I can't get the foot to lower and raise.

• Raise presser foot when upper threading.
• Thread normally through all guides
• Lower presser foot
• Thread needle, leaving a 6" thread tail
• Raise foot and gently pull thread (no tension)
• Lower foot & gently pull thread (you'll feel resistance)
• Delint upper tension with Compressed Dry Canned Lint Remover ie: Computer Quality. Be sure no thread is in machine and foot is up so tension is released

Nancy Notions Trusted by sewing enthusiasts for more than 3 decades

Perhaps you accidently moved the switch that enables free hand embroidery? It's up and under next to the pressor foot lever. Slides forward and backward. Forward the pressor foot will go all the way down to the feed dogs. Slid back and it keeps the foot up off the feed dogs but allows the thread tension to work properly. It would be easy to accidently move it when operating the pressor foot raise/lower lever.

I had the same problem ! I had to take it to be repaired, they had to take it apart & grease the whole thing, I hadn't used the machine in a couple of years & the original "grease" became too hard for the foot to come down.

Not familiar with your machine, but an important suggestion for all sewing machines:

ALWAYS RAISE the presser foot when threading the top thread. If you did not do this, remove the top thread completely from the machine and start over by RAISING the presser foot and following the thread path. (Do NOT miss any thread guides or thread any out of order!)

Lower the presser foot and thread the needle. (The top thread will pull through the needle ONLY if the presser foot is raised!) RAISE the presser foot and pull at least 5 inches of thread through the needle. Insert your fabric. Lower the presser foot. Hold the thread tail gently in your left hand and with the right hand manually turn the handwheel one rotation. The needle should pull the bobbin thread up through the fabric.

While still holding the top thread tail, "sweep" under the presser foot with a stiletto, scissors, a nail file (anything that will fit under the presser foot) to pull the remaining bobbin thread tail above the fabric. Grab both thread tails and pull them under the presser foot toward the back of the machine. Now, you are ready to take your first stitch.

You can gently hold those thread tails while you slowly power the machine to take the first couple of stitches on your fabric.

Could be a number of things ... does the foot-lift lever go all the way down when you lower the foot and is it unusually 'floppy' when you lower it. There is a small spring inside that should keep tension on the lever and these can ping off if you inadvertently let the foot drop under its own pressure instead of letting it down slowly onto the fabric (they're a nightmare to put back, too !) ... if it has come off, it may be jammed in the foot lifter mechanism. It's also possible that the foot lifter has shifted on the foot bar, in which case it really needs to be looked-at by a qualified Bernina service agent. When raised, there should be a gap of 7.5mm between the bottom of the foot and the top of the stitch plate - if much more than this, it indicates that the adjuster has shifted and you'll need to get it looked-at professionally.

Sounds like you have no tension on the upper thread. Rethread the top thread, make sure you have the pressure foot raised, and have your tension around 5. Don't forget to lower the pressure foot before you began to sew.

there are 2 type of presser bar foot clamps
one allows you to snap on the foot--raise & then lower the presser foot holder until the cut out is directly above the pin on the foot,,as you lower the presser foot holder the presser foot will automatically engage when put down on the pin area

the second is a shank & foot combined & there is a screw on the presser bar,,unscrew it some & put the shank up around the screw & retighten the screw

First, raise the presser bar, remove the presser foot, the presser foot holder and screw.

Turn the handwheel to bring the needle to its highest position.

Place the darning foot on the presser bar and make sure that the metal bar of the darning foot is above the needle clamp and put the screw back on and tighten.

As the needle bar raises and lowers, the foot will hop up and down slightly.

Make sure that you always lower the presser bar when using this foot. Lower the feed dogs also if your machine has this feature.

Does the presser foot move at all when the machine is first turned on?
Do the needle and feed teeth calibrate when the machine is first turned on?
You probably need to locate your nearest authorized repair center.