Bernina's top-of-the-line embroidery/sewing machine, the Embroidery/Sewing Machine Artista 730E, is one of those few "best that money can buy" models. With all that any embroidery-sewing hobbyist could possibly want and maybe more, the Artista 730E requires a sizeable investment. Fortunately, the size of the investment is highly negotiable. With a list price of $7999, the actual cost of this sewing machine can vary greatly from region to region and dealer to dealer. For this reason many home sewers start small and gradually trade up to this Cadillac of models. A wise consumer will shop all the dealers in their area, selecting one with appealing pricing as well as a supportive staff.

Since learning to use all of this machine's features can take years, you'll want to have a dealer who can help you every step of the way. While many machines provide excellent sewing or embroidery options, the Artista 730E offers the best of both worlds. This model is for you if you are looking for one of the finest computerized sewing machines available, paired with some of the most versatile and complete embroidery options on the market. Embroidery customization on this sewing machine is incredibly versatile. Designs and alphabets can be rescaled with stitch count changes on screen. Or, for a more familiar format and complex design alterations, plug your PC into the Artista 730E and make your changes on the large screen. Using both computer and sewing machine, you can make these changes with the included Editor Lite software. A design stick is also included for easy loading, transporting and saving of designs.

The primary design storage system of the Artista 730E is what sets it apart from machines by other manufacturers. While some manufacturers use primarily CD-Rom for design storage, Bernina relies heavily on embroidery memory cards. A built-in card slot accepts Bernina and OESD design collection cards into the machine. As an alternative, a CD- Rom drive may be purchased for using designs from other manufacturers. One particularly desirable sewing feature on this machine is the Bernina Stitch Regulator (BSR). It makes free motion sewing far easier to learn, by automatically regulating stitch length for both straight and zigzag stitching. This technique is particularly useful for those who enjoy quilting and can be used in place of the stippling stitch feature offered by other manufacturers.

An extensive menu of over 855 stitches is packed into this sewing machine together with 10 buttonholes and 31 quilting stitches. A very wide stitch width setting of 9 mm also serves to set this model apart from others. As amazing as this machine is, we would recommend you test it and the few others that are available in this price range. The decision should be based on how you sew and what is important to you, versus what machine is truly "best." In shopping for a machine of this quality, the best choice is the embroidery-sewing machine that meets the most of your needs and is offered by the dealer best prepared to help you learn to use it.