75 Reasons to Love Bernina

With Bernina celebrating its 75th anniversary, here is a list of 75 reasons to love Bernina. See why we love our machines or add your own in the comments section.

1. Swiss precision
2. Needle Stop Up/Down button
3. Needle Stop Up/Down with foot control
4. A presser foot for every sewing technique
5. Feet-ures—shows how to use all those feet.
6. Sews through anything from thin paper to thick vinyl
7. The fluorescent light lets you see clearly
8. Precision stitches for beautiful topstitching
9. Clean design of machines, form follows function
10. Camaraderie with others—we sew with the best!
11. Love all the built in thread cutters!
12. Clip-on presser feet—really easy to change!
13. Through The Needle magazine—great ideas!
14. Reliability
15. Free Hand System—it’s like an extra hand!
16. Magnifying Lens Set—really see your stitches!
17. Temporary altered stitch memory
18. BSR—BERNINA Stitch Regulator
19. Start/Stop Unit for foot control-free sewing
20. BERNINA website—www.berninausa.com
21. User-friendly, easy-to-use sewing machine
22. Embroidery Software…it will rock your socks off!
23. Micro Thread Control (mtc)—perfect serger stitches
24. On-screen software tutorials written in plain English
25. Mastering Your BERNINA workbooks and classes
26. Responsive to any creative process
27. Ability to wind a bobbin while embroidering
28. Quality embroidery design collections
29. Ability to sew over four layers of denim
30. A presser foot for every sewing technique
31. Serger Technique Reference Book
32. AskBERNINA@berninausa.com—personal answers to my sewing questions
33. Friendly, knowledgeable dealers
34. The quiet “humm” that the machine makes
35. The great customer service after the sale
36. Dependable workhorse through thick and thin
37. Free classes with every machine/software package
38. Latest in sewing technology
39. Easy-to-use color touch screen
40. Ties to tradition and family
41. Love the perfect stitch!
42. Lets me translate my ideas to perfect stitching
43. Rescaling embroidery designs without changing the integrity of the design.
44. Total control of stitches: width, length, position, etc.
45. Stitch Recipes at www.berninausa.com
46. Really smooth satin stitch!
47. Beautiful, easy-to-sew buttonholes
48. Smooth stop—no coasting when you stop sewing
49. Excellent Blindstitch for invisible hemming
50. Large bobbin holds lots of thread
51. Multiple needle positions for every stitch
52. On-screen editing for embroidery designs
53. Great for bobbin play!
54. Online classes at www.berninausa.com
55. Solid, durable quality and craftsmanship
56. Easy-to-use freestanding accessories box
57. Perfect edgestitching with Foot #10/10C
58. Easy invisible zippers with Foot #35
59. Start sewing immediately—no “fiddling” around!
60. Easy to clean, maintain, and take care of
61. Solid, Swiss quality machine
62. DC motor for great penetrating power
63. Special Myartista section—www.berninausa.com
64. Simple to thread
65. Easy one-step binding with Binder Attachment #84
66. Hopper mechanism for free-motion stitching
67. Family owned 114-year-old company
68. BERNINA contributes to the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research
69. Microsoft Windows powered artista easy to use
70. Feet for dozens of embellishment techniques
71. Easy to make piping with Foot #12/12C
72. FHS lowers the feed dog to accommodate thick fabrics
73. Creative functions lets you manipulate stitches
74. 730 Stitch Altering Area shows changes on screen
75. Precision stitches make the Ruffler work perfectly

The Bernina Edge: Exclusive Features

Sewing Features

• BSR—BERNINA Stitch Regulator – The easiest way to learn and sew free-motion techniques (Quilting, Thread Painting, Bobbinwork, etc.) with even, consistent stitches. Standard on the artista 730 (straight & zigzag) and aurora 440QE (straight stitch only) and as options on the artista 630 and 640 (straight & zigzag) and the aurora 430 (straight stitch only). Also available on the artista 200 as a purchased upgrade.
• Microsoft Windows Powered – The artista 200 and 730 are the most intuitive, familiar, and easy-tolearn systems available; they are truly “sewing computers.”
• Total Stitch Control – Variable settings on ALL stitches, not just a selected few; ability to adjust Width, Length, Needle Position, and, where available, Mirror Image, Pattern Extend, Balance, Pattern End, Long Stitch, and Thread Tension (artista 200, 640 & 730 only). Customize your stitches to work for you.
• Temporary Altered Stitch Memory – Most BERNINA models remember adjustments of each stitch so each time you return to it, the adjusted settings are still in effect (until machine is turned off).
• FHS—Free Hand System – Raises presser foot—and lowers feed dog at same time—providing the most space to slide fabric under the foot; you have full control for precision placement of fabric.
• History Stitches – artista 200 & 730 only; remembers the last 15 stitches selected (not just 1) and all adjustments made to them, so you can return to them without resetting; this feature is not affected by turning the machine off.
• Needle Up/Down with Foot Control – Perfect stitch-by-stitch control and full-power needle penetration; raise and lower the needle with a tap of your heel.
• Security Program – artista 200, 630, 640 & 730; keeps specialty needles from breaking on the presser foot; includes Double Wing needle and stitch plate options that other brands do not.
• Favorite Function – artista 200 & 730 only; easy-to-reach button above the needle can be programmed with the function you use the most—convenient and simple!
• CFL Light—Cool Fluorescent Light – Lights the entire stitching are so you can clearly see your project and the needle, increasing the ease and accuracy of your sewing.
• Magnifying Lenses – These optional accessories magnify the stitching area for improved accuracy, especially when sewing intricate techniques or viewing dark fabric and thread combinations.
• Sewing Table – Slide-on table extends the sewing area, giving more support for the fabric; acts as a large free arm for tubular items such as waistbands.

