Creative articles about sewing

Please welcome to the stage, heritage versions of the height-adjustable presser feet!

Dear Readers,

It’s time once again for a film about feet. In December last year, we put a couple of brave presser feet on skis and sleds and sent them on an adventure through a winter wonderland. This year we welcome to the stage the talented dancing presser feet! They courageously go up in front of an audience and perform a waltz.

The height-adjustable presser feet are particularly skillful. However, they have a problem… but see for yourself (and don’t forget to turn on the video sound):

New presser feet for old sewing machines

We hope you enjoyed the little show. As you can see, there is a specific reason for the video and the dance performance:

The three height-adjustable presser feet – Adjustable ruler foot #72, Adjustable stippling foot #73 and Adjustable gliding cup foot #74 – are now available in a version that is compatible with early BERNINA models, including the 1630, 1230, 1008, and even with vintage models from the fifties, sixties and seventies, such as the legendary 730 and 830 Record.

The first foot in the height-adjustable presser foot series was Adjustable ruler foot #72, which we launched in 2016. Its sole has a high edge for quilting around the edge of Plexiglass templates (rulers). However, what makes this foot particularly special is the adjustment dial, which allows you to adjust the length of the shank and the height of the presser foot sole. This allows the height of the sole to be individually adjusted to the thickness of the quilt sandwich. This means that the foot can also be used on BERNINA sewing machines that do not offer the option of adjusting the presser foot height. A patented invention exclusively from BERNINA!

The ruler foot was followed by the stippling foot for quilting small patterns and the sliding cup foot, which is particularly useful for appliquéing.

Can I use them? Adjustable gliding cup foot #74, Adjustable ruler foot #72 and Adjustable stippling foot #73 (from left to right)

These three feet are now also available for very early BERNINA models. We know that many of our customers cherish and care for their beloved old machines and keep them going even if they normally work on more modern machines.

Perhaps you feel the same way. If you own an early BERNINA and want to treat it to a new foot in its old age, get in touch with your BERNINA dealer. The new feet are now available in stores.

Which machine models do the new presser feet fit?

What many people don’t know is that BERNINA has always offered accessories that can be used on old machine series. The height-adjustable presser feet are the youngest members of the presser foot family, but they are not new in terms of compatibility.

If you want to know about the compatibility of our presser feet, it is best to refer to the BERNINA Accessories catalog. This can be downloaded as a PDF from the following link:

BERNINA product catalogs on bernina.com

On page 2 of the catalog, there is a chart showing the different machine models. This divides our sewing machines into the main categories A, B, C, D, E and F. Based on these categories, the subsequent pages of the catalog show which accessories are compatible with which machine models.

The main difference is between category A machines and the machines in the other categories:

  • All category A sewing machine models use presser feet with a 2-point shank opening (the foot on the left in the picture below)
  • For all the remaining models in categories B to F of the accessories catalog, presser feet with the closed shank opening are used (picture on the right)

Almost all the early BERNINA models belong to category A. Presser feet that appear in the catalog with an “A” are therefore compatible with older or even historical machines. Here is an example:

The Bulky overlock foot #12 with BERNINA part number 002 951 72 00 is compatible with category “A” sewing machines.

Important note: The accessories catalog does not include a full list of all the machines belonging to category “A”. For space reasons, only newer models are listed. Here is the complete list, which also includes the vintage machines from the Record series:

  • 1000, 1001, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1011, 1015, 1020, 1030, 1031, 1080, 1090, 1120, 1130, 1230, 1260, 1530, 1630
  • 900, 910, 930, 931, 932, 940, 950
  • 800, 801, 802, 803, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 817, 818, 819, 830, 831, 832, 840, 841, 842, 850
  • 700, 707, 708, 709, 717, 718, 719, 730, 732, 740, 741, 742, 744
  • 600, 610, 640, 642, 644
  • 530, 532, 534, 540

Category “A” goes back to the 1950s (BERNINA 530 Record). It’s the end of the line for the 125. We no longer carry compatible accessories for this model, which was built starting in 1945. At the other end of the list is the 1630 model, which was launched in the 1990s. Then, in around 1996, the needle threader was introduced on the Activa 130 and 140 models. As a result of this, the shape of the shank had to be changed. To prevent it from being used incorrectly, the 2-point shank opening was replaced with the closed shank opening.

Note: The height-adjustable presser feet are not yet shown as category “A” in the accessories catalog. This small but important letter will not be added until the next catalog update. But believe us, height-adjustable presser feet for early machine models really do exist! 🙂

It’s been quite a while, but you can now get new presser feet even for this BERNINA machine.

Will the presser feet have more adventures?

Do you like the stop-motion presser foot videos? If so, you’ll be pleased to learn that there will be a Christmas video again this year. The preparations are already under way. Who can guess what the presser feet will be doing this December?

