Now that is funny. At class I was told that on the new Bernina 830s, the really pricey one, you clip the thread and pull it through the needle, NEVER backwards. I thought 'that is ridiculous' :!: If machines are getting that touchy it's time to stick with the vintage machines. I want a machine I can enjoy; not fuss and worry over. I do own two Berninas and love them.

Janet, I don't know why but your comment made me laugh. Those flashing screens on my Bernina Artista are helpful many times but usually they make me laugh. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I thread with the pressure foot up. Also, when you exchange the top thread, our Bernina dealer taught us to cut it and pull it out the way it should go, rather than backward. Also, same suggestion for the bobbin thread. Cut it and then pull the tail out the way it usually runs through the bobbin. Saves the tension. I'm usually pretty lucky by followling their suggestions.

Surprise of surprises....I bought a Singer (the one that has an extra length table for quilting) $299 on sale to keep at my daughter's home in No. Carolina. I didn't want to travel with my Bernina unnecessarily. It sews almost like the Bernina. I'm very careful though. I clean all the dust out faithfully. No one else is allowed to use it (perhaps one of her friends) without proper instruction.
I tried to finish a quilt on it, and realized I needed my Bernina to do it. Somehow the Singer wouldn't cooperate. But I have really given it a good go and am pleased.

Exactly - the manual with my latest machine says you need to thread the machine with the pressure foot UP so that the discs are open to accept the thread - and on this one machine (Brother) it said not doing so could actually prevent it from sewing because of all of the sensors built into it - if it doesn't feel that thread the proper place in the discs, it isn't threaded according to the machine. I never thought about it before that but since then I make sure to have the pressure feet open on all of my machines and I also apply a little finger tension on each end of the thread to be sure they are in the discs and they have been stitching great!
Marysewfun

I don't know about Bernina, but I don't how you would get it properly threaded through the tension discs with the pressure foot down, unless you put it down AFTER you put the thread through the tension discs. Although I don't understand how threading it that way would screw up the timing.

Yeah, I was told never to pull it out backwards either - by the guy who repairs the machines. I'm listening to that!

My Bernina is older and I always thread needle with foot down. I would have hard time seeing the opening otherwise. It doen't have a lot of fancy stitches more basic don't know if that makes a difference

If you mean the openingin the needle - I thread my machine with the pressure foot up - but when I thread the needle, I drop the foot then (unless it has an automatic threader).

I have a BabyLock Surger and it did come with a warning to never tread with the pressure foot down. I have been looking at buying a Bernina 830 I have an Artista 200 and a 1080s right now. They also warned me about the pressure foot when I demoed the machine and also that you can never pull the thread out backward it will break the sensor. You have to cut it at the thread and pull it through with the pressure foot up. I have realized that these new machines do so much more but they have a lot more to go wrong with them. I still am planning to purchase a 830 in the next six months I have been saving all my pennies.