At Quilt Direct we want the purchase of a new machine to be the start of a long friendship between you and your machine (and us too).

We are passionate about our range of Bernina machines, and believe we have an unique insight to the capabilities of each model helping you to select the model that is right for you and your needs today and tomorrow.

With after sales support by phone, video, email or in person we will always be available to help you get the most from your machine.

Our Bernina Studio is dedicated to learning and creativity with Bernina machines, sewing, embroidering, overlocking or longarming there is an event for everyone to enjoy.

Yes, we are very happy to make you an offer on your current Bernina machine providing it is post 1998.

Currently we are able to partner with PayPal who offer 0% interest for 4 months.

Pay with your PayPal account (or create one with just an email and password) and select PayPal Credit.

When you apply for PayPal Credit you will have an instant decision* and, if approved and you accept you can complete your purchase immediately.

*Subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. UK residents only. The minimum payment due still applies to 0% offer balances. Any remaining balance due after the 4-month promotional period or any transactions under £99 will be charged interest at 19.9% p.a. (variable). In order to maintain the 0% offer, you need to keep up monthly repayments and stay within your credit limit.

For more information please visit PayPal Credit.

We are experienced Bernina monobrand dealers and have in depth understanding of their capabilities and engineering.

We offer tuition; Mastery Classes, Open House & Creative Studio days for all purchasers of Bernina machines here at our Studio in the Dartmoor National Park.

Our servicing,repairs & any warranty work is done by the Bernina Doctor, who with a career in engineering and electronics is fully qualified as the best person to look your machine. Fully accredited for all Bernina machines from Vintage up to the QMatic Q24. He is as passionate about the quality of the machines as we are the way the sew.

The simple rule is red numbers on the foot are new style machines, black numbers on the foot are legacy; these older models are identified by cast aluminium casings.

In 1998 Bernina introduced the next generation of sewing machines; at this time, they laid the foundation for future innovations, many of which we see on the machines today. The most significant change was the angle that the presser foot attached to the machine, this allowed space for the semi-automatic needle threader. The maximum width of the stitch was also increased to 5.5mm on CB Models.

At the same time, Bernina fully introduced models with 9mm stitch width capeability to the range. These feet all have a 'C' after the number eg 20C.

In 2012 the introduction of the Dual Feed models arrived. These feet have a 'D' after the number eg 20D.

Bernina in their wisdom have two modern day model 570QE. There are some differences that allows you to be sure you know which you have.

The current 570QE has been available since 2017. It has the new Bernina Hook and has the jumbo bobbins which are big & black. The stitch width is 9mm so the foot #1C is the standard foot. The newer models also have the dual feed and the hover facility.

The original 570QE has the traditional CB bobbin system so uses the metal bobbins with 7 holes. It has a stitch width of 5.5mm and the standard foot is #1.

If you are still in doubt the chassis number on the back will have the code LUN for the older 570 and VIO for the newer.

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!

Threads tangle up underneath if the stitch is not able to form correctly. The usual cause is incorrect threading; most often the top thread, re-thread the machine with the presser foot up and the needle at the highest point. This will ensure that the tension disks are open and the
check lever is in the correct position to take the thread easily. If you have a rotary hook or CB style bobbin case the bobbin needs to travel clockwise in the bobbin case. The newer models have asymmetric bobbins to prevent insertion the wrong direction.
A video is available to show you the process; all Bernina machines are the same basic principle; your machine manual will provide the details specific to your machine. Click Here

This is the most frustrating part of sewing with a sewing machine but is easily rectified when you know how!
When you finish a row of stitching, use the needle up button or the kick back function on your foot control. This means you have completed a whole stitch and ready to begin a new one.
Taa Daa!
No more unthreaded needles!

Alternatively, you can remember to keep hold of the threads for the first few stitches every seam.

You need to support the fabric with some stabiliser, (Stitch n' Tear or ordinary typing paper work well to start with) so that when the machine forms the stitch the thread is not able to drag the the fabric upwards. Presser foot #1 with more surface area underneath is helpful here but #20 is easier to see your stitches and has more room for any bulk created with your thread so a choice has to be made.

Join a Mastery Class to find out more.

We love the wide stitches that our machines give us; beautiful alphabets and sideways stitches but when we want to have a perfect straight stitch we could end up wishing for Grandma's old treadle! This is a common dilemma with 9mm machines but it affects all zig zag machines, it is always easy to correct, when you know how!

If you are straight stitching and using very fine fabric, change to a straight stitch needleplate, (and foot) it makes a huge difference to stitch quality as well as preventing the machine gobbling your fabric.

There is an horizontal line on your needleplate showing you where to place the fabric to prevent fabric collapse, it is just behind the needle.

If you are dressmaking we recommend 5.5mm feet and a 5.5mm needleplate when you are doing anything other than a straight stitch.

When you are patchwork piecing, topstitching, quilting or free motion quilting, we recommend a straight stitch needleplate as well as a ¼" patchwork foot.

For safety, remember to use the security settings if available on your model.

Check that the thread is being delivered to the machine correctly. Cross wound and straight wound spools need to use different spool pins. Cones need a cone holder to ensure a smooth journey to the needle.

Is your needle the correct size for the thread you are using?

Is the thread suspect? How old is your thread, older cotton threads can go brittle with age, these need consigning to the recycle bin.

Re-thread your machine with presser foot up, a new needle that matches your thread weight and away you will go! There is a video showing you how to thread the machine. Click Here

There is a sensor near the check lever spring, it has been displaced. You can switch off the sensor and carry on sewing in Settings.

Never pull the thread backwards when unthreading, if the thread catches in the needle you can pull the sensor out of alignment.

Remember to tell you service engineer so he can pop it back for you next time he sees the machine.

Frequent cleaning and oiling will keep the machine purring, persistent noise can be a sign that the machine needs servicing. There is a video on cleaning & oiling your Bernina. Click Here

Your machine will ask you to clean the catcher after a certain number of cuts. This is to ensure the mechanism is kept clear of lint and thread remnants. It is important to build cleaning the thread catcher into your maintenance routine and when the thread is not cutting correctly.
You will find the Thread Catcher Cleaning routine in SetUp | Select Machine Settings | Maintenance| Cleaning. A step by step guide will appear.

The more you sew, the more frequently you need to clean and oil your machine. We suggest a quick clean and oil at the start of your sewing session with a more thorough regular routine between projects or after 2-3 bobbins (depending on the bobbin size!) Traces of thread and dust build up quickly, especially if you are embroidering or using ‘fluffy’ fabrics or cotton thread.

Bernina produces two oils for sewing machines and one for overlockers. It is essential to use the correct oil for your machine model.
The hook type dictates the type of oil you need the traditional CB models require (no 10). The rotary hook, Bernina hook and longarm machines all require a lighter (no 6) oil as they run faster. The overlockers require (OY 100K).

Never use DIY store or vehicle lubricants or spray lubricants – these can damage your machine.

Under the Bernina UK extended 7-year warranty, your machine must be serviced correctly by an authorised Bernina service engineer. This should be done when the electronic stitch counter advises you with an on-screen message or every three years, whichever is sooner.