Hi, my name is Carleen and welcome to Carleen4You! I am passionate about fashion trends, clothing design, sewing and creating patterns. I enjoy making my own clothes as much as I do helping others on their sewing journey. I also love making videos on art, exhibitions, fashion shows, hair care (colouring) and health (weight loss).
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My mother-in-law gave me this machine when she down-sized. My Singer just broke and I didn't look forward to "learning" a new machine. I read the instruction manual and was just playing around online when I found this video. Thanks, Carleen, for this resource. I have a project that I need to complete posthaste for my new book. This will make the learning curve much less curve-y!
All of the 800 series machines were SO good. The 830 was top of the line as it had the most stitches, and a slighlly wider throat space than the other 800's (but only ~ 10mm). They were expensive (very) at the time too.
Kerosine will dissolve old solidified oil. Penetrating oil may help if something is seized, if that fails heat (hairdryer - heat gun if you are REALLY REALLY careful as it will ruin paint if you get things too hot)
I inherited this machine from my mom a few years ago and just love it. I had a cheaply made 1990 Pfaff before that which was mostly plastic and I can really tell the difference with an all metal machine. The old ones are the best! My bobbin tension is messed up and I can't sew stretch knits very well. Any tips for these issues?
This is an excellent video. I have a 50-year-old 830 Record and I love it so much. I would love to see a video about using a double needle with this machine. Would it create a cover stitch?
It will create two lines of stitching on top, with a sigle thread zi-zagging across underneath. Not a genuine cover stitch, but it will stretch. You may have to drop the top tension a bit or increase the bobbin tension to get it the way you want it to look. That's a bit trial and error.
Open the top (pull the "nose" outwards to the left then lift the top - it just clicks open) Open the top of the arm (press the lever inside the bobbin area - top left). Turn the machine by hand and oil anything that moves or rotates. You can do more, but for routine maintenance that'll be enough. Use high quality oil made for sewing machines. Don't overdo it as it will attract dirt and lint. Oil the bottom of the hook race - as a rule of thumb - for every new bobbin.
Carleen, this is an excellent video, thank you! I just bought a Bernina 830 Record and love your slow-motion close-ups in threading the bobbin (my immediate concern!) and your beautiful directions for opening up all the parts of the machine.
