The problem turned out to be a defect in the bobbin case. When I went back to the store, the repairman had dropped in to pick up something and took a quick look at it. Once the bobbin case was taken care of it worked fine.

BUT .... today when I decided to try the BSR for the first time, I found out that the button that lowers the feed dogs isn't working. It pushes in but won't engage in place. It springs right back out. I called the store but nobody working there today had any suggestions for me, so it looks like I'll be taking it in on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, though, it stitches beautifully with the walking foot, doing the straight line quilting, so that's what I'm working on this weekend.

Double check the manual to be sure you are placing the thread through all the guides. When I purchased my 440Q, which I think is wonderful, I had trouble with the thread breaking or missing
stitches. Had the class but forgot about the last little threading
spot just above the needle which was not on my previous Bernina. Agree with other posts, needles and type of thread make a huge difference in stitches.

I think Marsha's right...make sure you're threading the machine with the foot up, when you get to threading the needle you can put the foot down. Make sure the thread coming off the spool is coming off in a clockwise direction...this shouldn't make a difference...however in my experience with the Bernina's I own & play with it does.

It's possible it could be a bad spool of thread.

Try a different spool both in the bobbin and on top and see what happens.

One other thing I've seen with my quilting students lately...make sure you're hitting all of the guides.

Teri

Did you thread the machine with the foot up? I know this has probably been suggested already but it caused me problems similar to what you describe in the when I forgot to raise the foot. I believe it releases the tension disks. Marsha

I did try a new needle, even though the one in the machine should definitely have been new. I've compared the bobbin to the pictures in the manual and I'm pretty sure the bobbin thread is in correctly and it is definitely clicking into place. If it were looping on the underneath consistently, I'd be sure I had it threaded wrong, but it sews properly for an inch or so and then starts the problem! I am just baffled!

Thanks for your suggestions, though. I guess I'll try calling tomorrow and hope I can find somebody knowledgeable. The repair guy is only there on Tuesdays.

I'm no expert, but it occurs to me that you might want to put in a fresh needle. And are you sure the bobbin is in correctly? There should be a definite "click" when it pops into place - also, be sure the bobbin is threaded correctly. Then, I would just call the dealer before setting out - anyone who knows their way around the machine should be able to diagnose the problem over the phone. Good luck.

I bought the 440 QEE today. It's my first Bernina. The shop is 32 miles away so I don't want to head back unless I really need to. I'm trying right now just to get a nice straight stitch, not using any of the "gadgets." It will sew nicely for about 2 inches and then I'll get a loop or two on the underneath. I've rethreaded the machine, put the bobbin in a couple of times, checked the "clockwise" bit, but it still happens. Any ideas of what I might try before I pack it up and drive back to the dealer?

My next thing to try is going to be to wind another bobbin (I was using one that was already wound when I bought the machine) and a brand new spool of thread.

It shouldn't be this hard just to stitch a straight line!!