Please tell me about the Bernina BSR??
 

I am very interested in Bernina sewing machines, primarily because of the BSR. Can anyone tell me if this helps while FMQ? My biggest problem is getting my stitches a uniform size and if this helps, the cost could well be worth it to me.

I use the BSR with my 630e and while I am not always perfect, it does help me regulate my stitch. Sometimes I sew too fast and it beeps at me to slow down! I purchased it when I decided to try free-motion quilting and have always used it, so cannot compare it to 'not' using it. I like mine...

Back when Bernina released the BSR, I went to the dealer to test drive it. After playing with it for about an hour, my opinion was, and there will be others who disagree, that this attachment was much ado about nothing.

I went home and practiced some more and learned how to free motion quilt without it, saving myself a bunch of money in the process.

I bought a BRS for my Artista 200 as soon as it came out. I love the BRS and, to me, it has been worth the cost. My Free motion stitches are always a uniform size. Unlike Jamsbuying, I am a slow FMQ and have never gotten a beep to slow down. The BSR probably wants me to speed up. I use the BSR for most of my stitching in the ditch. It did take practice before I was pleased with my FMQ.

I have a Bernina 550QE in layby "jail" that I need to bail out one of these days...

It will be my first Bernina (and I'm not parting with my other babies to get it, either.. lol) ...

And the two reasons I went with this machine was 1) to mess with the BSR and 2) I wanted the skinny footsies (it's only a 5.5mm wide stitch width machine). I do alot of putzy projects - and I prefer a skinnier foot - and thought the BSR might be fun for some embellishing.

I also wanted it for a take-to-retreats machine. My main machine here these days is a behemoth (Babylock Ellisimo Gold)

I bought the 440QE and learned to FMQ with the BSR. I loved it! Now I have a longarm so the BSR doesn't get much use (only if there's something tiny to quilt) but I still love it.

I have the BSR and love it. It has helped me tremendously. One of the reasons I bought a HQ longarm is because the stitch regular felt very similar to the Bernia

I agree with Terri D. I already owned two Bernina when they finally came out with the BSR. I wasn't impressed. I did better on my own with FMQ. I believe the attachment is a little pricey.

I got a Bernina 550 QE with the BSR. Love it so much that I have two of them. One for our home here in NM and one for our condo in Florida.

I have aBSR foot and use it all the time for FMQ. I laugh cause I had to turn my sound off but it still screams at me the entire time I am stitching cause I always go too fast. I just decrease my stitch length and sew away. I love using it!! I do use it very fast though!!!

I have an 820, it comes with the BSR. I think it's great! Definitely an improvement on my FMQ. I'm a Bernina junkie now ;-)

I also have a Bernina 820 with the BSR. Love it. And I too mute it too. Before the BSR I got pretty confident with FM but my stitches were inconsistently sized.

If you're interested in the stitch regulator, Babylock has one too, but I'm not sure which of their machines has it.

Here is my take on stitch regulators, yes it wil give you uniform stitch as long as you keep a consistent speed, the problem lies in when you change speed and the machine doesn't have enough time to respond which in turn creates more jerky looking stitches, so yes it helps but there is still a learning curve and you still have to be consistent to get decent results, but having practiced with and without one I can see their value will they make your FMQ beautiful no, you still have to practice , will you practice pieces have more even stitches yes. I have had mine for my brother for only a little while and was debating selling it but having played with it a few weekends ago, I do actually like it, I just need to get used to it and spend more time with it

I tried the BSR and didn't like it at all - slow and 'draggy' and took it off. My FMQ is far from perfect and as the other posters have said, you will still need to practice.

However, that said, the FMQ I did without the BSR was lovely and smooth and produced a nice stitch, albeit not necessarily all the same length, lol.

For me, I can't justify the extra expense for something I wouldn't use a lot, when my existing machine has most of the Bernina features.

I think this and Berninas are like most things on here, you'll have lovers, haters and those who are indifferent. I'd say if you can try it out first then do so. Or at least, make sure there is a return policy and then test it out alot during that time frame to make sure its what you want and need or it may end up in the not used pile.