Quilting Angel

Is there a better needle to use for these things? Just bought a Janome 8050, and thread kept breaking on the decorative stitching on my quilt. I brought the tension all the way down to 2.5, and was still breaking. I was using thread from connecting threads, then I changed to Coats and Clark, still having too much breakage. Was using the needle that came with the machine...think they are called piano needles #14

cjtinkle

I generally use a 90/14 embroidery needle for decorative stitches... or a top stitch needle.

Quilting Angel

Should I use top stitch for the FMQ as well? Haven't did FMQ on the Janome yet, but had quite a bit of breakage on my Brother with the last quilt I done.

cjtinkle

I can't answer you there, I don't FMQ on a domestic, just a longarm. I would think a topstitch 14 would work well.

Quilting Angel

Thank you for your response. I will definately try that next time, and my pick up some different thread as well.

quilticing

The needle that came with the machine is probably a universal needle. Try a specialty needle, one with a larger, smoother eye.

PaperPrincess

Can you tell if the thread is breaking, which is a tension issue, or shreading, which is a needle problem? My favorite needle for decorative stitching is a metallic (metallica) needle. the hole is designed to minimize shreading of the delicate metallic thread and works well to keep other threads from shreading as well. I used a top stitch needle for FMQ.
You can also try putting the thread on the spindle so it comes off the spool in the other direction.

Quilting Angel

It actually seems to be shreading. I thought it may be a tension problem, but dropped the tension all the way to 2 and that didn't solve it. It makes a noise, and then I know it's about to break. Looks like it shreds and forms sort of a knot, then breaks.

cjtinkle

You might also try a better quality thread.

MadQuilter

Some machines are persnickety when it comes to thread. Did you check that the needle eye isn't too thin for the thread? Maybe the needle has a burr in the eye which causes breakage. I usually use universal needles for most everything.