Dave's BERNINA is Combining with 93.7 Sky FM to give away a new BERNINA!
Click here to go to our Facebook Page for a chance to win! Good LUCK!
Thailand Factory Tour
Richard | February 8, 2013 |
I was very excited to visit the Factory in Thailand in January. It was an incredible experience to see the process that goes into manufacturing a BERNINA. Actually I have witnessed it before but only in Switzerland, (3 times). I have to say that after visiting Thailand I am more confident than ever in BERNINA and there manufacturing quality in both Factory locations. The factory in imaculate and the workers do an incredible job.
February Fun
Ashley | February 1, 2013 |
Dave’s Bernina is offering several fun classes and workshops during the month of February, so you can sharpen your sewing and craft skills. Here is a list of just a few of the events we’re hosting in February.
*Tuesday February 5 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm. “Stupendously Stitched Tote”
Class fee: $10
Come learn how to sew a super cute sewing organizer with us. You can pick out a fabric you like, and we’ll show you have to use creative stitching to make a bag you’ll want to take with you everywhere.
*Thursday February 7 from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm AND Friday February 8 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm.
“Valentine’s Day Cards”
Class fee: $10 + Supplies
Come make beautifully decorated heart-themed cards to give to that special someone.
*Wednesday February 13 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. “Argyle Hoodie”
Class fee: $10 + supplies
Join us in this workshop to turn a regular zip-up hoodie into a fun and unique argyle sweatshirt.
*Friday February 15 from 1:30 pm-3:30 pm. “Keeping Things Straight”
Class fee: $10
Do you struggle to keep things organized in your own personal space? Well then this workshop is for you. Come make two “Fused and Folded Boxes” with us and get help with getting organized.
*Thursday February 28 from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. “Ruffle Scarf”
Class fee: $10 + supplies
Come to this workshop to learn how to use the rolled hem feature on your serger by making a cute ruffle scarf.
Enforcing Safety with that New Sewing Machine
Ashley | December 28, 2012 |
If you’re thinking about getting someone special a sewing machine as a gift this holiday season, you may want to consider including a list of safety rules that they need to follow in conjunction with the gift. The safety items are simple:
Before you give it to them, write up an agreement for them to sign. The agreement should state something similar to the following: “By opening this present, I promise to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations provided in the package I open. Should I disobey, I will immediately subject myself to a punishment without complaint or ill will. I hereby agree that the punishment will be affixed on a case by case basis—based on the severity of the crime—by the giver of the gift.”
Have them sign the legal document. Make a few copies. Frame one, give one to them and hide the original somewhere they can’t find and rip it up. It’s important you keep the evidence.
The punishments should be light and fun, and yet slightly annoying. Not enough to make them mad, but just enough to tease them. These will have to be cleverly thought up by the giver of the gift. Be sure to make them fun, otherwise they will begin to resent you or the gift. The punishment can be something as simple as tickling if they are a family member, or even a free back massage.
Be careful about not pushing buttons, keep it light and friendly. They will break the rules, there’s no question about that. This way they will still know you’re worried about them, and you have a fun way to show your concern.
Quilting and Sewing Christmas Traditions
Ashley |November 30, 2012 |
Christmas is coming up quickly! Along with the gift giving and the partaking of great meals, many of us cherish being able to share Christmas traditions with others and to pass them down to our children. For some people, Christmas traditions involve volunteering, or giving pajamas, or perhaps traveling to certain locations.
One of the best Christmas traditions of all is sharing the gift of sewing or quilting with daughters and granddaughter around the holidays. When you sit down with loved ones and teach them about sewing and quilting, you are doing far more than just following traditions. This is precious time where you can talk about life as well as teaching a skill that will last for their entire lives.
Having someone spend some time this holiday season teaching these skills makes for great memories. Whether your daughters and granddaughters are new to sewing and quilting or they have a lot of experience, you can always enjoy the teaching moment. In fact, they might be able to teach you something new!
A sewing or quilting tradition is great for the holidays. You can work on projects that are gifted to others, or perhaps complete a family memento that will remind you of the love you have for each other. Anytime is a great time to start a holiday project with your family! Traditions are about building memories and building great bonds between loved ones. With sewing and quilting, you can pass something useful and fun on to others and make the holiday season even better!
