Okay, I admit it! I am thoroughly intimidated by my Horizon!! I've had it for three months and barely touched it. I keep coming up with reasons why I can't use it "right now". Prior to this purchase, I was using a very simple and straightforward Brother. I find myself wishing the 7700 didn't have all those feet and stitches and would just stick to what I wanted it for - the huge throat, piecing, and quilting. I do not now or EVER want to make buttonholes.

Today, I finally made up my mind I have to overcome this. I have done a few sandwiches to practice FMQ and that's improved a little bit but today, I decided to move forward with a small quilt that is ready to go. So I did a little practice run and then I put in thread and bobbin suitable for the quilt and started another practice run - the back is eyelashing like crazy. I rethreaded the machine (BTW the thread seems to fray and break a lot) and reloaded the bobbin. Same thing. I have done it three times now and am ready to cry in frustration.

I have used Leah Day's suggestion on machine settings - which is to use the Supreme Slider, leave the feed dogs alone, D1 setting, Stitch Length 0, QVH Foot, and Needle Down. And that's another thing - for awhile the needle always stopped in the down position - now sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.

It's probably pilot error here but I'm ready to start making boat anchors rather than quilts.

I don't have a Horizon, but I had considered it. Have you joined the free yahoo group? It's a very friendly, helpful, active forum, with a few professional quilters and educators as well. I'm sure they could help. Don't get too discouraged, it's supposed to be a great machine. I hope it starts working smoothly for you soon.

Hi,

I recently bought a Horizon too and was just as frustrated as you seem to be. I went and sat down at the dealer for a quick lesson and learned sooooo much. To FMQ all I do is drop the feed dogs and change to the free motion foot and it works great. I just finished FMQ a small quilt and had no trouble at all. I know it is not what Leah Day suggests and I am sure she knows way more than I do but this works for me. Hope you solve your problem soon because it really is a great machine once you get the hang of it. Let us know what works for you.

Actually, I posted this exact same message to the Janome Group over two hours ago but the Yahoo Group apparently isn't working for me either as the message has yet to show up. I figured I would at least get some responses here.

Maybe go back to the dealer for some lessons? My Janome dealer is always willing to help with problems and go over the machine.

I'm definitely going to have to do that. Not looking forward to hauling my machine 50 miles to the dealer, though. :(

I feel the same way about my serger.

Yes, I'm beginning to think I should have stuck with a simpler machine.

I have the Horizon too and have never had the thread break or have any other kind of tension issues. I would start from the beginning again, new needle, re thread with a different thread maybe and give it a go on your practice sandwich. It FMQ's like a dream so don't give up on it, make sure your presser foot is down.
Is your needle down light on? If it is and the needle isn't stopping in the down position, I would take it back and get the store to look at it for you.
It is a beautiful machine and well worth getting used to, if the store you bought it from offers free lessons, I would take them up on the offer, it will make using it so much easier. I also had a little Brother before this big machine so it is a lot of getting used to

Right size & type needle for the thread & fabric?
Good, strong thread--no fuzzies, brittleness, thick/thin slubs?
Bobbins wound smoothly and not too full or lopsided and inserted correctly?
Presser foot pressure set to 0?
Top thread tension set looser than normal?
Feed dogs down?
Presser foot down? My machine won't sew with it up.