Convention and Jenny Haskins Tutor Academy

Dear Sewing Friends!

Wow! This has been an exciting time getting ready for the introduction of the Designer Diamond!! Since there was a technical “glitch” on the night of the live web launch the entire web launch continues to be available for replay on the Husqvarna Viking web site. If you have not viewed it yet, click below.

WEB LAUNCH REPLAY

Originally we had planned to “blog” only until the Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond came out however some have encouraged me to continue this “blog” and to maybe include a project or tips? What do you think?

There is a place for you to leave comments at the bottom of the “blog”. Simply click on (number) Comments and you will find comments from others and a box to leave your comment. I promise to read them all but may not be able to answer them all. We did have a couple of questions on the last comment page. Bev from Hamburg, NY asked if her Designer SE has a trade-in value. I feel confident it does and suggest you visit your Husqvarna Viking Dealer for this information. “Anonymous” asked if the soft luggage set is coming with the Designer Diamond. The large soft side embroidery unit carrying bag is included with the Designer Diamond but for a limited time, the large Designer Diamond machine soft luggage carrying bag with wheeled cart comes only with the Designer Diamond machines purchased by dealers at Husqvarna Viking Convention. So if you want to take advantage of getting both bags free, hurry in to your Husqvarna Viking Dealer!

I promised to share some pictures from Husqvarna Viking Convention. We headed to San Antonio early for the exciting training for the Husqvarna Viking Education group. Many had not seen the Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond before coming to this training and everyone “fell in love” immediately! They absolutely loved the new Ultimate Interactive Screen. This is the largest, brightest and highest resolution color screen in the sewing industry!
Everyone was also impressed with the ease of operation and user friendly features of the Designer Diamond. They loved the new Design Positioning and Design Shaping and of course the space!

Each Educator stitched and embroidered for two full days then helped set up all the Designer Diamond sewing and embroidery machines for the convention!

The new Husqvarna Viking Family Portrait Embroidery Software program is fabulous! Here Julie Mallory, Embroidery Software Training Manager teaches the Educators how to create their “family tree”. Whether you are into family history, genealogy or just want to create one-of-a-kind gifts for special people and special occasions, this program is for you.
Simply enter the names, date of birth, death, communion, etc. (there are many options) and then select the style of lettering, layout of the “family tree” (not a real tree—there are many layouts to place your information into wonderful embroidery pieces) and embroider. You can even import information from other genealogy programs.

The best part is that you can combine pictures with the information in your “creation”. You can print pictures on printable fabric or better yet, the Husqvarna Viking Family Portrait Embroidery Software includes a very powerful tool, PortraitStitch, to take pictures and turn them into picture embroideries!

During the Notions Commotion at Husqvarna Viking Convention, Andrew Kaymer of VSM Software Ltd. presented me with a fabulous Hausmann-Youngberg Family Quilt. It was a complete surprise and I was overwhelmed as I saw the PortraitStitch pictures of Herb’s and my great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren all in PortraitStitch with birth and death dates and more.
Click here for more information on this program

I know this picture below is blurred but this is how it felt at the Grand Opening Launch of the Designer Diamond!! Well over a thousand people “poured” into the Grand Ballroom for their first look at the Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond. Do you see your Husqvarna Viking Dealer here?


The evening included a Fashion Show of incredibly wonderful garments all embroidered on the Designer Diamond with exciting and new Husqvarna Viking embroidery designs! Husqvarna Viking has always been known for beautiful, quality, upscale embroidery and our designers have outdone themselves with the new designs on the Designer Diamond and the new collections for all Husqvarna Viking models of sewing and embroidery machines. Be sure to check out Cutwork Finesse, Special Effects Butterflies and the incredible Embellish with Yarn designed to be embroidered with the new Yarn Couching Feet which are sold as an accessory for free-motion and embroidery yarn couching!

Highlight of the evening were the sixty individual Designer Diamond demonstration stations “manned” by our Educators, Trainers, and our partners from Sweden. Each station demonstrated an exciting new feature on the Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond! I’m not sure which station was most popular. People “clamored” to get to them all so they would not miss a thing!

