By Alexandria
I was staying with family in Tavistock and paid a visit to Quilt Direct and the BERNINA Studio. I was given the opportunity to make something, anything I wanted, and the first thing I thought of was my friend's newborn baby, born on 16th February at just 27 weeks old. Tony and I hadn't yet found a gift for her, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to make something truly special.
At first I wanted to make a quilted blanket, but with such a short timeframe (a matter of hours), I was wisely advised that something a little quicker might be more suitable. A pillow it was.
Choosing the Design
The first step was to design something to go on the pillow. Her mummy absolutely adores cats, so that was the focus. A design was chosen on the BERNINA Designer software and personalised just for little Mia.
The Embroidery
Next was to choose a fabric. PINK OBVIOUSLY! We then watched in awe as the BERNINA 700 embroidery machine created the stitches on my chosen fabric as if by magic. It took around 45 minutes to complete the design, and I already knew the pillow was going to be perfect. (PS: I have never picked up a needle in my life, never mind used a sewing machine.)
Putting It Together
The next stage was to machine stitch the backing fabric on. I chose a lovely rainbow design, almost like a rainbow sky. I also promise I am happy in the photo below, that is my absolute concentration face. Katherine helped and guided me through cutting the fabric to the right size and setting up the BERNINA 570 sewing machine to attach the back to the front. Getting straight lines was a challenge (for someone who can't even walk or drive straight), but Katherine attached a seam guide to the machine bed which kept everything perfectly aligned.
Stuffing, Hand Finishing, and a Well-Earned Coffee
The pillow then needed to be stuffed before being hand finished. A coffee was very much needed at this stage, made by the lovely Ali. The pillow was stuffed and then hand sewn using a ladder stitch, demonstrated by Katherine first, and was fairly easy to follow.
The Finishing Touch
We also decided to add a label, so Mia could always remember who made the pillow for her. The writing was stitched by machine, and the border was made using a pattern on the machine, giving these lovely little hearts.
The Finished Cushion
And voilà! I can't believe I actually managed to make something so lovely, and I know it will mean so much to my dear friend. I'm certainly not saying it was easy, but it was made far more doable thanks to the help of the Quilt Direct team. Thanks again. I'm sure we'll be visiting again soon (all the way from Newcastle upon Tyne).
Inspired to Visit the BERNINA Studio?
Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced sewer, the Quilt Direct BERNINA Studio in Tavistock is a wonderful place to try something new. As an authorised BERNINA Diamond Dealer, our team is on hand to guide you through everything from embroidery to quilting. Get in touch to find out more about studio visits and what's on.
