I can tell I'm going to have to play around with my machine to find all of the things it can do. I'm trying to spend time every day on my 435 so I'll be comfortable with it. There's another thread going about the #37 & #57 feet not giving a good 1/4 inch seam. Have you had any trouble? I haven't tried my #37 foot yet.

Judymc wrote:
I really like the 435! The 430 & 440 are great but I got spoiled on the 9mm stitches way back from the days of the 1630. The biggest thing that I have to remember with the Auroras is that the function buttons often have 2 ways to operate. For example, the Needle Down function operates to drop/raise the needle with a quick touch. But if you want to keep the ND function activated, you have to HOLD the button down until you see the little arrow on the LCD screen change directions. Also, Pattern End function can be quickly touched to stop stitching at the end of a particular pattern but if you want to be stop at the end of EVERY pattern, hold the Pattern End button down until the icon stays lit in the screen. To deactivate, just hold the buttons down until the screen changes.

Also, on the BSR, when you press 1 or 2 and HOLD the button in until you hear a beep, you activate an audio message that serves as a "tutor" and will beep at you when you go too fast to override the BSR. It is helpful at first, but after you get your pace ingrained, it's not really necessary.

Thanks, kmouse, for your info on the BSR. I purchased my 435 Anniversary Edition in January and I'm still trying to figure everything out. It only came with one class and that's just not enough. It's too much information to take in at one time. I took good notes and that's all that's helped me after I got home. We were also taught to use the basting spray--after going to Diane Gaudynski's web site, I see this stuff can "gunk" up the needles and get into the machine! When you mentioned doodling on paper to help with freeform quilting, it reminded me of a handwriting analysis book I read last year. The author called our handwriting "brain writing"--pretty much, what's going on in the brain translates to the handwriting. Judy in Torrance

RuthMcI wrote:
First, have you checked with your dealer? I teach Mastery Classes for my dealer and I know this is a big help to new owners. To to try write up instructions via the forum is would just take too long. You could also check the berninausa.com site for more help. Type in BSR in the search window. There is even a yahoo group you can join for lots of help.

In general, modes 1 & 2 can be operated both with the foot control and by using the stop/start blue button (or quick reverse button on Artistas). I use the foot control more than I thought I would, especially if I am trying to follow a stamped pattern. With the foot control, you won't notice any difference between the modes and you can use your securing stitch to start and stop your quilting.
For freeform and stippling type of quilting, using the start/stop button is like using the cruise control when you drive. In Mode 1 the needle will always be moving but at a slower speed. No securing stitch needed, just stay in place for a couple of stitches and go. In mode 2, you can stitch away and when you stop moving the fabric to take a breath or look for a new place, the needle stops also. Mode 2 is my preferred mode. I like being able to stitch a space, look at where I am going next, then go. No thread buildups from staying in one place too long. If you want to use the start / stop button, YOU HAVE TO UNPLUG THE FOOT CONTROL.
Tips that have helped me - I didn't think these up but I can't remember where I read or heard them:
no basting spray when using the BSR for no skipped stitches
reduce you stitch length to 1.5 as it just looks better and your curves will be smoother
start to doodle - any scrap of paper you can find. This has really helped me get comfortable with smooth shapes and speed. The most common quilting mistake I see (and do) is "speeding".
Read anything from Diane Gaudynski. Google her name and go to her site. Read her tips, etc. She is the QUEEN!

My general manual says absolutely nothing about how to use the BSR. Perhaps the video, which I haven't watched, says something. But thanks to The Quilt Show, I found an old answer in the forum that said how to switch from mode 1 to mode 2! (Press the BSR button and then either 1 or 2 on the keypad.) I also found that Bernina USA has several short videos on their web site that are interesting. The best thing to do after learning how to hook it up, however, appears to be to experiment a lot. So far I've done one panel quilt for practice and I have a couple more to do...

The only information I found was in the Bernina instruction booklet on p. 45-47 Freehand quilting with BSR. It says" press the BSR/Balance button. "BSR" is visible on the display=Mode 1 (standard) " So I think it means that if you are not pressing Mode 2, you will be in Mode 1 without having said so. Do you have this general handbook?

Judy in AZ

I found the documentation for the 440 to be horrible. It's a struggle to find the info.

To anyone with the BSR, where do you go to look up information? I can't find anything in the manual and the little book that came with it only tells how to hook it up and set it... Is there another manual that I'm missing or is it online somewhere?

Hi KirbyMc, I accidently hit a wrong button the other day and mine did the same thing. Once you hit the BSR button you have to hit the actual number 1 or number 2 button to change the BSR setting from BSR1 to BSR2. I know, it makes sense that you should push the BSR button. I had to look it up to figure it out. I hope this helps!

Jolleen

I have just started to use the BSR on my QE440. My question is when I press the BSR button Mode 1 does not show up. I have mode 2 and when I press the button again only a line of straight stitching. I think that I only have the freemotion without BSR and mode 2 no mode 1. I think that mode 1 should show on the screen?