I bought a 570QE about 18 months ago. It’s a lovely machine with lots of features and I thought it was pretty much the same as the Artista 630 I’d previously owned. It was, but isn’t nearly as smooth to sew with as the Artista...
I’d drooled over all the bells and whistles. Particulately the safety features such as telling it the straight stitch plate is on which stops any zig zig stitches being selected. And it had sooo many lovely decorative stitches but sadly no snowflake pattern which I really wanted. In reality I don’t need all of this. I know what foot to select for which stitch, and which stitch I need for what I’m sewing.
So much of the computerisation behind the lovely colour screen is all about advice which an experienced sewist really doesn’t need. It’s far too expensive for a beginner which all the advice seems to be aimed at. It’s a shame Bernina doesn’t sell machines with ‘options’ for things like the BSR and the walking foot. That way the basic machine could be purchased for a lot less money and the expensive ‘options’ could be bought if needed.
So, moving on to today and I’ve sold it. I found myself constantly using my Activa 240, which is a Swiss made, more straightforward computerised model. This has all the features I like, needle stop position, knee lifter (big thank you to whoever invented this!), and pattern end. It was my ‘go to’ machine and I like it’s simplicity.
The 570 model is the best machine in the range at the moment and is about 80% Swiss made. It’s the only model my engineer recommends with his hand on his heart. The 5.5mm stitch machines are way better than the 9mm even though those patterns on the 9mm machines are so pretty! The 570 is still in the Bernina line up - at the moment - but if the newest 5 series machines really take off then you can expect the 570 to be discontinued. If you can wait a while there will probably be deals to be had (but not huge ones as this is Bernina we’re talking about!).
All in all I can whole heartedly recommend the 570 but I do think it’s a lot of money especially if you’re not going to use the BSR. BUT... keep the 830 they’re in a league of their own. I recently had the old bakerlite foot control on mine reconditioned (for about £60) and the speed control on it is superb! As good as any new machine I’ve ever sewn on and I sew very tricky items and need good slow speed control.
Choosing a machine is a very personal thing and it’s easy to get lured into buying one with all the gizmos. I found I just didn’t use the vast majority of them and preferred a simpler machine that would start up as soon as it was switched on without having to ‘boot up’ for 2 minutes. Mind you I did enjoy seeing it say ‘Hello Clarie’ while I was waiting.
It’s so much fun choosing a sewing machine enjoy whatever you decide to buy!