Mama's Bernina

I can not remember a day that was more glorious than the day Dad bought Mom her new sewing machine! Oh how I remember that shiny new red case! As she opened that case, I so wanted to shove her out of the way so I could get to that Bernina!

Through the years, mom sewed constantly on the Bernina. Clothing, curtains, drapes, quilts, the list could go on forever! I was given my first machine around 7 years old, it was not a Bernina! It was Singer's Junior sewing machine! I had graduated from needle and thread! I was big time now...nope, mom and dad took the power cord and put it up! I was not old enough yet, I'd run my hand through that sewing machine! It did come with a crank for us beginners! And so, I cranked my way through doll clothes, barbie clothes, and all that goes with them.

There finally came that day when my sister Deb and I had proven ourselves. We were finally going to get our hands on Mom's Bernina! We were encouraged to take Home Economics to learn the basics in sewing, cooking, and how to run a house...I know, it sounds so archaic, but maybe that's not a bad thing! Back to that Blessed Bernina! Yes, we learned to sew on that machine! Soon, all our school projects were being brought home to sew on the Bernina, not those lesser machines the school offered! We were a bit spoiled! On our eighteenth birthdays, we were given our first real grown up sewing machines! They were Singers! Apparently, husbands are supposed to buy the Berninas, not moms and dads! I sewed on that Singer for years! When my Singer finally refused to work, Charles bought me a beautiful Husqvarna Sewing Machine. When we were expecting our first baby, Jessie, I went to work for Mom. She ran a Home Decor business, making drapes, light upholstery, pillows, comforters, bedspreads, and more. She worked on her Bernina, I worked on my Husqvarna.

After decades of patience, waiting for my Bernina, my mom finally stated she could no longer sew. It was the end of an era. There was a sense of sadness, as she truly was an extraordinary seamstress, or sewist (as they are referred to these days). But deep down, there was a growing excitement...Mom and Dad moved in with us in the early 2000's, that beautiful Bernina, the one I'd coveted all those years, was under our roof! Yes!

55 years ago Dad bought Mom her one and only Bernina. 55 years later I am still sewing on that Bernina. I recently had to replace the Foot control.

It broke about 30 years ago, Dad used gorilla glue to glue it back together, that lasted a good while! Then my niece's dog, Bella, thought the cord was a chew toy! Took me 5 minutes with a screw driver and wire strippers to fix it! Other than that? She runs like a gem! Thank you Bernina!

Oh! So you know...I did not run my hand through a sewing machine till I had been sewing for 30 years! And...it was the Bernina! Guess my parents were right!