Is there a setting to quilt freehand? - Sewing Machines

Not really. The Bernina BSR units need to be attached electronically to the machine to activate the "electronic eye." Your 1260 is an earlier mechanical-electronic machine that does not have that electronic-attachment capability, ie there is no where to plug a BSR unit into your machine. However, with practice (both with pencil on paper and then transferring that muscle memory to the machine), you should be able to learn to free motion quilt on your 1260. It just takes practice and patience.

BERNINA Stitch Regulator BSR

https://www.qnntv.com/courses/improve-freehand-quilting-designs-using-muscle-memory

You need to drop the feed dogs, install a darning or free motion quilting foot (make sure the presser foot is lowered). Because you will not be using the machine to move the fabric, the stitch length selection is of no importance. Make sure the stitch width is set to zero. You should test FMQ on a scrap quilt sandwich of the same makeup of your project, ie quilt fabric with batting sandwiched between. The upper tension should be set so that both threads meet in the middle of the quilt sandwich. Because it is FMQ, some extra adjustment may be needed.

Once the tension is where you want it, you can practice FMQ until you can move it smoothly in conjunction with the machine speed.

Practicing on a white board with erasable markers is a handy way to learn to move smoothly. The most difficult part of free motion quilting is learning to move the fabric smoothly. Do NOT lack for practice as that is the only way to improve. Those people who make it look simple have been doing it for years!

How to Free Motion Quilt on Regular Sewing Machine

Free Motion Quilting for Beginners Part 1 Video from Sewing with Nancy

Free Motion Quilting

Learn How to Free Motion Quilt Stippling

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If you can drop the feed dogs (or have a plate to cover the feed dogs), the machine has a zig-zag stitch, and you have a darning foot or free motion foot, you can do free motion quilting, hand manipulated embroidery (monograms), and applique on a basic sewing machine. It will take some testing and quite a bit of practice. You can also use an embroidery foot to monogram and applique. You will want to sink the needle into the fabric at every corner and frequently when creating curves so you can move the fabric.

Search the internet for instructions & tutorials on how to set up your machine and the best way to accomplish what you want.

How to Monogram with Basic Sewing Machine

How to Use Monogramming Foot

Machine Applique Tutorial

Machine Applique Sewing

Sounds like the feed dogs (the teeth under the presser foot) may be dropped in the darning position so they are not pulling the fabric through the machine. Or, the feed dogs are not moving at all. Since you do not specify the brand and model of your machine, there could be several reasons. If it is an older mechanical (not computerized) machine, how long has it been since it's been cleaned and oiled? Could be the old oil has solidified, preventing the feed dogs from moving.

A manual feed is used primarily in freehand embroidery, quilting, and shoe repair. With manual feed, the stitch length and direction is controlled entirely by the motion of the material being sewn. Frequently some form of hoop or stabilizing material is used with fabric to keep the material under proper tension and aid in moving it around. Most household machines can be set for manual feed by disengaging the drop feed dogs. Most industrial machines can not be used for manual feed without actually removing the feed dogs.

How about taking off your presser foot and put your work in an embroidery hoop. then guide it around by hand? That is what I do for freehand.

The tension is not changed.

You lower the feed dogs, or change the stitch length to zero and cover the feed dogs by taping an index card (make a hole for the needle) over them.

Be sure to use a darning or free motion foot and have the presser foot down when stitching.

Make sure you have your thread through all of the thread guides, If I feel I need a little extra tension I loop my thread through the bobbin tension guide on top of the machine, especially if it is a fine or silky thread for decorative work. Make sure your bobbins are wound tight and also threaded correctly. When freehand quilting you should sew at a moderate speed and make sure to move your fabric smoothly with the speed at which you are sewing, you may just have to practice a bit like I did...If none of this works you may need to take your machine in and have the tension set on the bobbin housing itself..

Rule of thumb: Fast needle, slow hands. This should help. GiGi

All i need to know is how to sew a button hole for some halloween costumes and cant find my manual someone please walk me through