BSR foot
09-26-2009, 07:00 PM
#1
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I bought my Bernina Aurora 430 about 2 years ago (wow, it's been awhile). When I was there, they showed me the BSR foot and I figured, if I'm paying a lot for a machine, I might as well pay more for some cool toys :D
I don't do a lot of free motion quilting, but am working on finishing some Xmas gifts so I've been FM quilting a lot lately. And I really don't see much of a difference, if any, with the BSR on or off. I remember in the store, I used it and my stitches were much closer together, but I'm wondering if that was myself making it happen like that or what. And I was thinking that since it's free motion anyway, and I can pull the quilt around as fast or as slow as I want, then how can the foot somehow make the stitches come out more evenly??
So I was just wondering if other people have the BSR and love it, or see no difference, or what. Thanks :)
I don't do a lot of free motion quilting, but am working on finishing some Xmas gifts so I've been FM quilting a lot lately. And I really don't see much of a difference, if any, with the BSR on or off. I remember in the store, I used it and my stitches were much closer together, but I'm wondering if that was myself making it happen like that or what. And I was thinking that since it's free motion anyway, and I can pull the quilt around as fast or as slow as I want, then how can the foot somehow make the stitches come out more evenly??
So I was just wondering if other people have the BSR and love it, or see no difference, or what. Thanks :)
09-26-2009, 07:11 PM
#2
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I love my BSR but am not using it much lately. Somehow it intimidates me a little and when I use it I try to forget is there. The main thing to remember when using it is that you need to reduce the lenght of the stitches to around 1.5.
When you first start doing FMQ, your stitches are very uneven and the BSR helps correct that, because if you move the fabric fast the needle goes up and down fast, and if you slow down so do the needle. If at this point you find that you stitches are even without the BSR, the only thing I can say is that you have conquered FMQ and probably don't really need the BSR. It is always good to have it, because if you don't do it for a while and want to get back to it, it will help you get even stitches again until you retrain yourself.
Maria
When you first start doing FMQ, your stitches are very uneven and the BSR helps correct that, because if you move the fabric fast the needle goes up and down fast, and if you slow down so do the needle. If at this point you find that you stitches are even without the BSR, the only thing I can say is that you have conquered FMQ and probably don't really need the BSR. It is always good to have it, because if you don't do it for a while and want to get back to it, it will help you get even stitches again until you retrain yourself.
Maria
09-26-2009, 07:21 PM
#3
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Location: Camarillo, California
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I have the BSR foot for my 630. I am still learning how to use it. I have only used it a few times and those were always months apart. I am using it this evening and having to relearn the stupid thing. I'm not sure if it is making a huge difference since I have not tried to FMQ without it.
The trouble I am having tonight is not necessarily a problem with the BSR but trying to get even petal shapes on a queen size quilt. I keep hitting my hands on the edge of the machine and then end up with a little "jerk" as I try to adjust the quilt to be able to work on it.
Not sure If I am explaining myself clearly.
I think if I used it more often, I would get better at it!
The trouble I am having tonight is not necessarily a problem with the BSR but trying to get even petal shapes on a queen size quilt. I keep hitting my hands on the edge of the machine and then end up with a little "jerk" as I try to adjust the quilt to be able to work on it.
Not sure If I am explaining myself clearly.
I think if I used it more often, I would get better at it!
09-26-2009, 07:24 PM
#4
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Originally Posted by Maride
I love my BSR but am not using it much lately. Somehow it intimidates me a little and when I use it I try to forget is there. The main thing to remember when using it is that you need to reduce the lenght of the stitches to around 1.5.
When you first start doing FMQ, your stitches are very uneven and the BSR helps correct that, because if you move the fabric fast the needle goes up and down fast, and if you slow down so do the needle. If at this point you find that you stitches are even without the BSR, the only thing I can say is that you have conquered FMQ and probably don't really need the BSR. It is always good to have it, because if you don't do it for a while and want to get back to it, it will help you get even stitches again until you retrain yourself.
