BERNINA of America Inc., Aurora, Ill., has opened a new 4,500-square-foot creative center next to its corporate headquarters that will offer hands-on public education sessions and training opportunities.
The creative center, located at 3682 Unit B Prairie Lake Court, consists of three rooms with enough space to hold up to 50 attendees and machines.
The center’s first education session, BERNINA Feet Retreat, will be held April 18, and already is sold out. Other sessions are scheduled for May, September and December. All events at the new center are designed to help consumers and dealers advance their sewing, quilting and embroidering skills, according to the company.
Feet Retreat will present two days of inspiring applications for more than 20 different presser feet and accessories, including circular embroidery and binder attachments, and gathering/ruffling, pintuck and couching feet. Presser feet hold fabric flat as it is fed through the sewing machine and stitched, allowing for faster and more professional-looking results.
In addition to the April sessions, Feet Retreats are scheduled for Sept. 5 and Sept. 8. Registration will open on July 5 at bernina.com/en-us/whats-new-2/in-store-events.
Another multiday education session, the BERNINA Software Extravaganza, will take place May 17 and Dec. 6. Students will be guided by a team of experts, learn to navigate the embroidery software, work with automatic and manual digitizing tools, and explore the creative fill functions found in BERNINA Embroidery Software 6. The class also includes hands-on time with the new DesignWorks Software Suite, which features CutWork to cut shapes, patterns and designs from multiple layers of fabric, PaintWork for applying pen drawings, and CrystalWork for creating crystal appliqué patterns. Registration for the May 17 Software Extravaganza begins on March 15. Enrollment for the Dec. 6 session starts Oct. 4.
For more information, visit bernina.com. — L.M.
