Hi. Ironically, I took my machine in to the dealer's repair shop yesterday because after they gave me a new BSR, my machine started skipping every 15th stitch. It now does this with just the regular free motion foot too. The machine is being diagnosed. Will try to let you know what happens.

I found a site called sewusa.com that was very helpful for me. Look under the heading of "stitch formation" and it will explain how a stitch is formed. There are many things that can cause skipped stitches, and if the machine is doing it even when you are not using the BSR, then the problem is not the BSR. In addition to problems with the machine, skipped stitches can be caused by using the wrong needle for the type of job you are sewing. I'd be interested to know what your Bernina tech. decides is wrong.

I had a chance to talk to the tech yesterday, and we talked about thread and needle size. I tried a 90/14 needle when I got home with no change to skipped stitches. I have an appointment to take my machine in, but the earliest they can get me in is April 29th. So in the meantime, I am determined to learn to free motion with OUT the BSR. It doesn't skip with my darning foot. I'm convinced it's the BSR, but we shall see.

I had a similar problem and I took it to the dealer for an update. Problem solved. Also, make sure you have the correct size needle for the thread you are using, not too small.

Can someone post a photo of what the skipped stitching looks like?

Candace, if you are sewing and all of a sudden see stitches that are longer than the rest of the stitches, that's a skipped stitch. I'd post a picture but don't really know how!

Oh, o.k. The only time I see a little bit longer stitching is when I suddenly drag the fabric too fast. It's end user error on my part.

Except in this case, you can see the hole the needle made when it went down, but it didn't pick up the bobbin thread and so it didn't make a stitch. Sometimes there are several holes, and then it starts stitching ok. It's intermittant.

I finally was able to take my machine in and the spring on the BSR was replaced and this immediately fixed my problem. I got the impression that this may be a recently recurring issue on newer bsr feet. when mine wasn't working properly, and I was determined to finish my quilt, I went ahead without the BSR and quilted free-motion on my own. It came out surprisingly well. Of course, I better not admit that to my "better half" after explaining to him how important the BSR feature was!

Thanks to everyone for suggestions and responding.

I am so glad that your problem has been solved. I understand where you are coming from about maybe not needing the BSR as much now. I have spoken to a lot of Bernina owners and many agree that the BSR gives one the confidence and nerve to try FMQ and then eventually it isn't needed as much if at all....kinda like training wheels! ;) I know I never would have had the nerve to try FMQ with out it....and am just not ready to take the training wheels off yet, although I did do some FMQ on some demo longarms at the quilt show and didn't do too awfully bad 8-)