Sewing machines are a bit like cars - not only are they both useful machines, but they're both constantly being updated with new features. Think about cars from the 1950s - automatic transmission had just been introduced, and air-conditioning was available only in a few models. 60 years later we have airbags, keyless entry, hybrid engines, even GPS systems that talk! The history of sewing machines runs a similar course. In the 1950s zigzag stitches, automatic buttonholes, and a free arm were relatively new features. All of these were part of the BERNINA 530 model shown here. Nearly 60 years later, sewing machines like the BERNINA artistas have touch screens, built in consultants and tutorials, more stitches than anyone in 1954 could imagine, controls for manipulating those stitches, and even a device that reads the movement of the fabric to improve your freemotion stitching! 

If you've taken a peek at the BERNINA 8 Series machines - the 820 and 830 - you know that the designers and engineers included every feature a seamster could dream of having. BERNINA collected feature requests for years and years, then incorporated all that information in the design of the 8 Series machines. Okay, they didn't include the espresso machine I asked for, but other than that I can't think of anything they missed. There's even an alarm clock to remind me when it's time to feed my dog! If you haven't seen the 8 Series machines, you can take one for a virtual tour by downloading the BERNINA 820 and 830 Simulators from the 8 Series website. Just look at all those buttons! One for securing seams, one for presser foot pressure, one that remembers all the stitches you've been using, one for stitching in 16 directions 720 directions in half degree increments (what was I thinking!), one for adjusting tension,... there's even one for setting up your screen exactly the way you want it!

But the contest isn't about the old 530 or the new 8 Series machines - it's about sewing machine features. Which feature on your sewing machine do you absolutely love? If you could design your own machine, what feature would you be sure to include? I learned to sew on a straight stitch machine, and later sewed on a machine that had a extra stitches for techniques like blindhemming and overcasting, but no decorative stitches. So when I bought my first machine, one of the features I really wanted was a feather stitch. That was a long time ago - before I knew about BERNINA's Free Hand System. Now I can't live without having that FHS lever for raising and lowering the presser foot without using my hands!

So tell us what your favorite sewing machine feature is, or think of something new and exciting that you'd like to have on your machine. To enter the contest, just leave a comment to this blog posting before midnight EST, April 11, 2010. The winner gets a box of fun stuff from BERNINA, OESD, Benartex, and Brewer!

A note from Teri Lucas, quilter, teacher:

Talking about quilting actually rivals quilting for intensity and passion in my life. I love the opportunity to get together with other quilters and talk about the process of quilting. From each of these opportunities, particularly teaching, I learn something new. My recent trip to Cleveland, OH to tape a segment on machine quilting for Quilting Arts TV (episode #503) proved yet another opportunity to talk about quilting and to grow as a quilter. Meeting Pokey Bolton, Jeanne Cook Delpit, Kathie Stull, Sarah Vedeler, Susan Brubaker Knapp and other artists and quilters was the highlight of the trip. Pokey and Jeanne are warm, welcoming and full of energy!

At home I quilt on a BERNINA 1080 and we do some good work together. I understand her sounds and rhythms and I have learned how to achieve an even, consisten stitch. In machine quilting class a few years ago I tried the BERNINA Stitch Regulator as part of the class - my reaction - "training wheels." I could not get the BSR to work with my hand movement. While I never discouraged anyone from getting or using it I just knew the BSR would not be part of my quilting life.

When I arrived for my practice time on the aurora 440QE Jeanne asked me if I'd be willing to demo the BERNINA Stitch Regulator on camera. I don't even use the BSR, how can I possibly demo on camera? After a brief conversation about how I quilt, Jeanne asked if she set up the BSR a bit differently would I just give it one more try? She set it up in BSR 2 mode with the foot pedal turning the BSR on and off - within 15 minutes I felt comfortable enough with the BSR to demo on camera. What a huge change! Now as I look down the road toward purchasing a new machine I can see a BERNINA Stitch Regulator adding to how I quilt.

Looking for a way to help your community in 2010? It's as easy as making a pillowcase and donating it to a local charity - a nursing home, women's shelter, homeless shelter, children's hospital, Child Welfare Services, ... the list goes on and on.

BERNINA has partnered with American Patchwork & Quilting to sponsor the One Million Pillowcase Challenge, a year-long challenge to make and donate a million (or more!) pillowcases to local charities all over the country. Visit www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases for free pillowcase patterns and a map of special events and participating BERNINA stores.

Keep track of the success of the challenge by watching the counter go up and up! We're three weeks into 2010, with over 9000 pillowcases donated - we need to do better than that to make the 1 million goal! Next time you're at your sewing machine, how about stitching together a pillowcase or two?

Congratulations to Linda St. Andre, winner of our 2009 Holiday Blog Contest! We'll be sending her a boxful of holiday goodies to give her a head start on her 2010 holiday stitching. Thank you to everyone that participated - what a grand collection of wonderful holiday ideas! I'm ready to start stitching!

Check out all of the entries (comments) at our Holiday Contest 2009 blog, and see photos of many of the great projects at our flickr site - Blog Holiday Contest 2009 Group. Below is a photo from EllieKiwi, showing her beautiful Santa Bags. Wouldn't you like to find one of these waiting for you on Christmas morning?

A big THANK YOU to our contest sponsors: BERNINA of America, Inc., OESD/embroideryonline.com, Brewer Sewing & Quilting Supplies, and Benartex fabrics.

You've spent precious time and energy creating handmade gifts and decorations for the holidays - now it's time to show off and share photos of your creations with other like-minded folks!

Why should the recipient be the only one to see the results of all that hard work? And those wonderful holiday decorations you spent hours and hours making, working into the wee hours of the morning - why should your family and friends be the only ones to see them? You know all your sewing friends at berninaUSAblog.com will appreciate all the effort you put into them, even if the giftees and guests don't.

Write a description of your favorite holiday project in the comments section, then post a photo on the contest photostream at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1305455@N23/pool/ (optional). While you're there, check out all the super projects from our other blog readers, and get inspired for next year's holiday season!

To give you a head start on next year's holiday sewing, the prize is a boxful of holiday goodies chosen from Jo's stash of books, patterns, blanks, fabric, thread - from BERNINA of America, OESD, Brewer, and Benartex.

Contest ends January 15, 2010. We'll pull a name out of the hat on January 16th, 2010.  Sorry - the prize can only be shipped to an address in the USA, but we hope our out-of-country friends will share their holiday ideas with us anyway.