Bernina BSR and sewing machine question
 

Hello, I just found out about Bernina BSR. It seems an amazing add-on feature to a Bernina sewing machine. All the model I have search are Bernina high-end product line and so expensive. Does everyone know if BSR works with any of the Bernina Bernette or cheaper models? Thank you!

There are so many Bernina models available, it's hard to keep track.
Check the specs for each, and you will have the correct answer.
Plus you can find out what features each has, that you may or may not want.
You can find that info on the Bernina website.

Unfortunately, the BSR doesn't work on a lot of Berninas. I have a 150QE and I recently bought a 770QE so I could have one. They are wonderful and have improved my machine quilting a lot. I'm thrilled with mine. I believe they came out with the BSR about 10 years ago.

I have one...and yes you need a mid or high end range Bernina to use it. There is a plug on the BSR attachment that plugs into the brains of the machine. I think all the machines that can use BSR are computerized. Best to check which ones can use it. I think all the 5 and up serious use it but I am not sure.

The 475 is the lowest end Bernina that is BSR compatible and retails for about $2,400 with the BSR. The machine has to have the port that the BSR plugs into and the computer programming to run it.

You ALL are so wonderful and thank you so much for the quick replies. I'm new to quilting but love the art. I'm struggling with a choice between the Artista 450 or Artista 600 or Bernina 530. I have checked them out on Bernina website and they seem all great machines and have BSR enabled. These are all like new with less than 100 hours machine time and I can get them around $1500, plus, if I get the BSR on eBay it would be another +/-$300. I don't care much for embroidery, but would use it once in a while, quilting is what I'm after. I'm also looking for a reliable, worry free machine that would last me the next 25 years (it is a big investment for me). Do you have any strong recommendation in one of these machines or may be another one with the same price range? Thanks++++

I have a Aurora 440QE and it has the BSR. I have had my machine for a long time.

I went through this exact issue when I started quilting. FWIW I took a week long free motion workshop with Cindy Needham and that banished my need for a BSR attachment. In class I noticed everyone had a Juki, which at the time was one of the few machines that had a roomy harp space.

Free motion quilting takes a lot of practice (it took me a long time to be a skilled piecer, it took a while to build the free motion skills, too), but you quickly, very quickly, outgrow a need for a stitch regulator, IMHO.

I have the Aurora 440, too, and I bought it used with about a million attachments. I did have to spend about $900 to have the computer board replaced, but it is a fabulous machine. I have had so many different machines, but the Bernina outshines them all in every way. If you can at all afford one, I recommend them. This Bernina does not have a huge harp, but I do have a longarm, too, for large projects. The BSR seems to help a lot!
I wish you well for your search for the right machine for you!

If you want it to last for 25 years....well...that will be a stretch with the newer machines as they are actually computers. But, I would definitely get the newest machine you can find. Also if you get a new one, you will have a warranty on it for a bit. I am lucky with my old Viking D! which is computerized as I got it several years ago...She is still going strong...but the manufacturer only makes parts for it so long after they discontinue the line and if anything breaks on it, like the computer cards, I am done. there are no more replacement parts available. I would not pay a lot for an older computerized machine because you do not know how long it will last and if parts will be available if it breaks down.

Just as an aside, I could not afford a new Bernina, but I loved the way they sewed. There was a lady at the time who sold used Berninas on EBay and I got an Artista 170 from her at a price I could afford...barely! I love that machine and it is going strong 10 years later. I felt comfortable buying online unseen as I have a great local machine tech, and knew if there were tweaks that had to be made, he could make them. I send it in for a service every year or two.


The Berninas were at the time one of the few machines that sewed a nice straight seam without the feed dogs letting go at the end of the seam and pushing the seam sideways. For some reason the Bernina feed dog design keeps the fabric tracking true right to the end of the fabric.

yes, bernina's are wonderful when they are working well. I had artista 630 with the narrow feed dogs that I loved and used for several years then traded her in for a mew 570 which I find doesn't stitch a straight seam nearly as well as my 630 did. I blame it on the wider feed dogs. I wish I had kept the old Bernina for piecing, but I was trying to downsize as I had 9 machines. I am now down to 5 machines, a serger, and a longarm.

The 1/4" presser feet really don't work with the wider feed dogs because they don't engage that right feed dog. We eliminated that problem by using foot #34C or #34D which covers both feed dogs. When sewing a 1/4" seam, we bump the needle to the right 3 bumps and guide the fabric just inside the feed dogs, or 4 bumps and guide the fabric along the outside of the presser foot.