Re: I dropped the feed dog to do some free motion...
Make sure you do not have lint "trap" that is keeping the feed dogs up. Clean it out with some canned air and look closely at the grooves to make sure they are not full of lint.
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You can do embroidery or you can do free motion. If you're quilting a quilt sandwich (fabric, batting, backing fabric), you probably want to do free motion quilting. Embroidery would work better on fabric (with a stabilizer) but without the batting and backing fabric.
For free motion, you want a free motion foot--your machine's manufacturer probably provided one in the accessory kit (called a darning foot) or there are many generic free motion feet available for purchase (ie Big Foot quilting foot...). The BIG difference with a darning foot or free motion foot is that the shank is shorter than other presser feet because there needs to extra space between the presser foot and the needle plate so the quilter can easily manipulate the fabric. Usually, free motion quilters will drop the feed dogs to avoid feed dog interference with the fabric's movement, however, some quilters don't drop the feed dogs--just whatever works best for you and your machine. In addition, I use a Supreme Slider on the sewing machine surface--a silicone mat that provides a slick surface to help the fabric move.
There are a lot of web sites and video tutorials on free motion quilting. Take some time to watch them and then practice, practice, practice! It's an acquired skill so the more you practice, the better you will be.
Install a brand new sharp needle (embroidery, top stitch, microtex, or universal) of the size that is compatible with the thread weight and fabric.
Drop the feed dogs. If you machine doesn't have the capability, there should be a feed dog cover in your accessory kit that needs to be covered,. This prevents the feed dogs from interfering with your manual maneuvering of the fabric.
Install a darning foot or free motion foot.
Test your stitch and adjust the tension so the threads meet in the middle of the fabric.
Then, it is a matter of practice, practice, practice...
This is free motion quilting. There are a ton of web sites and videos available. You'll need a darning or free motion quilting foot for your machine. Drop the feed dogs. If you are certain you want to do free motion quilting, a Supreme Slider helps you move the fabric. https://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Slider-Motion-Machine-Quilting/dp/B007XGITA2
If so, you need a darning foot of some type (a foot that does not press the fabric to the sewing surface).
You need to drop the feed dogs (or if your machine does not have that capability, a feed dog cover that probably came with your machine and set the stitch length to zero).
Then, add lots of PRACTICE!!! I like to draw designs on a white board with an erasable white board marker... The more fluid you can become, the better experience you will have with FMQ.
#26 is an embroidery foot. Why are you using an embroidery foot for free motion quilting? A #24 free motion embroidery foot will work but not the #26. Try using a darning foot that is just a smidgen shorter so there is space between it and the needleplate for you to freely move the fabric. (Adding a Supreme Slider sheet to the work surface of your machine helps make the fabric glide much smoother.) A standard presser foot is made to press the fabric against the feed dogs so the feed dogs will move the fabric. When free motion quilting, you would drop the feed dogs and move the material with your hands.
Depends which model Bernina you have (new or old style presser feet), which will work on your machine. There are also many generic darning/FMQ feet available that will work on your machine.
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