I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon fighting with my Bernina 820 to FMQ. I tried a number of combinations of top thread, needles and tension. Nothing worked. It's either skipping stiches when I do a curve (going very slowly) or breaking the top thread. I finally just walked away. My LQS doesn't open until noon today but as soon as it opens I will go buy some Mettler thread and see if that works. I read somewhere (maybe on this board) that these machines are set at the factory with Mettler thread and that's all some of them like. Can anyone give me any insight on this. I've FMQ'd with this machine before. I don't know what's changed!!!

If you've FMQ'd before with it with no issues, it sounds like you have a thread caught somewhere in your bobbin area. I use many types of threads on mine and the only problems I have with the BSR and my 830 is when I have something caught up or it needs to be serviced because there's a sensor problem.

Did you use spray basting? Spray basting often gets on the lens of the BSR. Different sprays gum up more then others. In my area, NJ, we use 505. Try cleaning the lens of the BSR this is the most common error. Good luck!

well dang..somewhere I have an info sheet on FMQ using a vintage machine...off to the ROOM to search!