I love the BSR! Its the reason I bought the 440 last year. I found it very easy to learn and use, but it does take a little practice just like any other type of quilting. I just love how my stitches look now, and I'm not so afraid to try free-motion quilting!

Yes, I've got it now - I think I'll try and find a stockist for a demonstration - I have been checking prices and they seem to be the same at most dealers. Thanks again everyone.

Hey Jacky, if you consider that with the feed dogs up and doing a straight stitch to piece, you already have a very nice even stitch length. There would be no use in BSR in that application. It would help when no feed dogs are engaged. Karen

The BSR is a specialty foot that has a sensor on it to help you achieve even stitches when you're doing free-motion work. (And I love mine dearly! ) It wouldn't really be good for piecing. You would have to use another more standard foot for that -- with your feed dogs up -- to get good stitches. You put it on and take it off like you would any other foot -- like the quarter-inch foot or a zipper foot -- except you actually have to plug it into the machine with a little wire. The machine has special BSR modes to be used when you plug in the special foot. And it is worth going to the dealer and playing! Here is the link to the video showing it....

[url]learn/bernina/[/url]

Have fun!

I think I'm getting there! Is the BSR only used with the feed dogs down - or can it be used for any straight stitch sewing, ie: piecing? Thanks, being a bit 'thick' I think! I think the answer might be to try one out!

Hi Folks
The BSR will only do straight stitch free motion quilting with the 440 series machines, however, with the 630 upwards, will do straight and zig zag free motion.
Lynn

You have to put the BSR on the machine to free-motion quilt, in place of the presser foot. It does not use the feeddogs at all, which are lowered. To my knowledge, it is only used for free-motion quilting and free-motion embroidery (thread-painting). In addition to the straight stitch, a zig-zag stitch can be used with the 730 Artista Bernina, I don't know about other models. This comes in handy for thread-painting because it lays down a lot of thread quickly, if you want to cover an area with thread. I believe there is a Bernina video on this web-site, on the homepage, upper left hand corner.

Thanks for the replies -

Is the BSR used only in free motion quilting, or can it be used for all straight stitch sewing?

for more information on this wonderful foot, go to the forum home & search for BSR. There is a learning curve, the end is awesome.

I don't own a Bernina 440(yet) but I work in a sewing machine shop that sells them. You can free motion with or without the bsr in the machine.The bsr helps in that it is not jerky when you move the fabric and it tries to keep all the stitches the same length regardless of what speed you sew at. I also think that the tension on the back of the fabric is better than on some other models(trying to be impartial here!) Go to your local dealer and ask if you can try it for yourself.

gloucestershirelady wrote:
I've only had my 440QE since the start of April -- I still have my Janome 6500 . . . re the BSR it will only do the straight stitch and you have to set up the machine (plug in the BSR foot!) to use it -- it doesn't just "kick in". It does have a learning curve -- I really never had a problem learning free motion without the BSR and got used to listening to the sound of my machine -- with the BSR it's the movement of your hands and fabric.

I will say that what I love about the 440QE (this is my 1st Bernina) is every one of the feet does exactly what it's supposed to do and wonderfully well -- the feed dogs grab the fabric better than my other machines. The walking foot is very smooth. The feet don't "wobble" like the snap on feet on my 6500 -- I haven't yet quilted a large quilt under the 440QE so I don't know if I will have a problem with the area under the harp. So far I love this machine!

I am interested the the 440QE - and just wondering about the BSR. Does the stitch regulator kick in all the time, or is it just on certain stitches/modes? I've got the Janome 6600p, great machine - but doesn't have the stitch regulator on it. Thanks, Jacky