Originally Posted by
Candace
Here's something that is food for thought. When you move the needle over your bobbin thread is pulled at an angle. This can cause imperfect stitching and tension issues. Libby Lehman just did a video for The Quilt Show where she discusses this and teaches about this in her classes. I had never thought about this, but it makes sense if you think about it. I have a 57 foot with guide for my 830 and will now be using it all the time.
That may be true in some cases (or not), but on my Bernina with the needle just one click to the right, there is no difference at all in stitch quality or tension. If Berninas weren't meant to sew accurately with the needle 'off-center', they wouldn't be designed to sew that way. Having both feed dogs 'engaged' is well worth remembering to move the needle, though I do wish that setting could be put into memory and saved.