Bernina

We love this question; Buzzing is a Bernina initiation. We have all been caught out with this one! Flick the brake switch/thread cutter next to the bobbin winding spindle. All sorted?

Some machines also produce a low volume whine from the motors that control stitch length and width; this is normal and will usually stop if you alter either value by one ‘click’.

The Bernina needle threader is reliable once you have mastered using it and understand the limitations of the very fine hook that passes through the eye of the needle. You can use the auto threader with needles between size 70 -100 provided you match with a corresponding weight of thread. There is a video showing the use and replacement of the threader. Click Here

Things happen and sometimes we are able to repair a damaged needle threader when in for service, but they are easily replaced and can be purchased from us. Click Here

Do you have the machine in eco mode? Just touch the eco button and the machine should become active again. Try switching the machine off and on again and that may cure it.

Occasionally we can 'freeze' the screen by touching several areas together, a bump in transit, or most commonly going into settings and not realising you have calibrated the screen, are all reasons for the screen to freeze.

If this has happened you will need to follow these instructions:

Switch off the power to your machine.

Switch the machine on, at the same time keep the two needle position buttons pressed and wait for the machine to start up. until the calibrate screen appears.

Using your stylus touch each of the cross hairs as accurately as you can.

You screen is now working again.

This error often occurs at startup, as the machine prepares for stitching and the sensors can detect a resistance and the hand wheel is unable to rotate.

Check for thread caught in the bobbin area, sometimes a small dust bunny is hiding under the race. We recommend a picture taken with a phone and magnify the image up to find the offender (the torch on a phone is really useful too).

Is the hook seated correctly in the race?

Has auto needle threader slightly displaced and not returned fully home? Give it a gentle nudge upwards.

Do you have a bind of thread around the hand wheel?

Is there thread caught in the thread catcher? Use the thread catcher cleaning function in Settings.

If you are still unable to release the hand wheel please call us so we can assist you further.

We all have these occasionally! Our Bernina machines are mighty, but they need to know when to stop!
If the machine feels a resistance to the needle penetrating the fabric, more power is sent to the motor, and your machine goes into 'hammer mode' for a split second; this will usually allow you to carry on stitching. If the protective sensors read there is more resistance than there should be your machine stops allowing you to figure out what has happened without damaging the machine.
Learn to love the 'Cogs of Death'! It is your machine protecting itself.

While you now know not to panic, it’s likely that your machine has got mechanically jammed and you can check this immediately by attempting to turn the handwheel. If not jammed, just try re-starting the machine and hopefully the problem will be resolved.

If it doesn’t turn easily, DO NOT try to force it – you could cause expensive damage. Try removing the bobbin case and hook and see if this free’s-up the mechanism. Make sure there’s no thread trapped in the hook race or driver. If the machine is determinedly jammed, contact us.

Take a look at your presser feet, some will still have the same screw on the back. These screws can be removed safely and put away for the time you want to use a seam guide. Yep! It is that simple!

Many miles (or years) of stitching will sometimes cause these screws to vibrate loose and drop on the bed just to give us a fright!

This one was a mystery for a while...

To Prevent this happening to you:
When you put your bobbin case in the hook always align the case with the silver bar horizontal and the wire loop at the top. It is important to push it in on the left side of the case or top & bottom, to prevent the jam.

To Fix a jam:
Remove the hook with bobbin case and the bobbin from the machine.

Push a pencil or screwdriver through the hole in the back of the hook, while pushing on the bar of the bobbin case, this will release the bobbin case. There is a video to show this. Click Here (to follow)

NB This only refers to models with the Bernina Hook; B4, B5 B7 machines.

Sometimes your machine will not recognise the USB stick you want to use for transferring an embroidery design or an update.

Often the USB stick will be too big in capacity for the machine to read (we recommend no more than 2GB, 256MB for older machines)) or has not been formatted correctly.

The easiest way to ensure a working USB is to purchase a Bernina USB Stick that is prepared and checked for compatibility.

Other reasons may be:
Your design has not been unzipped or is in a format that the machine does not recognise. Check your manual for preferred formats.

If you are updating the machine the USB must be formatted correctly (FAT32), empty of any other files other than the update which needs to be unzipped before putting on the USB.

The Bernina 'burp' is our clever electronic machines way of setting itself up correctly to sew.

The 'stepper motors' need to reset to the default setting of straight stitch in a central needle position. On modern machines they even raise the needle and presser foot for you too!