I recently had the opportunity to speak on a panel at the 2016 Common Threads event that is hosted by Baby Lock. Common Threads is a private event held at the Tacony/ Baby Lock headquarters near St. Louis, MO.
This was my first time attending and I had no idea what to expect. Let me tell you I was blown away! This company is 3rd generation family-owned and it showed! The way they treat their employees and partners was top notch. In attendance were dozens of bloggers, designers, sewlebrities, and representatives for different industry leaders. All areas of the sewing were represented from garment sewing, to machine embroidery to quilting. What a fabulous group of talented men and women I got to meet!
Every day we enjoyed delicious lunches and dinners that allowed us to socialize and get to know everyone better. Everyone was so nice and friendly! I made some great contacts and learned a ton about Baby Lock, their machines and some areas of my business that I’d like to expand. It was a great networking event that was both fun-filled and inspiring for creative business professionals.
Dana, Kristi and I on the Influencer Panel at Common Threads 2016.
Lunch time! So much delicious food, drinks and snacks. Baby Lock knows how to throw a party!
At the event we heard from the company CEO who mentioned a few of the ways Baby Lock is giving back. Learning about the charity projects Baby Lock is involved with was eye opening. I was amazed to see how invested they are in the sewing community and the younger generation of sewists. Giving back to 4H programs, shelters, school fashion programs, etc. This company is truly a role model in the industry. During the Common Threads event we were able to give back as well! While playing on the top of the line Baby Lock Destiny sewing & embroidery machine we made pillowcase dresses for Little Dresses for Africa . We also made two other projects for different charity programs including two different type of zippered bags.
The pillowcase dresses we all made to donate to Little Dresses for Africa.
Our classroom for the week! Look at all those Destinys!
The finished embroidery design for my zippered bag! Another project donated to charity!
Making a zippered pouch on the amazing Baby Lock Ovation serger/coverstitch machine.. and hanging out with Joi Mahon and Amy Barickman of Indygo Junction.
Attending a serger class with the uber talented, Sara Gallegos. She taught us how to do some really fun stuff on the Baby Lock Ovation serger/cover stitch machine.
My finished wave stitch zipper pouch. Learned some fun techniques, how to use specialty feet on the Ovation and it was a super quick project!
We also took a tour of the Baby Lock warehouse. Hello, sewing heaven! Tons of machines and notions!
I don’t own a Baby Lock sewing machine (yet!) but I have had the opportunity to use a few different machines in the past. At this event I was intrigued and impressed by the quality of their machines and products. I can appreciate how much care and detail goes into the functionality and ease of use of the machines for their consumers. They are definitely some of the most user-friendly machines I have ever used!
I know you weren’t able to attend but there is an opportunity for you to get in on a little fun by participating in the Common Threads After Party! It starts June 24th and you will be able to enter to win all kinds of cool stuff including the jam-packed swag bags of crafty goodies we all received. For more details on how to enter starting June 24th, enter your info here to win!
Chat soon!
P.S.- If you’re into machine embroidery go ahead an add yourself to my embroidery email list. I’m working on some new tutorials, designs and projects and you won’t want to miss it!
Cynthia Miller
Hey Vanessa,
I have a Babylock Sophia. It is the beginner machine for people like myself who are just staring to machine embroider. (I’m almost ready to go to the next step, don’t tell my hubby. Lol)
I would love for you to do a tutorial on in the hoop projects. The 4 x 4 is what comes with the Sophia and I think it would be great for beginners to do a small project on with you.
I hope you get the chance to purchase a Babylock. I love mine!!
Jane Storer
I bought the ‘Jane’ a few weeks ago and just love it’s smooth running at very fast speeds. It purrs along so effortlessly. And of course it’s named for me too so I had to have it.
Grace Patane
I love that machine embroidery piece that you did. It’s gorgeous! I am guilty of being one of those people that have an embroidery machine sitting in the closet, and not being used. I jhave the Janome 350E. I was very excited, and inspired when I first got the machine, but then I get overwhelmed with all the steps to get the design into the machine, and that was it. I did one in store class, and never used the machine again.
So, I am very interested in the embroidery classes that you were talking about in your live cam last night.
Also, that little bag you made is adorable. Would you know if Babylock has the pattern for that project on their website?
Deborah Miles
Hi Vanessa,
I enjoyed this “share” on your week at Babylock. It is fun to get an inside look at the events you attend. I use a sewing/embroidery machine combo with 5 x 7 and 6 x 10 hoop, and a serger. I’m fairly new at using both, and am looking forward to seeing your upcoming projects and tutorials.
Rhonda
Hi Vanessa and thank you for sharing all of the wonderful things at Baby Lock.
I purchased the Ovation 1 year ago in June and let me tell you I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! Yes it costs more than others but you cannot compare the quality or any other things it does against any other sergers out there!
I use it a lot and have never had any issues of jamming or breaking down or anything! I am so in love with my machine and after you used it you probably are too!
It’s so easy to use and runs smooth like butter!
I hope I win the giveaway as I bout materials and both your slicers and am looking forward to starting to making my 1st quilt when I get the time.
Thank you for all that you do and I hope to meet you in person 1 day as I’ve pretty much viewed all of your videos.
God Bless and have a wonderful day!????