Going sewing high tech with Husqvarna Viking |
Fading are the days of old school sewing and embroidery machines. This product category seems to be embracing digital nearly as much as other household items like your frig. One of the latest digital sewing machines is the HUSQVARNA VIKING DESIGNER SE Limited Edition, which comes with a a large touch screen display.
The HUSQVARNA VIKING DESIGNER SE Limited Edition sports a VGA touch screen which keeps track of an embroiderer’s changes by showing it on-screen. It can automatically trim jump stitch threads while embroidering, locate an exact stitch number in a design and let you know how long it will take to stitch out a color in the design. You can even load designs and projects into its memory via a USB stick which can be updated over the Internet with new innovations and projects.
Now I know most of us probably won’t buy a sewing machine unless it has an iPod dock. I have to admit though that if I was into sewing this machine might be the one for me. It definitely beats “knit one, pearl two.”
HUSQVARNA VIKING DESIGNER SE Limited Edition Press Release
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this is my experience with the Designer SE. it is still to be resolved. this lettr was written to the CEO of HV
In May of 2005 I attended a Martha Pullen Sewing event in Pasco WA I purchased a Designer SE. I have had nothing but trouble, at first the screw holding in the needle would continuously wear out. I replaced it 4 times. Then it was sent in for servicing and the tech found steel shavings inside the area where the needle is inserted. He told me at that time that it could cause problems with the needle staying in alignment. The screw holding in the needle had always been very stiff and hard to screw in. He also said if the needle was not in tight and moved around it could cause problems with the motor. I could not tell if the needle was moving. He did not feel the whole assembly should be replaced although I really wanted it done. He did not think Viking would do such a thing. I decided to defer to him and his superior knowledge? When it was returned to me he bobbin would not wind, he forgot to reconnect so back for service.
I was using the couching foot and the machine motor froze. Sent it in. The belt had come off or loosened. A few weeks later, as I was embroidering, the needle fell out, the machine froze and would not turn off, and I had to cut power. This time it was the belt again… Apparently the needle was not on center either. Finally I got the machine back and the free arm utility box will not fit on the arm. The embroidery unit goes on but is tight and offers some resistance. The thread cutter cuts the thread only occasionally when embroidering (I am talking about the change of color). It rarely cuts the bobbin thread; I really feel this machine is a lemon and should be replaced.
August 26, 2008 this machine is being shipped again to Medford OR for repair.
Each time I have to have the machine shipped to be serviced I am without it for a week or more, needless to say it is in the shop more than my house. Every time it is serviced a new problem occurs.
Marla at the gallery in the Joann store in Silverdale WA has been more than helpful, as has Greg in the service department in Medford OR, but this is a defective machine from day one and needs to be replaced immediately.
I was considering upgrading to the Diamond. However this experience has really dampened any enthusiasm I had for that undertaking.
I have been sewing for 60 years. I have never owned a sewing machine that has required the extensive repairs this one has required. It is also the most expensive machine I have owned.
Letter to Helpdesk @ Husqvarna Viking website:
I am hoping that you can help me or at least give me some options regarding my Viking Designer SE which I purchased in March of 2005. I have had problems with the machine for the entire time I have owned it. From the beginning, there were problems with free motion quilting. Each time I took it to the dealer, they said it was operator error, not the machine. In October 2007, it went into the shop after a total failure. The machine would not start up. The buttons on the front of the machine would blink but nothing else. At that time, the main computer motherboard was replaced. The machine operated better but still not to the expectations one would have in purchasing a top of the line machine. The free motion stitching was still unbalanced, pulling the top thread to the bottom. In July, I started experiencing electrical problems with the machine again. I took it to my dealer again and they again put a computer motherboard in it and this time also replaced the transformer. They had my machine for almost 3 weeks and I had to call to see if it was repaired. I had the machine back home less than a week and am experiencing electrical problems again with the machine and the free motion stitch, which I was assured was corrected, is not. I will be returning the machine to my dealer again for service, however I have lost confidence that this machine is going to be able to be repaired to work correctly. I asked my dealer if there is any type of replacement guarantee for situations such as this and his answer was “that he would keep working on it until it was fixed”. Well, I am not sure that is good enough. His only other suggestion is to upgrade to the Diamond. While I think that the Diamond is a fabulous machine, my machine is only 3 years old and I purchased the top of the line in order to not have to replace it for many years.
I would very much like to know what Viking’s options for situations such as this. I think that I have been patient but I am very discouraged. I would like to add that I have owned Viking sewing machines for 20+ years and have repeatedly recommended them to friends as the best machines out there. However, if this issue cannot be resolved, I definitely won’t continue.
I purchased a Designer SE 2 years ago. I have been very frustrated with the way it embroiders. I too went to the dealer many times, but they kept telling me to try different things like different size needles, different stabilizers, etc. Finally they gave me the impression that I might be too picky. Since I had no previous experience with embroidery machines I just believed them. A couple of weeks ago something inside the machine started to burn. I called Viking and they told me to take it to the dealer and since it’s an electric problem it should be covered under the warranty. I also told the lady about my issues I had been having and she told me that it should embroider perfect and that I should not be having these problems. I took it to the dealer and the repair company called me today and told me it was ready and I had to pay $210. I told them that since was an electrical issue (LCD Transformer) that it should be covered under the 5 yr electric/computer components, but they said that is only for the parts. I am waiting for the dealer to call me back. I bought this machine because it was supposed to be the best out there. I am very disappointed so far. I paid a lot of money for this machine. You would think it could embroider without making loops and you would think it would last more than 2 years. Also, a friend of mine has the same machine and she had issues with the screen as well (not sure if it was the transformer).
Anyone out there have similar issues?
I received a new Designer SE for Christmas from my hubby. After embroidering a few designs, the screen icons either wouldn’t work at all, or the wrong function popped up when an icon did work. Took it in for repair, waited 3 weeks, did 1 embroidery when i got it back, then same thing happened again. Took it back to repair shop the next day. Still waiting. Worst sewing machine I have ever had. DO NOT BUY THIS MACHINE!!! Mine is a HUGE lemon than does not seem to be able to be repaired. I am sooooo sorry my hubby used his hard-earned money to buy it for me. We both feel terrible about it!
I bought the Designer 1 about 10 years ago. The timing was off so I took it in two years ago to have it worked on. That was 150 bucks to walk it in the door. It was in the shop for over 6 months because the store clerk kept telling me if they didn’t call me it wasn’t done. It had been done for 4 months but she was too lazy to check and see if it was back from the service center. The next time I used it I had a complete electrical failure. So right now Ihave more 5k tied up in it and it’s collecting dust. I would NEVER reccomend a viking machine to anyone. I have a 25 year old Bernina that has never needed anything done to it. It would have been less expensive for me to contract my embroidery out to someone than to have purchased this machine. I have seen other brands that do a much better job.