Tension messes up when I attach my walking foot
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 2
Tension messes up when I attach my walking foot
I am trying to use my walking foot to sew the layers together and finish my quilt. When I attach it, the bottom tension gets loose. I have changed my needle, re-threaded the needle, spooled a new bobbin with thread and I cannot find the problem. I have my tension set between 5 and 6 and usually don't have to mess with it. I finished a quilt last summer and the stitching was beautiful with that tension. In trying to rule everything out, I re-attached the all purpose foot and the stitches are fine. When I attach the walking foot, they go loose. I started to adjust the tension and when I do, my bottom thread starts showing on the top and the bottom thread is still loose! Ughhh! I know my walking foot is attached right. I have went back and watched videos just for giggles to make sure I didn't miss something obvious. I can't figure this out. Any help would be awesome! I would really like to finish this quilt!
Last edited by Pam726; 12-28-2013 at 08:00 AM.
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 2
I have a singer 5500. After running a test stitch, you can just pull the bottom thread right out. You can see the little loops from the top stitch underneath but the bottom thread is straight and just pulls right out. It looks great from the top.
#5
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,538
I am stumped as well. If it sews fine with the regular foot at that tension, putting on a walking foot shouldn't effect it. I know some machines have dual feed for a walking foot. Is your machine one of those?
#7
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
When you say that "the bottom tension gets loose" do you mean there are loops on the bottom? If so, this means that the top tension is too loose. The only thing I can think of (since it seems you've covered all the other bases) is are you sure you are lowering the presser foot? There's a lot of bulk with the top, bottom and batting and it's sometimes not obvious the foot has not been lowered.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Sunny Arizona
Posts: 476
There are two things that have given me this problem. You said you changed the needle and rethreaded it. Did you rethread the top completely? Mine sometimes slips out of the up and down loop and that makes a mess.
Also, did you make sure that the little arm, on the walking foot, is resting on the needle screw? My girlfriend kept forgetting this part an it made the walking foot not work correctly. Good luck!! Ann
Also, did you make sure that the little arm, on the walking foot, is resting on the needle screw? My girlfriend kept forgetting this part an it made the walking foot not work correctly. Good luck!! Ann
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