Visit Us at the Christmas Gift Festival!
Ashley |November 23, 2012 |
Dave's Bernina Black Friday!
Ashley |November 16, 2012 |
Join Us at the Harvest Retreat!
Ashley |August 31, 2012 |
Hey everyone! We’re coming up on our Harvest Retreat, and based on experience from years past, we’re going to have a great time! We’d just like to take a minute to remind everyone about what we have to going on, and that there is going to be something there for everyone.
You can register online for the Harvest Retreat at our website, or call with any questions you might have.
The Harvest Festival is going on from Sep 26-29. We’re going to have a lot of classes and presentations that you can register for, so sign up for what you want. We’re glad to have you!
Here’s the breakdown of our classes during the two days before and during the Harvest Retreat:
Wednesday September 26th- Special guest Angie Steveson of Lunch Box Quilts will be doing a special Trunk show from 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM.
Thursday September 27th- Angie is going to be doing an all-day seminar from 9:30 AM- 4:00 PM. You can attend this seminar for $60. Register online at our website!
Friday September 28th. Classes will run from 9:00 AM- 12:30 PM in the morning, followed by classes in the afternoon from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Evening classes will go from 6:30 PM- 9:30 PM.
Saturday September 29th. Morning classes will go from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM, followed by afternoon classes running from 2:00 PM- 5:00 PM.
Please note- we are having a huge discount on supplies for those who sign up for classes. We want to make sure that you are prepared and ready to have a great time, so please purchase everything you need at a discount- with our compliments.
We hope to see you all there. Have a great weekend!
What Kind of Warranty Comes with Your BERNINA?
Ashley |August 17, 2012 |
Are you looking to buy a BERNINA at one of our stores but want to know more about our warranties? If so, look no further. BERNINA offers great warranties on its products that are meant to ensure that the customer is taken care of for a long time.
A standard BERNINA warranty includes the following:
- Factory Warrant from BERNINA of America covers defective parts for 20 years from date of purchase.
- 1 year labor/service warranty.
- Computerized machines are covered by a 5 year warranty for all circuit boards.
- 2 year warranty on all electronic parts.
Exclusive to our stores in Provo and St. George, Dave’s BERNINA includes an additional 4 year extended warranty when buying a new machine, as well as a host of other perks, including free classes and club memberships with us, as well as future discounts and upgrades. We treat our customers right!
Please note: We cannot offer warranties on BERNINAs bought online. Any BERNINA you buy at a store will come with a warranty, but getting one from an individual who is selling you theirs does not allow you to qualify for warranty conditions.
Bernina is committed to quality, and cannot ensure the condition of the equipment you buy from others online. As such, you cannot get a BERNINA from an official source over the Internet. Please visit our stores to qualify for a great warranty when you purchase a machine- we offer them for both new and used. We’re glad to help!
Dave’s Bernina Grand Re-Opening this Week!
Ashley |August 10, 2012 |
Dave’s Bernina is re-opening its doors today to welcome bake long-time friends and greet first-time visitors. We have a new look after months of renovations and are ready to show the public what we’ve got going under the hood. We invite you to celebrate our re-opening with us. Drop by our local store and take advantage of our door prizes, sales and demos.
Today, we are offering 48 month no interest financing. You can also walk away with screaming deals on our accessories. They are all 25% off today! You can receive up to $2,000 off the Bernina 730E or Bernina 635LE, making these machines more affordable than they have ever been before. The classic Bernina 46 is priced at only $199. Many of our loyal customers began with this machine. They found they loved it and have come back again and again for all of their sewing machine needs. This machine is still as relevant to today’s sewing needs as it was when it was made.
We at Dave’s Bernina are proudly showcasing our newest prize—the all new Bernina 780E. This machine is the apple of our eye. It is the newest in our line of superb sewing machines. Today, it is available for the first time for the general public to try out for themselves. If you like what you see, pre-order it and be the first to enjoy its awesome features in your home.
Be sure to try your hand at winning the free Bernina 380. Enter into the drawing and you may be the lucky winner who walks home with a new Bernina.
