I have a Bernina 165 and I do love it although I am still frustrated free motion quilting. This machine has a speed control that alows you to control the speed of the motor but, practice,practice, practice...make sure you have a new needle, matched with your thread and start out slow on a scrap sandwich increasing your speed as you move your fabric under the needle. I try to choose simple patterns to start. Good luck

I think fast or slow works, as long as the speed of the needle coordinates/matches the speed with which you move your fabric! I often wish my machine had a speed regulator on the presser foot-- cruise control! I can find a comfortable speed, but holding it steady can be a challenge.
They do say "practice practice practice" but I'm not patient enough for a lot of that, but right now am trying Ricky's machine trapunto with water-soluble thread, and am using that for my practice! Even though this is the "real quilt" my stitches aren't going to totally matter b/c they'll disappear, and by the time I'm done with all of the trapunto, hopefully I'll be much steadier when I get to the "real thread" work! It's so forgiving! Florence

Hi Kip,
I think your needle may be breaking because you could be trying to move the quilt when the needle is in the fabric. I don't have the same kind of machine as you, but that's one thing to look at.

I do my machine quilting slowly. I'm not that experienced at it, but it works with my machine (Pfaff 7570). Try doing small (14" or so) practice squares using a muslin/batting/muslin sandwich. Just doodle around on them to find your rhythm. I do this before I start quilting the real quilt. I think it helps.

I have 4 great books on Machine quilting by these authors:

Diane Gaudynski (Quilt Savvy-Machine Quilting Guidebook , and Guide to Machine Quilting)
Harriet Hargraves (Heirloom Machine Quilting)
Maurine Noble (Machine Quilting Made Easy)

Good luck!

Tani

I have a Baby Lock Esante and EVERY time I try to free-motion quilt my needle breaks!! SO, I have a couple of questions:
1) How do I free-motion quilt on my home sewing machine?? (Are there some special tips or tricks??)
2) Do you HAVE to sew fast??
3) If so, how come?? Why can't you free-motion sew SLOWLY??
I can't control how my pattern gets sewn if I go fast so I HAVE to sew slowly - and then my needle breaks!! SO:
4) Is there a home sewing machine manufactured today that allows one to free-motion sew SLOWLY???
This is REALLY frustrating for me! And besides, I'm going bankrupt buying more needles!!
Thanks for ANY help,
Kip