BERNINA Announces Winner of First WeAllSew Challenge

AURORA, IL--(Marketwire - May 4, 2012) - BERNINA of America, the world's premier manufacturer of sewing, embroidery and quilting machines, is pleased to announce Erin W. from Appleton, Wis. as the winner of the first WeAllSew Challenge for her upcycled wedding dress. Erin W. received a $1,000 BERNINA gift card and has contributed a feature post about her other upcycled projects on the WeAllSew blog, located at http://weallsew.com/2012/04/28/wedding-dress-upcycle-challenge-winner/.

The theme of the first WeAllSew Challenge was a wedding dress makeover where participants were asked to upcycle a wedding gown or bridesmaid dress into something new. Erin W.'s entry, titled, "Beatnik Chic!" included a vintage wedding gown that was turned into a modern-style dress featuring a stitched rosette and a brocade trim. Challenge entries were judged by a panel of BERNINA experts based on three criteria, including the number of votes each project received on Facebook, the project description, and the finished project.

BERNINA recently announced the theme of its second WeAllSew Challenge, "Make Yourself at Home," where participants are asked to upcycle any item, such as old bedding or tattered drapes, into reinvented home décor. Those who would like to participate in the second WeAllSew Challenge can enter by visiting BERNINA of America's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/berninausa, where they'll find full instructions and rules. A photo of the finished project along with a brief description must be uploaded between Thursday, May 3 and Monday, May 21.

The WeAllSew blog is designed for sewing enthusiasts of all ages to share a love of sewing through ideas, projects, patterns and tips, and inspire a whole new group of sewers. Combining the best of BERNINA of America's blog and its Sewing Republic Web site, WeAllSew.com offers a place for sewers, embroiderers and quilters to connect with blog contributors and sewing experts. Readers will also find tutorials, easy step-by-step instructions, new product information and inspirational ideas, including ways to help those in need.

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.