Another highlight of Husqvarna Viking Convention was the Gallery of Sewing Art. Maybe you were a part of this? Husqvarna Viking stores across North America sent in incredible creations for this gallery. Evelyn, my Administrative Assistant and “right hand person” organized the display and cared for the gallery during convention. All entrants were treated to breakfast on Wednesday and the winners were announced for each category.

As you know, Husqvarna Viking Convention is only open to authorized Husqvarna Viking Dealers and their people and the biggest part of convention was all the classes. The people from your Husqvarna Viking Dealership participated in classes on the Designer Diamond, QBot automatic computerized quilting, and Family Portrait Embroidery Software. They also learned about the new Designer Diamond Techniques Studio program. This new program is for Designer Diamond owners and is designed to take you each month “step by step” into more creative options with your Designer Diamond. There are Step by Step Techniques and wonderful projects to go with each one. Ask your Husqvarna Viking store for more information!

I couldn’t resist taking a picture of this “art” on the ceiling in the Convention Center. From a distance I thought it was made from thread spools but when I got up close it was actually pop or beer cans. Wouldn’t this be an incredible piece made from thread spools??

Herb and I left convention early to go to the first Jenny Haskins Academy for Accredited Teachers. When Jenny and Simon announced this special training, it filled immediately so they added a second week. A total of 100 people (50 each week) stitched from 8:30am to 9:30pm learning exclusive Jenny Haskins techniques and creating fabulous projects to teach.



Husqvarna Viking provided 50 Designer Diamond sewing and embroidery machines for this school and they performed fabulously. Jenny really puts a sewing and embroidery machine to the test with her techniques and the Designer Diamond was up to every technique and every project. The students loved all the new features!

Sandy Votaw, Husqvarna Viking dealer from Sandy’s Fabrics & Machines in Kennewick, WA was one of the students and is excited to bring all the projects and techniques home to her customers.

It is always fun to meet people who share my enthusiasm for sewing and for sharing the joy of sewing with others. Kate pictured above took home her Designer Diamond and Jenny and I autographed it on the back!!

Husqvarna Viking Educator Jared Collins attended the tutor school too. Jared will be traveling this year presenting Husqvarna Viking programs so watch for him to come to your community as he has “sew” much to share. Don’t you love his embroidered shirt!!

Here is the group from week one.

Here is the group from week two.

During the first week I flew to Arlington, TX to speak at Martha’s Sewing Market on Friday night. Herb stayed back in Knoxville to help with the Jenny Haskins event. It was really great that Stephanie came week one and Cathy B week two to assist. Everyone learned the Designer Diamond almost immediately so we were mainly being sure they had what they needed to do their project.

It was exciting to see so many sewers “adopt” a Designer Diamond at Martha’s Sewing Market! Martha and I autographed them on the back. What a smile on this new owner as she and I try to balance the huge Majestic Hoop! The box is so big it does not fit in a suitcase! (Ask me how I know that!)


The Threads of Love Ministry was at Martha’s event and Husqvarna Viking provided Sapphire sewing machines for people in the exhibit hall to sit down and make one of the little “preemie diaper shirts” you see on the wall. When I first arrived in the booth a lady came in with the diaper shirt she had made and asked if we would put an embroidery on it. Well, these little shirts are so tiny that most embroidery designs would overwhelm them so we programmed a heart stitch into memory with FIX stitches before and after to tie it off (plus the Selective Thread Cutter to cut at the end) so the sewers could place little heart “embroideries” on their diaper shirts. The proportion of the single heart decorative satin stitch was just the right size to “embroider” the shirts. Sometimes we forget about our decorative stitches and all the creative opportunities they bring!

It is always fun to meet the families of our sewing friends. Hope Yoder, famous for her wonderful heirloom embroidery collections and patterns brought her two daughters to Martha’s Sewing Market.

Herb and I just returned home from our 4 week “flurry” of activity but will leave today for southern CA to see our new granddaughter. Herb has not seen her at all yet so we are really looking forward to this first leg of the trip. Then on to northern CA to celebrate the 4th of July weekend at All Stars games with grandson Britton, age 10 and traveling baseball team games with grandson Bret age 13. We will also celebrate several birthdays!


