My
BERNINA
24
B E R N I N A S E W I N G M A C H I N E W O R K B O O K
FREE-MOTION STITCHING
Free Motion Tips:
• BERNINA presser feet designed for free-motion stitching
have a patented hooper mechanism that holds the fabric
as the needle pulls away, making it easy to move the
fabric.
• The key to successful free-motion stitching is to run the
motor at a consistent speed and move the fabric at a
consistent and smooth speed.
• Set the Slide Speed Control to medium and floor the foot
control, or use the Start/Stop button on the machine.
Two 12” x 12” pieces medium weight cotton
One 12” x 12” piece low-loft cotton batting
80/12 Quilting needle
50 weight thread in needle and
bobbin
Default
Darning Foot #9 or
Freehand Embroidery Foot #24 or
Freehand Quilting Foot #29 or
Tear-Drop Embroidery Foot #26
(optional accessories)
Feed dog down
Free-motion stitching refers to sewing without the feeding
aid of the sewing machine. The feed dog is lowered and the
fabric stays in the same place unless you manually move it.
Free-motion stitching is used in quilting, bobbinplay, and
thread painting.
1.
Make a “quilt sandwich” with the batting between
two layers of fabric and practice “drawing” a variety of
shapes (see below) on fabric as follows:
2.
Lower the feed dog.
3.
Using the foot control or the Stop/Start button to run
the machine, move the fabric in a forward and back
motion.
4.
Move fabric from top to bottom; then side to side,
keeping the lines of stitching perpendicular to each
other (1).
5.
Stitch as you move fabric and stitch to the right, down,
to the right, up, to the right, down, to the right,and up
(2).
6.
Move the fabric in smooth curves in an up and down
motion working from left to right (3).
7.
Move the fabric in loops (4) or figure 8 shapes.
8.
Create stippling shapes – think of interconnecting puzzle
pieces with evenly sized “bumps.” Avoid “painting
yourself into a corner" and/or stitching across a
previously stitched line (5).
HOW
Do you know how to:
• Lower the feed dog?
• Move the fabric for even and consistent
stitching?
