Adding a New BERNINA 790 PLUS to the Fleet

Learning Adventure Begins

As a member of the 2022 Class of BERNINA Ambassadors, I welcomed the B 790 PLUS into my BERNINA family. It joined a B 770 QE and a vintage Patchwork 140 already in my studio. Years as an art quilt creator, teacher, and pattern designer had never included embroidery. The embroidery module will allow me to continue my goal to be a lifelong learner.

January brought the opportunity to attend the Ambassador Retreat at the BERNINA Creative Center in Aurora, Illinois. I had the opportunity to work with the B 790 PLUS as well as sergers and longarm machines at this event. The BERNINA team welcomed our ambassador class with information, demonstrations, and learning opportunities as they welcomed us to the family.

My local BERNINA dealer, CS Sewing, in Traverse City, Michigan received the shipment with my new machine as I returned from the Creative Center. Despite the gloomy January weather my day was bright when I arrived at CS Sewing for a tutorial and to pick up my new machine.

The B 790 PLUS is a perfect fit in my Koala Sewing Cabinet. The array of included accessories is extensive and useful. 

Youngest Generation Joins BERNINA Learning

A weekend with grandma and papa always includes time in the studio. Both grand littles were eager to create on the new machine.

Granddaughter, age 8, cut and stitched 100 hearts on her shirt for the upcoming 100th day of school parade.

The shirt slid right over the free arm for easy stitching on front and back. The hearts are bar tacked to shirt so they can be removed later. She’s already planning how she might use them in another project.

Grandson, age 8, stitched a blanket for Lego figures with the speed set on slow. Projects are already in the plans for his next visit.

Opening New Opportunities

With grandkids safely out of the action, it’s time to unbox the embroidery unit. The embroidery module was packaged in a completely different box separate from the machine.

Despite embroidery being a totally new technique to me, I’m excited to dive right in. 

So many ‘new to me’ items are housed in the top layer of the embroidery unit box. But wait there’s more….

The second layer in the box contains the unit that makes the magic. Always up for the challenge, it’s time to create something!

BERNINA just never disappoints as they have included everything needed to get started right away. A sample package of embroidery thread, embroidery needles and a variety package of stabilizers. The embroidery module comes with three sizes of hoops to fit an array of projects.

The owner’s manual easy-to-follow directions have me up and running in no time. My name is stitched out in this whimsical font with the provided blue thread. I think I’ve got this.

Always eager to try something new, I switched out the stabilizer and popped a coiled rope coaster in the hoop. 

I have already learned so much after working with two small items. Selecting a design, modifying size and orientation then stitching it out with color changes are new skills I’m practicing already. I feel confident knowing when use OEDS StabilStick Tear-Away vs OESD AquaMesh Wash-AwayStabilizer. The next learning curve is downloading the sweet embroidery design found online on my BERNINA B 790 Plus.