I don't have the speed very high, but I am moving the machine slowly.
I will take the machine off this weekend and sew with it and get used to her. Then I'll try a little FMQ if we start to get along. If that goes well, I'll do exactly what you suggest. I do have lots of cotton that I bought for backing that I can use, I just didn't want to waste the batting!
Yeah, I don't think there is anything wrong with the machine. It and the frame are like-new. It's me. And because I'm such a newbie, I don't know where to start fixing the problem.
Are you close to me? If so, would you be willing to give me a quick lesson? I don't even think I'm putting it on the frame correctly (which is why I decided to skip the batting too)
Originally Posted by
Mitch's mom
You are either moving the machine on the frame too fast for the speed of the machine or the opposite, you have the machine speed too high and are moving the machine too slowly. Also - you are trying to 'Quilt', use the machine and frame the way it was intended to be used. Until you are more experienced use the things the set up was designed for - get some decent batting, either cotton or poly cotton, then get some inexpensive muslin. Go to Joanne's. They keep the muslin on the wall on the right as you go in the store there in Knoxville. The batting is more toward the back of the store. Just ask. You should be able to get out of there for less than 20.00. Load the frame correctly with 3 layers backing, batting, top and try it again. I bet you'll have a much better result.
Don't make it harder on yourself than it has to be and don't try to re-invent the wheel by trying to get the machine to do something on a frame it was not designed to do, which is sewing 2 pieces of a sheet together. Take it off the frame, get 2 pieces of quilting cotton - not old sheet - and try to sew them together. Don't pull the fabric, guide it, sew steady and slow and I bet the machine works perfectly.
You got an excellent deal on your set up. I had seen the ad on CL. It is like new and I'm sure this is a case of operator inexperience more than a problem with the machine. Let us know how it goes.