Well, I'm disappointed. I have no problem with the Westalee foot as long as it I use it as recommended, although I found you can't use the thicker rulers because it hits where the screw is between the Westalee foot and the number 77 adapter. If it were one foot, that would not be a problem. The one time I didn't lower the foot to pull up the thread the machine it simply stopped and I had to turn it off and on again and it was fine. I found LIsa Calle's rulers are exactly the right thickness, but Gadget Girl's are too thick. I am planning more videos with their use, once I get more proficient at it, but I will keep Bernina's warning in mind.

The simple solution is to always have the presser foot position down when dropping the needle to pull up the bobbin thread. Sure, it's another step and as you say has potential to be forgotten and cause issues, but is necessary for just about all ruler feet due to the height of the foot's necessary edge. I don't see how a foot could have a good edge for a ruler to run along without running into the needle bar issue (pardon the pun) Using ruler work safely on a domestic sewing machine is a bit of an "out of the box" technique and as such we do have to remember that we're pushing the limits of what the machine manufacturers' might be comfortable with.

Yes, it's an issue, but since the only two solutions I see are to remember to lower the foot or buy a sit down style long arm, I know which solution I'll be using. If your machine has a knee lift for the presser foot, keeping the foot down when pulling up the bobbin thread isn't a hassle.

BERNINA does not recommend that the #96 ruler foot made for the long arm or sit down long arm be used on the home sewing machine. When the foot is in the highest position and the hand wheel is turned, as we do to bring the bobbin thread to the top when we're stitching, the needle bar hits the top of the foot.
I, had a question about this because I've been wanting that #96 foot, until I sat at my machine the other day with my #24 foot. As I turned the hand wheel to pick up the bobbin thread I noticed that the needle bar comes right to the top of the foot. With the #96 foot I imagine this has the potential for causing damage, not that it will but has potential.
While I was using the hand wheel to bring the bobbin thread up, sometimes I use the heel of the foot pedal. This would have more force.
The same thing with the Westalee foot, because of the height of the foot, has that same potential.

As much as I want a ruler foot for the BERNINA, and believe me, I do! I am willing to wait until BERNINA has a foot that works with the machines.

Happy Quilting!

For everyone looking for a Bernina ruler foot- look no further! Bill & Leonie West at Westalee Designs make ruler feet to fit Bernina's. You do need an adapter shank -#77. Tell them your particular model. They also sell various rulers as well - check out their videos on You Tube. I have one & it's works great. No need to wait on Bernina! They test their products forever!
Happy quilting!

I have no doubt we will see a ruler foot from Bernina at some point (I'm saving up my $75 or so dollars. LOL) Also on the growing wish list is a totally mechanical machine with a stretched harp. Interesting concept.

Oh, yes, absolutely, my Berninas have the foot pressure adjustment. Thanks for the replies.

Janome's also have a foot pressure adjustment - well my elderly My Style 22 does at least. Cannot help with the newfangled ones (ie younger than 15 years )

I have the 560 and can adjust the foot pressure using a dial on the side of the arm I'm sure other Berninas have similar

Sorry Brenda, I don't. I'm thinking the Bernina has a pretty good foot height adjustment on the machine? I'm a Janome gal myself, I just am sharing this because so many of my blog's readers have been asking about a foot for ruler work. The Bernina ruler foot doesn't look to have any adjustments on it.

Amy
Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures

Amy, do you know how we will be able to adjust the foot for different thicknesses of batting?

I'm late to this party, but..... I have just returned from the Lancaster AQS show and they do have the ruler foot for the Bernina long arm and it will fit domestic Berninas. It looks well made and I'm excited to finally have an option for a proper ruler foot for my Bernina friends to use ruler work for smooth lines and curves while free motion quilting.

Since I pretty much got the whole free motion ruler work thing started, I've checked out all the ruler feet on the market. My hands down favorite is the Janome combination that results in what I call the ruler foot. But I'm a Janome user so it's an easy thing. I don't recommend the Parrs Reel Ruler foot as it has been made an odd size and won't work well with other rulers to give 1/4 and 1/2 inch spacings. Plus its a hopping style foot with the cheapo bar over the needle screw. Not much height adjustability either. The Westalee ruler foot is nice if you can't use the Janome foot. If you can use the Janome ruler foot combo, it's a toss up. The Janome foot adjusts better for batting thickness and is rounded on the base of the foot so that the fabric doesn't get 'pushed' upon occasion with a bulky quilt. But the Westalee foot has better visibility around the foot with its simpler foot attachment. The Westalee ruler is probably cheaper even with shipping than buying the whole combination of the Janome convertible free motion foot set and the frame quilting foot set. Both still require the adapter shank to work with Bernina. I talked to a Brother dealer at the show and the Janome foot can be used on Brother machines, as on several other machine brands. (No, I don't work for Janome.)

So visit my blog if you'd like to learn more on ruler work on sewing machines. Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures

Additionally, I don't recommend doing ruler work with a standard free motion foot. Way too easy for the ruler to slip over the foot and break a needle and possible throw your machine out of timing. Nor do I recommend using thinner rulers for ruler work as they could slip under the foot with the same results.

Thank you, Chantal. The people we refer to in our communities here in central Pennsylvania, namely, Snyder County & Union County, refer to themselves as Mennonite, and Old Order Mennonite. The Old Order folks also refer to themselves as "horse and buggy people". They have no electricity in their homes and they farm using plow horses and of course, they do not own cars. The women use treadle sewing machines. Many of the men folk in that community have now begun lumber milling, cabinet making and furniture making businesses. Some womenfolk have businesses selling fabric or grocery stores. Many sell fine quilting fabric at prices even lower than the typical $10.00 - $12.00/yd. The mennonite folks drive cars and own other kinds of businesses. In fact, the Bernina Dealer near here is Mennonite. His store is way out in the country in the midst of farmland. I understand his store sells more Berninas than any other on the east coast. His showroom is large and modern. They have a huge classroom and have all kinds of classes (mostly embroidery) many days of the week. I go there often for notions, thread and fabric. I don't have a Bernina sewing machine but let me tell you the pressure is on every time I enter the store. I did buy a machine there once. It was a second-hand Singer 500, known as a Rocketeer and manufactured in the 1960's. When I saw the owner that day, I joked with him telling him that this was the day I was buying a machine from him. When I showed him my $75.00 bargain, he laughed. Alex Anderson has been there more than once for one of his big promotions. I met her there. I digress. Thanks again. Chantal.

Hi Renata, I know very well all the towns you are talking about as I have lived in Nancy for almost 2 years. I know very well the Loire et Cher region beautiful as well with all the castles, all this region is now registred to UNESCO, did you visit it with your grandmother ? where are you from ? personaly, I live in center Paris and I love it. If you have any other questions about the Amish in Alsace, please ask me, I shall do my best to give you an answer.
Chantal

Chantal...All so interesting ! Thanks for sharing and educating us with some fun history !