Bernette Sew and Go 2
Handheld sewing machine
Why is sewing an important skill to learn?
Promotes self sufficiency
Gain appreciation for how the clothes we wear are made and where/who they come from
Encourages sustainable habits such as mending
Healthy brain workout, can help in preventing dementia
Creates a more meaningful relationship between clothing and the person wearing it
Ability to customize the style and fit of your wardrobe to fit you perfectly
Sewing is an expensive hobby to start.
The initial investment of a sewing machine often deters people from trying the hobby. There is space in the market for a high quality hand-held sewing machine that is quick and simple to learn.
Observations and first hand immersion.
Due to the social distancing restrictions in place during the summer this project was completed, I sought out alternative methods of gathering user feedback. I watched various YouTube product reviews as well as observing similar products ratings and reviews on e-commerce sites. I also purchased an existing product, the Singer Stitch Sew Quick Portable Mending Machine, which allowed me to gain first hand user experience and understanding.
“Getting a sewing machine for one project or if they’re not sure about sewing as a hobby, it’s kinda a big investment!”
“Why am I so scared of this?!”
“To just quickly do last minute repairs, this would be a really good thing to have at hand”
“I love the idea, I love the concept, I love what they are trying to do but... I think I might end up returning it”
“The presser foot is manual, and I don’t’ like that
because it’s kind of hard to do with one hand”
“The needle doesn’t really go up that far, so you have to kind of shimmy it on to the fabric--so its kind of difficult”
Who uses these machines?
This is Katie.
Katie spends her free time learning new skills and working towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Recently she has gotten very good at crocheting. She makes her own clothes as well as small bags, and washcloths to give away as gifts to her family and friends. She wants to learn how to sew so she can expand her ability to make and mend clothes. However, she does not have access to a traditional sewing machine (which she admittedly said scare her) and doesn’t want to make the investment in one since she is just beginning this new hobby.
Task Analysis.
Design Goals.
Design an affordable small scale mobile sewing machine that can be used with ease and comfort to accomplish simple sewing and mending projects.
Ergonomics
Pay attention to human factors and develop a machine that is comfortable and intuitive to use.
Visibility
Develop a form that will minimize the uncomfortable twisting and turning currently utilized to see the stitches the user is making
Presser Foot
Presser foot is hard to lift without accidentally running the needle arm
Brand Identity.
Gray Subordinate Features
Red Accent Detailing
Manual Nobs
Generous Fillets
Clean Branding
Color Palette.
Overlapping Parts
How it works.
Dissecting the Singer Sew Quick. Analyzing the construction as well as the movements and relationships between internal mechanisms to better understand what is needed to make a stitch.
Downward angled handle.
promotes a neutral wrist position during use, making it the best ergonomic solution
People had varying grips on the machine that felt natural to them. About half placed their finger on top while others let it rest on the side.
Majority of users preferred an angled handle
Users expressed the handle coming back downward made their grip feel more secure
“Putting my finger out makes me feel like I have more stability and control. It just feels natural”
Half of the people I interviewed in user testing extended their index finger on the side of the machine
CNC Model
Rethinking the internals.
The internal mechanisms needed to be adjusted to fit the new angled handle. Several of the internal components were redesigned with movement and relationship of the pieces highly considered during the process.
Cad Development.
Modeling was done in Fusion 360. Rendering completed in Keyshot.
Components & CMF.
The Internals.
Features.
Precision & visibility.
The sewing bed has engraved measurement lines to aid users in making a straight and precise stitch. The sewing bed and presser foot are powder coated to improve visibility by preventing the needle from getting lost in reflections.
Tension knob is inset into needle arm, lessening the obstruction to the users line of sight. Subtle raised indicators guide the user to turning the knob the correct direction on the first try.
Ambidextrous.
Bottom dial manually raises and lowers the needle arm. It is designed to be equally accessible to both right and left handed users.
Included pieces.
The Bernette Sew&Go2 would come with additional needles and bobbins. It also includes two pins of different sizes, allowing the user to use both bobbins and full size spools of thread.
Thank you for looking!