Wow! A while back I spent the weekend bonding with my BERNINA 1150MDA serger. I have always been the type of person who uses a serger to finish seams during construction and stitch the occasional rolled edge. I learned so much while bonding with my new "baby." You know what the coolest thing is? The MTC (Micro Thread Control) knob.

You know when you're trying to balance tension on the loopers of your serger and no matter how hard you try, you can never find tune the stitches? Well, MTC takes care of that for you! One you have the tension close to being balanced, you can use the Micro Thread Control knob to fine tune the seam. It's super easy to use and makes those tension headaches go away. I think I'll have to use my serger more for decorative things from now on!

Ed. Learn more about Paula's serging adventures in BERNINA of America's Through the Needle issue #33 - "Jacket x 3."

This jacket from Kwik Sew pattern #3653 was a great canvas for incorporating a touch of embroidery. I used several designs from the Studio BERNINA Design Collection Vol.8 - Spirit of Geometry. (Designs used: BE10813.ART, BE10841.ART, and BE10839.ART.)

I scanned the pattern pieces of the upper front, lower front, and upper back panels into v6 DesignerPlus BERNINA Embroidery Software, then used them as templates for combining designs and auditioning placement before sending the completed arrangements to the embroidery system. No more guessing - it's just that simple!

The knit jacket was constructed with exposed seams using a three-thread serger stitch and threads that matched the embroidery designs and color of the jacket. I love the serger - it adds such a professional look to garments and really made this jacket quick and easy to assemble. This pattern lends itself to many possibilities and I can't wait to serge up another!

If your New Year's Resolution was to do something different this year, maybe this will be the ticket! Use your serger to make a quilt!

I had so much fun using the BERNINA Embroidery Software Quilter program to create "Going in Circles." The pattern I chose was the Drunkard's Path, and I used the software to audition how I wanted the blocks to go together.

I used a 4-thread overlock stitch to piece the quilt together, and a combination of chain- and cover-stitching to quilt the blocks. "Going in Circles" was stitched on a BERNINA 1300 MDC, but other sergers with these stitches could also be used. King Tut by Superior Threads was used in the needles and coverstitch looper, with Pearl Crown Rayon by YLI in the chainstitch looper.

Ed: Instructions for this quilt will be posted at www.berninausa.com in the near future.

These trees make cute name tags for your presents, ornaments, or place settings for your table as you celebrate Christmastime.

Step 1 - Cut fabric into 2 1/2" squares. You will need three squares for each tree.

Step 2 - Fold each square diagonally to form a triangle. Press.

Step 3 - Select a decorative thread such as YLI Monet or YLI Woolly Nylon. Set serger up for a 2-thread or 3-thread rolled hem following the instructions in your serger manual. (Alternatively, set serger for a narrow 3-thread balanced overlock with decorative thread in the loopers.)

• If using a 2-thread rolled hem, use a decorative thread in the lower looper and regular serger thread in the needle. Stitch finger in the rolled hem position.
• If using a 3-thread rolled hem, use decorative thread in the upper and lower loopers and regular serger thread in the needle. Stitch finger in the rolled hem position.
• If you want, you can use a 3-thread balanced overlock stitch with decorative thread in both loopers and regular serger thread in the right needle, with the stitch finder in the regular position.

Stitch along one side of each triangle, making a "chain" of serged triangles.

Step 4 - Fill each triangle with fiberfill or cotton balls. Serge the open sides shut, beginning stitching at the folded end. Dab seam sealant on each corner; after it dries, trim any excess thread.

Step 5 - Cut a piece of felt for the tree trunk.

Step 6 - Hand sew all three triangles together with the points pointing up. Then handstitch the tree trunk in place at the bottom of the tree and stitch a ribbon loop at the top of the tree. Alternatively, join all the pieces using a glue gun.

Step 7 - Stitch a ribbon loop to the top of the tree to use it as an ornament, or attach a paper or cardboard tube to the back to make it into a napkin ring.

Step 8 - Use a Sharpie marker to write the date and/or name on the tree trunk.

2-thread rolled hem using YLI Monet thread.

Balanced narrow 3-thread overlock with YLI Monet.

YLI Woolly Nylon

I had so much fun with my BERNINA serger recreating this neck purse from the new serger book called Ready, Set, Serge: Quick and Easy Projects You Can Make in Minutes by Georgie Melot.

I could really relate to the story of having your hair made into ringlets as a little girl! That's why my neck purse has tighter ringlets that the book shows! A great technique!