Bernette b79 Review: Is This $2,299 Sewing and Embroidery Machine Worth It?

Bernette b79 specs

Specs above come from bernette's bernette 79 model page, an authorized dealer's b79 specification and warranty listing (Rocky Mountain Sewing and Vacuum) and the Amazon listing feature bullets.

What does the Bernette b79 do best?

The b79 is a genuinely good sewing and quilting machine that also embroiders big. Many combos are embroidery machines with basic sewing attached. This one has 9 inches of space right of the needle, 500 stitches including 46 quilting stitches, a 7 mm stitch width and integrated Dual Feed, bernette's built-in top feed that moves layers evenly like a walking foot. For quilters, those details matter more than any design count.

On the embroidery side, a 260 x 160 mm field (10.2 x 6.3 inches) stitches about 64 square inches, far more than a 5 x 7 inch machine. It is close to the 6 x 10 inch class covered in our 6 x 10 inch hoop guide, suitable for larger quilt blocks, pillow fronts and bigger lettering.

The file format list is unusually broad. bernette lists EXP, PES, DST, PEC, JEF, VP3, VIP, HUS and ZHS, so designs sold for Brother, Janome, Husqvarna Viking and Bernina machines generally load without conversion.

What is the honest weakness of the Bernette b79?

The warranty and support model are weaker than the big Japanese brands. An authorized dealer lists the b79 at 10 years on mechanical parts and 2 years on electrical parts, against 25-year headline warranties from Brother and Janome, and bernette's own FAQ sends buyers to their dealer for warranty terms and service. Two years of electrical coverage is short for a computerized machine at this price.

The Amazon listing is a reseller bundle with an extra 8-piece foot set and quilting kit, so check that the seller is an authorized bernette dealer before paying. Transfer is by USB only, with no wireless, and at about $2,299 it costs more than the Brother SE2000, which has a smaller field but wireless and a longer warranty. A combo also cannot sew while it embroiders.

What do Bernette b79 owners consistently report?

• Praise: a lot of sewing and embroidery capability for the price, with a large field.
• Praise: Dual Feed and the wide sewing space help with quilts and bulky projects.
• Praise: wide design file compatibility without conversion software.
• Complaint: a learning curve with menus and features, where dealer lessons help.
• Complaint: support quality depends heavily on the local dealer.
• Complaint: the short electrical warranty worries buyers comparing it with Brother and Janome.

These are recurring themes in retail listings, dealer pages and owner discussions rather than measured failure rates.

What warranty and support come with the Bernette b79?

An authorized bernette dealer lists the b79 warranty as ten years on mechanical parts and two years on electrical parts from the date of original purchase. bernette's FAQ directs owners to their dealer for detailed warranty information and service, and warranties are generally for private, non-commercial use and valid in the country of purchase.

Because service runs through dealers, buy from an authorized bernette dealer, register the machine, keep the invoice and ask the dealer to confirm the terms in writing. Many dealers include lessons, which shortens the learning curve on a feature-rich machine. We found no recall for the b79 in a search of CPSC's sewing machine recall listings.

How does the Bernette b79 compare with the Brother SE2000 and b70 DECO?

There is no direct head-to-head page for the b79 yet, but embroidery-only vs combo covers the biggest decision, and Bernina vs Janome explains where bernette sits in the Bernina family.

See the Brother SE2000 review for the 5 x 7 inch combo case and the Bernette b38 review for bernette's sewing-only line. Our best sewing and embroidery machine roundup ranks the whole field.

What else should you budget for with the Bernette b79?

Plan $150 to $400 for embroidery and quilting supplies:

• Stabilizer: rolls of cut-away and tear-away; a 12 in width covers the large hoop.
• Thread: the Simthread 120 Colors or Isacord 35 Cones, plus quilting thread for the sewing side.
• Needles: Schmetz Embroidery Needles for embroidery and Schmetz Quilting Needles for piecing and quilting.
• Blanks: flour sack towels for test stitch-outs before committing a quilt block.

Paid digitizing software is optional because the machine reads most commercial formats. Check large designs with the embroidery hoop size calculator, and see the intermediate machine embroidery setup for a full kit.