Embroidery Features

• ART Engine – The artista 200 and 730 have the power to rescale—not just resize—designs, increasing or decreasing the number of stitches as needed to keep the integrity and appearance of the stitching intact.
• Letter Rescaling – Size lettering to fit any project. Rescale—not just resize—increasing or decreasing the number of stitches as needed to keep the integrity and appearance of the lettering stitching intact.
• Disproportional Scaling – artista 200 & 730 only; rescale—not just resize—the width and height of a design independently so your design looks the way you want it to!
• Skewing – Create interesting effects by skewing your designs.
• Licensed Design Collections – Embroidery motifs from your favorite designers and artists—ones that no other company has!
• BERNINA Embroidery Software – artista 430E, 440QE E, 630E, 640E, 200E, and 730E all come standard with Editor Lite, a introductory version of BERNINA’s easy-to-use and powerful embroidery software.
• Internet Portal – artista 200 & 730 only; optional modem gives direct access to the myartista Portal, where you will find additional embroidery designs as well as information about stitches, presser feet, and accessories.

And the most unique feature of all:
The Family-Owned, Swiss Tradition of BERNINA. Founded in 1890, the Fritz Gegauf company has always been known for its dedication to quality. Now owned by Fritz’s greatgrandson, H.P. Ueltschi, BERNINA combines innovation and quality to give sewers everywhere dependable machines with the latest & most advanced features.

Why Do I Need Another Bobbin Case?

You have a brand new Bernina and now you want to experiment with all the fun textures of threads and all the different threads. You have already determined that your new thread is already too thick for the needle.

You will want to have another bobbin case to use for your different weight threads.
As a tip: Do not adjust your bobbin tension that you sew with unless you are comfortable with it. Save this bobbin for regular sewing.

Use your second bobbin case and use that with your new threads.  Adjust your bobbin tension as much you would like to get that perfect stitch.

1. Turn the little screw to the left to loosen your bobbin tension.
2. Turn the little screw to the right to tighten your bobbin tension.

A black latch bobbin case is available for your Bernina.  Please contact Bernina Lady.

The black latch on this bobbin case easily identifies to you the difference between your regular sewing bobbin case and your creative bobbin case. By having two bobbin cases and being able to adjust the tension on only one of them eliminates possible tension problems with your regular sewing bobbin case.

How to Select Your Needle and Thread

Sew, now you have your very own brand new Bernina. There are sew many different threads on the market and you would like to use them all to embellish your quilts, your garments or your home décor. Your sewing machine will sew anything you want with almost any texture of thread. However, needles and threads go together like a sandwich and soup.

If you use the incorrect needle with your choice of thread neither you nor your brand new Bernina will be very happy. Follow these few pointers:

The simple self-test

1. Choose your thread for your project. Choose your needle. With your needle in your hand and your thread OFF the machine thread your needle onto the spool of thread. Hold a length of it (24” or so) tip the thread up and down. Does the needle slide freely up and down the length of thread? No? Well then, try a bigger sized needle. If your needle won’t slide freely up and down your thread outside your machine then it won’t work in your machine with that needle.
2. Needles will be the least expensive item you purchase for your projects or your sewing machines. Needles should be changed frequently. (We recommend every 6-8 hours of sewing). Do not sew with a damaged needle. The damaged needle can “ding” the hook of your machine causing costly repairs. Sometimes, you may get a damaged needle right out of your package. If you are not getting the stitch quality you desire from your Bernina (which we all know will be perfect), then change your needle.

You must work with the best needle for the thread and project that you are working on to get a perfect stitch. When selecting your needle and thread, be sure to consider the following:

Selecting Your Threads

In sewing threads and threads in general, are made out of “plys”. You may see a phrase on your spool of thread “tex” with a number. This also refers to plys or thickness. Sometimes you will have three ply thread and sometimes two. Generally, three ply is our sewing thread or thicker and two ply is bobbin weight or lingerie weight thread. As a rule of thumb, the higher the number, the thinner the thread. The lower the number, the thicker the thread.