As we enter the July 4th week, I give thanks for our country and all the opportunities and blessings it provides. I also want to recognize and give thanks for all the men and women in the armed forces serving our country. God Bless America! Land that I love!

More about the Designer Diamond and QBot next time!

Until then, Happy Sewing!
Sue H

Digging out of the snow!

We finally arrived home from our trip to the Pacific Northwest on Sunday after a huge snowstorm had closed the Cleveland airport for 2 days! We had loads of snow at our home and on our deck. Hard to believe it is the middle of March!

After washing and repacking and a day at the office, we started another trip of America Sews on the Road with the first day hosted by Amy Baughman’s Sew and Quilt in Pittsburgh. Eighty wonderful ladies gathered for a full day of sewing and quilting tips and techniques. Amy welcomed them and presented Herb and me with beautiful pillow cases they had made so we would not have to put our heads on the hotel pillowcases. Great gift idea for a traveler! You can make a personalized pillowcase on your Husqvarna Viking Huskylock serger in less than 20 minutes. Add a monogram or embroidery on your Husqvarna Viking Designer SE! This is a great project for kid’s Pajama Parties! What a fun introduction to sewing to have each child “serge up” their own pillowcase!


It was exciting to hear that many of the ladies already have their name on the list to be the first to get the new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line sewing machine when it comes out in June. Of course they had many questions about the machine! I keep telling them I have had the opportunity to sew on it and have been working on proofreading the English User’s Guide and Help Texts and other information but they want details!! Most of the questions are about size such as will the sewing area be larger and will the embroidery hoop be larger? My answer to these questions is that I am not allowed to tell what features are coming on the new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line but my answer is “you are going to be very happy”!

Highlight of the day was the “Sew and Share” time after lunch. Many brought and wore wonderful items they created. I wore my “Waldo” hat in honor of this blog!

The maker of this beautiful porcelain doll has passed away but her sister is remembering her in a very special way by creating beautiful clothes for the dolls and she brought this one to share. Another reminder of how our sewing life skill brings so many memories, gifts and joys to our lives!



The special upgrade/exchange offer on the current top-of-the-line Husqvarna Viking Designer SE Limited Edition was very popular. Be sure to ask your local Husqvarna Viking store about this. The Designer SE Limited Edition comes with over $2,000. added value gifts including an exclusive Designer SE Limited Edition accessory bag, silver Limited Edition key chain, a gift certificate to redeem at http://www.myembroideries.com/ for $500 worth of embroidery designs. This is a fabulous site loaded with quality embroidery designs you can purchase and download anytime day or night. There is also a special Limited Edition CD case loaded with special CDs not available any where else. You receive the Best of America Sews; the favorite shows loaded with projects, tips and techniques, two years of Quick, Quicker, Quickest;over 100 quick gifts to make on DVD with complete CD of instructions to create them. Three additional embroidery CDs include an exclusive embroidery collection from Terry Fox, Fashion Designer in England, Cactus Punch Favorites and Sue’s Toy Sewing Machines with the art for the toy sewing drawn from my collection. This collection includes frames and tablecloths especially designed for you to combine with the toy machines either on the Interactive Designer Screen on your Husqvarna Viking Designer SE Limited Edition or in your Husqvarna Viking 4D Embroidery Software. What I love about combining designs in my 4D Embroidery Software is that when I save the combined design, the program automatically removes the overlap as it saves the design. This means there is no embroidery stitch build up under the areas where the designs overlap.

Several ladies took home a Husqvarna Viking Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator after stitching free motion quilting on the full size quilt Amy had made quilt ready for demonstration. They could not believe how easy and relaxing free motion is with the Husqvarna Viking Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator!

When you purchase your Husqvarna Viking Designer SE Limited Edition now, there is an added bonus of a $1,000 shopping spree! This $1,000 can be spent on any Husqvarna Viking accessories, embroideries, etc. Many are using this for their Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator. Others are buying the Huskystar ER10, Huskylock or loads of accessory feet for their Husqvarna Viking. Go to http://www.husqvarnaviking.com and visit your Husqvarna Viking store today to find out more!

