This is the month to catch Spring Fever, if you haven't already! March 13 was the night we sprang forward with our clocks; and today, March 20, is the official first day of spring! This is also the month that the fire stations & firemen tell us that we should also change the batteries in our smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.

Some of us - especially me - have gotten Spring Fever so bad that on my days off I am going through 27 years of sewing samples and clothes to get rid of. My middle sister came over to help me, and - as she says - to slap my hands whenever I try to keep something that she thinks should go. She loves it every time she gets to slap my hands! As of this weekend we have gotten rid of six heaping full shopping carts (the big ones, not the little ones). And I now have a very smug big sister!

This is also the perfect week to clean and oil your sewing machines. Especially your serger! For some reason we tend to forget to clean our sergers and replace the needles. How long have those needles been in there??? You will be amazed at how much better your serger with stitch. It will just purr after getting new needles, a dusting, some swipes with a brush, and a few drops of oil.

Most sergers take just a drop of oil at the places indicated here by the red arrows. Check your serger owner's manual to see where your serger should be oiled.

Here's a note from Li Hertzi, author, illustrator, designer, artist:

Recently I have become a fan of the old, the antique, the historic... the elderly! Now, this is wonderful if it is in reference to one's parents, other vintage folk or fine art, but I have finally drawn the line in front of my BERNINA sewing machine.

This metal stool, without any sort of padding for the rump, and as stationary as the Rocky Mountains, has been my sewing perch for over a year. It was an original stool for the engineering department at Firestone and Rubber in the 40's. The 60's flower stitcker was new in the 60's and if I remember correctly, it was pink and green... years of tuckus's sliding on and off have rendered it colorless but still charming. The silver and green paint on the leg is from the 70's and the paint and glue spattered all over it is of mysterious vintage.

Now my birthday is coming up and my folks agreed with me that I needed something that would not cut off the circulation to my lower extremities every time I apply the gas to my BERNINA 630.

So my mother and I went to the twilight zone of lost office furniture - Morris Office Supply... Accustomed to appointing whole departments of multinational business, they were still delightfully kind to us with our one chair sewing room. After being escorted through the vastness of the new stuff, and the sorta used stuff, then the land of last cabinetry, the hall of cubicles gone bad, and the board room of scarred desks, we stepped into the darkened lair of the discarded chairs. Mismatched showroom rejects sat companionably around miscellaneous tables, some used lightly, some once brand new, all waiting patiently. With the grandeur of the new desks that move up and down on semi-magical hydraulics and even have attached treadmills still in my mind, the chairs looked downright anticlimactic until I saw back in the corner this blue wonder!

Not only is blue the color I was hoping for, but get a load of these paddles! The stool has no paddles.

This thing is the ultimate in adjustability and comfort. It even tips forward to allow my driving leg to rest comfortably in space without the least loss of feeling or circulation. And the wheels! I can scoot right and left, front and back in a decidedly stealthy fashion that fails to alert the Vintage Folk in the house to my every move. Sweet!

Wondering what you need this holiday season for your sewing room? Well, of course, a new BERNINA, but then, you have just got to get a wonderful new chair!

[Editors note: Check out the new, red BERNINA chair! Try it out at your local BERNINA store.]

Here's a note from Kimberly Einmo, author, designer, and international instructor:

Is there a household move in your future? Whether you plan to move across town, across the US, or even overseas, a little planning and and proper packing will ensure your BERNINA arrives at your new destination in perfect condition ready for you to sew!

Being a military wife, I've "been there, done that" many times. I've lost count of all our moves (including two moves across the Atlantic in the last year alone!). Let me share a few great tips I've learned to help ease the transition:

