#100 Kimono silk thread
 

I bought two of the "try me" specials from Superior Threads. You can't select the colors with the try me, and they sent me a buttery yellow and burgundy :) With the special they were about $11 or $12 and normally are $17 a spool. I absolutely love the silk!!! It's strong and very fine. It is wonderful for piecing, and especially piecing small pieces. I haven' quilted with it, as I mostly thread paint with #30 or #40 wt.
I would love to have an entire selection of silk thread though. And since it is fine, soooo much fits onto a bobbin.

I bought the Bernina 440QE with the BSR and I love it, although I now have a longarm with a stitch regulator. The BSR made learning to FMQ much easier, so to me it was worth the price. However I was buying the new sewing machine anyway, so the BSR itself didn't cost me that much. I don't think any quilting tool (or anything in life, for that matter) is "worth it" if you can't afford it at the time.

I actually bought a Bernina 440 QE strictly because of the stitch regulator! I have a Bernina 1031 that I just love, but no matter how I tried (and what classes I took), I just couldn't get the hang of FMQ. Looking back, the BSR was training wheels for me. It gave me confidence, and that is what I needed. I now have a Sweet 16 sitdown quilting machine without any stitch regulator, and I do just fine. However I know that the confidence I got with the BSR was key. Yes, it is perfectly possible to learn FMQ by practice, but it was much easier for me to do it with the BSR.

Pam

I have a Bernina 1530 and have been looking for a walking foot. Can't afford the $180 price tag, so have been looking on EBay. Have a bid in on one, but so have 7 others! I have to be patient, I know, but that is not one f my virtues!! If anyone knows of one at a reasonable price, please let me know.
Thanks

I tried the BSR but it couldn't keep up with me! Or at least that is what the dealer said the problem was. I believe if you just keep practicing, you can bypass the need for a stitch regulator. Keep all those left over pieces of batting and make small practice pieces. Don't worry about becoming perfect - no-one is! Play with your machine settings also. If your machine has a slide bar to control the speed, try setting it half way. Eventually you will find the right combination of moving your hands to the speed of the machine. Oh, and every time you are about to work on an actual quilt, grab one of those practice pieces to warm up with. It really makes a difference. Just relax!

With fmq, you will get better with practice. I have been going about 6 years with no BSR. (also with no Bernina, lol) if you use a #50 wt thread and color match the thead somewhat closely to the fabric, the details of the stitching will be pretty invisible. Also, my fmq was hugely improved when i switched from 30 wt coats and clarks to 50 weight thread. Instanty better!

superior threads has #100 thread Well as I stated it is very forgiving in showing the thread so you can actually quilt using this thread and learn without ruining your quilt. Once I get better at it I will use other threads I actually used Isacord polyester #40 wt. and it worked out good .

I bought my Bernina 440 QE this year with the BSR. I got a good deal on it and my Bernina Activa was acting up. While it was in the shop I really thought hard about this second machine. It turned out my Activa only needed a $100 repair so it's now my back up machine. The BSR has improved my machine quilting. I don't get the micro stitches like I used to. As someone mentioned, it gave me the extra confidence to do more machine quilting. Of course more machine quilting meant I got better anyway. It is not fool proof so if you want to practice, practice, practice, you can probably improve without it. If you're in the market for a new machine anyway, go for it.

I can't imagine free motion quilting without my BSR. It has become a secruity blanket for me. In fact, I tried to do FMQ without it, once, and I did not even know what to do. Other quilters gave you good advice. Practice on one for at least an hour, and then try it without one again. If you use a Bernina with the BSR, make sure you have it set at BSR 2, then you can control the stop and go by the movement of the fabric, not the button. Not all dealers or owners of the BSR know will tell you that.

I love my BSR but I also FMQ'd fine for many years without it. But, my stitches are perfect with the BSR and it's a great tool. But, some people don't like it. Make sure you test drive it and see what you think.