TeresaA

Angela Walters recommends using a hopping foot for straight lines (as opposed to a non-hopping free motion foot) if you don't have rulers. There's more "drag," which helps keep you going straight instead of twisting and turning like you normally WANT to do when free motion quilting. You might give that a try for your straight lines. The other possibility is yes, a walking foot or else draw the lines first.

With some practice, I've found it doable to free motion straight lines. It's not easy, but it's doable. Good luck.

SusieQOH

I have a Bernina 770 and I bought the ruler foot for it. I've used different rulers: Westalee, Angela Walters, and one from Bluprint. It's really fun. I'm better at that than any other machine quilting but trying to get better at FMQ.
Anything with the Bernina name is pricey but once you have it you have a nice product. My 150 is 18 years old and has never had a problem. I'm hoping the same for my 770.

Sharon5012

Yep, it's worth it. Just like you, I can FMQ on curvy, meandering kinds of patterns, but not straight stuff or even curvy things that need to repeat in a consistent pattern. The ruler foot is a real game changer and will offer so many fun patterns even with just one multi-use ruler.

TeresaA

I don't know if anyone has suggested a conversion foot, but when I was looking on Nancy's Notions at Westalee Rulers, they had a note that Bernina requires a conversion foot and had a link to it.

https://www.nancysnotions.com/bernin...k-adaptor.html

Looks very reasonably priced if it would work. You'd also need to buy the Westalee foot, of course.

AprilM

This website has rulers and other tools for using with your DSM as well as longarm rulers and tools. This would be under Sitdown Quilting for your Bernina. If you have any questions, the owner is super responsive and helpful - she does quilting on a regular sewing machine as well as a longarm. You might also look at her free video showing how to use the Stunning Straight-edge.

https://boldnotionquilting.com/products

AprilM

Oops... forgot to add that the rulers for DSM and longarm are different thicknesses.

KalamaQuilts

Prefaced to say I don't know anything about bernina machines and their walking feet, but every other machine shank and walking foot I've ever seen or used...if you want to do straight line quilting use the L-shaped tool that comes in every box of feet/attachments. The long side pokes into the shank, or into the walking foot body and you can set it any distance from the foot you like from 1/4" to 2-3". Once you set your line with a piece of tape, or the edge of a patch, you use each successive line of stitches to run that dropped down L shape along, making each row equidistant. Those foot attachments go clear back to the 1800's machines and there was one in my newest machine box of bits.

I absolutely love using it for circular or straight line quilting. If Bernina doesn't include one shame on them.

HettyB

Do you have the Bernina Walking Foot? If so you can get a different sole plate with central guide especially for SITD and you can use it to follow marked grids. I have one and it cost me about £20 which is about $25 and most likely it is cheaper in the USA because tax on goods here is 20%.