Cotton all purpose thread that we use for sewing and piecing is a 50 weight, 3 ply – the spool of thread will say 50/3. Machine quilting thread is 40/3 or 35/3. Embroidery thread can be 40/3, 35/3 or 30/3. Bobbin thread is generally 60/2 or can even go as high as 150/2 for high-speed dense machine embroidery.

If you are doing decorative stitches that are generally dense (as in a satin stitch or for example the heart stitch), try using a 60/2 in your bobbin and whatever you like on top as you will have less problems with the thread “gobbing” up on you.

Selecting Your Needle

Needle sizes are just the opposite of threads. The lower the number the smaller the needle and the higher the number the bigger the needle. You want to try to choose the right size needle for the thread you are using without putting great holes in your work by using a big needle. There are however, some instances where some needles work better than others for the task you are doing.

If the needle and threads you are using are not working for you, go to a bigger size needle. Here are a few examples:

• 30 weight thread top and bottom: Embroidery size 90 is the first choice. Loosen your top tension slightly.
• 40 weight thread top and bottom: Quilting needle size 90 or embroidery needle size 90. Loosen your top tension slightly.
• Metallic Threads: Use with “sewers aid” if you are having problems. This is a thread lubricant available at most fabric/quilt stores. Use a metallic needle. In a pinch you can use a size 90 embroidery needle. Loosen your top tension quite a bit and slow down your speed especially when doing dense stitching. Try using a metallic thread through the needle and in the bobbin. Due to the stitch formation and the hook system of your Bernina your stitches will lock. Always start with a test sample first.
• Invisible Thread: Can be used in the top and bobbin at the same time. Take care to wind your bobbin slowly and only fill it half full. Loosen your top tension slightly. Use a good quality invisible thread. Quilting size 75 or Microtel 60/8-80/12 will work well here.
• Thick Threads too big for your needle: If using threads to thick for the needle there are a couple of artistic choices you may make here. You may “couch” your threads on top of your work. You may also choose to wind a bobbin with this thick thread. This is where it is best to have a second bobbin case as you will have to loosen your bobbin tension. You then turn your sewing upside down and sew from the wrong side. The bobbin thread will then be on top of your work. This is sometimes referred to as bobbin work.

Consider the Basics

1. Make sure your sewing machine needle size match your thread weights.
2. Make sure you do not sew with damaged needles.
3. Take the time to set your machine up before you sew on your good project.
4. It’s OK to work with two different threads on your machine (top and bottom).
5. It’s OK to loosen or tighten your top (needle) tension.
6. Take the time to sew a “test sample” of what you want to do.
7. Make any adjustments to your threads, needles, upper tension before you start sewing on your project.

By following these steps, you will be much happier with the results. Take a few minutes to clean your machine especially if you have been either machine quilting or using a particularly dusty thread. Oil your machine at least once a week if you do a lot of sewing.

Troubleshooting Tips:

If your thread is breaking it is usually an indication of:

• Wrong needle size for thread you are using.
• Wrong needle size for the project you are making.
• Wrong thread for your project.
• Incorrect needle tension for thread or stitch. Increase or decrease your upper (needle) tension.
• If you are suffering from “skipped” stitches change your needle. That is usually the problem. Remember, even if you have just put a new needle in – it could still have a “burr” on it and will cause you problems. So change the needle.

Top 5 Bernina Features You Will Fall in Love With

Sewing machines in this day and age are very user-friendly and each feature on the machine will save you time and effort. There are many, many features to love about the new Berninas so The Bernina Lady has picked her Top 5 Favourites:

1. Needle up/down feature: No longer is your right hand leaving your work and turning the fly wheel to put the needle in the fabric. With the push of a button your needle will stay either in the up or down position. On some models you can even manipulate this feature with the tap of your heel on the foot pedal.
2. Free Hands System: What is the free hands system anyway? It is a knee lift for your machine. You nudge the free hand system with your knee and your pressure foot will rise up off the fabric. Again, allowing you to guide your work without your hands leaving the machine bed. Simply program the needle in the down position (by pressing a button) sew along and when you are ready to turn a corner or adjust your fabric nudge the knee lift and make your adjustments. Bernina suggests that for every 10 minutes of sewing you save 2 minutes by using the knee lift. *Comes with the Activa 240, Aurora 430/440, Artisita 630, 640 and 730 (available for the Activa 210, 220 and 230).
3. Compact Fluorescent Light: The lighting systems on the Activa 240 and above come with this compact fluorescent light. This is like natural daylight surrounding your work. It helps prevent eye strain and there is less shadowing.
4. Mirror Image: When sewing we often have to turn our work in order to sew on the other side. This means the bulk of the fabric is on the inside of the bed of the machine. Turn your stitch using the mirror image function and you don’t need to turn your work.
5. Top Quality: Bernina machines are unsurpassed by the competition.