Bernina Firsts
As a leader in the development, design, and manufacture of sewing and embroidery machines, BERNINA not only represents precision, quality, and reliability, but is also known for innovation and originality. Over the 114-year history of the company, there have been many times that BERNINA has introduced machines with features never before seen on a home sewing or embroidery machines. These world-wide “firsts” are listed below.
1. First hemstitching machine invented by Friedrich Gegauf in 1893. It sewed 1,000 stitches per minute!
2. First home sewing free arm zigzag machine, Model 125 was introduced by BERNINA in 1943.
3. First knee-activated presser foot lifter that also drops the feed dog, now called FHS (Free Hand System) was introduced on Model 730 in 1963.
4. First sewing machine to have a built-in hopper mechanism, which keeps fabric from flagging (traveling up the needle) while free-motion stitching. This is still used in today’s Bernina machines!
5. First home sewing machine to locate the feed dog drop in a convenient, easy-to-reach place so the stitcher can easily access it without opening the machine or removing any covers.
6. First home sewing machine to have a bias binder attachment that attaches binding in one step, automatcally folding the edges of a bias strip under, wrapping it around raw edges of fabric, and holding it in place for stitching.
7. First sewing machine with a Needle Up/Down feature activated by pressing the back of the foot control, which allows the sewer to take one-half stitch at a time.
8. First mouse-controlled sewing machine, Model 1530 was introduced in 1992 with a ball tracking system for simplified and superior sewing control.
9. First sewing machine to have 16-directional stitching capabilities, allowing stitching in any of 16 directions without turning the fabric; this feature was introduced on the 1630 in 1993.
10. First computerized sewing machine that had the ability to proportionally change a stitch created in the a stitch designer (feature on the 1630) – 9mm, 18mm, 27mm, 36mm, and 45mm.
11. First sewing machine to have coded presser feet with sensors that “read” the difference between 5mm and 9mm feet, restricting the stitch width if a 5mm foot is being used so the needle will not strike the foot.
12. First method for customer to exchange stitch patterns between computer and machine, Customized Stitch Patterns (CPS) was introduced in the mid 1990’s with the virtuosa models of BERNINA sewing machines.
13. First embroidery machine to have an ART Engine, which enables the rescaling of designs, recalculating the number of stitches needed to enlarge or reduce the design while maintaining the same look.
14. First home embroidery machine to do free arm embroidery (with the use of a free arm adapter); great for small and/or tubular items such as baby clothes, socks, and pant legs—introduced on the artista 180 in 1998.
15. First home sewing machine to have a variety of Double Needle Limitation settings to restrict the stitch width, which aids in keeping a double needle from striking the foot and breaking—introduced on the artista 180 in 1998.
16. First home sewing machine to have a Wing Needle Limitation function to aid in keeping a Wing needle from striking the foot and breaking—also introduced on the artista 180 in 1998.
17. First home sewing machine to have a Double Wing Needle Limitation function to aid in keeping a Double Wing needle from striking the foot and breaking—introduced on the artista 200 in 2002.
18. First sewing machine to be Microsoft® Windows® powered, the artista 200E introduced in 2002 has a touch screen that activates and operates its features and functions.
19. First home sewing/embroidery machine to employ the use of a proprietary CD drive to access embroidery designs when the 2000E was introduced in 2002.
20. First home sewing machine to offer a detachable magnifying lens (optional feature) to offer greater visibility of the stitching area. The Lens Set has three lenses, each a different magnification and was introduced with the artista 200E in 2002.
21. First sewing machine to connect to the internet via a private Portal that provides downloadable embroidery designs and other special content for the artista 200E and 730E sewing/embroidery systems.
22. First home embroidery machine to have the capability of adjusting the embroidery stitch spacing within the machine using on-screen editing—introduced on the artista 200E in 2002.
23. First home embroidery machine to offer the capability to change the embroidery speed using plus and minus indications making it easy to slow down when using specialty threads such as delicate metallics and heavy wools.
24. First home embroidery machine to replace zigzag stitches over a certain length with split stitches to avoid the possibility of objects accidentally getting caught on extra-long threads.
25. First home sewing machine to be equipped with a stitch regulator that produces even, consistent freemotion stitches regardless of the experience level of the stitcher. The BSR (BERNINA Stitch Regulator) was introduced on the aurora 440QE in 2005.
26. First on-screen “drag and drop” embroidery feature to make editing and positioning embroidery designs easier and faster.
27. First cutwork tool and software so you can digitize embroidery designs with cut-away areas. The cutwork tool cuts the programmed areas and the design is stitched as digitized.
28. First pattern fitting software with 3 D model, My Label lets you create well-fitting patterns based on your body measurements.
29. Micro Thread Control—this patented serger feature lets you fine-tune the stitch so the looper threads meet exactly on the edges, giving a nice, flat stitch.
Hearts Table Runner for Spring
Yes, I know it doesn’t feel like spring will ever get here, but the weather is keeping a lot of us indoors right now. Use this time to SEW before its time to plant your garden, go to the lake and, look out(!), take a summer vacation!
I found this fun table runner on the youcanmakethis.com website.
Download this free pattern today. The free PDF Tutorial and Pattern can be found by clicking here.
Enjoy!
Buy 2 Spools of Thread and Save Time!
When buying thread in neutral colors, buy two spools and one package of bobbins. Wind one entire spool of thread onto the bobbins and keep them handy for a quick change, rather than having to stop and wind up a bobbin while you are sewing.
Buy a extra Bobbin Saver too! (Shown in blue above, available in lavender and red also).
The 15 Minute Table Runner
We are completely serious! You CAN complete this table runner in 15 minutes. Actually you can complete two runners in about 20 minutes! We offered this mini workshop at our sewing retreat last weekend and at first they could not believe a table runner could be made in only 15 minutes. But as you can see from the pictures from the retreat, many retreat go-ers took a quick break from their sewing projects to whip up a couple!
If you want the free pattern come in to Heirloom Creations, purchase two 3/4 yard fabrics and receive the pattern. This fabric amount will make TWO table runners – each with opposite color placement.
This table runner has no batting and no binding. Make it out of ANY fabric – cotton, silk, satin or home decorator weight fabrics! The middle area is perfect to embellish with fusible appliqué, embroidery or even decorative stitches.
Depending on which way the ends are folded, you will achieve one the two following looks.
It’s perfect hostess gifts … co-worker gifts … church bizarre … raffle donation … the list goes on and on!
Kate – 9 Months Old
Our little Kate is now 9 months old! She is now crawling with purpose, exploring everything at her level, pulling herself up and we just saw her first tooth. Steve now says, “We live in a “gated community”. Enjoy the pictures!
Kate posing with the new Lamour fabric from Moda by Sandy Gervais.
Laundry basket races…
Helping with the laundry.
Mom playing dress up with me!