Maria
When you first start doing FMQ, your stitches are very uneven and the BSR helps correct that, because if you move the fabric fast the needle goes up and down fast, and if you slow down so do the needle. If at this point you find that you stitches are even without the BSR, the only thing I can say is that you have conquered FMQ and probably don't really need the BSR. It is always good to have it, because if you don't do it for a while and want to get back to it, it will help you get even stitches again until you retrain yourself.
Maria
Thank you for your comments.
Stitches have to be at 1.5? Did not know that...
I understand the idea of the BSR, but does it really make the needle move faster or slower depending on how fast I move the fabric? Not to sound silly, but doesn't my foot on the pedal do that?
And, no, I have uneven stitches with and without the BSR. They seem to get longer and shorter regardless of using it or not (yes, I know, slow down, and practice).
I noticed that when I used my regular free motion foot when the BSR was MIA, the more I worked, the better the stitching got (that whole practice makes perfect thing). And same thing with the BSR - the more I worked, the better. But at first, or when I was annoyed, the stitches were still uneven and the foot didn't seem to help at all :(
09-26-2009, 09:39 PM
#7
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Location: Medford, Oregon
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I think with the Aurora you don't have to use the foot pedal. It has a button you push to get it going and then as you move your material it automatically will go faster or slower, depending on how you move it.
09-26-2009, 09:56 PM
#8
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Location: Camarillo, California
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You unplug the foot pedal and just push the start button to run it
I am having a ton of trouble with it tonight. I am so frustrated. It keeps skipping stitches. I have re threaded a dozen times and am on the 3rd brand new needle. I have taken out more stitches today than I have in a very long time!!!! I have give up for tonight. I will try again after church tomorrow. If I don't have any more luck, off it goes and I will try to FMQ without it. Don't know if the BSR foot is the issue or not but I'm ready to toss it out the window!!!
I am having a ton of trouble with it tonight. I am so frustrated. It keeps skipping stitches. I have re threaded a dozen times and am on the 3rd brand new needle. I have taken out more stitches today than I have in a very long time!!!! I have give up for tonight. I will try again after church tomorrow. If I don't have any more luck, off it goes and I will try to FMQ without it. Don't know if the BSR foot is the issue or not but I'm ready to toss it out the window!!!
09-27-2009, 06:49 AM
#9
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,496
I have a Bernina 440 with the BSR and I'm still learning how to do it. I took a class on using it and discovered (to my embarrassment) that I wasn't putting the foot on properly and thus wasn't engaging the BSR....it worked a lot better when I finally got it on right :oops: :oops: :D
09-27-2009, 07:03 AM
#10
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Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
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Originally Posted by LucyInTheSky
Stitches have to be at 1.5? Did not know that...
I understand the idea of the BSR, but does it really make the needle move faster or slower depending on how fast I move the fabric? Not to sound silly, but doesn't my foot on the pedal do that?
And, no, I have uneven stitches with and without the BSR. They seem to get longer and shorter regardless of using it or not (yes, I know, slow down, and practice).
I understand the idea of the BSR, but does it really make the needle move faster or slower depending on how fast I move the fabric? Not to sound silly, but doesn't my foot on the pedal do that?
And, no, I have uneven stitches with and without the BSR. They seem to get longer and shorter regardless of using it or not (yes, I know, slow down, and practice).
The stitch length setting will determine the size of your stitches, and the speed of moving the fabric will determine how fast the motor runs and therefore the number of times the needle goes up and down. If you go too fast an annoying sound emerges from the Bernina telling you that you are overrunning the capability of the motor to keep up. (Check your manual if you don't hear the sound - your beeper function may be deactivated.)
Under BSR1 the needle starts moving when you press the foot control or the start/stop button. The sewing computer accelerates when you move the fabric. Under BSR2 the needle only starts when you move the fabric and either press the foot pedal or press start/stop simultaneously.
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