Wednesday was our 48th wedding anniversary and we flew from Pittsburgh to Baltimore and drove to Hagerstown, MD. We went straight to “Wilson’s, Your Favorite Quilt Shop” to visit with owners Kathy and Marshall and all their people. Plus, we needed to drop off our suitcases full of samples and get set up for the next day. If you are wondering why these stores have the America Sews on the Road programs, last fall we had a drawing at our SewFest meetings and stores “won” me to come present an all day Quick, Quicker, Quickest or America Sews on the Road event for them. Wednesday night, Herb and I went to a special anniversary dinner at an authentic German restaurant in downtown Hagerstown. Herb loves “real” German food so we ordered a sampler plate. It was way too much food, but we had a wonderful evening together thinking about visiting Herb’s family in the Black Forest area of Germany with our granddaughter Lyndi this coming summer.

The next morning there was a real chill in the air as people lined up outside the Wilson’s door. We welcomed them as they entered and they sat down to enjoy delicious homemade cinnamon rolls before the program.

One of the highlights of this trip was that so many sewers brought beautiful dresses they had made for special children and grandchildren to wear to church on Easter Sunday. These three little dresses for three special granddaughters were “sew” fabulous!

Again there were many questions about specific features coming on the new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line and it was exciting to be able to answer them “you are going to be ‘sew’ happy”! Several added their names to the list for the new top-of-the-line and purchased their Husqvarna Viking Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator after my assurance that it slide off their current Designer SE and right onto their new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line. The other accessory they were excited about was the Husqvarna Viking Air Ease Hoop and I assured them they can enjoy it now on their Designer SE and this too will slide right onto their new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line!
Lunch was like being on a cruise! There were two seatings so we counted off into groups and while one group was served an elegant luncheon, the other group shopped and asked questions and tried the Designer SE, Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator, Huskylock and Huskystar ER10 Needle Felting machine while some learned more about the Husqvarna Viking 4D Embroidery Software programs.

We had a great time in Pittsburgh, PA and Hagerstown, MD but it was time to move on to Little Rock, AR! While we were traveling on Friday, my cell phone rang with great news, Brooke Elaine Hausmann, 5 pounds 4 ounces, 18 inches long was born in Simi Valley, California. Brooke is grandchild number ten! She was taken early by cesarean section as she had not been growing for several weeks. This was a troubled pregnancy so please keep her in your prayers. Brooke’s sisters Amanda age 5 and Sage age 2 ½ both weighed over 9 pounds so this is one tiny baby for this family. Mommy and baby are doing well, however, Brooke’s weight dropped to under 5 pounds as she came home so they are not receiving visitors yet. We hope to see her in a couple of weeks.

I’ve asked them to send a picture with Brooke’s eyes open because Husqvarna Viking is developing a special new and exciting software program for you! I can’t give any details yet but you will want this new program so you too can create wonderful gifts and memories and more! I have had a “sneak preview” and am really excited about all the possibilities!

Our trip to Little Rock was two-fold. The first stop was Conway, just north of Little Rock to do a special “live” pledge drive for AETN, the Arkansas Educational Telecommunications Network. America Sews airs on Public Broadcasting Stations throughout Arkansas and into the surrounding states. Joyce the owner of Sew a Stitch, the Husqvarna Viking Dealer in Bentonville, AR organized 15 volunteers who drove over 5 hours to come to Conway to answer phones during the benefit. We enjoyed dinner with them on Friday night. It was especially fun to meet and visit with so many avid sewers and quilters.

Saturday morning we arrived at AETN at 6 am! Joining us were 3 people from the Stitchin’ Post, the Husqvarna Viking store in Little Rock. The station aired 3 America Sews shows with breaks where I shared new projects and tips and invited viewers to call to support AETN. This is the support that keeps America Sews on the air. Be sure to e-mail, write, or call your local public television station to tell them what programming you enjoy and support them with your contribution! If they hear from more cooks or fishermen, this is the programming they will air.

