Cote's Sewing & Fabrics Blog

Many of you know Ron has been designing a “Long Arm Quilting Machine". here is some info we can share with you now. The design is complete and Ron has met with the 2 shops that are going to assist in building this machine. It is going to be called the “Cote Quilter 20 Plus” as you can tell it is going to be 20″ clear clearance from the needle to the neck of the machine. It will be built here in Maine and Ron will be doing the final assembly himself. Unlike a lot of the long arms that have been converted to quilting, this machine was designed from the start just for this purpose.
It will be sold as a free standing machine or as a model to be put in most frames. We will also be able to bunble it with the Bernina frame and the Sure Stitch for speed regulation.
Stay tuned as we get to the next stage. We are in hopes of demonstrating it at the Maine Quilt Show in July.
We still have the Cote Quilter “10″ available at the store for $999 as you can see in this picture below.

Sewing Machine Service
How Often

How often should your machine be serviced? Most home sewing machines have a top steel shaft and bottom shaft that run through steel bushings and they need annual lubrication to prevent them from freezing up (seizing up). The motor works harder to turn the shafts as they dry up and puts a strain on it and other parts in the machine. The motor can burn up, get hot and prematurely wear out the brushes. Newer machines today have a composite washer or felt to hold the oil longer but still needs to be recharged every year. By having your machine service annually you will ensure a much longer life for your machine and trouble free sewing.
When we service your machine we also do a lot of preventive maintenance such as oil and grease all moving parts, power air clean inside, check & adjust belt tensions, belt condition, brushes in the motor, remove any burrs on hook, check needle bar and bushings, presser foot alignment, inspect and clean build-up in gears, check and calibrate tensions, adjust tension release, check needle plate for burrs, check hook timing and adjust, check and adjust reverse, check bobbin winding, check light, and much more. All of this will keep your machine running properly and give you the best sewing experience. Most manufacturers require this to maintain your warrantee. Even though your manual may say it doesn’t need oil that means the operator doesn’t have to oil it on a daily basis, ALL MACHINES NEED OIL at some point. If your manual says it does need oil, it is only referring to what you as the consumer can oil such as the hook one drop for every two whole bobbins but the inside still needs to be oiled by a service tech annually. If you haven’t had it serviced it will break down just like a car without oil!!
Most machines today, the manufacturer doesn’t want the consumer inside the machine because of the electronics and circuit boards. They don’t want oil on the boards and in some of the sensors, ect. Not any dealer can service machines anymore. The trainings that we go to teach us how to make adjustment to the electronic components and calibrate them all. An average machine today has 4 to 5 motors in them that control such things as the zigzag, stitch length, bobbin winder etc, this eliminates many moving parts and makes the machine more reliable and more precise. The new Bernina 830 has 9 motors in it all controlled by the electronics. It is truly the ultimate sewing machine.
If you have embroidery machine the emb. Module also needs to be serviced. We only charge $15 to service the module. The arm moves in the X & Y direction and has two different motors to move it with each arm on a shaft that needs lubrication. There are also gears & belts in all modules that need grease.

Tech Dept.

I just came back from a Bernina meeting and found out more about the update for the version 6 Artista software. You can update from version 4 right to version 6 without having to update to version 5. It is very easy, just come into the store and buy an update kit and then update your version 4 or 5 right to version 6.
Now here is where the problem comes in, if you have updated to a newer computer and haven’t loaded version 4 onto it then you must update it from your older computer as the version 4 doesn’t work with the windows Vista and won’t work with windows 7. For a fee we can do it for you on one of our older computers as this will update your dongle to version 6 and then you will be able to use it with Vista or the new windos 7.
We have the update in stock. If you have version 5 and buy the update there is a special price. I can’t post prices on the internet but will gladly go over the pricing for you in the store. The pricing is very resonable and well worth the added features of version 6
Look for more information on the new features in our December e-newsletter. If you are not signed up you can send an email with first and last name and you email address and we will add you to our monthly e-news

Ron

This is a recent letter form a customer that we would like to share

Dear Ron
A week ago my friend and I drove several hours to your shop to have our Bernina sewing machines serviced. Thank you very much much for giving them a super tune-up the day we brought them in. They are purring along because of your expertise. We appreciated the advice you gave. I tried putting a drop of oil on my walking foot and it has never worked better.
Thank You
Sincerely
Mary