Lunchbox Quilting and Announcements
Ashley |August 3, 2012 |
Hi everyone! We’ve got an exciting upcoming event that we would like to focus on today! Angie Stevenson is going to be doing two workshops next month: one on September 26th and one on September 27th.
Angie is going to be doing an evening trunk show on September 26th, from 6-8 PM. On the 27th, she’s going to hold a special sit-and-sew workshop on embroidery machine appliqué, from 9:30am to 4:00 PM.
During this 6 hour workshop, you will learn how to master applique on your embroidery machine, no matter what. This class is going to focus on improving skills and mastering techniques. We’ll be doing Lunchbox Quilting, so you’ll get to pick your own from a selection of 13 patterns.
Save the dates and bring a friend! Angie is great at what she does, and this should be a great experience for everyone.
Quick reminder- We’d like to remind everyone that the dates for Camp Sew Fun have been moved from August 7-9 to August 8-10. Check your schedules to be sure you can still make it!
As our last announcement, we’re going to have an unveiling for the new 780 machine in our stores on August 9th and 10th. St. George will have it on the 9th, while Provo gets it on the 10th. It is going to be at each store for only one day before we ship it back to corporate! Sign up for the unveiling at 11 AM, and come check out our used 730 and 635 machines- we’re going to have a great deal coming up!
These coming months are going to be great, so we hope to see you soon!
Dave's Bernina's Summer of Fun!
Ashley |July 27, 2012 |
Hi everyone! We’ve got a great schedule lined up for summer in our Provo and St. George locations! We’re looking forward to having a lot of fun! As always we love to see new faces at classes and encourage everyone to bring friends, and we’re just as excited to see old friends come back.
Here is our August schedule for Provo and St. George:
Provo August Class Schedule
August 1st- Quilt Making Step By Step- Step 3. Baby Blocks Quilt
August 7th- Tuscan Garden
August 8th- Daisy Galore Pincushion
August 8th- Jeans Skirt
August 8th- Could It Be Vera?
August 8th-10th- Intermediate Ages 12-18
August 9th- 10th- Alfresco Bowl Covers
August 15th- Duffel Bag Part 1
August 16th- If You Can’t Stand the Heat… Make a Potholder!
August 17th- Snuggle Strip Quilt
August 21st- Quilt Block Editor
August 22nd- Duffel Bag Part 2
August 23rd- Applique
August 28th- Mix it up with Mixed Media
August 29th- Football Baby Quilt
August 30th- Applique
St George August Class Schedule
August 1st- Keeping it Straight Ruler Valise
August 2nd- Messenger Bag Part 1
August 9th- Messenger Bag Part 2
August 9th- Back to School
August 16th- Locker Organizer
August 23rd- Calista Skirt
August 23rd- Quiet Book “Counting Carrots”
August 27th- Fat Quarter Gift Bag
August 27th- All About Fonts
Sign up today for the ones that sound interesting to you! We hope to see you all in class!
830 Retreat at Dave's Bernina!
Ashley |July 20, 2012 |
Looking to improve on your quilting and embroidery skills? Wanting a change of pace? Or maybe just looking to have fun with other likeminded people? Sign up for our 830 retreat today!
Our 830 retreat is going from Friday July 27 to Saturday July 28. We’ve got a great section of classes to choose from, with a big focus on embroidery and quilting. These classes will focus on our 830 machine and its ability to do a wide range of complex work effortlessly.
We’ll not only be going over all of the best ways to utilize the abilities of your 830, but we’ll also be showing some of the most effective techniques that will leave you with beautiful results. In addition, we’ll be showcasing some of our newest Bernina products, so that you have the option to update your equipment if you need to.
All in all, it’s looking like it will be a fun time that is also very helpful to 830 users and those who simply are wanting to improve their skill sets even more. Bernina events are known for their quality, so this is one that you don’t want to miss!
Hope to see you all there!
Taking Care of Your Sewing Machine
Ashley |July 13, 2012 |
No matter how much you use it, your sewing machine is a tool that is helping you to do a job. Just like any other tool, your sewing machine needs to be maintained and cleaned on a regular basis in order to keep it running at peak effectiveness. You can do most of the maintenance work yourself- and it doesn’t take long at all!