Sarah age 14 came with her mom and the Sew a Stitch, Bentonville group. Sarah loves to sew and brought a donation to AETN from her 4-H club.
When I met the AETN host, Mona, she shared that she and her brothers and sisters plan to buy their mom a Husqvarna Viking Embroidery and Sewing machine for Christmas. After the first break when I demonstrated the Huskystar ER10 needle felting machine, Mona exclaimed “wow, my mom is sure to want one of those too”. I said how about for her birthday and Mona said: “her birthday was yesterday and my sister and I need a gift to take to her this weekend. This is it!” Here I’m signing Happy Birthday and Happy Sewing on the Huskystar ER10 we demonstrated and Mona purchased for her mom!

Mona was such a good sport! She changed jackets with me at every break so we could show more techniques!

Many viewers called in with support, pledges and contributions that morning so America Sews will stay on the air in Arkansas! We spent the rest of the day visiting local sewing stores that are underwriters of America Sews and sharing the joy of sewing with their customers gathered to ask questions about the show and about sewing. One lady even came all the way from Dallas, TX to meet me. She told us she loves the show!


Here we are on Saturday afternoon at the Stitchin Post in Little Rock.

Next week we are off to Missouri!

Until next time

Happy Sewing!

Sue

A Whirlwind Week...

After a whirlwind week traveling in Oregon presenting “America Sews On The Road Shows”, today, Herb and I are sitting in airports trying to get back home to Cleveland. It seems a huge snowstorm has hit Cleveland and the airport is closed. There are six Continental “red eye” flights from the west coast every night and as of now only two are still on the boards to go. They flew us from Portland to Seattle this morning and we are “holding our breath” hoping the Seattle to Cleveland “red eye” goes tonight. A “red eye” flight is one that departs between 10pm and 1am and arrives at your destination between 5am and 7am. I’m sure you understand why travelers on these flights have “red eyes”.

Many people think a job like mine that is constant travel is really glamorous!? The fun of travel wears off very quickly but Herb and I love my job so the travel is the means to do it and to meet and share with people who love to sew all over the world. It was pretty funny to see Herb on the floor in front of the ticket counter rearranging all the suitcases this morning to try to get them each near 50 pounds! This is another challenge of air travel today. When we opened them up the ticket agent could not believe we had very few clothes and 3 ½ suitcases full of quilts, pillows, felting, embroidery and “sew” much more! I almost ended up giving a demonstration right there! She saw one of the books and said “Husqvarna Viking! Tell you what, if you give me a new Husqvarna Viking, I’ll pay for your excess baggage weight! I have had a Husqvarna Viking for years but now I really want that new one that embroiders!” The wonderful world of sewers!

Right after Puyallup, we visited good friends and my nieces in Poulsbo and Sammamish. Little Bailey, my 1 year old grandniece smiled the whole time we were there! I really wanted to tell my nieces about why I am working on genealogy but must keep it a secret from everyone a little longer. I had a wonderful e-mail from a gentleman this week with the ship logs from my Great Grandfather’s trip from Sweden to America. He clarified that the names were not changed as immigrants entered this country and the ship manifests always showed their name for immigration however many people “Americanized” their names as a part of their embracing their new country, America.

We drove South to present programs in Oregon. More than 125 people came to the Hillsboro Fair Grounds for the America Sews Road Show hosted by Hillsboro Sew and Vac and Viking Distributing. The event was held in the Cloverleaf Building so I shared how I learned to sew in 4-H when I was 10 and what fun it was to exhibit at the Lake County Fair and to win a trip to the State Fair with the black gingham shirtwaist dress I had sewn.

Here is Holly in her embroidered sweater! Love the “walk away” embroidery on the back!


The ladies poured in and enjoyed home made cookies and goodies before the program started. It was exciting to share the joy of sewing on the Husqvarna Viking Designer SE Limited Edition and to tell them about the special added value package and the $1,000. shopping spree! A number of the attendees went home with new Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines and Huskylock sergers! I autographed all the new Husqvarna Viking sewing machines to their new owners, however, many who purchased the Designer SE Limited Edition are thinking about the 1 year full exchange/upgrade offer where they can exchange their Designer SE Limited Edition for the new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line and get the full amount they paid for their Designer SE Limited Edition. I did not personalize their name, only autographed Happy Sewing, Sue Hausmann and the date so that when their Designer SE Limited Edition is “adopted” by a wonderful new owner they will have the autograph too!

