it needs a few tiny drops of oil added. The large display area will show you where the drops should be added.
This regular maintenance of the machine keeps everything gliding along beautifully and is part of the normal home maintenance that should be carried out on any machine i.e. removing dust and threads and keeping the machine clean.
Bernina has a solid reputation in the world of quilting and the expectation is that their machines can cope with a variety of needs from the quilter. This machine did not let that down. It is a quilters machine and had absolutely no issues working with various layers of fabric.
I am only one year in with this machine. My Bernina 140QE is still stitching after 23 years. That more basic machine was my main sewing machine and I still use it for some stitching. My expectations are that this Bernina will offer the same reliability and durability.
So far the Bernina 770QE Plus has proved to quilt beautifully. User experience will grow and as I get to know the amazing extras that come with this machine I’m excited at the ease with which it will work for me.
Value for money - 4/5
I purchased the Bernina 770QE Plus from The Sewing Studio Ltd. I am a fairly prolific stitcher making quilts, quilt samples, home furnishings and dressmaking. At that time there was an offer from Bernina which included a Bernina 450L overlocking machine.
As I was looking to replace my machine and contemplating this model or at least models close to it, this offer made it a great option for me. The company I purchased the machine from also offered 0% finance which really worked out well for spreading the cost of such an expensive investment.
There is no doubt that this machine is a commitment. It is in a price bracket that many would find incomprehensible to pay for a sewing machine but the other side of that is, if you sew a lot and want a machine that you will grow into it is a wonderful tool. Especially if you have had a more basic machine. You pay for what you get, and you get a lot with the Bernina 770QE!
What’s in the box:
- The Bernina 770QE Plus sewing machine
- Detachable sewing table
- Knee lift
- Accessory box with some sewing machine feet
- Pedal
- Cable
- Manual
- Soft cover with pockets
Where to buy Bernina 770QE Plus
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Our verdict: should you buy Bernina 770QE Plus
If this is a machine that keeps catching your eye and you are seriously thinking of buying it, I’d say it is a wonderful addition to your sewing room. It is a solid, reliable, well-lit machine that could possibly last you a lifetime.
Rather like buying an expensive car that offers you the extra comfort of heated seats, heated steering wheels and a boot you can open by waving your hand - it is a luxury model – but there are some things out there, if it’s in your price bracket, that are a pleasure to own.
The Bernina 770QE Plus is that machine, I was not disappointed and I am looking forward to the years ahead learning to work with it.
If you can test this machine out before you buy, have a go. It’s a joy to sew with and so far I have nothing but good to say about it!
Looking for more sewing machines?
We've got several comprehensive sewing machine reviews here on Gathered, as well as roundups of the best sewing machines, including the best sewing machines for beginners, best computerised sewing machines, and best sewing machines for quilting.
