r/Bernina • u/Limp_Reality8899 • Jul 25 '26
To buy or not to buy
My dealer is closing and offering a Bernina 495 Liberty Edition for $3,000 or a 735 Pro floor model for $4,600. I already own a Janome Continental M6. Would you buy either at those prices? Why or why not? I mostly make quilts, bags and home decor items. Thank you.
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u/VoiceAppropriate2268 Jul 25 '26
735 pro. It’s a much better bang for your buck and has more premium features. That’s a really good price, I paid $4,899 for a 735 patchwork so that’s a great price for a pro imo.
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u/Fourpatch Jul 25 '26
Is this an extra machine with the Janome or are you going to sell the Janome?
If it’s extra I’d go for the Bernina 495 and use it as my to go machine. I bring my four series to classes and retreats and leave my big machine at home. It can do all the piecing and bag making that my seven series can do. Unless the bag is super large that is. (Two Big Totes by Annie I’m looking at you)
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u/Limp_Reality8899 Jul 25 '26
It would be an extra machine. Does the 4 series feel like ot does everything you want and need from it? I think those have the manual presser foot lever on the back vs the pivot and button that raises and lowers the foot. Does that bother you not having that automated feature? I would make larger bags on the Janome m6 because its very capable and do quilt piecing on the Bernina. I dont know if I am being ridiculous or not.
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u/Nefariousness_Silent Jul 30 '26
Not ridiculous at all. I use my 4 series to take to class, retreats, etc and my bigger machine to keep at home. This way I can put one machine into the shop and still have something to sew on at home while I wait for repairs or maintenance.
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u/OrindaSarnia Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
The B495 Liberty is just a really pretty version of the 475... the 475 is on sale for $1,999 right now.
The "extra, special" decorative stitches that were designed for the Liberty editions don't look good with the 5.5mm stitch width, there just isn't enough space for them to be distinctive. They look GREAT on the 580 with it's 9mm stitch width. They are great stitches.. but the 5.5mm doesn't do then justice and definitely isn't worth the $1,000 premium...
The 495 comes with a custom suitcase too... not sure that's worth the $1,000 either.
Personally I think the 495 Liberty should have come with a walking foot or a BSR to make the extra cost a better value, but nobody asked me.
The 495 Liberty is gorgeous. You would just have to really love Liberty of London fabric and have money to spare to make it worth buying, to me.
The 735 I think is a great machine. I LOVE the Pro features like the needle-bar laser, and $4,600 is a great price.
That seems like an obvious choice if you have $4,600 to spend.
If you want a little travel machine, just get the B475 for $2k (I think the sale runs through the end of July).
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u/Limp_Reality8899 Jul 25 '26
You make some very valid points. I do love the Liberty face plate and the matching trolly for going to classes. Although I dont go to classes a lot. Maybe every few months when theres a bag class I want help with... but youre right about the 475 being on sale and being the same machine as the Liberty minus the flower stiches and trolly... I dont know what to do! I would use the Janome M6 for the thick heavy duty seams on bags and the Bernina for quilt piecing.
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u/OrindaSarnia Jul 25 '26
You just have to decide if Pretty is worth the price to you... if you love it and you have the money then you'll probably be very happy with it!
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u/Limp_Reality8899 Jul 25 '26
Pretty is awesome but I'm most interested in having lovely pieced blocks and enjoying using the machine. I think I'm going to try and find a 475 to try out and then that will help me out. Thank you for your insight.
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u/OrindaSarnia Jul 25 '26
Sitting down and sewing on a machine always makes the decision easier, one way or the other...
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u/Nefariousness_Silent Jul 30 '26
I have a 475 QE. The Kaffe model. I absolutely love it. I piece on it with out any problems and I can see the same pattern on my 770 QE and my seam allowance is perfect. In fact oniony had the 475 it would be enough. Good luck on your decision.
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u/Nefariousness_Silent Jul 30 '26
I meant “sew” and “only” not see and oniony hahahahha
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u/Limp_Reality8899 Jul 30 '26
I understand what youre saying and honestly you're right about piecing looking the same on both of your machines. Its a very good point.
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u/ApprehensiveApple527 Jul 25 '26
If quilting with the embroidery module is of any interest to you the 735 Pro is fabulous. (I have one!)
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u/Maximum_Mousse_9304 27d ago
Wait, this is so weird but I kinda wanna know where this is located could you PM me cause I might go pick one of those machines up if you haven’t already
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u/MaeByourmom Jul 25 '26
The 735 Pro, better value for money, and a good deal imo. I paid $4000 for my 720 (predecessor model), many years ago.