Be sure to ask your Husqvarna Viking Dealer about the value added package, shopping spree and 1 year upgrade/exchange. It is offered at all participating US Husqvarna Viking stores. Many stores already have started their a list for priority delivery of the new top-of-the-line Husqvarna Viking and another list of customers ready to “adopt” the exchanged Designer SE Limited Editions! Be sure to get on one of the lists at your store!

Everyone loved the new Air Ease Hoop that makes hooping effortless, automatically pulls the fabric taut and completely eliminates hoop burn. All the Husqvarna Viking Designer owners were absolutely thrilled to know that all their hoops will fit on the new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line coming in June. Did you know there are 10 different hoops for the Husqvarna Viking Designer Series of sewing and embroidery machines? Each one has a special purpose and every one of these hoops will slide right on your new Husqvarna Viking top-of-the-line!


From Hillsboro, we drove to Salem for a program at Whitlocks Sewing Center. We did visit a couple of antique stores on the way and I have some really cute new toy sewing machines to share!

About 100 people “poured in” to the downtown Salem store. We travel with a camera and projector so Herb was in the balcony “shooting” the event so people could see the techniques and the projects well.

Sherry wore this fabulous denim shirt and jeans embroidered with Designs from the Mega Richilieu Embroidery Collection. She cut out the cutwork and Richilieu Bars on the shirt but did not cut out on the jeans because –to quote Sherry “I did not want cellulite poking out of the cutwork”!



It was fun to sign all the new Husqvarna Viking sewing machines and Huskystar ER10 Needle Felting/Embellishing/Punching Machines before people took them home. We decided the Huskystar ER10 does not use thread or a bobbin so it is really not a sewing machine, it is a notion or sewing tool so there is no need to worry about your husband thinking you have bought another sewing machine!

Leslie brought this fabulous quilt for Sew and Share! She created it for her daughter as a special gift to celebrate Laura’s lifetime love of reading and her accomplishment of getting two masters degrees in the same week of June 2006. Leslie asked her daughter to send a list of her favorite books and all 124 books in the quilt titled My daughter the bibliophile” were stitched lovingly on Leslie’s Husqvarna Viking Designer SE with lettering, numbers, and a fabulous label created in Husqvarna Viking Embroidery Software.

The Husqvarna Viking Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regular was the hit of the day. Many of the quilters and sewers had been doing free motion quilting and were suffering from neck and shoulder aches and uneven stitches! Because so many are planning to buy the new top-of-the-line, they asked if the Husqvarna Viking Fab-U-Motion they were buying would be compatible with the new top-of-the-line and it will! So if you have been thinking about free motion quilting and free motion artistry and want it to be easier than ever before, visit your local Husqvarna Viking store and experience the joy of quilting with the Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator by Quilter’s Cruise Control!

Next week we will be traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Hagerstown, Maryland, and on Saturday morning will present a live special event on Arkansas Public Television from 6am to 12noon. Fun!

Until next time,
Happy Sewing!
Sue H

Direct from Sweden!

This week, I’m coming to you from Huskvarna, Sweden. What’s the red and white hat all about you ask? It's a fun symbol of “where in the world is Sue H”!

Here you see me in front of the factory.

I promised to talk about the spelling of Huskvarna: the modern spelling and Husqvarna: the original spelling. The original Husqvarna spelling began in 1689 at the edge of the huge waterfall with water coming down from the mountains to the north. This waterfall would provide power for the factory and the word Husqvarna which is loosely translated as “by the waterfall” was spelled with a “q”.

The new spelling Huskvarna is a result of the language evolving through the years so today the town name is Huskvarna.

Just as the word has changed, so has the Husqvarna waterfall. Today, the waterfall is tunneled through huge pipes and into generators at the base of the hill. These generators provide all the electric power for Huskvarna, Jonkoping and the surrounding Smaland area.

