Use the Pattern Repeat function to set the number of patterns prior to moving to the embroidery screen. The entire stitch combination will act as one unit and becomes easier to manipulate. However, the original set cannot be taken apart again.

• In the sewing screen, select stitch #501. Set Pattern Repeat at 3.

• Touch the embroidery module icon. The pattern thumbnail shows the 3-repeat pattern.

• Select the pattern just created from the My Designs folder.

• When selected, select the Oval Hoop and set the hoop to fill with 2 patterns.

Use the Endless Embroidery feature of the BERNINA 830 to easily stitch out four panels (size depends on your table). With this design, three repeats filled the hoop. After stitching, mirror image the combination to get the next set - the marks for Endless Embroidery are in the same place since the size of the design has not changed.

Tip - when aligning dark fabrics, draw on the stabilizer and the wrong side of the fabric, and match up these lines for accurate alignment with no chalk lines to remove.

The adjustable Patchwork Seam Guide attaches to the screw hole in the arm of the machine and is held in place with a screw.

It was the perfect accessory for these frayed edges and I love my jacket!

The Patchwork Seam Guide is an old accessory - but if you have an 8-Series machine it comes with two Adjustable Guides that will accomplish the same thing. One is for edgestitching and rides along each side of the fabric, and one is for stitch alignment on top of the fabric and rides on top of the fabric. For the jacket, I used the edgestitch Adjustable Guide in place of the Patchwork Seam Guide.

I was able to present or help in these sessions and enjoyed watching new sewers and people who had never before sewn or embroidered complete their tote-bag. We customized the 830 screen with a wallpaper of their choice from the many to select from, set the needle minder for the needle installed in the machine (so we wouldn't forget), and started creating our embroidery in the Jumbo Hoop! We took 2 designs from Diane Gaudynski's embroidery folder of feathered quilting designs and created our design and embroidered. Then, with the touch of one button, we went to the sewing screen and created a stitch combination using Drag & Drop and Connecting Stitches and sewed that under our embroidery. The final step was to use the BERNINA Dual Feed to sew up our bag.

Everyone had a new tote they could fill up with their shopping treasures from Houston.

The building blocks for this design - the arrangement of letters and numbers - was created using the Word Art capabilites of the 830.

Once the basic design was created, selecting the Endless Embroidery option duplicated the design, adding reference points so it was easy to make subsequent hoopings align exactly. The baby blanket was stitched using two and a half repeats of the basic alphabet design.

Click HERE for instructions.

Isn't that a gorgeous quilt on the cover? It was designed especially for BERNINA of America by Libby Lehman, one of my favorite quilters. Even though it looks complicated, it's really not difficult, and uses Circular Embroidery Attachment #83 to get all of those circles perfectly round.

Other articles in this issue include a quilt by Alex Anderson, holiday ornament by Michelle Griffith, a beautiful lingerie bag by Susan Fears, and sewing tips from Linda Lee.

Check with your local Bernina or Hancock Fabrics location to get your copy!

Use Horse Impressions #12166 - a design pack full of horse outlines - to create a dynamic background and place the child's name in the middle. The Eliza font is from the BERNINA Embroidery Software V5. With the designs being mostly outlines, PolyMesh stabilizer is the perfect choice. Compose the horse design background, add the name, and embroidery - you'll have a quick gift and make someone really happy!

For a tween, combine designs from the BERNINA Fashion Jewels Collection with her initial for a personalized embroidery that might remind you of a high fashion design group. Use the BERNINA Embroidery Software V5 to compose the two designs BE10529 and BE10526 with the Erica initial. Because the sweatshirt is a stretchy fabric, use a cut-away stabilizer like PolyMesh Cut-Away for an embroidered confection fit for an older princess. (Once they outgrow the embroidered Disney princess, they might like Juicy Couture and all it's emblematic royalty.)

I also downloaded a Star Jedi True Type font and did a shirt for my nephew who is quite the Star Wars fan and now it's his favorite shirt. (The plane is a stock design from OESD.)

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!

"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!