Here are some tips for taking care of your sewing machine, all of which you can do yourself:
1- Service your machine annually. This means thoroughly going through and making sure that it is clean and in good operation. Some disassembly is required, which is why you will need your instruction manual!
2- Conduct mini tune-ups yourself throughout the year.
3- Use cans of compressed air to give yourself a quick and effective way to remove dust and list from the nooks and crannies of your machine.
4- Use a small lint brush (or a makeup brush as an alternative) to gently brush away list and dust that has accumulated or stuck.
5- Make sure that you clean the lint out of the feed dogs regularly.
6- Make sure to consult your instruction manual before you oil any part of your machine. Some modern options do not need it. Should you need to oil your machine, a single drop on the moving parts will do-- so do not overdo it.
7- Always swap in a fresh needle when starting a new project, or anytime that the needle gets damaged.
8- Make sure to cover your machine when it is not in use!
9- Last of all, make sure that you store your sewing machine in a cool dry place when you are not using it, so that it will remain in optimal shape for you.
Your sewing machine will be able to perform better if you take care of it on a regular basis. You can think of it this way: Take care of your sewing machine, and it will take care of you!
Back to the Basics: Sewing a Perfectly Straight Line
Ashley |July 6, 2012 |
Today we’re going to be talking about one of the core basics of sewing- sewing a perfectly straight line. It is something that we all have to learn as we take up the hobby, and it is always good to be refreshed.
There are two big factors that influence the lines you get: pedal control and your ability to keep consistent lines. When you are working with your sewing machine, keep consistent pressure on the pedal, and use it in gradual increments. Go at your own pace and adjust based on what is happening, but never cut off or push down hard without easing into it. This will help you avoid snags and having your fingers get in the way!
The lines on the plate under the needle of your machine are your best friend when it comes to sewing straight lines. There are several lines next to each other on these plates, which are evenly spaced out. You can use these to know exactly how straight you are sewing, as well as being able to keep your pleats consistent the whole time.
So, apply steady pressure, go at your own rate, and keep an eye on those parallel lines that you have! You’ll get much more consistent and straight results this way.
Just remember that if you make a mistake it is perfectly normal! Even the pros make mistakes of the basics every now and then. The key is to never get discouraged, and to always take every mistake as a lesson. And after the lesson has been learned, there is always picking!
Getting it perfect every time is going to take practice and muscle memory. The great thing is that you can develop these skills as you go without having to focus on them to much- because the more projects that you do, the more the skills will develop over time!
Making Unpicking Easier
Ashley |June 29, 2012 |
One of the truths that we all find out the longer that we all sew is that no matter how experienced or skilled you are at sewing- you’ll still have to unpick! Experienced people make mistakes just like the new people do, so they have to unpick just the same.
The difference between someone who is experienced at sewing and someone who is not is that those of us who have been doing this for a long time don’t feel anxious about having to do things over again. We’ve just gotten faster at unpicking! Here are some handy tips:
1- First, get a good seam ripper! This little tool is invaluable! You want one that is both durable and very sharp. You want to be able to cut through threads with a minimum of effort.
2- Next, cut through a few of the threads in your line, then pull the threads out. You don’t have to slice through every single stitch!
3- Be gentle and use the seam ripper to carefully push through stitches, you never want to hit your fabric with it!
4- Last of all, use a lint roller or sticky tape to clean up the loose threads and fluff. It’s a lot easier than using your hands!
Unpicking is a part of the sewing experience. We all have to do it, so we might as well do it with a smile! Hopefully these tips allow some of our readers to get through unpicking quickly, so that the rest of the project can go on!
Successfully Sewing Pleats
Ashley |June 15, 2012 |
Pleats are a popular garment detail which adds some visual flair and style to the piece that you are working on. These fabric folds make the skirt more vibrant, whether they are running for the length of the skirt of or are just on the low hemline edge.
This kind of detailing is popular with current skirt styles, and will likely continue to be popular throughout the summer. Here are some quick tips to help you with sewing pleats:
1- Marking
-When marking your pleats, use scissors to snip- mark the pleat lines in the seam allowance.
-Use straight pins to mark the remainder of each pleat line.
