Hi Imi, Oh I am so sorry that you are having some problems with Elvis, as I know you were so looking forward to playing with this new machine. Please don’t go giving up, I am sure there is someone else on TSP that has this same machine that will come along soon and be able to help you/talk you through. (Remember I said I am in awe of my own Bernina Artista).
Now I have just got out my cover for the machine plus the embroidery accessory cover, and as my machine is not a purpose built stand alone embroidery machine, my cover is in fact different from yours. Bernina supplied a very smart sturdy red fabric but it is not fabric as we know it, more like some form of canvas but it is not canvas, and whilst mine has been folded up and put away in its trolley suitcase system, I am pretty sure without the creases from the folding that this would stand up on its own. It has been beautifully made and edged in black, the part that goes over the machine has piping on it plus pockets, and because I have a separate embroidery unit Bernina cleverly had a section of the machine cover that unzipped and that piece comes off and you can then zip on the embroidery cover.
I am going to keep this out and when I see Twopence on Thursday (we go to hydrotherapy together in my village) I will show this to her as I am not sure if she has the same with her new Bernina or not, and perhaps between us we can make a pattern for you to be able to follow. If this works, whilst it may not be the same size for your particular machine perhaps it would be easier to adjust.
I know in amongst my huge collection of sewing related books there are a few with instructions on making a basic machine cover, and I believe Twopence has actually made one, she is not at home at the moment so I cannot ask her.
However to give you a boost, following your exploits with Elvis, you are making me want to get my machine up on the cabinet and have a play, so that is very good. But I do know exactly how you must be feeling, it is so daunting seeing these elaborate machines, trying to follow exactly what you have to do, press the right buttons, it is almost as though we need someone to be sitting alongside us telling us what to do, and of course that can rarely happen.
When I first got my machine I combed the internet looking for Bernina books - apparently Bernina USA have produced quite a few that are not available over here, so I indulged and had a selection sent over from the USA. Now I wonder whether Brother have done the same sort of thing, have they produced any embroidery books taking you step by step through the process that might help you.
Like yours my machine was not brand new, it had been taken in part exchange for the new whopping big Bernina 830 machine, however the dealer had not sold this machine on to anyone and then decided to retire selling off a lot of the contents of his shop. His mechanic however was going to keep the shop’s name but found he had to move to different premises and a different part of the town that was cheaper, and he only deals in servicing machines and selling machines/overlockers. So I was really lucky in getting my Artista at a sensible price, and I did have several hours tuition by a lady that worked in the existing shop and she certainly knew her way around the machine. At a push I could always make contact with her and go back for more lessons, but as I am not driving these days due partly to my balance problem I don’t think my husband would be too delighted having to occupy himself in a different area whilst I am playing machines, and it is really too far to take me and come back home and then come back to collect me. So I must really get down to getting to grips with this machine for myself.
Having indulged in a CD of Sue Box’s rose designs, it is my intention to embroider some collars and cuffs with tiny rosebuds on some blouses I intend to make, and I also like the idea of perhaps embroidering something delicate down the front of the blouse between the buttonholes. As you know Imi, I am still trying to decide whether to indulge in yet another of Sue Box’s designs as she has a special half price offer on at the moment and this time it is a CD of Christmas designs. Oh decisions, decisions. There are some lovely borders to be found on the Christmas CD.
Give yourself a little break from Elvis, and perhaps in a day or so you will be ready to go back and have a little play on the machine perhaps embroider something following the instruction book with a built in design rather than one from another source. Your first attempt of the sailing boat with the wording of Isabella looked lovely, so don’t go giving up.
Twopence has just rung me and yes will came back to have lunch with me on Thursday and we will try and construct a pattern from my cover – will be a fun thing to try and do, so watch this space. I will also charge my camera up and take some photos of the cover with the embroidery cover zipped in place, and will then ask Twopence if she can show me how to download the photos onto my laptop and then attach to TSP - I will be on a learning curve!!!!!