• My best advice? Even if you hire a moving company to pack your household items, I suggest you pack your BERNINA sewing machine or serger yourself. The most important thing is to use the original box and foam packing material in which your BSM (BERNINA Sewing Machine) was shipped. It may seem a little tricky to get everything in place like it was packed at the factory, but if you have any questions, your friendly, local BERNINA dealer will be able to show you how everything goes together.
• Take photographs of your machine from various angles before it is packed. (Trust me on this one!)
• If there is a lot of lint build-up in the bobbin casing area, now is a good time to clean it properly. Lower the presser foot onto a piece of fabric (which also protects the feed dogs) and put the needle in the down position into the fabric.
• Gather all your accessories and most importantly, be sure to pack the power cord. (Ask me how I know.)
• If you are moving overseas, you will need to know if your BERNINA has dual (110/220) voltage and dual (50/60) hertz. This is IMPORTANT! Most of the newer BERNINA machines are dual voltage, but not all. In fact, many of the older models are not. If your BERNINA is NOT dual voltage / dual hertz, you should not run it using a transformer in foreign countries with 220v. Not sure? Check with your local BERNINA dealer and be sure.
• Don't seal the box! You must be willing to show the movers (or moving foreman) your machine and the box contents to make sure your BERNINA is actually inside the box. There are many liability issues involved here, and the foreman should record the serial number and other information on your machine. This is good protection for both you and the moving company. In my experience, however, once the foreman sees how well you have packed the original box with your machine and accessories, he will be happy to seal the box as you have packed it and have it loaded with the rest of your household goods.
• If you have the original sales receipt for your machine, hand carry it with you along with your other important documents.
• Watch the movers load the box with your precious cargo (I'm talking about your BERNINA, not the wedding china. OK, maybe the china too). Make sure they keep the BERNINA box right side up as indicated on the box. Don't allow them to pack it upside down. Insist upon this.
• When your shipment is delivered at your new destination, I'm sure your BERNINA box will be one of the first you'll unpack. First, check for signs of damage on the outside of the box. Take photos of any signs of damage or water marks. Unpack the box and plug in your BERNINA. Give it a test run to test for problems or trauma (seriously). Most moving companies only have a limited window of time for you to file a claim (such as 90 days) so you'll want to make sure your machine is working just as it did when you packed it as soon after your move as possible. Don't wait until later to sew a few test patterns or use the embroidery unit if you have one.
• If there is a problem, take it to your new BERNINA dealer for some TLC (this is a good time to establish a rapport with your new dealer anyway). Tell them you moved and ask them to write in detail any service they perform on your machine on the receipt. You'll need a copy of this receipt if you file a claim.

Nothing makes a new residence feel like home as much as getting your sewing space set up and ready to go. I hope these tips help you if and when you find you are relocating. Good luck with your move, and just remember it will soon feel like home once you're sitting behind your BSM stitching again!

Here's a great resolution for 2010 - keep your sewing machine clean and happy! Here's some advice from John Gass at Sandi's Sewing Connection. He's been cleaning and repairing machines for many years, and sees the same problems over and over - many of which can be avoided by keeping your machine clean and oiled. Check your owner's manual for specific cleaning instructions for your machine. The tips below are useful for cleaning most sewing machines.

WARNING: These photos may frighten your sewing machine!

One very simple thing machine owners can do is keep the area under the stitch plate and around the bobbin clean. Lint and thread fragments tend to collect in these areas, causing a variety of stitching problems. Here, so much lint accumulated around the feed dogs that the stitch plate was actually raised and lowered when the machine was run. Generally just taking off the stitch plate will expose lots of lint - this is easily removed by gently brushing the lint out of the machine.

This picture shows lint in the hook race - the part that circles the bobbin case. Lint in this area tends to be oily, and gets packed into the hook race, especially in the narrow groove. To clean this area, remove the hook race (this can only be done on CB hook machines) and clean away the lint with a wooden toothpick. While you're there, put a drop of sewing machine oil on the hook race to keep it running smoothly.

A needle fragment jammed in the hook race can be removed by taking out the bobbin case and gently brushing the broken part out of the machine. Whenever a needle breaks, be sure to remove ALL of the pieces to ensure that they won't get between moving parts and cause problems.

Lint and thread in the top tension discs can sometimes be removed by "flossing" the discs with a heavy thread - such as gimp or topstitching thread - dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Lint can also collect in other parts of the machine that aren't easily accessed. That's why it's important to have your machine cleaned regularly. Vacations are a great time to take your machine to the BERNINA technician for a yearly clean/oil/adjust - you won't miss your machine if you aren't at home!

Broken threads can wind around machine parts and prevent parts from moving. Thread wound around the needle linkage can cause the machine to bind and stop running. To help prevent this from happening, stop sewing immediately and remove the thread before it has a chance to begin wrapping around any parts. Once the machine is jammed, you'll need to have a machine technician take your machine apart and remove the thread, then reset any parts that might have been pulled out of place.

For more photos and machine maintenance tips, visit the Machine Service area of Sandi's Sewing Connection website.

Isn't this a cool-looking machine? The Bernette 46 has a black body and gold filigree embellishment similar to that of old sewing machines, giving this modern sewing machine a unique retro look. A great basic machine for someone just starting out, the Bernette 46 has 8 stitches, including a 4-step buttonhole, and comes with several easy-to-change snap-on presser feet.

For comparison, here's a photo of the original BERNINA machine from 1932, model 105, a straight stitch only machine. Wouldn't the owner of this model have loved having zigzag stitches and buttonholes on her machine!