Product images: Amazon listings

bernette 79 Review

Name: bernette 79
Brand: bernette
SKU: B086WGRCGT

6.7Good · out of 10#6 of 11 in our Embroidery Machines for Beginners ranking

Written from the listing and 51 buyer reviews, not from our own use · How we rate

The bernette 79 ticks most of the boxes we care about: room for 260 × 160 mm designs, a sewing machine and an embroidery unit in one and 208 built-in designs. It earned a spot in our top 11 embroidery machines, and it's built for quilters who want embroidery on the same machine.

Price$2,299Price on Sep 22, 2026 · may have changed

Check the price on Amazon ↗Affiliate link · price and stock on Amazon

Compare side by side ↗

Specifications

Brand	bernette
Category	5×7 and larger embroidery machines
Documented summary	Combined sewing and embroidery; maximum embroidery area 260 × 160 mm; 500 sewing stitches; 208 embroidery designs; Dual Feed; 5-inch touchscreen; USB design import; automatic hoop detection. This is the standard b79, not a themed edition or thread bundle.
Embroidery field	260 × 160 mm
Built-in designs	208
Sewing stitches	500
Design transfer	USB
Screen	5 in, touchscreen
Automatic hoop detection	Stated
Dual Feed	Stated
Buyer reviews	51 · 3.8/5
ASIN	B086WGRCGT

Full listing title: Bernette B79 Computerized Sewing & Embroidery Machine

Updated October 2026

Exact listing, ASIN B086WGRCGT

Rating from a published formula

Compared with its rivals

The two closest picks in our embroidery machines ranking, side by side.

Compare side by side ↗

bernette 79

6.7Good · out of 10

Embroidery field: 260 × 160 mm
Sews and embroiders
51 buyer reviews

$2,299 on Sep 22, 2026, may have changedThis product ↑

Brother NQ1700E

7.3Good · out of 10

Embroidery field: 6 × 10 in
Embroidery only
88 buyer reviews

$2,399.99 on Sep 22, 2026, may have changedSee the review ↗

Janome Memory Craft 400E

6.6Good · out of 10

Embroidery field: 200 × 200 mm
Embroidery only
48 buyer reviews

$1,499 on Sep 22, 2026, may have changedSee the review ↗

Embroidery field, per bernette

Well past the 5x7 class, and the biggest design the bernette 79 stitches in one hooping (about 10.2 × 6.3 in).

What changes at your sewing table

With the bernette 79 on the table, a plain towel or tote can become a gift with a name on it. In practice: the big projects too, like a quilt block, a tote panel or a design across the back of a hoodie, without splitting the file.

A 5-inch touchscreen is where you place and resize each design before the needle moves. It recognises the hoop you attach, so a design that's too big gets caught before you start. Between projects it's your sewing machine too, with 500 stitches for hems, repairs and the odd zip.

Names and patches, or bigger designs?

Bigger designs, comfortably. 260 × 160 mm handles the big pieces, and names still fit, of course.

Only room for one machine? That's what the bernette 79 is for. It sews or embroiders, one job at a time.

Great if…

your designs are bigger than a pocket logo
you only have room for one machine

Skip it if…

you want to sew and embroider at the same time: it does one job at a time
star ratings come first for you: 3.8/5 is below the 4.4 average of this ranking
you simply want our top pick: that's the Brother SE700 (9.3/10)

Why it made our list

260 × 160 mm field

Room for cushion fronts, jacket backs and big motifs in one hooping: fewer re-hoopings, fewer alignment headaches.

Sews and embroiders

Hems and repairs on Saturday, a name on the towel on Sunday. Handy if you only have room for one machine; while it embroiders, it can't sew.

208 built-in designs

Plenty to play with before you buy a single design file: flowers, borders, motifs and more.

Design transfer and what's in the box

Designs reach the bernette 79 on a USB stick. Also stated: a 5-inch touchscreen and automatic hoop detection.

At a glance

Field: 260 × 160 mm
Transfer: USB
Type: Sews + embroiders

What buyers say

Buyers give it 3.8/5, a mixed record, below this ranking's 4.4 average. 51 reviews is still a modest pile, so a handful of new ones can move it.

The numbers

Buyer rating: 3.8/5
Reviews: 51
This ranking's average: 4.4/5

Price and availability

On Sep 22, 2026, the listing showed $2,299 for the bernette 79. It may have changed since: the button opens the listing with today's price, stock and seller. For comparison, on the same day the listings showed the Brother NQ1700E at $2,399.99 and the Janome Memory Craft 400E at $1,499.

The numbers

Price: $2,299
Price date: Sep 22, 2026
Our rating: 6.7/10

Living with it

Delivery day

Thread it, sew a seam on a scrap, then attach the embroidery unit, and stitch a first sample on scrap fabric with stabilizer before the real project.

Its spot

A stable table with clear room behind and beside the machine: the embroidery arm moves the hoop around while it stitches.

First projects

On paper, it is ready for tote panels, cushion fronts and bigger motifs in one hooping, designs you load from a USB stick and everyday sewing in between.

The one thing we'd check first

Before the bernette 79 lands on your doorstep, check the space on your table: the embroidery arm moves the hoop around a 260 × 160 mm field, so give it clear room behind and beside the machine.

