Well, today did not go nearly as well as yesterday...I really was trying to do the free motion quilting...and it just did not go good...at all..as a matter of fact, fmq went better with my Brother PC-420..The stitches are skipping, thread breaking, fabric puckering, actually anything that could go wrong...DID!! I tried adjusting tension, both upper and bobbin, different threads, re-oiling machine, etc...and nothing has worked...I finally just have given up for the evening..I am really frustrated, and actually sad, I know that sounds really melodramatic, but I guess I had "delusions of fmq grandeur" or something...so, this is a whiner post, and a please any suggestions post...ANY??...Thanks for listening...

I'm really sorry. I've had those days!

Sorry to hear that. I have the same machine and love it. I do still have days like that and can go sit down at it the very next day and absolutely sews perfect!

Do you have it on a frame?

Check the pressure adjustor and make sure it is in the N range.

Check the feed dogs and make sure they are dropped.
If this was in a bag recently, check the tension. Sometimes if I take mine somewhere, the tension gets bumped.

Make sure the bobbin thread went into the bobbin case the correct direction.

Lastly, read in the book about the threading. Sometimes it needs to go through two holes at the beginning, sometimes all three.

Thanks, ya'll...I know there is a learning curve for every new machine...and I am being impatient...
I don't have it on a frame, yet...ordered the CD with the plans for dh to build one for me. I did try all the above, and re-threaded it, alot...
I did adjust the bobbin, and am wondering if I should have left well enough alone??!! It is where when I hold the thread end the bobbin slides a little, you kind of have to give it a little up/down shake for the bobbin to slide down. Before I adjusted it, when you held the thread, the bobbin slid down pretty freely, so I thought that may be too loose, and tightened it...any ideas on that?

Hi Kiffie:

I will soon be in the same boat as you.... as I will be ordering the same machine from the same place as you did. My husband is going to build me a 4 rail frame too. He can build anything. I know the learning curve will be frustrating cause I want to be "perfect" with fmq from the get-go. Setting myself up for sure. ;-)

I was perusing the AllBrands sight and found this word of advice from the owner. I'm not sure if it will help, but thought you might perhaps find it useful:

Why does my needle thread break on freemotion when straight stitch sewing is fine.

For freemotion quilting on a frame, please try Schmetz Size 16 Denim needles, A&E Signature cotton quilting thread, fabric pressure gauge at 1/2 way (down or up on the window gauge),and make sure the quilt is down flat against the flatbed of the machine so fabric won't ride up and down on the needle (flagging). Also run the machine faster and move the fabric slower, so the needle won't bend in the fabric. Also feel for any needle burrs on the rotary hook, needle plate or bobbin case that might catch thread. Burrs can be polished off with Crocus cloth from the hardware stores. Please advise what works or doesn't work for you. John Douthat, Owner & Tech

I wish you a better day tomorrow and look forward to seeing a post of success from you!

Hang with it girl.... it will be worth it. btw.... you can repeat these words back to me when I'm voicing my soon-to-be frustration. :roll:

Thanks Bluegrassgurl...I think I just was expecting that since the fmq was going ok on smaller projects on my PC-420, that when this machine came in I was going to "go to town"!! Hahaha....also, I am thinking maybe I should not have done anything to the bobbin...but, I put it back to how it seemed to be, and still no good...so, maybe a nights sleep on it, and the fmq fairy will visit...and, as Scarlett said, "I will never go hungr...oops, wrong line...tehee... I mean tomorrow is another day." Maybe when yours comes in, you can give me some pointers! Have you already been fmq for a while?

FMQ takes practice and every machine is different. In fact, I think every person is different, too. I have the PQ1500S and I find I want to go too fast when I'm doing FMQ. When I get to speeding along, the thread shreds. A larger needle helped some, but I have to remember to slow down on the curves.

Also, larger quilts want to get hung up on the right front edge of the extension table. Even a bit of a hang up messes up the flow. I have to remind myself to watch out for that, too.

I have never messed with my bobbin tension. That just flat scares me. I'm convinced I will never get it right again if I fiddle with it. As for upper tension, it seems to want to be different for different projects. I just have to play with it to get it right. I use a sample until it looks good.

Thanks Lisa. As a matter of fact, I had already ordered an extra bobbin case, and you can bet I will not be messing with it. I had seen some ideas where you have one to "mess" with and one to leave alone...I also know that with this machine, I have heard you have to be a little brave and do some adjustments you may not be used to...like with my PC-420, it is auto...and I go :-D Can you tell me what size and brand of needle to you have the best luck with? And thread, too? Thanks again!

Hopefully tomorrow will be better for you.

try threading the only the first and last of the 3 holes. hope you find what helps.