The trainings were amazing with over 1400 dealers, teachers, salespeople and technicians attending.

Two days of product training were taught with one evening just on embroidery - we called it our "Embroidery Evening" and we embroidered denim panels for a great-looking tote bag.

Two days of technicial training were taught as well and it was so interesting to see the machines taken apart and impressive to see the legendary Swiss quality.

The dealers were as excited as we were to finally get to work on and spend lots of time with the Big BERNINA Baby!

We also gave them instructions for a couple of wonderful projects to teach you when they return to their stores to set up classes on the 830 and to begin to plan Mastery Classes for the machine. It was also great to tell them that the jumbo hoop, many of the Dual Feed feet, the single needle and 5.5mm stitch plates, and the external Multiple Spool Holder are now available or will be available soon in dealers' stores.

The fun is just beginning - be sure to visit your dealer this week to ask how the training went and to take a look at the amazing BERNINA 830. Happy Thanksgiving!

It was very fun to show our BERNINA 830 to hundreds of people who stopped by our booth. It was encouraging to see that the public has done its homework and are so well informed about the BERNINA 830. Having ten 830s set up for consumers to use was a beautiful sight.

But even better, we had quilt artists Pat Holly and her sister Sue Nickels in the BERNINA booth during Festival. They stitched their quilting magic on the 830 and wowed all those who stopped by to see the applique, creative stitchery and free-motion work for which the sisters are famous. Check out their website and the beautiful quilting that has won national and international awards and praise at www.sue.nickels.com.

I leave on Sunday for two weeks of dealer trainings on the BERNINA 830. Dealers will be training on machines that they will take back to their stores for you to see. The BERNINA 830, in limited quantities, will become available the beginning of December for those of you who have put down deposits.

If you want to check out a dealer near you visit the dealer locator on www.bernina8series.com. Click the "where to buy" tab: www.bernina8series.com/dealer_search-n31-sE.html.

Yes, the time we have all been waiting for is finally here. And the Jumbo Hoop, Jumbo Bobbins, Multi-Spool Thread Holder and other accessories like the BERNINA Quilt Frame and the BERNINA Cabinet are also available. As you plan your holiday entertaining, think about how all the space on the 830 could make holiday sewing a breeze. Try out a BERNINA 830 at a dealer near you!

At the BERNINA booth we had ten BERNINA 830's set up to give as many people as possible a taste of the 830. We gave 30-minutes classes from the time the show started until the show ended each day and it was so much fun to see the reaction of our guests. Many people had seen the machine at their dealers' stores but many had not.

The most impressive and obvious feature was the size of the machine and all agreed it would be a huge benefilt not only for quilting but also for sewing and embroidery.

In 30 minutes we were able to customize the screen with the built-in wallpapers, use the BERNINA Dual Feed to stitch through ribbon, paper, fabric and stabilizer, experience on screen drag-and-drop using beautiful new stitches in a stitch combination - a BERNINA exclusive - and embroider our BERNINA 8.

We began early one morning so that a group of quilters from Japan could experience the BERNINA 830. They loved the machine.

The comments that we heard the most were: "unbelievable," "fantastic," "it has everything we ever wanted in a machine."

Many people were also impressed with the BERNINA quilt frame which will accommodate the BERNINA 830 in addition to all other BERNINA machines.

Our staff was all smiles on preview night - please notice that the owner of BERNINA, Hanspeter Ueltschi, was with us in Houston. Many people approached Mr. Ueltschi to thank him for the quality of the BERNINA product throughout the years. BERNINA has changed many creative lives for the better.

One of the highlights of my visit in Houston was to attend the Silver Star dinner - a tribute to Alex Anderson. Please visit the Quilt Show blog to share this special night with Alex: http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog/php. Alex has inspired thousands of people and she is so deserving of this special recognition.

So, Houston was lots of fun - more next week!

Don't miss the BERNINA Fashion Show, Rendezvous, tonight at Festival, from 6:30-8:30. For those of you that aren't at the show, the next issue of BERNINA of America's Through The Needle magazine is the program for the show, with photos and descriptions of all the garments. And, once the show is over, I'll be able to show photos here at the blog!

