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Viking Sapphire 870 Sewing Machine

by Pam
(Coast of SC)

Excellent quarter inch in Quilt menu. It has an automatic thread cutter, presser foot raises slightly when you stop in needle down position--great for machine applique and piecing.

Large harp space. When using decorative stitches, you can restart the motif without reselecting the stitch. Has a start and stop button as well as speed control or you can use the foot pedal.

Bobbin is drop in.

My machine is recessed in a large table so that I can machine quilt with the push, pull, fluff, and puff method. I have a separate bobbin case that I can adjust for free motion quilting. My only concern with it--sometimes the thread jumps out of the take up lever which throws the tension off big time. It has been adjusted but still is problematic. My solution--thread the take up lever backwards. (Instead of right to left straight through the take-up lever, I go right to left under the lever and then left to right into the take up lever. In other words the thread loops around the take up lever.) The thread tension is increased a little but "my tension" is decreased a lot. I rarely use the built in thread holders. I use a thread stand in back so that I cane use cones of thread.

Yes, I would recommend it to a friend and I have. I received a referral gift certificate for it.

I am fortunate to have a shop that has an excellent service department and yes, I told them my work around with the take up lever.

I do not take it to classes, etc. It is my stay at home machine.

Comments for Viking Sapphire 870 Sewing Machine

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Jul 01, 2011

Viking Sapphire 870
by: Anonymous

Not sure when the original post was created, but Viking has since designed a new take up lever for their Designer and Sapphire series machines.

Knowledgeable repair shops should be able to swap out the old poorly designed lever for the newer one which holds the thread in the lever.

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Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 870 Quilt

What I like: It has a large harp to fit a quilt.

What don't I like: It has been in for service for various problems many times in the 3 years I've owned it.

I am an occasional quilter but need a machine that is reliable. I don't feel this one is.

The last time it wouldn't sew properly, I took it in to the shop where I purchased it and they did some "recall" work on it as well as servicing and it sewed well for a while.

A week ago I experimented with the "hand-look" quilt stitch on a scrap "sandwich" and settled on the type and color of thread for the bobbin (Coats & Clarks polyester all purpose thread) and used Coats & Clarks polyester invisible thread on the top. The sample and several of the designs came out fine. While working on the inner border, the pre-programmed stitch went haywire. Checked the upper thread tension (set to 6 as it should have been) but couldn't get the hand-look stitch and basically ruined my work. The stitches are impossible to remove.

It is going back to the shop - again - in the next couple of days.

Service: Ranged from "we'll fix it at no cost" for the "recall" work to "you must be doing something wrong." In other words, not satisfactory. I've been sewing for 50 years and I can't believe I don't know when a machine isn't performing.

Education class: Available, in French, only.

Surprises after purchase: That it malfunctions repeatedly.

Recommendation to best friend: Don't buy.

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Oct 01, 2021

Husqvarna Viking Epic problems
by: Debra

I thought updating my Pfaff Creative Sensation Pro would be an upgrade. With its wireless download capacity and wide harp my machine quilting was going to go quickly and smoothly and I could get this WIPs completed.

Well, haha not so. I never ever had to bring my Pfaff in for repair just service in all the years I’ve owned it.

Epic has been in the shop (two different ones)more than at home. It is still not working correctly I just want to throw it out!

Where do I go from here?

Nov 28, 2016

Tension problems
by: Judy

I've had problems machine quilting with the 870. The tension is not right no matter how I adjust it. It seemed to sew ok for a while now having problems again.

Does anyone have any ideas for me to try?

Getting tied of sending it to be fixed and they can't find only problem. Using good quality thread and rethreading doesn't work.

HELP!!

Thanks

Judy

Jul 05, 2015

Husqvarna 870 quilt
by: Anonymous

This is part of the letter I sent to the Husqvarna company.

"Those of us who use these machines bought them and sometimes are in love with them - but get frustrated with shredded threads.

The cause is NOT the thread jumping out of the uptake lever, or the wrong needle, thread or tension. Instead, it is that the thread gets stuck in the join between the front and back of the machine, on its way from the uptake lever and the needle.

If there were any addition of a metal bar, or a clip/hook, this problem could be prevented. Please see my photo. The thread gets stuck and consequently shredded.

I look forward to your response.

Julie"

(pm HV Sewing machines AUstralia, facebook page) 26/11/14

It was resolved by the company, who said that it was missing a part - a metal bar that stops the thread from catching between those two bits.

It now sews like a dream.

I do have a photo of the problem if that is helpful. Also, I use the tiny clear R darning foot for almost all my quilting, and reset the tension to 4.6 after I've set the machine to Free motion quilting.

From the Editor:

Hi Julie!

Thank you so much for sharing this information.

If you'd care to send the photo, it can be emailed to me at hdfbyulie@live.com -- and I'll add it here to your post. I'd think it'd be helpful for my readers.

Thanks again!

~ Julie Baird

Jun 15, 2014

Nothing but problems
by: Anonymous

I am quoting another poster since I've had exactly the same issues (even down to the French only -- I wonder if her machine was also purchased at Montcalm).

Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 870 Quilt

What I like: It has a large harp to fit a quilt.

What don't I like: It has been in for service for various problems many times in the 3 years I've owned it.

I am an occasional quilter but need a machine that is reliable. I don't feel this one is.

The last time it wouldn't sew properly, I took it in to the shop where I purchased it and they did some "recall" work on it as well as servicing and it sewed well for a while.

A week ago I experimented with the "hand-look" quilt stitch on a scrap "sandwich" and settled on the type and color of thread for the bobbin (Coats & Clarks polyester all purpose thread) and used Coats & Clarks polyester invisible thread on the top. The sample and several of the designs came out fine. While working on the inner border, the pre-programmed stitch went haywire. Checked the upper thread tension (set to 6 as it should have been) but couldn't get the hand-look stitch and basically ruined my work. The stitches are impossible to remove.

It is going back to the shop - again - in the next couple of days.

Service: Ranged from "we'll fix it at no cost" for the "recall" work to "you must be doing something wrong." In other words, not satisfactory. I've been sewing for 50 years and I can't believe I don't know when a machine isn't performing.

Education class: Available, in French, only.

Surprises after purchase: That it malfunctions repeatedly.

Recommendation to best friend: Don't buy.

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Husquvarna Viking Sapphire 850

by Jacque
(Oregon)

I love this machine..I use it constantly!

The only problem I have had is that it won't sew out of the saved stitches! I have had it in the shop a couple times..they say it's fixed..but it still won't do it..now my guarantee is over ..

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