Bernina
So if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is a duck. Right? Well, if that were true, I wouldn't be writing this article! Today we'll be looking at the Bernina 740 Favorit--not to be confused with the more common Bernina 730 Record or the super rare 718s or 719s.
Read MoreJust like in garment construction, fit is key. Presser feet are no different.
Usually when people talk about presser feet, they're talking about the whole slew of feet types that accomplish different specialty functions like zipper feet, or buttonhole feet. However, regardless of function, each presser foot attaches to your machine at the shank via a thumbscrew or a separate mounting mechanism. Over the years, shank shape and height have evolved depending on the manufacturer. More importantly, each machine only works with presser feet made for its specific shank type.
Read MoreIt seems like forever since I reviewed the Bernina 730 Record. Today we'll be looking at the next incarnation in the Bernina x30 series, the ever-popular, 830. This workhorse holds an 11 year 'record' for being Bernina's top of the line offering between 1971 to 1982. Now that's a long time! This, is undoubtably one of the most sought after vintage Berninas on the aftermarket today. Let's find out why.
Read MoreThe two most common hook types are rotary hooks and oscillating hooks. Rotary hooks spin around 360 degrees while oscillating hooks rotate about 200 degrees before doubling back on itself and never complete a full rotation. For the vast majority of people, there is no practical difference. As a rule of thumb, rotary hooks are capable of achieving much higher top speeds because there is minimal resistance on the hook when spinning all the way around. Oscillating hooks on the other hand, need to reverse momentum with each oscillation, thereby introducing a ton more resistance and vibration
Read MorePrior to going vintage, I've spent more money than I'm willing to admit on many different modern machines. I've tried everything ranging from bare bones Singers, budget Brothers, mechanical Berninas, and computerized Janomes.
I remember feeling completely overwhelmed with machine choices when I first started getting into sewing. Like with most other purchases, I waded through myriad of reviews online. What I found was that even after countless hours of research, I'd constantly get sucked into feature creep--drawn by the allure of more stitch patterns and more automatic features. And while all of this sounds terrific in theory, I found out (the hard way) that I didn't need or even want these features in practice. In fact, sometimes, just having those extras can make basic functionality on your machine less practical to use!
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