Bernina 215 User manual

In choosing BERNINA, you are assured of years of rewarding sewing. For over 100 years my family
has concentrated on providing complete satisfaction to our customers. And it is my personal wish to
continue this tradition of offering you Swiss precision engineering combined with state of the art
technology and an after sales service second to none.
The new BERNINA 215 are characterized by a youthful appeal which is combined with a range of
added value features to give you, dear Customer, more sewing pleasure than ever before. Enjoy
modern, creative sewing with BERNINA: our wide range of accessories as well as our sewing publica-
tions brimming with imaginative ideas and practical tips all add to the joy of sewing BERNINA style.
Any questions you have will be dealt with courteously and efficiently by our highly trained BERNINA
dealers, who will also be glad to service your sewing computer for you.
www.bernina.com
BERNINA International AG •CH-8266 Steckborn/Switzerland
”Welcome to
the BERNINA
family”
H.P. Ueltschi
Owner

2
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced
physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and
knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruc-
tion concerning use of the sewing computer by a person respon-
sible for their safety. Children must be kept under supervision to
ensure that they do not play with the sewing computer.
3. Never operate this sewing computer if:
- it has a damaged cord or plug
- it is not working properly
- it has been dropped or damaged
- it has fallen into water
Take the sewing computer to the nearest authorized BERNINA
dealer for examination, repair, electrical or mechanical adjust-
ment.
4. Never operate the sewing computer with any air vents blocked.
Keep ventilation openings of the sewing computer free from lint,
dust and/or fabric bits.
5. Keep fingers away from all moving parts. Special care is required
in the needle area of the sewing computer.
6. Never drop or insert any objects into any opening on the sewing
computer.
7. Do not use the sewing computer outdoors.
8. Do not operate the sewing computer where aerosol products
(spray) or oxygen is being administered.
9 . Do not pull or push the fabric while stitching. This may deflect
the needle, causing it to break.
10. Do not use bent needles.
11. Always use the BERNINA original stitch plate. The wrong stitch
plate can cause needle breakage.
When using an electrical appliance, basic safety precautions
should always be followed, including the following:
Read all instructions before using this sewing computer.
When the sewing computer is not in use, it should be
disconnected from the electricity supply by removing the
plug from the outlet.
DANGER
To reduce the risk of electrical shock:
1. The sewing computer should never be left unattended when
plugged in.
2. Always unplug the sewing computer from the electrical outlet
immediately after using and before cleaning.
3. LED radiation. Do not view directly with optical instruments.
LED class 1M
WARNING
To reduce the risk of burns, fire, electric shock or injury to
persons:
1. Use the sewing computer only for purposes as described in this
manual. Use only attachments/accessory recommended by the
manufacturer as contained in this manual.
2. Do not allow the sewing computer to be used as a toy. Close
attention is necessary when this sewing computer is used by or
near children and infirm persons. This sewing computer is not
Safety instructions

3Safety instructions
DISCLAIMER
No liability will be assumed for any possible damage which
arises from misuse of this sewing computer.
This sewing computer is intended for household use only.
This sewing computer complies with the European Directive
2004/108/EC relating to Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
12. To disconnect, turn power switch to «0» (off), then remove the
plug from the outlet. Do not unplug by pulling the cord, instead
grasp the plug to pull it from the outlet.
13. Turn power switch to «0» (off) when making any adjustments in
the needle area, such as changing the needle or the presser foot,
etc.
14. Always unplug the sewing computer from the electrical outlet
when carrying out cleaning or maintenance work or any other
user servicing adjustments mentioned in this manual.
15. This sewing computer is provided with double insulation (except
USA and Canada). Use only genuine replacement parts. Please
note the advice on the servicing of double-insulated products.
SERVICING DOUBLE
INSULATED PRODUCTS
In a double-insulated product, two systems of insulation are provi-
ded instead of grounding. No grounding means is provided on a
double-insulated product nor should a means for grounded be
added to the product. Servicing a double-insulated product
requires extreme care and knowledge of the system and should
only be done by qualified service personnel. Replacement parts for
a double-insulated product must be identical to the original parts
in the product.
A double insulated product is marked with the words: «Double-
Insulation» or «double-insulated».
The symbol may also be marked on the product.
Environmental Protection
BERNINA is committed to the protection of the
environment. We strive to minimize the environmental
impact of our products by continuously improving
product design and our technology of manufacturing.
At end of life please dispose this product in an
environmentally responsible way according to the
national directive. Do not throw away this product with
your household waste. In case of doubt, please contact
your dealer.