Here's a little quilt I designed for the occasion using the Quilter program in BERNINA Embroidery Software. It's easy to create blocks and add embroidery - just point and click - and much faster than actually stitching a quilt! Plus, if I decide to make my blocks, it's just another click to print pattern pieces and embroidery templates. This block uses Diane Gaudynski designs from the new 830, and Tuilleries fabrics from Benartex.

I'm looking forward to reading all the comments from show attendees!

The embroidery on the jacket consists of using one of the beautiful built-in motifs (150 total) on the back of the jacket in addition to importing sewing stitches into embroidery. I decreased the size of the flowers on the jacket back and duplicated the motif so I would have a garden of three.

When I imported the sewing stitches, I enlarged the stitches quite a bit which is why I love this feature. It enables so much more creative freedone! Another reason is because it is so easy.

You toggle from embroidery to sewing, select a stitch (you can also make alterations in sewing mode), toggle back to embroidery and access the My Designs folder - that there is your stitch - just waiting for you to bring it into the hoop of your choice!

When the jacket was embellished as I wished, it was time to make buttonholes. I had great frog buttons and I wanted to change the width of the buttonhole slit so that the button would slide through the buttonhole easily for little child fingers. The BERNINA 830 lets me choose the width of the slit with a simple turn of the knob. Then I widened the bead of the buttonhole as well and saved the alterations permanently for the next time I make the jacket. I put the buttonhole in one of four Personal Program files and named the file, "Frog." I love the control I have with the 830 buttonholes.

Well, my suitcase is packed and I'm taking my camera so I can send you photos from Houston. We are looking forward to a great event. If you are attending Festival, please stop by the booth to say "Hi" and to sew on the BERNINA machines. More later...

The jacket and pants outfit was inspired by a lime green knit that I spotted when we were choosing fabric to make items for the 8 Series brochures. The fabric screamed fun and I tried to pack as many techniques as possible into one outfit - you can do that with children's clothing and usually the wearer doesn't object until he or she is 9 or 10!

The pattern for the jacket is "Robin's Little Jackets," from the Children's Corner. I love their patterns for children because they offer a blank canvas for embellishment opportunity!

I had lots of ribbons and buttons in my stash so the next step was letting them dictate which colors to use for embroidery and stitching. I often start with buttons and everything else falls into place. Since the knit had quite a bit of spandex, I knew BERNINA Dual Feed would enter into this project BIG TIME!

I wanted to use pintucks and a Double needle so I used the Security Program which allows me to choose the needle and stitch plate and saved me from myself - the machine will only sew the stitch width allowed without breaking a neele...and Double needles are expensive so I appreciate this BERNINA feature. I used a straight stitch and altered the width slightly to give interest to the pintucks. I pintucked the back yoke and the left front yoke and set the yokes off with piping made from the print lining with my wonderful Bulky Overlock Foot #12 (alias Piping Foot).

The frog applique shape on the front of the jacket was taken from the frog novelty stitch that is built into the BERNINA 830. I imported that stitch into embroidery and embroidered the piece of silk that I was using for the applique prior to cutting it out. I then used the satin stitch in auto taper and programmed the position and angle of the taper before using the stitch to applique the frog shape on the knit. I later brought those same frog stitches into embroidery in addition to a few floral stitches and enlarged the row of decorative sewing stitches in embroidery to create a border across the back of the jacket. I used the BERNINA Dual Feed to stitch the ribbons on that stretchy knit - because it is buile in and attaches with a touch of a finger - and I didn't even have to pin.

More next week on embroidering the jacket and sewing buttonholes - and then I'll be bringing you the blog from International Quilt Festival in Houston. Don't forget to tune in for the BERNINA 830 virtual overview on October 27 - register for it on www.bernina8series.com.

Now, back to creating with the BERNINA 830 and more about the projects you see on the Inspirations section of www.bernina8series.com. The decorative pillows by Pia Welsch are exquisite. Pia is a quilter from Germany who knows how to make decorative machine stitches assume a life of their own. The pillows are a great shade of orange linen and Pia adds colors and textures to make the pillows and stitches really stand out - "design eye candy." The pillows are 14 inches square and the 830's stitch combi mode was used generously to combine stitches to make great stitch recipes.

Sideways motion stitches were used to frame the 9mm stitches.

