Sew Better, Faster & More Creatively!
For decade (centuries?) sewing machines had one type of needle and it was always in center position. It did its job, carrying thread through the fabric, which locks with the bobbin thread to create stitches. Even though the basic mechanics and methods of a sewing machine are the similar today, needles and what you can […] Read more…
If you’ve been sewing as long as I have, you probably remember using scissors to clip threads as you stitched. At the end of every seam and line of stitching, you lifted the presser foot and pulled the fabric away from the machine with tails of thread still attached, and then clipped the threads. Historically, […] Read more…
One of the first challenges for new sewers is learning to sew a straight line. Even some sewers with more experience sometimes struggle with this simple sewing task. It is important to be able to sew straight because crooked or wavy seams can affect the look of your finished project. If you are sewing clothing, […] Read more…
I sew on a BERNINA machine and most current BERNINA machines have a little-used feature called the eco Mode. This shows up on the front of the machine to the right of the screen, near the bottom. To activate this function, simply touch the eco icon. Eco Mode Function So what happens when you activate […] Read more…
I’m always looking for more ways to use the decorative stitches on my sewing machine. I sew on a BERNINA B 790 PLUS and it has over 1300 stitches! And most of them are so pretty! There’s always a few that are not as nice as the rest but most of them are just beautiful. […] Read more…
If you’ve been thinking about making a stitch book, I would encourage you to stop thinking and just do it! You will not be sorry. There are so many reasons to create a book that shows all of the stitches on your machine sewn with thread on fabric, but this post is about the three […] Read more…
I had a great time last week in Palm Springs, CA at BERNINA University. This yearly conference is for BERNINA dealers to take training classes and see new products. This year was a very colorful BU. One of the guest speakers was Kaffe Fassett and it was inspiring and fun to see his fabrics and […] Read more…
For many decades sewing machines have been powered by stepping on the foot pedal, also called a foot control. It connects to your machine with a cord and when you depress it with your foot (wearing shoes or not), the motor starts running. If you depress it all the way to the floor (pedal to […] Read more…
Understanding the parts of your machine increases your sewing knowledge and helps you become a better sewer. An essential part of the machine is the bobbin. This little spool holds the lower thread that interlocks with the needle thread to form each stitch. This post explores six common questions sewers have about bobbins. Read more…
One of the things that most new sewers and non-sewers don’t understand is the amount of time you spend getting ready to sew. In fact, there are some projects (usually simple) that the actual stitching part takes the least amount of time. In the early years of my sewing journey, I was often frustrated with […] Read more…