And if you missed last year’s Christmas video or just want to watch it again, you can find the blog post here

Best wishes,
Jasmin 

Used Products:
Adjustable Ruler Foot #72
Adjustable Ruler Foot #72
Adjustable Stippling Foot #73
Adjustable Stippling Foot #73
Adjustable Gliding Cup Foot #74
Adjustable Gliding Cup Foot #74

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  • Sobylle Gren EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Hi Jasmin, I’ve just found your reply to my question about pressure feet for my beloved Bernina 530-2revord. My husband and I bought this machine in June 1962. And I’ve actually sewn my “Queenie” quilt last year on it, first ever quilt adventure for me, as I’ve only ever sewn garments. I tried to buy a walking foot but the screw that holds the needle is too short to hold the claw like part without loosening the screw and shooting the needle nearly at me. So I was able to return this item for a refund. My “Queenie” was finished 14 days before the recent Coronation. So some I was able to manage the sewing of my first quilt with just some of the feet that where included in my 530-2 record.  I might be tempted to inquire about two of these new feet for my machine. Although I’ve just bought a brand new Bernette 77.  Ha a very late present at my age. I’ll start using it next week. Regard Sibylle Gren.

  • Marita C EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    What was the first Bernina to have a presser foot that could have the pressure varied – for knits and other fabrics that will ripple or slip?

    • ramonawirth EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Dear Marita,

      Since one foot fits many models, I cannot say which BERNINA was the first to have an adjustable presser foot. But what I can say is, that the aurora and artista machines already have a wheel to adjust the presser foot pressure, no matter which presser foot was attached.

  • Sibylle Gren EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Hi it’s good to know that the old machines are getting new feet. Where can I buy a walking foot for my legacy Bernina model 530-2 record? 

    • ramonawirth EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Dear Sibylle,

      It’s best to contact a dealer near you and ask if they can order one for you!

      Kind regards, Ramona

  • Susan Simmons EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Please tell me – I want to purchase the LEGACY Adjustable Ruler Foot for my Vintage 830 & 1130 machines, but what accessories are available for this foot? I’m particularly interested in echo quilting. 

    • ramonawirth EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      Dear Susan,

      There are echo clips for the LEGACY Adjustable Ruler Foot #72 available, as well as a set of rulers which you can also use for other feet. There also tutorial videos about how to work with these accessories, in case you are interested:

      Tutorial Echo Quilting and Ruler Work with the Echo Clips for Adjustable Ruler Foot #72

      Tutorial Ruler Work with Adjustable Ruler Foot #72

      Let me know if you need more information!

      Best Regards, Ramona from BERNINA International

    • Jocelyn Lopez EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

      I don’t know the model of my Bernina. It only says Holiday Nu 1021 by Bernina (Riccar). Is it also under category A? I want to purchase different presser feet for my machine.

      • ramonawirth EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

        Dear Jocelyn,
        I realised the link to the product catalogue was not working anymore. I just updated it. In the catalogue, I saw that the 1021 models are refered to in the category A:
        A list of all Category A models which are reffered to in the product catalogue

        So I think that your machine belongs to the category A. Just to be sure, check the presser feet you already own and compare the top part. If they also have a 2-point shank opening as described in this post, then you have another indicator for category A. If you want to be 100% assured I recommend contacting a BERNINA dealer.

        Kind regards, Ramona

  • joyce Partridge EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    How do you know where to set the height of the foot ? My foot jumps up on the ruler.

  • Stefania Masiero EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Buongiorno, sono proprietaria con immenso orgoglio di 2 bernina e per l’esattezza una 930 e una 940, dalla bellezza di più di 35 anni, hanno lavorato tantissimo e non hanno mai dato problemi cucendo vari spessori di tessuto e con i vari ricami inclusi mi hanno permesso di sbizzarrirmi in più tecniche, ora mi sono data al patchwork ed il mio cruccio è quello della difficoltà nel quiltare in quanto con i vari piedini in mio possesso (285 e 29) lo spazio tra tessuto e piede del sopraddetto è troppo. Ho visto nel catalogo il piedino nr #73 piedino regolabile per stippling, vorrei sapere se è possibile renderlo compatibile con l’aggancio a denti delle mie macchine.

     

  • Jane Baker EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Good to know that feet for older models are still available. I still have my 830 model and have recently inherited my Mother’s 930 model which is beautiful to use (if a bit heavy). When ever it goes in for a service the men in the workroom always leave a message ordering me not to part with it – ever. They both do everything I shall ever want to do. I recently bought the Bernina book of Feet and have been matching up the ones I already have (discovered triple stitch and it’s matching foot) and am making a “wish list” of the ones I would like – if available for my machine. I have taken both to Womens’ Institute courses and OK they don’t have all the bells and whistles but they are fantastic, sturdy machines.

  • Theresa Manthe EditEditing comments on the BERNINA blog is only possible after logging in with a blog user account. Sign up now or create a user account if you do not have one yet.

    Hi, in what category is the Bernina 440QE and the Bernina 750 QE as I have both these machines but are no longer available.

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