I too have had problems with skipped stitches using the BSR on my 730 and I also got fed up and learned on Foot 24 instead. My LQS has been fielding lots of questions concerning this issue from myslef and many others. One recommendation was to ensure that you have oiled your machine (a drop or two in that small aread where the bobbin case locks in). My shop has something called Bernina Club on the 3rd Monday of the month and the topic next Monday is all about the BSR, tips, techniques, and other issues. If I hear anything that hasn't yet been posted. I will be sure to post it.

I found that the direction I am going affect the stitches. Don't know why. I think it is when I move the fabric forward(that is towards me) that I have problems.

Judy, you could be lucky! Or it could be how you're using it.

I discovered with my most recent quilt that, for example, when I do stippling with a small practice piece, the BSR does not skip stitches. When I try to quilt the actual quilt with a stippling stitch, lots of skipped stitches! So much so that I had to learn to quilt without the BSR. But then I used the BSR again when I stitched triangle shapes within my pinwheel triangles. Not one skipped stitch. Again on the border when I followed a marked pattern, no skipped stitches. Is it because I was slower on the triangles and border than with the stippling? Was there less drag? I don't know, but I plan to switch back and forth when I quilt, sometimes using the BSR, sometimes not.

Last week I went in to my dealer and had the BSR updated. I haven't tried it since then, but I know it won't skip stitches on a practice piece, so I'll have to wait til I can quilt another full-size quilt before testing to see if the update fixed the problem.

I've had my BSR with my 435 for two years now and I've only used it a few times for practicing. I never had any skipped stitches--am I just lucky?

I never could get the BSR to work properly on my 630 no matter what I did. Since I could free motion quilt pretty well without it, I not only traded it in with the 630, I took an additional & hefty discount on the 830 for not including it in the package. I have heard that the BSR is being upgraded with a heavier spring to correct the skipped stitches problem. Has anyone else heard of this repair?

As far as I know, Bernina doesn't do a recall or inform their BSR customers of known defects that may affect the performance of their products (OK, so it's not life threatening). At least I have not seen such info on the Bernina USA or Switzerland site. I look at the support site regularily to check for software upgrades and other info. If it wasn't for the various user groups and personal websites, many customers would be left in the dark. Not good Bernina!

I had problems with my BSR with irratict speed that i seemed not to be able to control!! I took it back to my dealer and they ran an upgrade on it and it now runs a lot smoother and with no skipped stiches, but you need to keep that speed down.

I took a free-motion class from my dealer, and the teacher said the same thing, to use the same thread in top and bobbin. I don't understand that directive. I never use the same thread in both (I'm assuming she meant the exact same thread, same weight and everything. Did I misunderstand?)

I've been quilting my latest project with King Tut on the top and So Fine in the bobbin, and it looks very nice. I had some trouble with the BSR skipping stitches, so I did my stippling without it. It was the first time I had quilted without the BSR, and I was surprised at how well I did! I think the BSR prepared me. I switched back to the BSR for some straight line quilting in my triangles, and it worked very well. At first I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to switch back and forth between the BSR and quilting without it, but each method seems to reinforce the other.

I "just happened" to take a BSR class this afternoon at my LQS. This gal said to use the same thread in top and bobbin. Also, she stated that the red light was NOT a laser, just an indicator that the BSR was on (So don't ask me how it senses movement of the fabric). I got bored with the class exercise, so I put some Razzle Dazzle in my bobbin and a thin gold metallic on top, and it worked great, except my fabric control, which was another matter entirely! I would love to hear others' experience with the BSR, especially those who are very successful and have a lot of experience. Please brag to us.

Libbi wrote:
This is the first I am putting in a question, didn't want to start a new topic, it is about the BSR- I have it on BSR1, as recommended in one or several writeups on tips, I have the speed on the fastest setting- when i go to press the start, it sometimes goes at a fairly even moderate pace, other times, it will start and go very very fast, can't figure this out.

Hi, I have used BSR and it worked fine but you need to slow down , while it is great you need to keep things slow and even.

The feathers are beautiful!!! I hope someday I'll be able to quilt feathers like that! I haven't played with my BSR for about a year now--surgery last summer really cut into my machine quilting practice. I just read through all the comments on this thread and refreshed my memory. Judy in Torrance

Made me laugh Amanda! Actually, one activity my physical therapist is stressing is the use of a large "noodle", you know those foam tubes that are for sale at K-mart or Walmart for swimming? You lay on that thing until your back relaxes. I'm just having to sew in short time increments for awhile.

I always appreciate all of your input.

Sue, I kept my chiropractor going so well she ended up touring Australia on the proceeds!!

Keep thinking BACK all the time. Put stickers on the machine. Sit up straight, do circles and counter circles with your head and roll those shoulders back!!

I, too, think your feathers look great.