4Imprint
Imprint
Typesetting, Layout, DTP: Silvia Bartholdi
Graphics: Müller-Melzer ID, Kreuzlingen
© copyright 2010
BERNINA International AG, Steckborn
All rights reserved
For technical and product improvement reasons, the sewing computer's
features, parts and accessory are subject to unannounced changes and
alterations at any time. The accessory included can differ from country to
country.

5Contents
Important safety Instructions 2
Details of the sewing computer 6
Standard Accessories 8
Feet selection 9
Optional Accessories 10
Setting up the sewing computer 12
Operating instructions 20
Stitch overview 23
Selected practical stitches 24
Sewing Needles 31
Maintenance 33
Troubleshooting 34
Index 35

Details of the sewing computer
6
Details of the sewing computer
Front view Right end
13 12
27
28 26
25
23
24
30
29
10
1
2
5
6
8
11
12
9
14
17
18
19
20
15 16 22
21
23
3
4
13
7

7Details of the sewing computer
1Bobbin cover
2Stitch plate
3Attachment base for
special accessories
4Sewing table socket
5 Presser foot shaft
6Needle clamp with fixation
screw
7Needle Threader
8Thread guide
9Reverse button
10 Thread take up cover
11 Thread path
12 Bobbin pre-tension
13 Thread tension adjustment
14 LCD display
15 Needle stop up/down
16 1/2 motor speed
17 Bobbin winder
18 Stitch width button
19 Needle position button
20 Stitch length button
21 clr/del-button
22 Stitch selection buttons
23 Handwheel
24 Balance adjustment
25 Power switch on/off
26 Power plug socket
27 Drop feed-dog
28 Foot control socket
29 Spool pin (vertical,
collapsible)
30 Carrying handle
31 Horizontal spool pin
32 Rear thread guide
33 Accessory box connection
34 Presser foot lifter (manual)
35 Thread cutter
Back view
31
34
35
33
32
4
3
30
7
29

Standard Accessories
8
Accessories
•Fabric cover
•Accessory case
•2 bobbins (one of them in the
bobbin case)
•Presser feet shaft with 5 soles
•Selection of 130/705H needles
•Seam ripper
•Lint brush
•3 spool discs
•Foam pad
•Oiler
•Foot control
•Power cable
•Angular Torx button
•Warranty card
The foot control regulates the
sewing speed
Sewing speed is adjusted by
applying more or less pressure
to the foot control.
Important! (USA/Canada only)
Use only foot controller type
SR-1 with sewing computer
B215.
Foot control
Self storing cord
• wind the cord on the reel
• insert the plug into the
groove provided
When sewing
• unwind the cableThe power cable
•plug Ainto sewing computer
•plug Binto wall socket
Foot control cable
• plug Cinto sewing computer
Power switch (D)
1the computer is switched on
0the computer is switched off
The sewing light is switched on
and off with the power switch.
Power cable
A
CB
Important! (USA/Canada only)
This sewing computer has a
polarized plug (one blade wider
than the other). To reduce the
risk of electric shock, this plug
is intended to fit in a polarized
outlet only one way. If the plug
Ddoes not fit fully in the outlet,
reverse the plug. If it still does
not fit, contact a qualified elec-
trican to install the proper out-
let. Do not modify the plug in
any way.
Refer to the safety
instruction!