Soft rayon narrow ribbons were stitched with the zigzag stitch and manipulated into circle shapes and couched to the linen.

On one pillow, a clever elongated triangle flap of fabric was sewn on the front of the pillow to add more interest and texture.

With 1162 stitches from which to choose, start planning your pillows now!

And don't forget to register on the 8Series website to get the latest news about the 8 Series machines and to receive notice of the 830 Virtual Overview slated for October 27th.

First, let's look at the 830 gown which is the foundation of the advertising campaign. The gorgeous embroidery motifs are built into the 830. The gown is silk dupioni and is double-lined in silk and stitched with silk thread. Bernina Dual Feed was used to insert the zipper and the Jumbo Hoop was used to easily embroidery those wonderful motifs. The speed (1000 stitches per minute) really helped meet the photography deadlines. Jet black crystals were added to the motifs to make them sparkle!

The red tote is a project that showcases the excellent stitch quality of the BERNINA 830. Lots of fun ribbons and trims were added to the tote and the Bernina Dual Feed handled the application with ease, in addition to stitching the faux leather trim you find on the tote.

With 1162 stitches (261 brand new stitches) you will find more than enough inspiration for your creative needs. Plus using functions like Long Stitch, Pattern Elongation, Stitch Combinations and Connecting Stitches create a variety of new possibilities for stitch patterns. And remember, you can bring your sewing stitches into embroidery with the BERNINA 830.

And speaking of embroidery, the 830 Quilt is an embroidery masterpiece. Built-in motifs, including Jumbo Hoop designs and quilt designs from Diane Gaudynski make this quilt a vision for the eyes. The quilt, made completely from silk, makes great use of the Bernina Stitch Regulator which is standard with the 830 and the remarkable Bernina Walking Foot for stitching in the ditch machine quilting. The quilt binding was applied with the Bernina Dual Feed. Embroidery and Quilting - go together like peanut butter and jelly - and are just as yummy!

More on the Create with 8 projects next week! And check out the 830 on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Also, the virtual overviews of the machine have begun with the next one scheduled on October 27. This is a wonderful way to learn more about the 8 Series from a BERNINA of America educator in the form of a Power Point presentation. All you have to do is register for the newsletter on www.bernina8series.com and you will automatically be sent information with a link on how to participate and learn more about this great machine virtually. You can hear and see it all on your computer - it doesn't cost a thing except a little bit of time (about an hour). I'll also remind you in the weeks to come!

You've been sending me questions asking about the vital statistics of the 8 Series machines - wanting to know measurements and standard accessories...and how many of the exclusive, gorgeous one-piece presser feet come with the 830? Some of you are beginning to map out where you will put this machine in your sewing room. Please see the dimensions of the machine and a list of accessories and BERNINA presser feet (including the magical BERNINA Stitch Regulator) that come standard with the 830. That should keep you dreaming for another week!

Next week - join me as we "Create with 8"! Until then...keep anticipating!

But let me tell you, after using the BERNINA Dual Feed (BDF), I am not only a convert, I am an evangelist! We still have our feed system and our walking foot - choose the right tool for the job - and in addition we have the built-in BERNINA Dual Feed for even more options and more control.

The BERNINA Dual Feed is unlike any other dual feed system - we offer great visibility without any obstruction...and when the BDF disengages, it is totally out of the way.

Using the BERNINA Dual Feed on hard to manage fabrics, slippery ribbons, zippers that don't want to stay put, stretchy knits, bindings, layers, etc. allows more control, more precision and better results with less work like pinning or using spray adhesives. Because it is built in, it is easy to attach and you can use 9mm stitches. I'm a believer!!!

So are these other lovely ladies:

I engaged BERNINA Dual Feed when I inserted my front fly zipper in a pair of pants made of a fluid fabric. I loved the maneuverability of the presser foot (#4D) around the tight curve and how perfectly placed the fabric remained during the process - no shifting at all! - Jeanne

I love the ease in engaging the BERNINA Dual Feed and the fabric that it tucks all the way out of the way when not in use. Stitching a zipper in place has never looked so good - the BDF balances the zipper tape and the fabric fabrics beautifully. - Jennifer

