REASONS TO BUY
Two metal spool holders
Relatively inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Cannot easily see how much thread is left on the bobbin
Buttonhole setup/quality are below average
Bernette 35 Review
A capable sewing machine for a beginner, but a person with more sewing experience will prefer something with more and better features
Credit: Laura Casner
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Our Verdict
Bernette is a subsidiary of the Bernina brand of sewing machines, which has been the premier sewing, embroidery, and quilting machine in the world for over 125 years and one that any serious seamstress dreams of and talks about in reverent tones. Bernette is relatively new, first coming on the market in the late 1980s, and is the value line of Bernina. The Bernette Swiss 35 does not have the sewing speed that a Bernina does and only delivered an average performance in most of our tests. There were no glaring weaknesses, but an experienced sewist would want something with more and better quality features. To see our favorite machines, check out our full sewing machine review.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Bernette 35 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Sewing Machine for Most People |  Best Bang for Your Buck | |||
| Price | $299 List $299.00 at Amazon | $260 List $259.99 at Amazon | $240 List | $230 List $229.99 at Amazon | $150 List $149.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A mid-priced sewing machine with some nice features and some flaws | A simple to use option with lots of stitches, an excellent screen, and an affordable price, but isn't the cleanest buttonhole maker | A user-friendly model that works well on all the basics except for buttonholes, and comes at an affordable price | An inexpensive, easy-to-use sewing machine that provides consistent sewing but has some trouble with buttonholes and winding the bobbin | A beginner would really like this machine since it's easy-to-use and inexpensive |
| Rating Categories | Bernette 35 | Brother HC1850 | Brother CS7000X | Brother XR9550 | Brother CS5055 |
| Sewing (45%) | |||||
| Ease of use (35%) | |||||
| Buttonholes (20%) | |||||
| Specs | Bernette 35 | Brother HC1850 | Brother CS7000X | Brother XR9550 | Brother CS5055 |
| # of Built-in Stitches | 23 | 185 | 70 | 165 | 60 |
| # of Buttonhole Styles | 1 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| Automatic Bobbin Winder | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Manufacturer Stated Maximum Sewing Speed (stitches per minute) | N/A | 850 | 750 | 850 | 750 |
| Computerized? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Buttonhole Sewing (number of steps) | 1-Step | 1-Step | 1-Step | 1-Step | 1-Step |
| Maximum Stitch Width | 4mm | 7mm | 7mm | 7mm | 7mm |
| Maximum Stitch Length | 5mm | 5mm | 5mm | 5mm | 5mm |
| Thread Cutter | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in |
| Cover | No | No | Hard | Hard | No |
| Free Arm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Measured Weight | 13.4 lbs | 10.5 lbs | 10.4 lbs | 12.1 Ibs | 10.8 lbs |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Bernette 35 has some great features that set it apart from other sewing machines. It's the only machine with metal spool holders, and the bobbin-winding is superior to all the others in our lineup with very clear threading directions.
Performance Comparison
The Bernette has some very nice features.
Credit: Laura Casner
Sewing
The Bernette 35 ranked well above average in our sewing tests, especially with how well it handled silk and chiffon, traditionally difficult fabrics with which to sew. We were very pleased with the tension in the zig-zag stitch across all the fabrics, and the straight stitch was well above average except with denim. We were also very impressed with the blind hem that this machine produced — even, smooth stitches on almost every fabric. Even the zippers went in smoothly.
The Bernette did very well in our sewing tests, even with some tricky fabrics like silk and chiffon.
Credit: Laura Casner
Ease of Use
The 35 is the only machine with a front-loading bobbin, which means you have to bend down to table level to see what you are doing. That also means you can't see how much thread is left on the bobbin without taking it out of the machine. Our testers also found that the needle moved up and down while winding the bobbin, and that there was no clear indication of where the top is for the needle.
This machine has a front-loading bobbing, which meant you have to bend over to insert it.
Credit: Laura Casner
The needle-threader is semi-automatic but works well because the thread is held tightly by the machine, so you can easily hook it onto the threader, which then slips smoothly through the needle. The thread cutter is toward the back of the machine and has a large guide with the blade facing up so the thread can get cut with either the right hand or the left. We felt that the upward-facing blade used a more natural movement of the hands.
The needle-threader and thread cutter were both easy to use.
Credit: Laura Casner
You can't see to sew without lighting, and the Bernette 35 has good, warm lighting where the needle penetrates the fabric but not much light around the rest of the area. But since one usually doesn't sew in a totally dark room, that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Buying a new sewing machine with all new features can sometimes be overwhelming, which is where a good instruction manual comes into play. The Bernette 35 has a great manual that is clearly laid out and well organized. It includes a reference for stitch lengths and widths, a list of the types of stitches on the machine, and the suggested length, width, and tension settings for each. This is all very helpful for beginners. It also lists the kind of presser foot you need for the sewing you are doing, including clear instructions and drawings.
The Bernette has merely adequate lighting.
Credit: Laura Casner
Buttonholes
The 35 has a fairly standard buttonhole set-up for a non-computerized machine. It's a 1-step process, but trying to gauge how the buttonhole markings line up with your fabric is difficult, and the overall quality of the buttonholes we sewed was below average.
Clear markings and dials on the Bernette 35.
Credit: Laura Casner
Should You Buy the Bernette 35?
In our estimation, the Bernette 35 had some nice features, but the flaws kept it from being a top pick. That said, as a member of the Bernina family, it is still a solid machine, and anyone who owns it will become accustomed to its quirks.
This Bernette machine has some quirks to get used to but is a decent performer overall.
Credit: Laura Casner
What Other Sewing Machines Should You Consider?
The Bernette 35 had an average performance in most of our tests without any glaring weaknesses, but an experienced sewist will likely want something with more robust features. The Brother HC1850 is an excellent all-around sewing machine that costs less than this one and is far more intuitive and user-friendly. We're also big fans of the Singer 7258 Stylist, which makes great stitches and excellent buttonholes, and still costs less than the Bernette 35.
—Austin Palmer and Ruth Bruckbauer
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