Friday 20 February 2026
... HELLO, IT'S ME AGAIN ...
Can you believe it’s already February 20th? So far, 2026 is shaping up to be another year of “more” — more sewing, overlocking, coverstitching, creating, learning, upskilling, socialising, movies, cups of tea … and definitely more road trips, whether planned or spontaneous! Simply put … MORE FUN!
It’s been over six months since my last blog post (and more than two years since my very first), and I’ve truly enjoyed the freedom of no weekly deadlines, giving me extra quality time with family, friends … and all the fun things in The Sewing Gypsy Studio.
Anyone who’s written a blog will know exactly what I mean. And for those who haven’t … just a heads-up: it’s a lot of work!
I had a little “forced rest” in September, with a short stay in hospital followed by six weeks of recovery — plenty of rest and light duties at home. I’m happy to say I’m now fully recovered and back to good health, although I’ve been told no lifting over 15 kilos for the rest of my life — probably just as well I’m no longer working in a store and hoisting sewing machines around!
That said, there were also many wonderful moments: special times with family and friends, another trip to visit my dear mum — now 92 and in aged care — a milestone birthday celebration (my son David turned 40!), and the arrival of a beautiful new treasure in our lives. My granddaughter, Summer Jane Beierer, was born on 21st November.
Gemma, Jack and Bobby now have the sweetest little girl to adore — and I have every excuse to start sewing frilly, girly things again! My other Granddaughter, Ambah, turns 17 this year, and let’s just say frills are no longer a feature in her wardrobe.
... MY 2026 CHALLENGE ...
Over the years, I’ve gathered quite a bit of sewing knowledge and I’m often asked lots of questions — but don’t let that fool you. I certainly don’t have all the answers! There are still techniques, threads and plenty of “fun stuff” I’ve yet to discover and experiment with on my machines.
Over the past two years, I’ve shared snippets of knowledge focusing on Bernina sewing machine feet and accessories. This year’s blog is all about showing you the difference specialised feet and accessories can make when using your overlocker or coverstitch machine — and encouraging you to move beyond simple seaming and neatening raw edges to try something a little more adventurous.
... THE BIG BOOK ...
While Bernina doesn’t offer a dedicated Big Book of Overlocking/Serging Feet to follow foot-by-foot, there are two excellent resources in the Big Book Series: The Big Book of Serging and The Big Book of Serger Quilting. I’d encourage you to take a look at these publications at your local Bernina dealer — or, if you already own them, pull them off the shelf and follow along with me.
Using those presser feet you already have tucked away in your “accessory stash” — and perhaps even mastering some of the more advanced techniques — will, I’m sure, expand your sewing skills and help you enjoy your time in the sewing room even more.
I’ll once again be working through the feet in numerical order — just over 20 in total, which is far fewer than the sewing machine feet. Along the way, there will be plenty of samples and techniques to try, along with notes explaining how and why you might use each foot. I’ll also share any additional tips and creative uses I’ve discovered, plus my weekly sewing “highs and lows” — and perhaps even include a small project or two for you to stitch using these feet!
... THE MACHINES ...
I’ll be working with both machines in my studio — my well-loved Bernina L460 overlocker and the incredible L890 combination overlocker, cover and chainstitch machine. The weekly posts will follow the numbered feet and accessories for the L890, with references included for the equivalent feet on the L460 and other compatible Bernina and Bernette models where relevant.
This year’s format will once again include a few social snippets from here in the studio, as I always enjoy sharing my space when I can — along with any updates from the little outdoor area too.
The journey kicks off again next week, so join me on Fridays! Remember — it’s just fabric and thread (sometimes more than two at a time!) … but for the best results, it’s always “The Foot that Counts”.
Chat again next week,
Foot note :
A huge and heartfelt thank you to Bernina Australia, Joy Harvey (Queensland and Northern Territory Area Manager), Kerrie Hay (National Product Educator), all the amazing Bernina Dealers I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and my wonderful family, friends and fellow sewists. Your support, encouragement, and enthusiasm for this blog make it such a joy to keep going — I truly couldn’t do it without you!