I am so glad you got it going!! I was diagnosed with lupus years ago but it is mild.I just have to watch out for "flares" So I totally understand how you feel. Congrats on your victory!

For free motion you never have the feed dogs up you are the mover whenyou are doing free motion and hte faster the machine goes the smooter the stitches will be
You do have to take a st and pull up the bobbin thread to the top and then a couple of sts in place then start stippling. A pot holder or a small wall hanging could be stippled on that machine but a quilt ? Dosen't look like ther is any room to stipple.

you need to pull your bobbin thread to the top before you start fmq Try this and let me know that it worked for you
I was having that same problem and tried it and it worked for me
good luck to you I hope that this is a simple trick that can clear up for you and not something hard

Her problem was: She had her presser foot UP.

Sorry I am late in answering your post. I know nothing about a Singer machine but I did have a Brother that had a drop in bobbin and when I talked to a person well aquainted with my machine, I was told that a machine with a drop in bobbin just can't do FMQ. I hope this isn't the case with your machine.

Tension, machine threading, right needle.

I have a Viking but was having the same trouble. Like you I tried threading annd rethreading. I don't remember why, but I raised the spool holder that holds my spool of thread from horizontal to vertical - and now it's perfect. I just have to remember to always have it vertical when I do FMQ. Does yours swivel or can you put it vertical? Just another simple thought.. Good luck..

I think they told you wrong. :) There are some machines that are definitely better at FMQ than others and generally, a vertical bobbin will handle it better than a horizontal bobbin.

But, I quilted my first pieced quilts on a 401 - a slant needle with a drop-in bobbin. I quilted my first whole cloth quilts on a Singer Golden Touch & Sew 750 (drop-in, wind-in-place bobbin) twenty years ago - I didn't even know that what I was doing was free-motion quilting or that I was making a whole-cloth quilt! I thought I was just making crib comforters. :D

Lots of people use modern computerized machines with drop-in bobbins for FMQ, so be encouraged.

Get the proper foot for it and give it a try - maybe your machine isn't the best there is at FMQ, but I don't remember ever hearing about any model that *cannot* FMQ.

Might be interesting to find out which machines those are. :)

Thanks for the info. Since the machine that I was trying to FMQ on was fried by the lighting strike, I have purchased a new Brother 1500, and intrestingly it came with 2, bobbin cases, haven't had time to give it a go but when I do I hope it works.

I just found a good deal on a "white" sewing mahine and bought it to use as both a backup and for fmg. Great machine and in great shape, I need to take time and find a foot for it. The bobbin does sit vertically so that sounds good. I just need to get the foot, practice and pray. I have no experience w fmg whatsoever. Yikes! This is an interesting post, Thank you!