BERNINA to Host First Ever Make and Take Sewing Lab at SXSW Music Festival

AURORA, IL--(Marketwire - Mar 6, 2012) - BERNINA of America, the premier manufacturer of sewing, embroidery and quilting machines, is pleased to announce that it will host the first ever "Make and Take" sewing lab during the Style X Showcase at the South by Southwest^® (SXSW^®) Music Festival. Entrance to the showcase is free and the event will be held at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17 from noon to 8 p.m. BERNINA is also sponsoring the BurdaStyle and Style X Design Challenge in which the winners will have their garments worn on the runway by musician-models.

SXSW Music Festival attendees are invited to stop by BERNINA's "Make and Take" sewing lab at booth 315 near the Trinity Street entrance. Those who stop by will have the opportunity to create a variety of free projects on a BERNINA 380, including their choice of a unique iPad^® or tablet case, smart phone case or eReader case made from wool felt, plus an additional fun project to wear. The "Make and Take" sewing lab will be supported by Sew Much More, a BERNINA dealer in Austin, Texas. BERNINA machines and accessories will also be available for sale at the booth.

Founded in 1984, Sew Much More offers a variety of sewing, quilting and embroidery machines, serging accessories, add-ons and notions. It is also part of the BERNINA Century Club which boasts the country's largest and most respected BERNINA dealers. More information about Sew Much More can be found at www.sewaustin.com/index.html.

For the BurdaStyle and Style X Design Challenge, sponsored by BERNINA, BurdaStyle asked its members to post one fashion sketch and one mood board detailing a rock star fashion look on its Web site by February 7, 2012. From the entries, BurdaStyle, BERNINA and Style X selected three finalists which included one menswear look and two women's designs. The winning designs are featured on the BurdaStyle blog www.burdastyle.com. Each finalist will also create a one-of-a-kind look for a well-known musician that will be showcased during the Style X Runway Show Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. To see show highlights, pictures and more, visit www.weallsew.com or you can follow BERNINA of America on Facebook^® at www.facebook.com/berninausa or Twitter at twitter.com/#!/berninausa.

About BERNINA
Founded in Switzerland more than 100 years ago, BERNINA is the world's premier manufacturer with a proven reputation for offering state-of-the-art sewing and embroidery systems, sergers and embroidery software. BERNINA's leadership is marked by an impressive number of industry leaders, influencers and artisans who chose to partner with the company. BERNINA products are sold in the United States through a network of approximately 450 fully trained independent dealerships. In 2008, the company introduced the revolutionary BERNINA 830, a machine designed to change the home sewing industry. To learn more and to find a dealer, visit www.berninausa.com or call (630)978-2500.