Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 Review

The Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 is one of those sewing machines that I had read lots and lots about before actually getting a chance to review it at Ace Sewing and Vacuum in Pompano Beach, Florida.

It is an extremely lightweight, portable, affordable, combination sewing and embroidery machine that in some ways reminds me of the Pfaff 1.5. It should be noted here that both these machines are manufactured and distributed by SVP – Singer, Viking, Pfaff.

At A Glance

Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35

When I first saw the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35, it was neatly packed and ready to go. The interesting thing about this carrying case, however, is that it is in no way typical.

What appears to be a removable carrying case is actually the sewing machine itself with the accessories compartment mounted and locked in place.

Neatly packed

There is a grey dial on the back that when turned in the upright position, locks it in place. The embroidery unit, however, is not part of this otherwise highly functional portability.

When the case is removed, the workspace and all of the function buttons are exposed. It is necessary, however, to raise the lid on top of the machine in order to access the thread and bobbin winding mechanism.

When fully opened, you see what appears to be the control panel of a complicated piece of equipment.

Control panel

The truth, however, is that the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 has practically all of the functions and features that a larger, more costly sewing and embroidery machine offers neatly compressed in a machine that is half the size and weight.

USB port

In this very compact space, you will find needle up/down; design stop; design fix; thread cut; plus and minus buttons to adjust sewing speed; start/stop; reverse/lock stitch; memory delete; stitch length and width adjustment; a series of stitch selection buttons; alternate view [In embroidery mode, this function switches from stitch out to edit mode; in the sewing mode, the alternate view button is used when working with satin stitch options]; step stitch by stitch [used in embroidery mode]; arrow and OK buttons [select and lock in stitch options in both sewing and embroidery modes]; step color by color [used when the machine is in the embroidery mode]; mirror image and rotate buttons; hoop options [allow you to select hoop size and position]; embroidery info button [shows design name, colors, number of stitches, etc.]; menu button; corner check [used in embroidery mode]; stitch menu; font menu; upper/lower case shift; program mode; memory button; sewing advisor; and a series of buttons to identify and set the type of fabric being used that is common on practically every sewing machine made by Husqvarna/Viking.

There is also a see through bobbin holder and a large needle plate with multiple seam guides; a drop feed control switch on back of the free arm; and an on board stitch selection guide beneath the lid.

A USB port where the USB drive is inserted is on the right side of the machine as well as a port where the foot pedal is connected when the start/stop option is not being used.

Features

• 120 utility and decorative stitches
  • 5 One-step buttonholes
  • 2 sewing alphanumeric fonts
• Stitch programming
• Automatic thread tension
• Automatic thread cutter
• Unique carrying case design doubles as accessory compartment
• Variable speed control
• Built-in needle threader
• Monochromatic LCD display
• Twin needle safety
• Bobbin winds from the needle
• Multiple languages
• LED lights
• Exclusive SEWING ADVISOR™
• Large Sewing Surface 200mm (almost 8″) to the right of the needle
• Needle up/down
• Start/stop
• Drop feed
• Free motion sewing with any stitch
• Upper thread sensor
• 29 needle positions
• USB stick containing 70 embroidery designs
• 1 embroidery font programmable in three different sizes
• Large embroidery area 240x150mm (9½″x6″)
• Faster embroidery speed than other similar machines
• Design basting
• Embroidery edit
• Corner check
• Rotate design 90º
• Step through stitches

Working on the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35

Threading the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 is as simple as can be. Following the threading and bobbin winding guides is almost literally child’s play.

Inserting the bobbin is equally as easy. I found that selecting stitches in the sewing mode to be rather straightforward.

Threading and bobbin winding guides

The first step was to depress the stitch selection menu button to first determine the stitch category from which I want to select by using arrow buttons to scroll left or right and then pressing the OK button. Then I referred to the stitch selection guide on top of the machine and dialed in the desired stitch number.

For this review, I sampled numerous utility and decorative stitches and was pleased to discover that the stitch quality is quite good, although the machine is a little loud and has a little bit of vibration.