9Feet selection
Standard snap-on soles
2
Overlock sole
Overlock seams,
hems, over-
sewing edges,
narrow satin
stitches
1
Reverse pat-
tern sole
for practical
and decorative
stitches
4
Zipper sole
for sewing in
zippers
3
Buttonhole
sole
for manual
buttonholes
5
Blind stitch sole
Blind hems, edge
stitching
Presser foot
shaft
for snap-on
soles
Note that all presser feet are available as stable feet as well.

10 Optional accessories
Sewing table
To attach
• raise the needle and presser
foot
• place the table over the free
arm and press firmly so that it
engages on the fixing cam
To remove
• raise the needle and presser
foot
• pull the table out of the fixing
cam
• pull in a horizontal position to
the left
Scale of sewing table
•«0» corresponds to the centre
needle position
Seam guide for sewing table
•insert into the groove (under-
side of table) from the right or
left
•it can be freely adjust over the
whole width of the table
Note: Remove the presser
foot or the presser foot shaft
when attaching the seam
guide!
We recommend the use of the
BERNINA Lens Set for more
comfort when sewing.
Lens Set
Sewing speed
•control the sewing speed by
depressing the foot control
•raise or lower the needle by
tapping on the foot control
with your heel
Foot Control

Optional accessories 11
Start-stop-unit
With the Start-stop-unit (SSU)
the start-stop-function can be
controlled by hand.
•press start-stop-button A=
stitching starts
•with the speed regulator B
the sewing speed can be
regulated by hand
•to interrupt or stop sewing =
press start-stop-button A
again
Note:
If the foot control is connected
with the sewing computer, the
Start-stop-unit is deactivated.
A
B
The LED sewing light illumina-
tes the sewing area and has a
long product life.
Attention:
Please note that a defective
sewing light must ONLY be
replaced by an authorized
technician.
The sewing computer must be
taken to an authorized
BERNINA dealer!
Please refer to the
safety instructions!
LED Sewing Light

Setting up the sewing computer12
Winding the bobbin
• turn power switch on
• place empty bobbin on
spindle
• following the direction of the arrow take thread through the rear
guide and round the pre-tension stud
•wind the thread two to three times around the empty bobbin
and cut off any excess thread on the thread cutter
• press the engaging lever against the bobbin
• press the foot control
• the motor will stop automatically when the bobbin is full
• remove the bobbin
Thread cutter
• cut the thread on the thread
cutter
Winding the bobbin
Note:
When winding the bobbin
on the vertical spool holder
(p. 15), it may be necessary to
adjust the speed.

13Setting up the sewing computer
To remove the bobbin case
• raise the needle
• turn power switch to «0»
• open the bobbin cover
• grasp the latch of the bobbin
case
• remove case
To insert the bobbin case
• hold the bobbin case latch
• the finger on the case should
point upwards
• insert so that it clicks into
place
Bobbin thread cutter
• insert the bobbin case
• take the thread over cutter A
• thread is cut
• close the bobbin cover
Note:
The bobbin thread does not
have to be brought up as
the loose end is just the right
length to start sewing.
Please refer to the
safety instruction!
A
Bobbin case

Setting up the sewing computer
14
Inserting the bobbin
... it lies in the T-shaped slit at
the end of the spring.
The bobbin must turn clock-
wise when thread is pulled.
Insert the bobbin
Insert the bobbin so that the
thread runs clockwise.
Pull the thread counter clock-
wise into the slot.
Pull the thread to the left under
the spring until ...
Removing the needle
• raise the needle
• turn power switch to «0»
• lower the presser foot
• loosen the needle clamp screw
• pull the needle down to remove
Inserting the needle
• flat side of needle to the back
• insert the needle as far as it will go
• tighten the needle clamp screw
Changing the needle
Please refer to the
safety instruction!

