rev:text
| - I have The Bernina Connection to thank for renewing my interest in sewing (which truthfully has become somewhat of an obsession). I sewed quite a bit as a teenager, then quit when I went to college and didn't give it a second thought for nearly 30 years. After moving to Arcadia 3 years ago, I started driving by the store every day. I had no idea what a "Bernina" was, but the sign advertising sewing classes caught my eye. Finally this spring I bought a modestly priced machine (not a Bernina--one day!) and signed up for BC's Sew Fundamental class. I literally took my new sewing machine out of the box, put it in my car, and drove to class along with the supplies I had been instructed to purchase. Cecile Morrow and Mary Furniss could not have been more patient with a basically novice sewist, and I learned a variety of basic machine- and hand-sewing techniques.
After taking up garment sewing and getting AWFULLY tired of a zig-zag stitch to finish seam allowances, I bought a modestly priced serger and signed up for Serger Academy with Mary Lewkowitz. This is another fantastic class. This time I practiced threading my new serger before class started, which was a good move. If you have no idea how to thread a serger, Mary will patiently help you, but I think I got more out of the class having already learned that part (it's really not that hard--it just takes patience--and tweezers!).
Beyond the worthwhile classes, the store itself is a delight, and I don't even quilt! I can just imagine how quilters must feel. There are bolts and bolts of beautiful cotton fabric. Their batik selection in particular is admirable. They are thin on fabric selections for garments, but what they do have is definitely worth checking out. They have top quality Mettler thread (both silk finish cotton and Seracor) which is extremely helpful as I can't get it at the local big box store. They have tons of patterns and books for various projects. Best of all, their employees are friendly and helpful without being intrusive. Sometimes you just want to walk around and bask in all of the colorful, patterned goodness, and they're happy to let you!
Thank you Bernina Connection--maybe one of these days I'll even sew a quilt!
|