It is important to note here that the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 will not operate in the sewing mode if the embroidery unit is attached.

When in the embroidery mode, you start by attaching the embroidery unit while the machine is turned off. The embroidery unit slides on easily and clicks into place with very little effort.

The next step is to insert the flash drive and then use the same process to select an embroidery design. The monochromatic screen will not show colors, but will let you know which color threads are necessary to execute the design.

Good stitch quality

You can, however, also load the USB port onto your computer, where you can see color images of your designs, adjust the size, and rotate your designs before attaching the USB port to the machine.

The finished embroidery designs created by the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 are good. The machine is, according to the manufacturer, faster than other embroidery machines in its class, qualifying that statement with the disclaimer that embroidery speed depends upon the selected design. Even at a slower embroidery speed, I noticed that it is noisy.

Fabrics

• Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
• Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
• Knits
• Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
• Denim
• Upholstery
• Leather/suede
• Fur
• Reptile skin
• Canvas/Twill
• Plastic/Rubber
• Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers

Accessories

Accessories

Standard accessories:

• 8 Snap on presser feet:
  • Utility foot
  • Decorative stitch foot
  • Buttonhole foot
  • Blindhem foot
  • Zipper foot
  • Edging foot
  • Embroidery/darning foot
  • One-step buttonhole foot
• Self-Adhesive Glide Plate
• Embroidery hoops
• Thread net, Edge guide
• 2 felt spool pads
• 5 Bobbins
• Screwdriver
• Auxiliary spool pin
• Seam ripper
• Lint brush
• Screwdriver
• 2 Spool caps (1 small, 1large)
• USB embroidery stick pre-loaded with embroidery designs
• HUSQVARNA VIKING DESIGNER JADE 35 sampler book
• Extra Needles

Maintenance

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 performs well. However, nearly all sewing machines perform well when they are brand new, especially when they are on a showroom floor.

I must admit that I have some concerns when it comes to machines that are so new on the market that they have not been used for any length of time under actual sewing room conditions.

The Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 is said to complete embroidery designs faster than other sewing and embroidery machines in its class.

To be honest, I have seen only two other machines of this type in this type … the Pfaff 1.5 and the Bernina Sublime Chicago 7. In my opinion, all three have benefits, but each leaves something to desire as well.

Speed buttons

When it comes to the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35, my immediate feeling is that there is a little too much here. For starters, there are so many buttons on the front panel, essential function control buttons, like start/stop; reverse; and the speed control buttons are in an awkward position.

They are on front of the machine, above the needle, but the design of the machine itself means that these buttons are ‘beneath the fold’, if you are going to use newspaper parlance.

The machine is designed with an inward slant immediately above these buttons, meaning that instead of being easy to reach, they are tucked a little underneath, calling for a somewhat uncomfortable twist of the wrist.

The manufacturer promotes the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 as a great machine for the beginner. In my opinion, the overwhelming number of function buttons on the front of this machine make it impossible for someone who has never worked on a sewing machine to be comfortable.

Functions performed by many of the buttons on the Designer Jade 35 are most often executed by fewer keys and steps on other machines. In fact, most of these functions are completed with just one or two buttons.

I do not understand why, but it seems to me that the manufacturer seems to have gone out of their way to make the Husqvarna/Viking Designer Jade 35 far more complicated than it needs to be.

Even a home sewer who has superior skills wants a machine that is user friendly. I simply don’t feel as though this is a particularly user friendly machine. Don’t take my word for it.

No doubt, there are plenty of people out there who are not only comfortable with lots of buttons, but are not the least bit challenged when asked to go through a lot of unnecessary steps in order to accomplish a simple task. The Husqvarna/Viking Design Jade 35 is available for sale at authorized independent Husqvarna/Viking dealers.

If you want to check out this machine for yourself and decide on your own whether or not the Designer Jade 35 is something that might work for you, I encourage you to visit your local Husqvarna/Viking dealer and ask for a demonstration.

I would definitely like to know if others agree with me or if they think this is a machine that is on the cutting edge of home sewing and welcome it in their home sewing rooms.

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