BERNINA OF AMERICA TO EXHIBIT AT THE MID-ATLANTIC QUILT FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 23-26 IN HAMPTON VIRGINIA

Attendees will have the opportunity to take classes and experience a variety of BERNINA machines

AURORA, Ill. – February 21, 2017 – BERNINA of America, the premier manufacturer of sewing, embroidery and quilting machines, is pleased to announce that it will exhibit at the
Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival taking place February 23-26 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center, located at1610 Coliseum Drive in Hampton.  In booth #802, BERNINA Dealer, Nancy’s Calico Patch (Newport News, Va.) will showcase a variety of BERNINA machines including machines from BERNINA’s 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 Series.  BERNINA Event Team members, Michelle Kratzer and Kelly Rushing will be in the booth conducting machine demonstrations and Al Hunt will be available for any technical inquiries.  In booth #808, BERNINA Dealer, Cottonwood Quilt Shop (Charlottesville, Va.) will showcase BERNINA’s Longarm Quilting Machines including, the BERNINA Q 24 (Q 24), BERNINA Q 20 (Q 20) and BERNINA Q-matic Longarm Quilting Automation System (Q-matic). Nancy’s Calico Patch is a classroom sponsor and will be providing twenty-six BERNINA 740 (B 740) machines to students enrolled in the hands-on, free motion quilting and piecing with applique classes.  Classes will be taught by BERNINA Ambassador, Sue Nickels and her daughter, Ashley.  For more information about the conference visit, www.quiltfest.com.
 
The Q24 and Q20 are BERNINA’s first Longarm quilting machines. The Q24 is equipped with a throat space of 24 inches wide and 11 inches high and the Q20 offers 20 inches of throat space, a generous depth and height to better manage large quilts. The machines come standard with a number of innovative features, including a one-of-a-kind electronically controlled tension system and the home industry’s only presser foot tension release for threading ease.  Additionally, an intuitive color touchscreen interface, programmable handles, and a unique threading path with an integrated bobbin winder make the quilting process fast and easy. For more information, visit www.bernina.com/longarm.

Q-matic includes over 200 designs from several renowned European and US designers, as well as the option to upload .dxf file format patterns or BERNINA’s proprietary. bqm file format patterns.  To design and edit custom designs, Art & Stitch Quilt design and digitizing software is integrated into the Q-matic system.  The multiple on-demand help functions will assist you in every step of creating and placing your quilting designs.  The 21.5” all-in-one touch PC mounted to the side of the frame guarantees comfortable access to your designs and designing features.  It also provides easy customization with a touch of a finger.  Additionally, the wide screen allows you to easily place the designs and fully control the final pattern stitch-out.  With the one-touch quick belt release system, you can switch from automated quilting to freehand quilting within seconds.  Due to the side mounted PC and the one-touch quick belt release system, the Q Series machine remains lightweight and maneuverable.
 
The B 740 is a sewing machine packed with BERNINA's best features, including an updated user interface and a 4.3-inch high-resolution color touch screen that shows stitches on screen in actual size. Additionally, the B 740 comes standard with five full shank BERNINA presser feet, 241 stitches, and memory for four personal programs. It's also compatible with the BERNINA Stitch Regulator (BSR).  For more information about the next generation 7 Series, please visit www.bernina.com/7series.
 
Nancy’s Calico Patch and Cottonwood Quilt Shop are authorized BERNINA Dealers who have been providing top-quality service and repairs to area residents.  The Dealers offer BERNINA sewing machines, software, and accessories, and also provides a variety of sewing, embroidery and quilting classes for people of all skill levels.  For more information, visit Nancy’s Calico Patch at www.ncpquilting.com or Cottonwood at www.cottonwoodquiltshop.com.
 
About BERNINA
Founded in Switzerland more than 100 years ago, BERNINA is the world’s premier manufacturer with a proven reputation for offering quality state-of-the-art sewing, quilting and embroidery machines, overlockers, and embroidery software.  BERNINA’s leadership is marked by an impressive number of ambassadors, industry leaders, influencers and bloggers who chose to partner with the company.  BERNINA products are sold in the United States through a network of over 400 fully trained independent dealerships that also offer support and education.  Select BERNINA and bernette machines, and BERNINA software can also be purchased online.  BERNINA products are designed for beginning to advanced sewists and priced to meet a variety of budgets, with new products being introduced every year.  You can follow BERNINA on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/berninausa, Instagram: @BERNINAUSA, and Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/WeAllSew, and read BERNINA’s WeAllSew blog at www.weallsew.com
To learn more about BERNINA and to find a Dealer, visit www.bernina.com or call (630)978-2500.