Sarah Neuburger’s Sewing Machine

Sarah Neuburger of The Small Object shares with us her sewing machine, the Bernina Activa 130.

Sarah says, “A Bernina Activa 130 that was purchase used from a local quilting guild last year. It was a gift but it was pretty pricey at around $400 I think. I had been sewing on my mother’s first Singer (don’t recall the model, about 40 years old) which was an awesome metal machine but when a pin broke some gears a few belts (don’t ask, I didn’t realize a pin was in there) fixing it became cost prohibitive. While I was afraid of a computerized machine I have fallen in love with this one. I used to have trouble adjusting the tension on various fabric weights and this one is no trouble and I seldom have to adjust it. The fancy options I use most: the knee lift for raising the presser foot, the needle up/down by use of the foot pedal–which I really love. Otherwise, it’s just a good solid machine with few thread breaks and tension problems (unlike the Singer through anything but cotton) and its heavy enough that it doesn’t bounce over my table. I was trying to decide between a comparable Janome and honestly got this one since my mother + sister both have Berninas and the presser feet/attachments which are all compatible between our models so that meant the perks of having access to more cool stuff like a pleater foot! ” Link.