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So frustrated! Why wont my machine do freemotion correctly

So frustrated! Why wont my machine do freemotion correctly

Old 10-07-2011, 06:25 AM
  #11  
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My experience has been that it helps to bring the bobbin thread up through the quilt by tuning the wheel by hand one rotation, hang on to both threads with your left hand, drop your pressure foot and then start sewing. But my first thought was maybe it is the brand of thread, or dull needle. My Janome embroidery machine is particularly fussy about that.
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Old 10-07-2011, 06:26 AM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by Nanasrcool
Yes, I could see me missing it once, maybe twice but I have so many practice sandwiches that have the same mess on them and I cant see me doing it every time.

I wish so much that someone had my model and could give me some direction on tension. It is working fine doing all other sewing and works fine with the walking foot. But the minute I go to freemotion it is the same story over and over.
If the tension is correct for regular sewing, there's nothing wrong with the tension.

The problem is something else. Make sure you are bringing the bobbin thread to the top when you start and hold your thread ends when you start. Make sure you put the presser foot down.

Then the key is fast machine, slow hands. The needle needs to go pretty fast compared to how fast you move the quilt.

Keep practicing. You wouldn't expect to pick up a paint brush and be Rembrandt in a week!!!
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Old 10-07-2011, 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by thepolyparrot
Are you sure you're putting the presser foot down? (I miss this occasionally and this is the symptom I get)
Yep, number on problem with FMQ, we forget that the tension disks need tension and the pressure foot needs to be down....
One way to check just before you put pedal to the metal pull on the top thread.... if it zings through your needle without any tension your pressure foot is still up. If it takes a little more effort to pull the thread through it is down. To test try it when you have your 'piecing' foot on...
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Old 10-07-2011, 06:39 AM
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Are you using a FMQ foot or darning foot? Does your bobbin have a tiny screw on it that can be adjusted? I wish I had some experience with your machine so I could be more helpful. Sorry this is taking the joy out of your nice quilt project.
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Old 10-07-2011, 06:41 AM
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check to see if there is a Yahoo group for your machine brand and ask the questions there. Those on that site will be most familiar with your situation.
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Old 10-07-2011, 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Tartan
Are you using a FMQ foot or darning foot? Does your bobbin have a tiny screw on it that can be adjusted? I wish I had some experience with your machine so I could be more helpful. Sorry this is taking the joy out of your nice quilt project.
Leave the bobbin tension alone. Tension problems are almost never the bobbin.
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Old 10-07-2011, 07:07 AM
  #17  
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OMG you guys are absolutely the BEST!!!! I have been struggling with this for days thinking me doomed to either SID quilting or finding another machine!!! It was me not lowering the presser foot. I also switched to using the upright thread spool holder from the horizontal to see if that helped in feeding the top thread more smoothly.

NO MORE NESTS!!
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Old 10-07-2011, 07:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Nanasrcool
OMG you guys are absolutely the BEST!!!! I have been struggling with this for days thinking me doomed to either SID quilting or finding another machine!!! It was me not lowering the presser foot. I also switched to using the upright thread spool holder from the horizontal to see if that helped in feeding the top thread more smoothly.

NO MORE NESTS!!


:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Happy FMQing!!!!!
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Old 10-07-2011, 08:23 AM
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Lots of wonderful suggestions.....mine is pretty basic to Singer....and it's from experience.....make sure your needle is in right.....some Singers make you put the needle with the flat side to the side and some with the flat side to the back. If it's in wrong, it won't engage the bobbin correctly and the nest will be all you get.
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Old 10-07-2011, 08:26 AM
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make sure you are not moving your hands too fast. work to find a good balance between machine speed and hand motion that is smooth and not jerky.
Go slow if you need to to achieve this balance. Many try to go too fast with either machine or hand - mostly hand I have found and then get longer stitches. Slow down to medium. I teach a lot of FMQ and I know of what I speak.
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