15Setting up the sewing computer
Supplementary spool pin
A
Changing the presser foot sole
Changing the presser foot
sole
• raise the needle and the
presser foot shaft
• turn power switch to «0»
• press the button on the shaft
to release the sole
Attaching the presser foot
sole
• place the presser foot sole
under the shaft so that the
peg sits under the opening of
the shaft
•lower the presser foot lifter
and the foot sole will click
into position
Please refer to the
safety instruction!
Collapsible vertical spool pin
•found on the back of the sewing computer behind the
handwheel
•essential aid for sewing with more than one thread, i.e. double
needle work
•raise the pin until it clicks into its vertical position
•when using large reels, add the foam pad Afor stability

Setting up the sewing computer
16
Threading the upper thread
Attaching the thread spool
•raise the needle and the presser foot
•switch the power off
•attach the foam pad
•place spool on pin (thread unwinds clockwise)
•attach the appropriate spool disc - diameter of spool disc is disc
size. There must be no clearance between the disc and the spool
• take thread through rear guide A
•then into slit of upper thread tension
•pull thread down to the right of the take-up cover to B
•take thread up to the left of the cover to Cin the direction of
the arrow, placing it in the take-up level
•take thread down and through guides Dand E
Please refer to the
safety instruction!
A
C
D
E
B

17Setting up the sewing computer
Needle Threader
B
A
Thread in hook
•raise the needle
•lower the presser foot
•lay the thread behind hook B
and hold lightly
Lever down
•press lever Adown and simul-
taneously guide the thread
around hook Bto the right to
the needle
Thread in front of needle
•put the thread from the front
into the guide until it catches
in the hook
•let go of lever Aand thread
Thread cutter
Thread cutter on head frame
•pull both threads from front
to back over the cutter
•the threads release as soon as
the first stitch is sewn

Setting up the sewing computer
18
Stitch plate
Feed-dog and fabric feed
Button flush with housing =
sewing position
Button depressed =
feed-dog is lowered
• for free-hand sewing or dar-
ning
Stitch plate markings
• the stitch plate is marked with vertical, horizontal and diagonal
lines in mm and inches
• the lines help to guide the fabric for sewing seams and precise
topstitching, etc.
• the horizontal markings are helpful for sewing corners and but-
tonholes, etc.
• the diagonal markings are useful for quilting
• the vertical measurements correspond to the distance between
the needle and the line
• needle insertion point is position «0»(center needle position)
• the measurements are marked to the right and left, measuring
from the center needle position
Note: To change the stitch plate see page 33
Feed-dog and stitch length
With each stitch the feed-dog moves forward by one step.
The length of this step is determined by the stitch length selected.
With an extremely short stitch length, the steps are also short.
The fabric moves under the foot quite slowly, even at full sewing
speed. Buttonholes are sewn with a very short stitch length.

19Setting up the sewing computer
A
Thread tension
The basic setting
•is indicated when the red line on the tension
adjustment wheel is in line with the marking A
•the tension does not need adjusting for normal
sewing work
•for special sewing work, the tension can be
adjusted to suit the fabric
Perfect stitch formation
•the stitch formation is in the fabric
Upper thread tension too tight
•the lower thread is pulled more to the right
side of the fabric
•to reduce the upper thread tension turn tension
adjustment wheel to 3–1
Upper thread tension too loose
•the upper thread is pulled more to the wrong
side of the fabric
•to increase the upper thread tension turn
tension adjustment wheel to 5–10
The tension is factory set for the best results.
Metrosene 100/2 (Arova Mettler, Switzerland)
is used to set both the upper and lower thread
tension.
If other sewing or embroidery threads are used,
the tension may need adjusting to suit the fabric
and chosen stitch.
For example:
Tension
Metallic thread approx. 3
Monofilament approx. 2–4

Operating instructions20
Balance
Your sewing computer has
been tested and factory set
using a double layer of
cretonne fabric and Metrosene
100/2 threads (Arova Mettler,
Switzerland).
Normal position Denser stitch
formation
(shorter stitch
length)
Finer stitch for-
mation
(longer stitch
length)
Different fabrics, threads and
stabilizers can naturally affect
the stitch balance so that they
are sewn too close together or
not close enough.
Note:
If the balance has been
adjusted, return it to the
normal setting once sewing is
completed.
This can be remedied with
Balance to suit the fabric and
produce perfect results.
Applications:
Practical stitches, e.g.
Honeycomb stitch on jersey,
buttonholes, etc.