Month: March 2019

My Love Affair With My Bernina ❤️

I’ve sewn and been interested in all things needlework for 53 years…. I learned to sew on my grandmother’s treadle sewing machine…I loved that old machine! I made all my school clothes and many other projects on it…

My next machine was a singer which I didn’t have very long. As a young mother making clothes for my three little ones I soon traded that singer in on a brand new Elna…. I used my first Elna until it was worn out… about 20 years… at which time I purchased another new Elna which I loved and used about ten years and traded it in on a new computerized Pfaff… I wore it out too and had it long enough that all the computer connections were so out of date they no longer worked…I sewed on all these machines nearly everyday!

When my Pfaff died, I decided I was going to get the best new machine I could fit in my budget and started looking. My choices came down to baby lock and Bernina and the deciding factor was the Bernina stitch regulator… I bought a Bernina 770 QEE with embroidery module, added some extra hoops and more presser feet and I don’t regret one penny I spent on this machine! I love it… everyday it’s a delight and a joy to sit down and sew or embroider or quilt on this machine!

I keep it clean and oiled and care for it like it’s the wonderful machine that it is… I have it serviced regularly by my wonderful Bernina dealer and I’ve never had a single problem with it!

I’m hooked on Bernina!

Machine Embroidery on Towels

I think when most sewers begin to think about getting started with machine embroidery the first thing that comes to mind is a towel….It’s a great place to start…but a few hints and tips will get you off to a great start and admiring your work in no time…

First, purchase a good towel… I use Better Homes and Gardens terry towels…. they are plush and thick and wonderful to embroider on… lesser quality towels are just that… thin and loosly woven and not good for most machine embroidery files…

I use medium weight tear away in my hoop and I “Float” my towel…I float most everything….I use my steam iron and press a fold down the center of the towel top to bottom and then I decide where I want my embroidery and press a fold from side to side..this way I have a center spot and alignment folds to line up with the marks at the top and bottom and sides of my hoop…I sometimes use a little 505 temporary spray but not always… sticky stabelizers and sprays pull at the little loops on terry cloth and can snag your towel…

I always use wash away stableizer on the top of any fabric with a nap and terry towels have a rather large nap…so..tear away in the hoop, float the towel and water soluble wash away stabelizer on the top and you are ready to go!