I wanted to cover a pair of shoulder pads (that were already covered) in the lining color that matched my jacket. I had slippery fabric on slippery fabric. I placed a few pins since the pad was dimensional, and was amazed at how the BERNINA Dual Feed handled all the fabric! I never had to fight the fabric, there was no slipping and no puckers or pleats as I sewed around the pad using the BDF. I was quite impressed and look forward to it helping me out in future situations. - Susan

I just finished a small fabric clutch and the pattern asked me to cut a wide bias strip and then seam it to form a tube. Needless to say I expected quite a bit of stretching. But with the BERNINA Dual Feed there was no stretching or wavy seam. It was a beautiful flat seam. And speaking of bias, I love using the BDF for attaching binding to quilts. - Nina

To see the BERNINA Dual Feed work, go to http://www.bernina8series.com/default-n30-sE.html#DualFeed.

Once you have your BERNINA 8 series machine home and try the BERNINA Dual Feed, you'll be a believer too!

With the BERNINA 830, not only is the bobbin front loading, but it swings to the front of the machine and emerges...just like the little bird in a Swiss cuckoo clock...when the bobbin door is opened so that the bobbin is right at your fingertips for easy insertion and removal.

When the bobbin door closes, the bobbin and hook swing back into position and you are ready to sew.

It is such a simple system and it gives soooo many benefits:

HIGHER SPEEDS

FEWER SKIPPED STITCHES

EASY ACCESS

EASY TO SWITCH FROM SEWING TO EMBROIDERY

BETTER SEWING QUALITY

And our own Captain Hook, Mr. Gerard Durville, Head of Research and Development at the factory, says the hook is so robust, it will last a long, long time. Here you see Mr. Durville with Jakob Richenbach who also worked on the hook and has been with the factory over 50 years!

So check out the hook online (CLICK HERE and HERE) and you'll want to go into instant replay and see it again and again. And once you do, you'll be reeled in "hook, line and sinker!"

All over the country "Date with 8" parties are happening at BERNINA dealers. I've included some photos from a recent party in Florida. Make sure you check with your nearest BERNINA dealer to make reservations for your 8 Date. You will get to see the amazing 830 software and view the fascinating story of how the 8 Series machines were developed.

And here's the inside scoop on a question I am receiving often - why name this amazing new machine the BERNINA 830? The search for a name for these fabulous new machines lasted for over two years. Marketing companies were interviewed and, in addition, Mr. Hanspeter Ueltschi, owner of BERNINA, asked everyone in the factory to submit a name - all the proposals were checked and discarded. It seemed the machines (whose internal names were New Generation 1 and New Generation 2) defied mere mortal names! One thing was certain - the machines would carry the name BERNINA as the first household Bernina's did. Being that tradition, in most cases, defined top-of-the-line BERNINA's with the last two numbers 3-0 - the 530, 730, 830, 930, 1030, 1130, 1230, 1630, etc. - it seemed safe to ascribe the two numerals to the one new machine. And after much internal discussion, the simplest solution seemed to be to name the two new machines the BERNINA 820 and the BERNINA 830. The next logical progression for the successor of the artista 730 (which stays in the line) would be the 830, and the fact that it would take the number from one of the most popular and best-sold BERNINA's ever made seemed right and fitting. There will be no confusion if you own both machines - your BERNINA 830 is being launched in 2008 - an easy way to describe this new, innovative, awesome machine...the BERNINA 830...class of 2008!

Next week...fall in love - hook, line, and sinker - with the new hook system!

As the buses rolled into the factory driveway, the attendees were greeted by a huge banner letting them know they had arrived...

The BERNINA factory's Creative Center was decorated, the 830's were set up, and the staff was waiting for the Americans and their enthusiam.

Mr. Hanspeter Ueltschi, BERNINA's fourth generation owner, not only greeted everyone at the factory but also hosted all the attendees at his home.

The attendees made a beautiful portfolio for their 830 manual while discovering the BERNINA 830's charms, in addition to getting better acquainted with the factory employees.

The first "Date with 8" was a huge success and all the attendees can hardly wait for date Number Two!

At the end of the day, the amazed and delighted attendees honored the factory teams that developed and roduced the BERNINA 8 Series machines with a standing ovation.

Be sure to visit your local BERNINA dealer's store to hear all about the "date" and the beautiful Swiss trip. All of us at the factory are still smiling and happy - the Americans can invade any time they want!