The company made arms, rifles, guns for the Swedish King’s army for many years.
There was no huge “factory building” in the beginning. Here you see Herb and David Hooke, standing in front of the stone building that still stands at the foot of the Husqvarna waterfall. This was a cold January day and the falls had been let “out of the pipe” because the water level in the area was so high. David Hooke was in Huskvarna to work with the Husqvarna Engineers on the first stitch regulator concept for Husqvarna Viking sewing machines. With their input, David developed the Husqvarna Viking Fab-U-Motion with Quilter’s Cruise Control stitch regulator which makes your free motion quilting and free motion artistry so much easier, more relaxing and more professional. If you have not seen the Husqvarna Viking Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator or the Inspira Fab-U-Motion which fits on virtually all sewing machines, be sure to visit your Husqvarna Viking Dealer and try it!

The early Husqvarna craftsmen worked out of their homes. The iron workers created the barrels of the guns in their homes in Smedbyn just across the road. This area and the same houses still stand today. The traditional red color “stain” made from soil with a great deal of iron in it has preserved the wood well. Today, the Smedbyn houses hold small artists and tourists shops including painters, weavers, and a lady who taught us all how to “water felt” one summer. Fun!

The stocks for the guns were made “across the road” in the Stockmarken. It is my understanding that these two groups of workers created the parts in their homes and then they were assembled in the stone building at the base of the falls.

If you have the opportunity to visit Sweden be sure to visit the Husqvarna museum located at the foot of the falls. It is in the sewing machine factory building built in 1912 and houses a fantastic display of all Husqvarna products. Husbands love the motorcycle and rifle exhibits. Sewers spend all their time with the sewing machines!

One more “tidbit” piece of information—the “H crown” that is part of the Husqvarna Viking logo actually began as a more primitive but similar shape and was to simulate the barrel of a rifle.

It wasn’t until the late 1800’s that Husqvarna began making the quality sewing machines we know them for today. Thankfully, the wars in Europe were subsiding and there was a smaller need for large quantities of guns for the army and the Husqvarna company recognized the need to diversify into other products to stay in business. At the same time, many Swedish people were immigrating to America to take advantage of opportunities due to the industrial revolution.

Before we talk about the first Husqvarna sewing machine, I’d like to share my Swedish heritage and one of the reason I feel so privileged to work with Husqvarna Viking.

My great grandfather Charles Elliot Youngberg was born in Jonkoping (pronounced Jonshirrping), Sweden on August 3, 1850. Jonkoping is at the base of Lake Vattern, the second largest lake in Sweden. The town of Huskvarna is next to Jonkoping on the East side of the lake. The safety match was invented in Jonkoping and the Jonkoping/Huskvarna area became the “heart” of the industrial area of Smaland.

I am so very grateful that my dad’s cousin, the last “Youngberg” gave me the journal that my great grandfather started when he immigrated to America in 1869 at age 19. He was working as an apprentice shoemaker in Jonkoping and one day said to his mother, “I would like to go to America, the land of opportunity”. He writes, my mother replied, “how could I let my only child go to America and never see him again” and then she paid his way. Wow, how hard this must have been to day goodbye to her only son and never see him again.

My great grandfather, Charles Ljungberg, as his name would have been spelled in Swedish, arrived in Chicago on May 30, 1869. As he entered the country, his name was entered as it was pronounced the spelling became Charles Youngberg. My dear father, Charles Arthur Youngberg, born October 10, 1914 was named for him.

One entry in his journal says “today was the best day of my life because I met my wife Hannah Anderson” This would have been spelled Andersson in Sweden. Hannah, my great grandmother immigrated from Granna at age 19. Granna is a small town about 5 miles north of Huskvarna on the East side of Lake Vattern. They grew up so close to one another yet met at a party in Chicago! Granna is the town where you catch the ferry to Visingso Island that we talked about in the last blog.

Here you see the precious journal, the family Bible, and a piece of wool framed and cross stitched by my grandmother. She told me Hannah Andersson sheared the sheep, spun the wool yarn and then used her loom to weave the plaid wool blanket.