Before you buy

Your designs

The documented field is 260 × 160 mm. Measure the designs you want to stitch, or try them in our design fit calculator: anything bigger means re-hooping.

Design files

Each brand reads its own file format, and this one loads designs from a USB stick. Before you buy designs, check that they are offered in your machine's format (the manual lists it). Our file format guide explains it.

Stabilizer and thread

Budget for stabilizer, embroidery thread and spare needles from day one. They are what makes the first stitch-outs lie flat. See the real cost of starting.

Sewing and embroidery

While the embroidery unit is attached, it doesn't sew. If you sew a lot or share the machine, two machines can be easier than one combo.

How it compares

How the bernette 79 stacks up against the closest alternative in our ranking, the Brother NQ1700E.

Criterion	bernette 79	Brother NQ1700E
Our rating	6.7/10	7.3/10
Embroidery field	260 × 160 mm	6 × 10 in
Built-in designs	208	258
Sewing stitches	500	Not stated
Lettering fonts	Not stated	13
Buyer reviews	51 · 3.8/5	88 · 4.4/5

Pick the Brother NQ1700E if you want our higher-rated option (7.3/10), with more built-in designs (258) and more fonts (13); stay with the bernette 79 for a bigger field (260 × 160 mm) and more sewing stitches (500).

Compare side by side ↗See the Brother NQ1700E review →

Better fit elsewhere?

Bigger designs? The Brother Stellaire 2 Innov-is XJ2 stitches up to 360 × 240 mm (listed at $11,999.99 on Sep 22, 2026) and scores 9.4/10.

Already own a sewing machine? The Brother PE800 embroiders only, up to 130 × 180 mm, and scores 9.4/10.

Rather send designs over Wi-Fi? The Brother SE700 lists wireless transfer and scores 9.3/10.

Our take

The verdict

Our favourite thing about the bernette 79 is room for 260 × 160 mm designs, closely followed by a sewing machine and an embroidery unit in one. Only 51 buyers have rated it so far (3.8/5), so treat the score as an early read. Honestly, the catch: their 3.8/5 average sits under the 4.4 of this ranking. We'd pick it if your designs are bigger than a pocket logo; otherwise, put it next to the Brother NQ1700E first.

Check the price on Amazon ↗Best embroidery machines

Price on Sep 22, 2026 · may have changed · Affiliate link

The score in detail

Formula result: 6.7/10

Buyer rating (45%)

34.2 / 45

3.8/5 average

Review volume (35%)

16.2 / 35

51 buyer reviews

Documented specifications (20%)

16.2 / 20

81/100 listing documentation score

How we rated it

Our rating is an evidence index on a 0–10 scale. It is not a buyer star rating, and we have not used the product ourselves.

Buyer rating (45%): the captured average for this exact listing, damped when there are fewer than 50 reviews.
Review volume (35%): more reviews mean more reliable evidence, on a logarithmic scale up to 5,000 reviews.
Documented specifications (20%): how completely the exact listing documents the attributes that matter.

A commission is never an input to the rating. Read the full methodology.

Read the methodology →

Frequently asked questions

Is the bernette 79 any good?

We rate it 6.7/10 (good), #6 of 11 in our embroidery machine ranking. It is based on 51 buyer reviews averaging 3.8/5 and the specifications stated in the listing.

What do you get with the bernette 79?

Its documented specs list a 260 × 160 mm embroidery field, sewing and embroidery in one machine, 208 built-in designs, USB design import, 500 sewing stitches and a 5-inch touchscreen. These are the manufacturer's and seller's figures, not our measurements: how neat the stitches look on your own fabric can't be read from a spec sheet.

What should I check before ordering the bernette 79?

Your designs: the documented field is 260 × 160 mm. Measure the designs you want to stitch, or try them in our design fit calculator: anything bigger means re-hooping. Design files: each brand reads its own file format, and this one loads designs from a USB stick. Before you buy designs, check that they are offered in your machine's format (the manual lists it). Our file format guide explains it. Stabilizer and thread: budget for stabilizer, embroidery thread and spare needles from day one. They are what makes the first stitch-outs lie flat. See the real cost of starting. Sewing and embroidery: while the embroidery unit is attached, it doesn't sew. If you sew a lot or share the machine, two machines can be easier than one combo.

Where can I buy the bernette 79?

We link to the exact listing on Amazon, where today's price, stock and seller apply. It is an affiliate link, and it has no effect on the rating.

Have you used the bernette 79 yourselves?

No, we haven't used it ourselves. Everything on this page comes from its listing and 51 buyer reviews, read line by line and weighed with our published formula.

Keep comparing

If the bernette 79 hasn't sold you yet, see where it ranks, read the guides below or browse all 5×7 and larger embroidery machines.

Where it ranks

Best Embroidery Machines in 2026 →Best 5x7 Embroidery Machines in 2026 →Best Sewing and Embroidery Machines in 2026 →

Read this before you buy

Embroidery Hoop Sizes Explained: Will Your Design Fit? →Embroidery File Formats and Design Transfer: What to Check Before Buying →Embroidery Machine Setup Checklist for Your First Project →Embroidery Machine vs. Sewing Machine: Which Do You Need? →

5×7 and larger embroidery machines ↗All bernette products Comparison tool All product reviews