BERNINA 770 QE PLUS: 10 Features to Love

A year and a half ago, I had the opportunity to upgrade my sewing machine, and today, I’m sharing the 10 features I love on the BERNINA 770 QE PLUS.

I loved my BERNINA 1008 mechanical machine, but I knew there were a lot of features available in newer machine models that could help me take my quilting to a higher level and make sewing even more fun. When I became a BERNINA ambassador, I had the opportunity for a machine upgrade, and I was excited to welcome the 770 QE PLUS to my sewing space.

The 10 Features I Love on the BERNINA 770 QE PLUS Sewing Machine

Let’s count down to my favorite feature!

10) BERNINA Free Hand System (FHS) Knee Lifter

I was always jealous of machines with a knee lift feature. Before working with my new machine, this was the feature I was the most excited about. Having an extra hand when it is time to maneuver tricky seams makes sewing much more effortless.

9) 9mm Stitch Width

Before receiving the 770QE PLUS, I occasionally incorporated decorative stitches into my quilting. Now, I include these stitches way more often because of the variety (more on that in a moment) and the width. Many wider options allow decorative stitches to hold greater visual weight, making them extremely useful when combined with dense straight-line quilting.

8) Digital Adjustments to Stitch Length and Width

My BERNINA 1008 has a terrific stitch quality, but I had to adjust the stitch lengths and widths by turning knobs. This method would have been fantastic if I had only needed to set the machine up once for a project. However, achieving the same stitch settings was sometimes challenging if I needed to switch between techniques.

The newer BERNINA machines have digital adjustments. I always know that if I set my stitch length or width to a particular number, I can return to that setting accurately. For instance, I like to quilt most projects with a 3.4 stitch length. Before, if I were asked my favorite stitch length, I would say “somewhere between 3 and 3-1/2, but a little closer to the half.” Since I teach quilting classes, it is beneficial to everyone involved when I can give an accurate recommendation!

Bonus: Once you have a stitch you love, you can save the stitch settings to return to it for future projects quickly!

7) Decorative Stitching Options

When I upgraded from a mechanical sewing machine, one of the features I was the most excited about on the BERNINA 770QE PLUS was the huge number of decorative stitches.  Now that I have hundreds of options, I use more decorative stitching than ever when quilting. I used to think of decorative stitches mainly encompassing flowing or novelty motifs. There are these options, but I had no idea how many choices I would have for graphic stitches that complement my Modern quilting style.

Many of my favorite decorative stitches use the full 9mm stitching width. This wider stitch combines nicely with my favorite technique, matchstick quilting. Decorative quilting stitches add new texture and visual weight to a quilt without overpowering the stitching around it.

When combining quilting stitches within the framework of a larger project, sometimes you need to adjust the look of each stitch to create visual balance. The B770QE PLUS allows me to change the length and width of decorative stitches to create something that fits nicely into each quilt section.

6) The ability to control when to reset the beginning of the stitch sequence in decorative stitching

Have you ever had to stop and restart stitching in the middle of a decorative stitch? It was a pain to do this on my old machine. I would need to figure out where the machine was in the stitch sequence and pull out stitches until I could line it up again.

With the new machine, it still isn’t fun to line up stitches mid-row, but it is much easier. If I have to restart stitching, I can use the button on the machine to return the sequence to the beginning. Then, I pick out stitches at the beginning of the sequence, knowing everything would line up correctly.

5) Get notified when your bobbin runs out of thread

Have you ever been happily sewing along, only to discover that your chain piecing hasn’t seamed together since you ran out of bobbin thread eight blocks ago?

That feeling is a thing of the past now that the machine will tell you that you ran out of bobbin thread! The machine doesn’t just flash a written warning; it pauses your stitching so you can’t overlook this critical message.

4) Jumbo Bobbin

Knowing when you are out of bobbin thread is terrific, but not running out in the first place is even better. The B770QE PLUS’s Jumbo Bobbin means that you can sew for a long time without running out of bobbin thread. This feature is especially fabulous when quilting or using decorative stitches.

3) Massive Throat Space

As a quilter, I can never have too much throat space in my machine, and the difference between the B1008 and my new machine is extraordinary. The space I have to the needle’s right has nearly doubled, making quilting a large project much more manageable.

This extra space also simplifies the construction of other bulky projects. It’s invaluable when sewing bags with interfacings that tend to hold their shape and are challenging to maneuver in a small space.

2) Presser Foot Pressure Adjustments

Have you ever noticed a slight ripple forming in the top layer of your fabric as you sew? No matter how much you pin, the issue persists. You may have a problem with presser foot pressure.

Adjusting the presser foot pressure directly from the touch screen is easy. After tapping the icon on the home screen, you can drag or tap the controls to adjust the pressure. If you have one of those small ripples, lower the number on the pressure adjustment. Raise the number if your fabric is slipping rather than moving through the machine consistently.

Bulky fabrics, quilting projects, and anything with a lot of thickness may benefit from lower pressure. Thin fabrics such as silk organza may require heavier presser foot pressure.

And the number one feature I love with the machine upgrade is…

1) Dual Feed

The Dual Feed feature is hands-down my favorite feature in my machine upgrade! Many presser feet are available with a Dual Feed option. The letter D printed after the presser foot number indicates that the dual feed feature works with it.

The feed dogs built into the machine move the fabrics through it. Since they make direct contact with the lower layer of fabric, sometimes that layer is drawn through the machine slightly faster than the upper layer. This uneven feeding can cause shifting in quilted projects, misalignment of motifs printed on the fabric, and small tucks in your finished seams.

You can alleviate these issues with a walking foot, which I love for quilting. However, the built-in Dual Feed moves the fabric from the top layer as well as the bottom. Since the dual feed is built-in, it allows you to use a wide range of specialty presser feet that are appropriate for your sewing technique.

The Best Feature of All

Have you upgraded from a manual machine? Or are you considering it?

So far I have been specific with the 10 features I fell in love with on the BERNINA 770 QE PLUS sewing machine. However, the best part about this upgrade isn’t one specific feature. The transition between my mechanical machine and the BERNINA 770 QE PLUS was practically seamless.

I expected a huge learning curve when I moved to a machine with many new features. While there were a few new skills to learn, the essential functions of the machine work in a similar way on both machines. The format of the screen functions is intuitive and easy to navigate. I expected to spend months learning to use my new machine, but I picked up all the basics in just a few days of active sewing.

If you are thinking about an upgrade, please give it a try. The newer machines are approachable and have lots of fantastic and helpful features!