The machine should be able to pull the fabric through without any assistance from the user. Pulling or pushing fabric will frequently cause the needle to bend and then break when it hits the needle plate or the hook. Flying pieces of broken needle can be very dangerous for you as well as damaging to the machine because it can knock the needle/hook out of time. (Uh-oh! Service time!)
Try installing a brand new needle specifically for the thread and fabric you are stitching. (Dull, nicked, or bent needles are probably the #1 sewing machine problem--an inexpensive fix for a very frustrating issue! Needles should be changed frequently or sooner if they are damaged.)
All About Needles
Some sewing machines also have a special accessory called a straight-stitch needle plate. Instead of having a horizontal rectangular shaped hole to accommodate the left-to-right needle swing to make a zig-zag stitch, there is a tiny round hole just big enough for the needle and thread to perform a straight stitch. The round needle hole is small enough to prevent or limit the chance of the fabric being pulled down into the bobbin area.
Straight stitch plate:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271963297717?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82
Zig-zag Needle Plate:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Bernina+zig-zag+needle+plate&tbm=isch&imgil=PXesGDP1gxgggM%253A%253B0OfvcjNTtGe5oM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.thecolorfulworldofsewing.com%25252FNeedle-Plates-For-Bernina-1630.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=PXesGDP1gxgggM%253A%252C0OfvcjNTtGe5oM%252C_&usg=__Y0Wg3M9kgo4z4_1s4emmMPxKMBg%3D&biw=1173&bih=520&ved=0ahUKEwih7O-z0orLAhVB-2MKHZV6AwMQyjcIKA&ei=SZ3KVuGjA8H2jwOV9Y0Y#imgrc=PXesGDP1gxgggM%3A
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