-Crease fabric along the solid line, press lightly, and remove the pins. Bring the pressed edge to meet the broken line and pin in place.
2- Pressing
-Once your pleats are formed and are basted into place, always use a press cloth
-Cut a strip of brown paper bag, inserting it between the garment and the unbasted fold of each pleat as you press. Press away!
3- Topstitching
-Topstitching and edging are used to hold your pleats in place. On a skirt, it usually begins at the waist and extends down to the hip area, through all the layers.
-To give topstitching and edging the look of one continuous line, do the edgestiching first, stitching below the hipline. Then go over it again and edgestitch to finish up.
4- Hemming
-Clip the seam allowance to the line of stitching at the top of the hem allowance.
-Press the seams open below the clip and trim them.
-Finish the raw edge of the hem allowance. Hem the garment.
-Re-press the lower edges of the pleats.
By following these tips, you should be able to get pleats that look great and add fun and movement to your skirts. Above all else, have fun and figure out what works best for you!
Great Sale Tomorrow!
Ashley |June 15, 2012 |
Dave’s Bernina is having a one day only sale tomorrow! On June 16th, we will be having a huge sale on all of our machines! We’re offering a lot of great perks with this sale that you’re not going to want to miss!
We’re going to be offering 48 months of interest free financing for our machines priced to sell. Of particular note in this sale is the 830LE! Along with the 830LE, we are including a free Jumbo Hoop, and a $500 dollar mail in certificate which can be used on anything in the store.
We’re not limited to the 830LE, however. Everything is going to be on sale! Notions, Feet, Accessories, Patterns, and everything else will be on sale- up to 50% off!
Tell your friends and get in here! Whether you’re looking for a machine or you want to build up your supplies, there is going to be something for you! This is only going on tomorrow, so spread the word!
Join Us for the Quilt Walk in Panguitch
Ashley |June 5, 2012 |
We are proud to be participating in the Quilt Walk in Panguitch this year! There is going to be a lot of fun events to go to, and a lot to be learned about sewing and quilting as well. We invite anyone who wants to learn some new skills to come participate with us!
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Quilt Walk, it is an annual event which is held in order to celebrate the founding and history of Panguitch. For 12 years now, the city has hosted this gathering of quilting enthusiast, as well as those who are just looking to have a great time.
The history behind the Quilt Walk is impressive and even miraculous in nature. Panguitch was settled by pioneers from a nearby town, who run dangerously low on supplies that winter. As their town and families faced starvation, seven brave men trudged off through the snow to get supplies from 40 miles away. The only way to progress through the frozen landscape was to lay quilts end over end to take their weight and disperse the pressure. These men heroically braved the frozen wastes and returned home to save their families
The Quilt Walk celebrates that history with classes, games, reenactments, and food. It’s a great activity to bring the family to! The quilt walk takes place June 7-9 this year. See you there!
For more information about the quilt walk, active registration, and the activities going on during it, please visit http://www.quiltwalk.org/. And be sure to come say hi at our booth. We’d love to see you there!
Camp Sew Fun Classes for Some Summer Fun!
Ashley |June 1, 2012 |
Finding activities for your children to participate in throughout the summer months can be difficult. Instead of constantly battling with them to put down the remote and go play outside, sign them up for a sewing camp! This is a great way for kids to learn skills that they can use for the rest of their life. The sewing machines will be provided and each child that attends will receive a special treat. There are three different sessions of sewing camps this summer…
This camp will give your children the opportunity to learn skills that they can use for the rest of their life. It is a great way to let your children have fun this summer without worrying about them. Stop by our store or check out our class schedule if you’d like to know more!
AcuQuilt GO! Baby Fabric Cutter- A Great Prize for Anyone
Ashley | May 18, 2012 |
Attention quilters! We are hosting a contest through the Daily Herald which we think should be really fun. We’ve decided to offer a prize for the winners that we know a lot of you will like.
As the prize for winning, we are going to give away an AcuQulit GO! Baby Fabric Cutter. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this product, the AcuQuilt allows you to make precise cuts into your fabric without having to worry about straining yourself.
