BSR frustrations

I don't have a clue as to how to solve your problem, but I did want to tell you that I, too, had a long seige where I could quilt just fine on a sample piece, but as soon as I put the real quilt under the darning foot, the thread started snarling and snapping. Drove me nuts. I put the quilt aside for a while and am just now starting back to work on it. I hope I have better luck this time.

ep

I don't have a bernina and I don't have the bsr but I searched for 'bernina bsr troubleshooting'

I read down to the bottom of the page - possible? update available for the bsr? another possible reason for the looping - one person talked of the thread on a particular spool from Connecting Threads ..... maybe this blogger can offer more help and/or suggestions for you. jennellh

Thanks for finding that blog. I'd done my google homework, but I didn't use "troubleshooting" in my search. Still, I think I've eliminated the thread issue as a variable.

The guy at the shop updated the firmware when we discovered that the audio signal was flakey, so I know that's up to date. Still, the audio signal is still flakey.

I've tried several different threads, trying to go finer and finer figuring that if it was catching on something it might stop if the thread was different. At first, I had Superior Masterpiece in the top and some thick variegated thread (just a cardboard spool; no label). Having different threads could be messing it up, although I've done that successfully in the past. Changed to King Tut on both bobbin and top; same spool so not even a dye lot different. Then, changed to Superior Masterpiece on both; same spool. At this point, I've used up my entire last spool of the Masterpiece for my quilt, so I've reordered.

I think I'll switch back to the King Tut for test stitching when I take it to the shop this time. The thread doesn't really seemed to have changed the behavior anyway.

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I'm wondering why you don't just put that BSR in its nice box and proceed with your quilt without it. You probably have done enough stitching to not really need it. I know. It's the principle of the thing. Maybe this quilt doesn't like the BSR. I only use my BSR when I want/need to stitch with my feet propped up. I (almost) made one quilt that defied quilting. It belongs to the Yorkie. The fabric was a WOW and something about the finish was entirely too contrary. Polly

Carole D. - Retired and loving it in the foothills of NW Georgia

My quilts, crafts, QIs, and more -

Well, on the far side of 4 trips to the shop and 2 hours spent in the shop doing my quilting in front of them I think I have a conclusion.

When I oil the hook it sews beautifully. If it starts to make that "knocking" sound -- stop at the first convenient point and OIL IT AGAIN. If I don't, eventually it will start throwing loops to force me to stop.

You know that little oil can display that comes up to tell you to oil it? Forget it. You know that "every 4 hours of sewing" recommendation from the sweet older lady in the shop. Forget it. If it starts knocking -- even after 2 hours -- OIL IT.

The problem with the shop is that every time they swap out a part, they finish by oiling the hook. So, it always tested fine for them and I had to sew for at least a couple hours before it messed up.

I feel kind of silly. She kept asking me if I was oiling it, and I said yes. I just didn't understand how frequently it needed to be done.

In my defense, I've done several queen size quilts on this and it didn't *use* to be true. Maybe this is the "mature adult" behavior of the bernina after it's broken in.

Susan K see my quilts: members.cox.net/kratersge

No need to be defensive. It may just go back to a comment I made about precision mass-produced machines still being individual. Some may need "recommended" oiling, some less, some more.

The important thing is that you found the fix and hopefully that will be the end of it and the joy will return to your quilting.

Doc

Oh man, I can relate. The minute my old mechanical machine starts to stick or knock at all, I have to just open her up and start oiling. Postponement means immediate and continual frustration.

The one I felt really dumb about was my bobbin. I used to have a ridiculous amount of trouble getting the bobbin case to seat in the bobbin race. This lasted for years. The spring on the bobbin case would not click in, it would just hang loose, and the case and bobbin would just fall out with the first stitch. My sister-in-law was a professional seamstress for decades, and she couldn't figure it out. I posted to a sewing newsgroup, and the consensus was that something was bent. It turned out I just had to hold the spring on the bobbin case all the way open from the moment the bobbin touched the spindle until the case snapped into the race. Why it should matter how I hold the bobbin case in midair, I don't know, but it has been one of those goofy little tricks that makes the difference between swearing and smiling.

Glad you've got an easy fix. Sorry it took so much frustration to figure it out.

ep