Bernina needs a ruler foot

[Teri L.]

BERNINA does not recommend that the #96 ruler foot made for the long arm or sit down long arm be used on the home sewing machine. When the foot is in the highest position and the hand wheel is turned, as we do to bring the bobbin thread to the top when we're stitching, the needle bar hits the top of the foot.
I, had a question about this because I've been wanting that #96 foot, until I sat at my machine the other day with my #24 foot. As I turned the hand wheel to pick up the bobbin thread I noticed that the needle bar comes right to the top of the foot. With the #96 foot I imagine this has the potential for causing damage, not that it will but has potential.
While I was using the hand wheel to bring the bobbin thread up, sometimes I use the heel of the foot pedal. This would have more force.
The same thing with the Westalee foot, because of the height of the foot, has that same potential.

As much as I want a ruler foot for the BERNINA, and believe me, I do! I am willing to wait until BERNINA has a foot that works with the machines.

Happy Quilting!

[Teri L.]

The simple solution is to always have the presser foot position down when dropping the needle to pull up the bobbin thread. Sure, it's another step and as you say has potential to be forgotten and cause issues, but is necessary for just about all ruler feet due to the height of the foot's necessary edge. I don't see how a foot could have a good edge for a ruler to run along without running into the needle bar issue (pardon the pun) Using ruler work safely on a domestic sewing machine is a bit of an "out of the box" technique and as such we do have to remember that we're pushing the limits of what the machine manufacturers' might be comfortable with.

Yes, it's an issue, but since the only two solutions I see are to remember to lower the foot or buy a sit down style long arm, I know which solution I'll be using. If your machine has a knee lift for the presser foot, keeping the foot down when pulling up the bobbin thread isn't a hassle.

[Betty J.]

Well, I'm disappointed. I have no problem with the Westalee foot as long as it I use it as recommended, although I found you can't use the thicker rulers because it hits where the screw is between the Westalee foot and the number 77 adapter. If it were one foot, that would not be a problem. The one time I didn't lower the foot to pull up the thread the machine it simply stopped and I had to turn it off and on again and it was fine. I found LIsa Calle's rulers are exactly the right thickness, but Gadget Girl's are too thick. I am planning more videos with their use, once I get more proficient at it, but I will keep Bernina's warning in mind.

[Betty J.]

I bought the long awaited for Bernina #96 presser foot yesterday at the Perth Craft Show.
It is lovely as all my thicker rulers that don't work with the westalee ruler foot work with it.
True, the bobbin thread cannot be pulled up when the foot is in the up position.
That is no bigger now I know. Knee lift is helpful on my 750 QE.
This will keep me happy until I can win the Bernina Q24 which I fell in love with last May. Sigh!!!
Off to practice some more.

[Betty J.]

Oh that's cool! I think I'll go ahead and get one soon.

[Betty J.]

I also found straight rulers with the number 37D foot work well. I blogged about it today.
https://www.blog.bjfabricartist.com/2015/08/getting-it-straight/ B) :silly:

[Heather H.]

Hi,
I also bought the #96 foot from the craft show in Perth.(AU$35)
I am extremely happy with it.
I had bought the Westalee foot previously and that was OK too, however I was told to use a #77 adapter shank for it and I found that it worked much better with the #75. The Bernina foot is, as always beautifully made. (I had to buy that one as well because I am a Bernina NUT!!!!)
I actually was one of the ladies demonstrating the new Q20 in Perth last May. It will be on show in the Bernina Midland store very soon for you to try.
Happy sewing.
Heather

[Heather H.]

Thanks Heather. It's good to know that while the foot isn't officially recommended, that it does work.

[Nancy R.]

Hi Heather -

I just wanted to clarify. Are you using the ruler foot on the Q20 or on one of the Bernina domestic machines? Thanks!!

[Heather H.]

Hi Nancy,
I am using the #96 foot on my Bernina 820QE. I have had a play with it on a Q20 also at a craft fair.
Works well on both.
Heather

[Nancy R.]

Thanks, Heather! Great to know! I just picked up my #96 foot (with the Bernina shop again stressing that this foot is for the longarm ONLY and should NOT be used on my domestic machine) and look forward to playing with it on my domestic. :evil: I'll try it on my older Virtuosa 153 instead of risking my brand new 790QE, just in case. It's so good to know that people are having success with this foot on their domestics, after all of these warnings from the shop!

I'll look back through these posts before trying the foot, just in case. If anyone else has run across any other dos and don'ts, please share. I've been waiting a long time for this foot!

[Nancy R.]

Nancy and Heather,

This discussion reminds me of how some medications are used "Off Label" as we adapt what is available to suit our purposes. I've been using ruler work on my domestic machine for over 4 years now and it all started with using a different 'toe' for the Janome convertible free motion foot set. That 'ruler toe' was labeled for use with one specific machine, but it fits ALL the Convertible FMQ sets for all Janome machines. (And difference versions of the foot combination have been used on many other brands' machines including Bernina)

It took over 2 years before I got Janome America to pass official word that this was an acceptable use for what had been an obscure accessory. That was in 2014. I still have students/blog readers tell me their Janome dealer says it's only for that one machine.

Ironically, as a Janome user, I am often in awe of all the great feet that Bernina has. I was really hoping that the #96 foot was going to be the official ruler foot for Bernina especially as my Craftsy class for ruler work on a home sewing machine goes live in a few weeks.

I'm glad you've found a foot that works for you as long as you follow the precaution of putting foot down before dropping the needle. Make sure that your foot height won't allow the ruler to slip under the foot, or choose thicker rulers (using 1/8inch thick rulers like a rotary cutting ruler can be risky if the foot is too hight or the foot hops) and above all--- have fun!

Amy
www.freemotionquiltingadventures.com

[Wendy P.]

Hmmm... I wasn't able to find anything about presser foot #96 online. I tried the Bernina USA site and then Google. Is this only available at shows right now? Any idea if dealers have the foot? :unsure:

Wendy

[Nancy R.]

Hmmm... I wasn't able to find anything about presser foot #96 online. I tried the Bernina USA site and then Google. Is this only available at shows right now? Any idea if dealers have the foot? :unsure:

Wendy

I got mine from my dealer, so they are available. Not all of the salespeople know about it, so you might have to mention that it's a longarm foot so they look in the right place in the store. That's what I had to do.

[Nancy R.]

I just watched Amy Johnson's Craftsy class on quilting with rulers. One of the students is using the Bernina 96 ruler foot (from a long arm machine) successfully on her Bernina 780. I called my local shop to see about ordering one and am waiting to hear back