Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
What am I doing wrong? >

What am I doing wrong?

What am I doing wrong?

Old 11-21-2009, 10:41 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 98
Default

Yesterday, I was trying to practice some free motion work, but I have a problem that I haven't seen addressed on here. It will be doing fine, but then it starts skipping stitches and a few stitches or a couple of inches later, it will start stitching again. Any advise, or it it my machine? HELP!
fatnsassy is offline  
Old 11-21-2009, 10:45 AM
  #2  
Super Member
 
Shemjo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Posts: 6,884
Default

I think your speed might be the problem. The speed you are moving the fabric, I mean.
Shemjo is offline  
Old 11-21-2009, 10:50 AM
  #3  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 98
Default

It will do it when I haven't changed the speed of the machine or how fast I am moving the fabric. It just won't make the stitches and then starts up again.
fatnsassy is offline  
Old 11-21-2009, 11:26 AM
  #4  
Super Member
 
joeyoz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,199
Default

For some reason it is not picking up the bobbin thread. It could be something simple as a itty bitty piece of lint. Try cleaning out your bobbin case really good, re-thread your machine, try a new needle (even if you started with a brand new needle).
joeyoz is offline  
Old 11-21-2009, 02:07 PM
  #5  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 98
Default

I'll try that. Thanks
fatnsassy is offline  
Old 11-21-2009, 02:33 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
crashnquilt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Lebanon, Missouri
Posts: 602
Default

Is the fabric on the quilt batik? If so this might be the culprit. With batiks I always use a larger needle.
crashnquilt is offline  
Old 11-21-2009, 02:41 PM
  #7  
Super Member
 
Tiffany's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Idaho Falls
Posts: 1,907
Default

I'd say to try a larger needle. What size are you currently using?

I would also suggest cleaning your machine. It always amazes me how much lint gets into my machine from free motion quilting. :roll: I am pretty diligent in cleaning my machine, but nothing beats taking it in and getting it done professionally from time to time. If it's been a couple years, you may want to have your machine serviced, just to be sure there isn't an underlying problem developing.

I've only just begun to learn to machine quilt myself so I don't have the experience to give any other advice. I'll be watching this thread with interest to see what the experts in machine quilting suggest.
Tiffany is offline  
Old 11-21-2009, 03:03 PM
  #8  
Super Member
 
kwhite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: North East USA
Posts: 4,949
Default

I may know what it is. I went to a FMQ class in Oct. My friend was having that problem. Her machine was not built for FMQ and when I would pull the fabric forward it was fine but when you would push it away from you it would skip stitches right and left. The book said you can with that machine but it does not work at all. Try an experiment. See if it is the direction.
kwhite is offline  
Old 11-21-2009, 03:21 PM
  #9  
Junior Member
 
Luv2Kreate's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: League City, Texas (Houston Area)
Posts: 137
Default

I was having this problem too. I cleaned the lint, changed the needle and also re-threaded top and bottom threads. I also noticed that you have to have your quilt balanced just right. When mine isn't it will pull and I get skipped stitches!
Luv2Kreate is offline  
Old 11-21-2009, 03:34 PM
  #10  
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Burtchville, Michigan
Posts: 191
Default

You might try to tighten up your tension also. Just a wee bit.
I was trying to sew 2 pieces of flannel together the other day and mine would do the same thing. I did 2 things. Tighten up the tension a tad, and changed my top thread to a larger spool. Not sure which one was really the one that did it, but after I did both things, it worked just fine for me.
Good luck
Bev
tarbender30 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
eightylady
Main
13
07-10-2010 10:02 PM
dar627742
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
6
05-20-2010 02:40 AM
kkbrand
Main
16
03-28-2010 10:52 PM
ReRe
Main
4
02-28-2010 12:15 PM
Foggy
Main
6
09-22-2007 08:13 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter