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.

Just a few days to go! The doors will soon open at the George R. Brown Convention Center to welcome over 40,000 avid and creative sewers to the International Quilt Festival. We'll be ready in the BERNINA booth - #808 - with lots of reasons why you'll want to come see us. We'll have some give-aways, donations for the American Heart Association, stand 'n' stitch opportunities, great prices on machines and accessories, and the most knowledgeable staff to answer questions. Rest assured you'll find the machine just right for your creative pleasure! Come see us in Booth #808!

The final preparations are underway for another action-packed International Fall Quilt Festival in Houston! Our BERNINA booth will be a happening place again. We'll have the full product line with some great special offers available only at Festival, October 30-November 2. And we'll even have 30 minute hands-on sessions with the new 830 sewing and embroidery system! The preparations have been crazy-fun, but every detail needs to be right on when our guests arrive! We can't wait until the doors open at the Convention Center in downtown Houston!

Sometimes it is hard for even the most open-minded among us to accept new things. When I first heard that BERNINA was developing a patented system for dual feed because consumers were asking for a built-in option, my immediate reaction was..."Why?"... Between BERNINA machines' great feed system and our superb walking foot, I couldn't see why we would need anything else.

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!

One of the most important tasks in the development of a machine is the testing. The BERNINA 8 Series machines were tested for months and months by different departments in the various stages of development. Watch "The Making of 8" video to discover the amazing story of the 8 Series machines. In conjunction with the Swiss testing, we began testing the usability of the 830 in January 2008 with a group of dedicated US Educators from Bernina of America. The US testing team consisted of five educators who joined me in January, March, May, June and are here in the factory with me now for our final week of testing. The US testers were to stretch the machine to its creative limits, using all types of fabrics and threads, all the BERNINA feet -making mistakes that all sewers make as well as placing demands on the machine that BERNINA customers make. Whereas the factory testing is very systematic, the US testing was also very demanding. The testers had to write step-by-step bug reports and had to repeat steps many times in order to reproduce certain machine behavior. Testing requires focus and patience. It was excellent to be able to test in the BERNINA factory where we had direct access to the engineers. They were eager to hear the US feedback and that testing feedback contributed to the fine tuning of several features. The photo shows testers in the factory with Mr. Hanspeter Vogel, head of Application and Testing. The testers from left to right are: Nina McVeigh, Susan Fears, Jennifer Gigas, Jeanne Delpit and Jill Danklefsen Braley. I asked some of the testers to give me their thoughts about their experience and this is what they had to say:  

"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!