Absolute check is an embroidery feature that 'checks' the position of the design as you touch the image of the design on the screen. For example, if you are placing a design on a project and you want to know exactly where each part of the design will sew out on the project, you touch the screen with your finger or touch pen and the needle moves to that position. There is no more check box. Absolute Check is amazing, it is accurate and it is fast.

So, for example, if I were embroidering a clown on a child's shirt and wanted to make sure that the big red nose exactly covered the dime-size grape juice stain, I'd use Absolute Check to move the needle around the outline of the nose and see if the entire stain were covered. Or, if I were stitching a delicate heirloom design on purchased eyelet, I could easily check to make sure all the stitching landed on fabric rather than over eyelet holes. I can see why everyone loves this feature so much!

btw - Here's a screen capture from the 830 Emulator CD. It's just like playing on the real machine, except all the stitching is virtual. A great way to learn about the machine without actually having one in front of you! Visit your local BERNINA shop for details.

"Having the opportunity to test the BERNINA 830 at the factory in Steckborn gave me a new appreciation for the ingenuity, workmanship and pride that goes into the development of every BERNINA product. Every feature has been carefully thought through to develop a machine that puts the creative sewer first, whether it be the ease of Automatic Threading, the Jumbo Bobbin or Absolute Check.

Absolute Check is hands down my favorite new feature. For new and experienced embroiderers alike, accurate placement of embroidery designs on a project can be a challenge. Absolute Check makes it so easy to ensure the design will end up exactly where I want it-every time."

Jennifer Gigas, Director of Education and Training

"To watch the Swiss team and the US team come together to make the 830 the best machine possible was amazing to me. In testing, you write a lot of bug reports - the best part was to be able to explain and show the bug to the specific engineer responsible for that area - and hearing them say - oh I know what I need to fix - and then to see it happen. It was also a unique experience to work with the engineers who developed the new technologies on the 830 and learn from that engineer the attributes of that feature - to see in detail what makes each Bernina so special.

My favorite feature: Absolute Check in embroidery. I design 'as I go' much of the time, and to be able to know 'absolutely' where each part of the design will sew out is an incredible time saver plus the precision is exact. Absolute check is not an approximation - it is exact."

Susan Fears, BERNINA Educator

"Being in the factory and working along side of the Swiss engineers was a true honor. The pride in workmanship and attention to quality and detail is clear in everything they do. Testing the BERNINA 830 was a once in a lifetime experience! My favorite feature of the 830 is: My freedom to choose and make the machine MY OWN! But I love the automatic needle threader."

Jeanne Delpit, Director of National Events

Visit your BERNINA dealer to see the BERNINA 8 Series machine software demo and learn about the features of these machines. This week we host 365 US dealers and staff in the factory to show them more about the 8 Series machines. More on that next week!

Congratulations Gayle and all of Bernina's Creative team on your new product Bernina 8 Series. I have not had the chance to be introduced to the new machine in person, but know for sure you all will have it showcased in Houston.

How exciting for you after all the hard work!!!

best regards,
wendy
Wendy Butler Berns
textile artist, teacher, lecturer
Lake Mills, WI

Gayle,

I did watch the webcast and can't wait to see the 830 in "person". I didn't think anything could get better than the 730 but looks like Bernina outdid themselves this time - and the size of the hoop for the embroidery machine is amazing. It is exciting to see that there are so many new features. I really was excited about the quilting frame. I have been looking for something to quilt my large quilts on in hopes of improving my quilting and it looks like that just might do the trick.

I applaud Bernina for listening to what the consumer wants. Bernina will be my first stop in Houston. You all must be so excited about this new product and I hope that the sales are terrific.

See you in Houston,
Nancy Prince

www.nancyprince.com

author of Simple Thread Painting

Dear Gayle,
You are lovely to communicate with all of us this way about the new machine. I have not seen it in person yet, but Jean Nolte and Kristi Loeffelholz on our Fons & Porter staff have. Jean tells me it is a truly fantastic machine, so I can't wait to get my hands on one!

Hope all is well with you,
Marianne

Fons and Porter

Hi Gayle,

I am so excited about the new machine, it's truly thrilling to know we had such a say in it. Thank you, Bernina is awesome.

