Husqvarna Viking 1 Sewing Machine

The is about the Husqvarna #1+ NOT to be confused with the designer 1. Have owned my Husqvarna/Viking #1+ since 1998. It is a all metal quality built workhorse of a machine that comes in a perfect storage case. I plan on keeping this machine forever. At some point I may upgrade to an embroidery machine with a larger embroidery area. But will still keep this machine as it sews beautiful and has the strength to sew thru numerous layers of heavy fabric. I have heard the reason husqvarna stopped making this machine was that it was just too good. No repairs (knock on wood) and very little maintanence (no oiling). I would recommend having it serviced at least every two years.
The machine has needle up/down function and a front loading bobbin. The embroidery stitches are built into the machine BUT to have the majority of them function you must have cards a, b, d, e, or f. The A card has garment construction stitches like buttonholes, zigzag, stretch. B is the lettering cassette and gives you a choice of several lettering styles. D, E, and F truly are beautiful stitches perfect for heirloom sewing. The cards fit onto the front of the machine and are approx 3 X 5 inches. The machine you purchase will probably have some of these cards with it.
The machine also does what is called omni stitching. These omini designs come on the N and L cards. They are redwork type designs that are quiet beautiful when used correctly. The N and L cards also have 4 way mending stitches. In other words this allows you to sew in all four directions, front, back, side to side. Almost forgot to mention that the machine has memory. You can use memory to combine stitches from one card to another creating your own unique embroidery stitch.
Now for the embroidery unit. It is an arm that attaches to the machine. It comes in a separate storage case from the machine. The embroidery field is 4 X 4 inches. To embroider a larger area, you must rehoop or use what is called a plus hoop. The plus hoop slides from one 4 X 4 area to the next. In all the plus hoop will cover a 4 X 7 inch area.
Now to embroider using the embroidery unit. Once you set it up, the machine will sit there and sew all by itself. Even after all of these years, it just amazes me. So now you have the machine set up for embroidery, all of the adjustments are made, your fabric is in the hoop and and attached to the machine. You need to tell the machine what to embroider. There is a 2 1/2 X 3 inch card that fits into the front of the machine. This card can store up to approximately 30 designs. By using the key pad you tell the machine which of the 30 so designs to sew. The machine will beep as thread color changes are needed.
You can purchase these 2 1/2 X 3 inch cards separately OR you can buy a blank programable card and load your our purchased or freebie designs. Husqvarna sells a reader/writer used to load the designs onto the card, you can also use other brands of reader writers/cards, like amazing box that are less expensive. I would highly recommend the flexability and affordablity of using a blank programable card rather than buying the cards pre-programed with designs. To use the reader/writer you must have a customizing program.
There is a great group on Yahoo that will help you learn your machine. I learned more from them than the dealer or the manual. Hope this was helpful. The machine does have a learning curve but is well worth the effort.

bubbajn wrote a well crafted review that is very accurate. A couple things were not covered so I will mention them here.

The 1+ was the top of the line model with every feature possible. When these machines were new, they sold for more than $3,000, came with manuals, embroidery unit with one card and 4 cassettes (changeable face plates A, B, D, L) for stitches, some feet and a few tools. Today these machines are considered old, with a very small display window along the upper edge. But it IS suffient to see your design and adjustments to stitches.

There are 9 memory stations (program up to 63 stitches or letters in each memory). Buttons along the top of the machine make it very easy to adjust your stiching: mirror, flip, stretch, shrink, etc.

I bought my Viking 1+ for the built-in stitches! For the full line of stitches, you need all seven cassettes (the 4 original plus E, F and N). The extra 3 cassettes are often available on ebay if you buy a machine that has only the original 4 cassettes. Even if you are not into embroidery, the built-in stitches are varied and useful for making clothes, heirloom projects, quilting. Selecting stitches is EASY. Put on the cassette you want to use, press the button for the stitch, adjust length, width, etc and sew. No menus like most of the newer models!

I recently had my unit serviced (cleaned adjusted) and the tech said he still has less repairs on these models than many newer brands.

For embrodery designs, the viking 1+ uses small memory cards. Many designs were/are sold with the brochure and memory card. The 1+ can also read 2 standard kinds of blank/writeable cards made by Viking:
- The first version of the card had up to 256kb storage. The older reader/writer (blue and white) unit can work with only these 256kb blank cards.
- The newer USB white units use only the newer 512kb cards (says 512 on front).
Both cards are being phased out by Viking end 2008 beinning 2009 but the Amazing box and others sell compatible cards for this machine so you can still download designs in the .hus format and use them on this machine (and the Rose), as long as the design is less than 4"x4".

I found a site that sells tutorial DVDs for many Viking machines: sewmuch4retirement.com and purchased a few. They are detailed and step by step for settings, tips, tricks, dos and don'ts. I found them VERY helpful when learning the settings of the machine. Feels like having an expert sitting beside you coaching you while you learn new techniques or refresh old techniques you have not used in a while!

These workhorse machines are still GOLD. They are rarely traded in because most people opt to keep it and just buy another machine to supplement the embroidery.

