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The 1-2-3s of BSR
(BERNINA® Stitch Regulator)
Freedom Stitching
Free-motion sewing techniques are not new. In fact, they
have been around almost as long as the sewing machine
itself. Someone figured out that if you could disengage or drop
or cover the feed dog of the machine, the movement of the
fabric could totally be controlled by the sewer! Sew any design,
any direction, any time! This opened up a world of decorative
possibilities: thread painting, intricate quilting, sashiko, trapunto,
bobbinwork, and more. The good news was that almost any-
thing one could imagine could be stitched; the bad news was
that it took a certain skill level, developed by hours of practice,
to successfully transfer ideas from one’s imagination to fabric.
Over the years, sewing machines have become more and more
automatic with preprogrammed stitch settings, digitized designs,
and one-touch use. But still the desire to imagine and create—
letting ideas flow from the mind’s eye directly to the fabric—
persists. With the new BERNINA® Stitch Regulator, you can
easily give wings to your creativity without long hours of practice
to perfect your free-motion stitching. It’s as easy as 1-2-3:
1—Ready: Decide which free-motion technique to try.
2—Set:
3—GO:
Get your machine and supplies ready.
Sit down and stitch your imagination!
1—Ready—Decide which free-motion technique to try.
From quilting to thread painting to sashiko, there are a wide
variety of effects that can be sewn with the feed dog of the
sewing machine down. Even though the final results may look
very different, most free-motion techniques are stitched in a
similar manner. If you become comfortable with one, you can
easily transfer those skills to another technique
2—Set—Get your machine and supplies ready.
Free-motion Presser Feet—No matter which foot you use when free-motion stitching, the basics of
the technique remain the same. You have the freedom to create and place stitches exactly where
you want! BERNINA® has several free-motion presser feet that work well for free-motion work. They
are specially designed to work with the hopper mechanism of BERNINA® machines to ensure that
the fabric does not travel up the needle (called “flagging”), thus causing distorted stitches. Try them
all and select your favorite from Darning Foot #9, Embroidery Foot #15, Freehand Embroidery Foot
#24, Embroidery Foot #26, and Freehand Quilting Feet #29/29C. When using any of these feet, the
stitch length and the consistency and regularity of the stitching is determined by how smoothly,
evenly, quickly or slowly you move the fabric.
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Preparing A Practice Piece—Prepare a practice piece, about
18” x 18”. This should be appropriate for the technique you are
practicing. For example, free-motion quilting uses a “sandwich”
of two layers of fabric with batting between them. For free-motion
sashiko, use lightweight interfaced denim with tear-away stabi-
lizer, and for free-motion bobbinwork, use a medium weight firmly
woven fabric such as cotton, linen, or lightweight wool.
Some techniques – including bobbinwork and thread painting –
are worked in a hoop to hold the fabric smooth and taut. The
fabric is hooped with the fabric under the inner hoop, exactly
opposite as for hand embroidery. Free-motion machine quilting
is usually stitched without a hoop as the bulk of the layers
provide enough stability that the quilt doesn’t require hooping.
3—GO—Sit down and stitch your imagination!
Starting To Stitch—Place the practice piece under the presser
foot. Lower the foot; even though it doesn’t touch the fabric,
it must be lowered to engage the needle thread tension. Sew
one stitch, stopping with the needle up. Tug gently on the needle
thread to bring up a loop of bobbin thread; pull bobbin thread
to the top of the work. Holding the thread tails behind the foot,
take a few stitches in nearly – but not quite – the same place
to secure the stitching. Stop and clip the thread tails.
Before continuing, set a timer for 15 minutes and make sure
you won’t be disturbed. This will help you keep track of how
long you have been practicing. You’ll want to stop and rest every
few minutes, especially if you are new to this technique. You
may be tensing your shoulders without realizing it; just remember
to breathe and relax. Before long, you will be a master at free-
motion stitching with the BERNINA® Stitch Regulator.
Place your hands on either side of the hoop or, if not using
a hoop, on either side of the needle area to serve as a “hoop”.
Begin stitching, running the machine at a moderate speed while
moving your hands in a smooth, controlled manner. Practice
making simple, repetitive shapes until you are comfortable,
confident, and in control of the fabric. There are two methods
of starting the machine: foot control and the Stat/Stop Slide on
the front of some models. Try both to see which is best for you.
As you stitch, try writing your name and remembering how you
learned to write. Keep your focus on where your hand is going
rather than what it is doing right now. And, just like learning to
write, free-motion stitching will soon become second nature and
you’ll be able to guide your fabric without over thinking it.
BSR compatible models (top to bottom):
aurora 440 QE, artista 630, artista 640,
and artista 730. Note: artista 200 is
BSR compatible when equipped with
the Upgrade Kit.
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