On Friday evening, the 8^th, A Common Thread will be introducing the new machine, I will be a part of the introduction by relating my experiences at the Teachers Retreats; of us all letting Bernina know what features we would like in the Dream Machine.

My Best to you,

Kayla Kennington

www.kaylakennington.com

HI Gayle,

I visited the link for the 8 series. The site has great graphics, and the machine looks very tempting. The design is so revolutionary that it could qualify as sculpture. What I like about the new 8 series is that Bernina has incorporated all the latest technology into a dream machine for those of us who sew almost every day.
I added the link to the web site to my blog yvonneporcella.blogspot.com
Yvonne Porcella

As usual, bernina is listening. Love to you all. I Love epb elinor peace bailey - cloth doll patterns, llc elinor@epbdolls.net

Hi Gayle,
Congratulations on the new 830!
I just did a quick scan of the link, and especially like these features that I noticed at first glance -

• Pop-out jumbo bobbin offers 40% more capacity than most home machines
• Multiple spool holder keeps large, medium and small cones at the ready

You may remember that I wanted the multiple spool holder included with the machine, so I'm happy about that.
I am so glad that there is a simple but helpful way to indicate the needle size (and I hope needle kind too) on the 830! Am eager to see it and will mention it in my teaching.

Carol Ahles

Hi Gayle! What a great machine! I can hardly wait to see it when my St. Cloud dealer brings it in. Soon I hope! Thanks for all you do to promote a lifestyle we love. God bless, Sharon

Sharon Hultgren
St. Cloud, MN
Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly

Hi Gayle, I watched the video of this amazing machine and was so surprised! It is really the machine of all our suggestions!! I have my notes and read them the other day and it's all in this machine!! Wow! It should be noted that this company really listens when it asks what sewers want!! Congratulatons on the most impressive machine ever made!! Linda Teufel

Dear Gayle,

Congratulations! It's gorgeous!
Ellen Anne Eddy

Dear Gail, Can't wait to finally see this beauty in the flesh!!! How could anyone not want (need ) one! Debra Youngs

The new Bernina is beyond believable. When I purchased my first 830 Bernina way back in the 80's, I thought that I had bought the machine to last my lifetime. Boy was I wrong. I have purchased numerous Berninas since that time. The new machine is incredible. What a fabulous sewing world we live in. So sorry that I couldn't be there, but the web cast was wonderful. Thank you for making it possible for all to see. Thanks again, Linda McGehee

Ghee's
PO Box 4424
Shreveport, LA 71134
www.ghees.com

I can see all of those suggestions from our "dream machine" brainstorming -- we even got the clock! Paula Reid Hi Gayle, Just a quick note to say how great the website is for the new Bernina! Thank you so much for including me in the project.... I am hearing lots of great things, I sent a group email to my quilting friends to look at the site and I have received fabulous feedback... One friends email was simple and great- "I think I am in love, when can I get it!" Thanks again and I am so honored to have had a small part in the creation of the best sewing machine available! Sue Nickels Gayle - Congratulations!!! I watched online last night and am in awe - of the machine!!!! I am SO proud to be part of it; can't wait to try one out, it looks totally, absolutely amazing. Love the dual feed that flips up and tucks away. Perfect. I saw so many of the ideas that we teachers had, and all the things consumers wanted, and more. Enjoy the moment, Diane

Diane Gaudynski
www.dianegaudynski.net
"Quilt Savvy - Gaudynski's Machine Quilting Guidebook" now available!

Gayle: Wow, what fun to see the new 830. I can see many of the things that we have talked about at the national teachers' reunions have been incorporated into this new machine. Can't wait to see one in action.
Bonnie
--
Quilting - it's a hobby that can last a lifetime! Bonnie Browning
Author of Borders & Finishing Touches 2
Web site: http://bonniebrowning.tripod.com
Blog: http://bonniebrowningblog.blogspot.com

Hey Gayle,

The machine is over the moon! Congrats on all your hard work, it really shows in the attention to details. It just goes to show that Bernina is always worth the wait. I'm looking forward to seeing it at my local Bernina dealer and getting one of my very own for my studio.

Beth Ferrier

Applewood Farm Publications, Inc.

www.applewoodfarmquilts.com

www.applewd.com/blog/