By Kaysie Oldani, BERNINA Educator

I received an assignment to create a little girl's sundress incorporating the new Blossoms & Bows OESD Signature Embroidery Collection. Now, this creative thing is not me, but I forged on with help from my "sew" creative peers!

Shirring the bodice with elastic thread was a hoot with the Jumbo Bobbin on the BERNINA 830 - it holds so much more elastic than a normal bobbin.

Speaking of "Jumbo" - embroidering the complete design in ONE hooping using the Jumbo Hoop was the best! Now, if you're so inclined, go ahead and make one for yourself!

By Susan Fears, BERNINA Educator

Be sure to visit us at www.berninausa.com to get the latest 8-Series firmware update! It is version 30.16.20 and it has some wonderful enhancements you will not want to miss. One question I am frequently asked is how to disable to sewing tie-on stitches permanently -- and it is now available in this new update. Also, the ability to deactivate the tie-on stithces at the beginning of an embroidery design is now available!

The update links can be found HERE -- and complete instructions for updating your machine are also posted. The software you need and detailed release notes are both posted. Remember, to update the machine you need a blank USB stick with 4GB memory or LESS. And after updating, be sure to recalibrate your hoops; you'll find this in the Set-up area of the machine under Embroidery.

Enjoy the enhancements -- many were your requests.

Check out the updated BERNINA 8 Series website!

We've been hard at work creating updating the 8 Series website, working under the hot lights and spending long hours on our computers.

Especially cool are the new video clips - the history of BERNINA and the 8 Series, the BERNINA 830 in motion, a walk-through of threading and using the 8 Series machines, interviews with national sewing celebrities, and more!

There are also many projects featuring the BERNINA 820 and 830, from journal covers and pillows to blouses and quilts.

Plus - after you've explored the new site, download the BERNINA 820 and/or 830 Simulators and see all the things you can do on the screens of these super machines!

Calling all 8 Series owners! Don't miss the chance to learn about yourBERNINA 820 or 830 with our Virtual 8 Series Mastery Classes, taught exclusively at participating BERNINA stores. We got off to a great start this week, and hope you can join us for the rest of the series! Check to see if a BERNINA store in your area is hosting this live series in their store. Presented by BERNINA Educators, the virtual classes will walk you through the basics as well as the new features of these great machines. Tuesdays at 1:00 pm, CDT - May 4, 11, 18, 25, June 1, 8 and 15.

8 Series Machine Mastery Live Topics:

• May 4 - Meet the Machines
• May 11 - Care & Feeding for Precision Preformance (presented by Hans Herzog)
• May 18 - In Stitches
• May 25 - Smooth Operations - BERNINA Stitch Regulator, BERNINA Dual Feed, and More
• June 1 - Not Directionally Challenged (BERNINA 830 Only)
• June 8 - Intro to Embroidery (BERNINA 830 Only)
• June 15 - Endless Love and More (BERNINA 830 Only)

A note from Gail Wheeler, VP of Marketing, BERNINA of America, Inc. -

Last month we - myself and Jennifer Gigas, Director of Education - were in Detroit to film some segments that will be part of the updated 8 Series website, scheduled to go live in May. Here's a sneak peek at what's in store!