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 the eco Mode? Immediately the screen turns black, showing the eco Mode icon. The machine goes to sleep, saving power and retaining any settings you have made. The stitch you selected and any settings you have adjusted are still there when you are ready to sew again. Another reason to use the eco Mode is to keep children and/or pets safe if they “play” with the machine.
My #1 Reason for Using eco Mode
Both of these reasons are useful and but are not why I use the eco Mode daily on my machine. The real reason I started using the eco Mode has to do with the time it takes for the machine to turn on. Because the machine is actually a computer (which I love), it has to boot up. I timed it and my machine takes 38 seconds to be ready for me to sew. Of course, 38 seconds is not a huge amount of time but during that time, I can’t lift or change the presser foot, select a stitch, or make any settings, and I’m just waiting until I can start. It occurred to me that when I am finished for the day, I can activate the eco Mode. That means, when I return to my sewing space the next day, I just touch the eco Mode icon and start to sew. I know this is a tiny little timesaving step but it seem so much more efficient to me. Try it and see what you think!
As editor of "The Big Book of Feet: A Guide to BERNINA Presser Feet and Accessories," Susan created Sewfeet to provide Educational Courses, Content, and Resources to help you with all your sewing projects.
I use it regularly for the same reason . I’ve forgotten to shut it down a few times at night and wondered if that was a bad thing. Yet I rarely shut my laptop off for the exact same reasons. I’m glad you shared this! I won’t worry anymore.
Hi Candice –
I treat it like I do my computer and have not run into any issues with either.
Take care,
Susan
And if you hold that button in, it plays a little movie during eco mode 🙂
Hi Pamela –
It does play a little movie. Most people don’t know this but if you hold the eco Mode button for about 3 seconds, it will play. Wonder if we’ll ever get to watch Netflix on our sewing machine? LOL
Susan
I’ve been concerned about using Eco mode in case a thunderstorm should happen while the machine is in Eco. I normally unplug the machine when I am not using it to protect it from power spikes or brownouts. My area has very stable power usually but I still use Eco only sparingly for short periods. I do have a surge suppressor but I don’t really trust it.
Hi Claudia –
Disconnecting the power is a good practice, especially in thunderstorms. I have to admit I don’t always do this, but it is an easy way to avoid a problem.
Thanks for reminding me,
Susan
I use eco mode all the time, in fact, I almost never turn my machine completely off, I just leave it in eco mode. I have been doing this for the last year and a half with no problems. Now with that said, I didn’t know about the secrete movie. When I held the eco button on my 570, nothing happened. But on my 770, it was kittens playing with fabric and sewing machines! How cool is that!! I love my machines!
Hi Anne –
I think the movies started with the 7 Series machines. My 790 PRO show some beautiful embroidered projects. Not much of a plot, but fun to watch 🙂
Susan