This fabric cutter is great because not only is it designed and built with the quilter in mind, but it also will be able to make a difference right off the bat! The equipment does not need a power cord or batteries, and is designed to be compact and foldable so that you can easily carry it around and store it! It is perfect for those who either require a lot of accuracy, or who maybe are having trouble cutting fabric by hand.
The quality of the blades which are inset into the AcuQuilt will give you a lifetime of accurate precision, and will not dull as long as they are used for fabric cutting.
Your projects should be even more enjoyable and should be made easier if you use this fabric cutter while you work!
If you would like to participate and compete for this awesome prize then check the Daily Herald for our ad! Information about entry and the rules of the contest can be found in there.
We hope to see a lot of great submissions! Have fun, everyone!
A Mother's Day Gift to Cherish for Years
Ashley | May 4, 2012 |
If you are at loss as to what you can give your mother this mother’s day, a travelling quilt may be the answer that you have been looking for. If you and your mother share the skill of quilting, this can be a great way to spend quality time together and enjoy each other’s creativity. If you and your mother do not know how to quilt, you can take classes! If only one of you knows how to quilt, it is a great opportunity for one to learn from the other.
A travelling quilt will require each of you to make blocks for the quilt. As you finish the blocks you can send the quilt back and forth to one another. When you live close to each other, you may even plan to spend a specific amount of time quilting with each other once a month.
If you do not live close enough to be able to quilt together, you can simply send the quilt back and forth to each other. Building off of the creativity of the last block is a great way to get to know each other better and see the creative nature of someone you hold dear.
So, to get this started simply make the first block. Find material that you love, a pattern that you love or even a shape that you love and use it for inspiration. Wrap it up and write some rules about the quilt you are making together. Include…
Include a nice note about how much you love her and you can bet your gift will be a success.
Mastering Some Fun Sewing Techniques on Your Sewing Machine
Ashley | March 27, 2012 |
There are many different sewing techniques that are difficult to master. Sometimes though, there are some simple tricks that can help seamstresses successfully accomplish these difficult to master techniques.
If you have struggled sewing a perfect circle in the past you may want to use this method…
The next technique that can be difficult to master is a lettuce hem. When you want to sew a lettuce hem with your machine you should…
If you are overwhelmed by either of these techniques, you may want to take a sewing class. A beginning sewing class can be a great way to learn basic techniques that you can use throughout the rest of your sewing adventures.
We're on Pinterest!
Ashley | March 16, 2012 |
Dave’s Bernina now has a Pinterest! Follow us on Pinterest to see those sewing projects that have inspired us. We will also pin anything beautiful or inspiring that we can find on the internet. As we are out prowling the internet for pins that will spark creativity and inspire project ideas, we want to be able to share them with you.
We are also interested in what you have to share. Following our customers and those that find projects that spark creativity is a great way for us to broaden our horizons in the sewing world.
If you have not discovered Pinterest yet, you may want to stop by their website. Pinterest is an online Pinboard. This means that you can organize and share all of the beautiful and inspiring pictures and web pages that you find on the internet. Anything that you find can be pinned onto your own pinboard.
When you find someone interesting on the internet, you simply have to pin it onto your pin board. You can create many different pinbords to organize the ideas and inspirational items that you find while you are browsing the internet.
So, if you aren’t a part of the Pinterest community yet, hop on board! If you are part of the community, find Dave’s Bernina, follow us and let us take part in your virtual pinning experience!
Take Up Sewing to Save Money and Have Some Real Fun
Ashley | March 2, 2012 |
There are many ways that sewing can improve your life. Although you may only think of sewing as a hobby, there can be real benefits to dusting off your sewing machine and starting a new project.
Sewing can be a great way to save money. When you start sewing you can learn how to make clothes for yourself, accessories for your home or even make gifts to give to others. Often times, you are able to save a lot of money when you can make something on your own.
Color Correction: Tips for Dyeing Faded Fabrics
Ashley | February 24, 2012 |
The time may arise when you either want to fix faded clothing by inserting color in it, or you want to give them a new color altogether. This process can easily be done at home, with the right supplies. As such, there are many different ways that you can touch up or alter your clothes for a reduced price!
Here are some helpful tips for when you decide to dye your own clothes at home. Have fun, be safe, and wear them with pride!
Check Out Our New Site
Ashley | February 3, 2012 |