I really geek out over new sewing & embroidery machine tecnology
Over the years I have watched sewing machines change drastically. My first memories of machines was some time in the early 90's inside of my grandfather's store on Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa, Florida. Because of the era, and when my mom had creative freedom in her dad's business, the inside walls were painted á la "Miami Vice".
That's why I think it's perfect that my earliest machine memory is the Pfaff Creative 7550. She had these pink buttons that I really wish a sewing manufacturer would bring back. This design was iconic.
In 2001, my mom quit working for my grandfather and opened her own store. My grandfather and mom both had stores open in the same town for about 6 months before my grandfather retired and my mom took over his store location shortly after to open a second "Keep Me In Stitches", the name of her store.
One of the first summers she was open, I spent most of my time at the store because my mom hated leaving my brother and I home alone. And also, I was a great little worker even at 11/12 years old.
That summer, the Babylock Ellageo was released. Some of you still own this machine and bring it in for service and it always feels like a blast from the past for me! BUT HONESTLY - if you're still using this machine for embroidery, its time to upgrade.
There are a few different technologies that have run their course in the embroidery world. The first one is the embroidery card system. If you are using a machine with an embroidery card then you are probably having to use an old desktop or laptop that still connects to the machine. When the card slot no longer works, the machine is essentially out of order for embroidery.
After the embroidery card, we moved to USB technology in machines that made things a lot easier. We didn't need the specific memory card system anymore and we could buy generic USB's to add and transfer designs from our computer to our machines. This technology worked for many years, and still machines today take a USB stick. But Bernina has moved towards the latest technology, wireless and digital design transfer.
The name of the app is the "stitch out app" and the best part about it is that you can transfer designs to and from the machine using the app. I really like the ability of being able to have something designed on the machine, and then being able to send it over from the machine back to my computer. We teach you how to do this in our free Bernina guide classes by the way!
Above is a photo of the side of the Bernina 990 - this machine is the first to have an added USB-C port. I think this is a great addition since that seems to be the direction we are moving in the USB world. However, I still think it would be easiest to use the stitch out app to transfer designs. Here is a video of how the stitch out app works!
Some more old sewing technology that still haunts me....
The Memory Craft Scan 'n Sew was an accessory developed by Janome in the 1990s to work with their Memory Craft line of embroidery machines (especially the MC8000 and MC9000 series). It allowed users to scan simple designs—like line art or clipart—and convert them into embroidery patterns that could be stitched by the machine.
The funny thing about this product was I remember being young, and thinking that we had the coolest things to play with when I went to work with my grandpa. It took me a while to remember the actual name and find a photo of it!
Technology has certainly come a long way since my old days of running around in my grandpa's store. And on the new Bernina Pro Series, that is very obvious. Here are some of my favorite advances exclusive to the Pro series:
1. Next‑Generation Stitch Precision
Powered by Bernina's latest StitchPrecision² technology, the 7 Pro Series delivers ultra-quiet and remarkably accurate stitching. On embroidery tasks, stitch quality is elevated while Smart Drive Technology ramps up speed by up to 33%—meaning fewer starts, stops, and smoother overall results.
2. Pinpoint Laser
This built-in laser marks EXACTLY where your needle will enter, in any needle position. That level of precision means perfect alignment when matching patterns, starting points, or embroidery motifs.
3. Automatic Needle Threader
Threading used to be the most finicky step—until now. With Bernina’s automatic threader, you press a button and the machine threads it for you, effortlessly. No more squinting or struggling with tiny eye sizes.
4. 4‑Point Placement with Morphing
Positioning embroidery designs just got smarter. Define four anchor points, and the machine will scale or morph your design to fit—even non‑rectangular shapes. A simple yet revolutionary tool for custom visuals.
5. Wi‑Fi + BERNINA StitchOut App
Sync embroidery designs from Bernina Designer V9 software to the machine via Wi‑Fi. Then, monitor progress from your phone with the StitchOut app. Thread color indicator, status updates—pure remote control creativity.
Schedule your test drive on the new PRO series by sending us an email at support@shopstitchhouse.com - I am excited to show you everything new and exciting that exclusive to owning a PRO!
