I was going to write about my 5 favourite sewing machines but then I realised there is only one for me.The Bernina 1008 is the best mechanical sewing machine in the world, unless you can tell me different. To have one of these is great, to have two, as I do is fantastic. One can be set up for free machine stitch with the darning foot and the feed dropped whilst the other is ever ready for dressmaking techniques with the standard foot and the feed raised. I’m sure there are lots of great fancy digital machines out there but for me nothing beats the control I get with a basic mechanical and the hands-on drawing skills that it allows me to employ.

Long live the Bernina 1008!