This silk log cabin quilt was made by my great grandmother, Hannah Anderson Youngberg. We have it on display on an early Husqvarna treadle in an alcove next to our living room fireplace where no direct light hits it. Many people ask how I can put these heirlooms out in the air and light and my response is I feel we should enjoy them, not wrap them up in a dark closet where they will disintegrate anyway.


It is such a blessing to have all the information about the heritage of my family. I would encourage you to begin to gather the history of your ancestors and develop the genealogy of your family tree. Keep reading this blog for more information on why this information will be something you will want to have soon!

Now, when did Husqvarna begin making sewing machines and why sewing machines when the only product had been guns?

Late in the 1800s, Husqvarna sent a man to America to look into what type of product they should diversify into and he returned from America with the determination that Husqvarna should begin to manufacture sewing machines. He had worked in a sewing machine factory in America and brought knowledge and had purchased some patent rights to get Husqvarna started.

I used to wonder why would he see sewing machines as such an opportunity for Husqvarna and then when I thought more about it, I realized that before the sewing machine was invented, everything people wore and used in their homes was stitched together by hand by the light of candles or a kerosene lamp!

The sewing machine was a huge invention in the big picture of industrial revolution and what a “boon” to the homemaker as she created clothing and home goods!

So in 1872, Husqvarna produced the first sewing machine, the Northern Star. You can see this sewing machine in the Husqvarna Museum in the beautiful wrought iron stand.

The Swedish people have been known for invention, innovation, quality, and doing it all in a “clever” way. Thus began the history of quality sewing machines from Husqvarna Viking. (We’ll talk about where the Viking name came from in a later blog!) The Freja was introduced in 1883 and was a huge success for Husqvarna. For a sewing machine of the time, I understand it sewed like a dream! Of course, the Freja was a treadle in the beginning, but a motor was put on many of them years later and they were a popular model for over 50 years.

I hope you enjoyed that little step back into history, now what about today?

I have spent the week at the Husqvarna Viking offices in Huskvarna. People always ask me “what do you do when you are in Sweden”? When I come to the Husqvarna Viking factory and home offices in Huskvarna, the days are full of meetings to plan new products, new product materials, new accessories and accessory feet, testing new machines, accessories and accessory feet, proofreading User’s Guides, Brochures, and “sew” much more! I can tell you the focus this week was on the new top of the line Husqvarna Viking sewing and embroidery machine coming this summer. I can’t give you any details yet, only to say you will want this new Husqvarna Viking! Visit your Husqvarna Viking Dealer to learn about the upgrade exchange program already in place now and get your name on the preferred customer list!

This week, we also worked on exciting accessories to come! In this picture Kerstin Widell is demonstrating a new accessory foot you will see later this year. I know you will be excited about this accessory foot because it is one that many of you have been asking for! Notice I have my hand covering the new foot in the picture because I have committed not to reveal any new products until they are tested, approved, and released for sale. We are on the Engineering floor at the factory and this is a locked floor and a special “key card” is required for entry.

Kerstin Widell in the center is a key member of the Research and Development Department and develops new ideas and features with our engineers then tests them from the sewers perspective. What is fabulous about Kerstin’s role with Husqvarna Viking is that she is an avid sewer and does her work with you and me in mind. Kerstin joined the Husqvarna Viking company right out of school as an Educator. I am “sew” glad she works with our engineering department today. Her husband Arne is retired (like Herb) and we enjoy spending time with them in Huskvarna.

The other people in the picture are Sandra Wennblom in the red top. She works with Kerstin in the R & D Department. Ann-Sofi Elonsson standing on the left and Maria Strahl work in engineering with the development of accessories, accessory feet and all the details around them including instructions, packaging, testing and more. All these ladies are eager to get your ideas for the future. Many of the new Husqvarna Viking features and accessory feet ideas have come from Husqvarna Viking owners. As you know, the free Smart Updates to the internal software of our current Designer sewing and embroidery machines always include a number of features requested by Husqvarna Viking owners.

Next week, I’ll be writing from the Washington State University Sewing and Stitchery Expo at the Fair Grounds in Puyallup, Washington. I can’t wait to tell you about the singing and dancing at the Friday Night Live with Martha Pullen, Nancy Cornwell and me!

Until next time, Happy Sewing! Sue H