The Husqvarna Viking Lena sewing machine is a no frills work horse. It is one of several limited edition versions of the same sewing machine (different colors and graphics). Made in Sweden, it doesn't have a bell and whistles; however it does have basic utility stitches, buttonhole, and stretch stitches. Easy to use and comes with a nice selection of presser feet. Strong motor. Drop in bobbin. If I have a complaint about the machine it is the bobbin winder doesn't have an automatic stop.

Recommended for someone who wants a strong machine that will last for years.

Husqvarna has an A+++ reputation, and this advertisement was marked new and lisitng description said in like brand new condition. ALso there was a nice array of extras that came with machine. I am sorry to say the seller lied, the machine is very used, runs okay, but definitely NOT in like brnad new condition. Also I did not receive everything that I was supposed to. I will not buy anything expensive on ebay again, becuase I keep getting ripped off - and I am very unhappy with this purchase. Seller said - in an emailto me - the machine is in like brand new condition considering its age and that it is used. SOrry - but if ebay sellers continue up with this kind of ridiculus false advertisement - ebay will go down.

I recently purchased a new Platnum 955 sewing machine. This tote is exactly the right size to carry my machine (on wheels)to classes that I'm taking at the store of purchase. It was meant for the designerI but fits my machine too. Also came with a carrying case for the embroidery unit. I had to cut down the styrofoam down a little, but now it fits perfect and I will store it in this case. There's plenty of pockets everywhere to carry supplies, even the embroidery hoops. I just love it!

I love it! Easy to use great stiches. Would recomend to anyone looking for a sewing machine! Bobbin loads great no room for error. It winds bobbins with out un threading needle. Has a lot of thread cutters where ever you would need one. great machine

The sewing machine is in very good condition and well worth the money .It works well and I am very happy with it. The price was better than any other sold in the next month on E-bay and I received it quickly. I would participate in other ebay auctions when I find something else I want to buy.I bought this particular sewing machine for its high tec. use and the price was half of the store price. Thanks for such a good bargain. Elizabeth Sarkis

This was a bad news purchase. The item was never received and the seller only contacted me after many attempts on my part. It took weeks to get my money back. No idea if the product was good or not.

Recantly purchased new machine. I can't belive what a difference between designer and my old singer 7462.
I love my new machine. It's easy to use, runs smooth, sews beautifule stitches and VERY quaet. Very happy !

I purchased Viking D1 sewing machine. Of all the other listings this seller was the most informative regarding this machine, the photo's, and all items listed with machine were exactly as listed. When it was shipped the seller made sure that it was packaged in "Excellent" condition and it arrived safely. This is a "High Dollar" machine, even though it is not brand new it is still a machine that is desirable and when previous owners care for them, they still have many years of wonderful use. I feel that this seller made the commitment to ensure quality service, before the sale and afterwards. I was very satisfied with my purchase and the way she handled it from start to finish.

Bought it to use as a quilting machine and because of Husqvarna's reputation.
Sale went very smoothly.

This machine works beautifully. I plugged it in and was serging right away.
Very easy to adjust and use.
I switched fron flannel to fleece to denim, then light weight cotton. So easy to switch, just follow very simple instructions.
I'd reccomend this machine to anyone who wants a serger.

I was very happy with this buyer. I haven't used the cassette yet, but am confident it will work great. I also felt the time it took to get it was very short. Thank you for having this cassette. Sheri Wright

This machine has everything I wanted. I purchased it because I had looked at them at the Viking dealer and it seemed the best buy.

I have the viking rose and I really like it so I wanted another one. They are very nice machines. I took it in for a service just to make sure it was ok, it did need alittle ajustment but all is good now.
Thank You Virginia

I decided to buy it because it is an awesomme machine and I wanted to upgrade to a newer machine. I disliked the fact that I had to have it serviced two weeks after purchase to have a crucial part replaced, which the part is now back ordered. otherwise I am very happy with my purchase.

I bought Viking because I thought they were one of the top two mfgs in the market. I bought a Sapphire 870 Quilt and started having problems immediately. This machine didn't work from the moment I tried to wind a bobbin! I've sewed for 35 years and had thread everywhere. Sewed a straight stitch okay most of the time, but when I went to do a blind hem it started eating thread again! I took it back the DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT and the dealer couldn't recreate the problem so she sent me home. The problems started again, but she was at market and no one in the store could help me so I had to wait. By the time she returned 6 days later, I was there to return the machine and she told me that my 3 day grace period had expired!!! Then she told me that the machine was broken and I'd have to pay for the repairs. Aside from that, she doesn't have the money! I have called the Viking Rep (the number she gave me), but he won't call me back; I have e-mailed Viking Corporate sales and Viking sewing machine helpdesk, but they didn't respond either. I wouldn't feel any different if someone had just stolen the cash from my purse! BUYER BEWARE!!!

This is one great sewing machine! I was a lover of the Pfaff sewing machine, but this one is the best yet! Everything about it is fantastic to it's easy instructions and displays. I can't say enough good things about it. I would highly recommend this machine to everyone, beginners or professionals.

Great item. Every machine embroidery enthusiast should have one of these hoops. Well made as all Husqvarna products are. There are many 5x7 designs available.