IBQUILTIN

I need to finish this quilt by the 15th, a bricks and mortar comfy quilt. I have it all pieced and sandwiched with no problems at all, but for some reason my Viking Sapphire 850 !Quilt - WON'T. The thread is breaking about every 8 inches or so, and I am breaking needles like mad. Changed thread, reset tensions, shut her off and cleaned her meticulously, changed needles and even went to rayon thread. Anyone have any additional suggestions. I really do want to finish this quilt. Oh, and the batting is one layer of Angel Soft. Not too heavy for the machine, I have used it before. Please, Please HELP

Tartan

Are trying to SITD with your walking foot? I might switch to doing a quilt motif in each of the bricks. Maybe a little FMQ 5 point star like you learned in school?
If you've checked everything, put a nylon on your hand and check the throat plate for a burr that could be snagging the thread. It might need a trip to the machine doctor to check the timing. ((Hugs))

Prism99

I wouldn't recommend rayon thread as it is much more likely to wear badly.

It's important to know whether you are trying to do free-motion quilting or straight line quilting with a walking foot. If you are using a walking foot, the problem could actually be the walking foot. They do go bad eventually. If you are FMQing, then I have to wonder if you have a bad batch of needles. Try a needle from a different packet, and also try a bigger needle. If you are breaking needles with FMQ, then it's highly likely either that the thread tension is way too tight or the needle is too small for the thread. In both cases (and also if you are moving the quilt too fast in relation to speed), this will cause the needle to flex near the point and break.

katier825

Did you spray baste it? I've had that happen with certain brands or spraying to heavily.

ManiacQuilter2

What type of thread are you using?? Did you change the needle? This always happens to me when I am on a deadline. So now I try my best to avoid them like the plague. Good Luck.

yngldy

All the above are good things to check, but do you also have it set on medium weave? The buttons second row from bottom in front on right? What type backing are you using? You might want to set it to heavy weave if you are using flannel or something heavier than quilting cotton. I had a quilt that I used a flannel from a major manufacturer for the backing. My Viking let me know it did not like it! Of course, the machine was new at that time, but I have used thinner flannel since. Could have been operator error!
Do you have it set to FMQ in menu? Do a quick check list using the manual.
One thing I remember doing, was when I threaded the machine, I did not go through the silver clip, which is the first thing you run the thread through. On MY directions, it says if horizontal, to go through the clip, if vertical, don't go through it. That helped a little. You might try both ways. Hope you find the trick to make it work! I know how frustrating it is when it gets picky!!

Bree123

Broken needles make me question whether it might be an issue with the timing belt. If you've tried re-threading with a different thread & used new needles (maybe a different size) & are doing something you've stitched out previously without problems, I'd take it in for service. I don't know for sure that's what the problem is, but that's what it was when my Singer has those issues.

ckcowl

Rayon thread -- not a good choice for quilting. Cotton or polyester, better choices. Needle the correct size for the weight of the thread, I use Sharps for quilting most often. Using same thread top & bottom? ( recommended). Walking or hopping foot? Don't pull against the speed of the machine. Put together a couple practice sandwiches and try things until you work out the problems before trying your quilt.

thimblebug6000

Also, if the thread is on the vertical spool, then maybe try using it from the horizontal one. When I don't pay close enough attention, sometimes the thread ends up winding itself under the thread spool and snaps. Hope you can get it figured out so you can enjoy your quilting time.

Gay

If you are free-motion quilting perhaps you are moving the fabric too fast, that will cause needles and thread to break. Try slowing down.