I have a Janome Memory Craft 6600. When I FMQ my thread will shred and there are skipped stitches. I've changed thread, rethreaded, use 12/14 needle and still have problems. Any suggestions and could it be the FMQ foot itself?

Hello, and welcome from Idaho!

I had same problem on my Juki and store I bought from said use 16 needle. Seemed kinda large but no more shredded thread or breaking. Except Connecting Threads cotton. If I go to fast it almost always shreds on FMQ.

It sounds like you have everything covered. New needle? I 16 needle listed below sounds HUGE. I do a ton of FMQ and have never used one that big. If you are having to compensate that much, I wonder when the last time you had your machine cleaned and the timing checked etc. Also, cannot remember where online, but an article pointed out that because the way the gearing mechanism of the stitch runs, some machines FMQ works better side to side rather than toward or away from you. Try that too maybe. Good luck.

sounds like you need a new needle- and perhaps clean the machine-
usually frayed thread is from the needle not being the correct one for the thread- and skipped stitches generally mean the needle is dull or has a burr.
sometimes these things can be caused from lint build up- or it's time to oil.
some maintenance- and a new needle the correct size/type for the thread will more than likely fix the problem

Are you using the same kind of thread on top and in the bobbin. That can sometimes cause problems if you arn't.

Welcome from Michigan.:)

I don't know the answer but welcome from Central California. You will love it here.

Welcome from Kansas

Welcome to the board from Southern California!

Rondolet- There was another huge thread about the 6600 and FMQ issues just the other day. Check it out:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-154486-1.htm

I had the same problem with shredding and some of the Glow in the Dark thread. I switched to a metallic needle ( like I use when I use monofiliment thread) . I got the thread to stop shredding but never was able to get the tension back to where I needed it to be. I've been doing my own FMQ for 8 years so I know a lot of the basic tricks and I still wasted three nights on this tempermental machine. ARGH! I'm going to raise the feed dogs but right now I'm so turned off on quilting with this machine that it's not worth it to sit down and try. Never quilt angry--they say. Good luck.

I have a Janome 6600 too. I always have issues like this with FMQ. if i get the tension right on 90% of the stitches I still have eye-lashing on 10%. The thread (no matter what I use) will shred a few times during the process. The metallic thread needle is a good idea. It does seem to help. If you have any fused pieces in your quilt, my machine will always skip stitches over them. These are just a few reasons I am not sure I would ever buy another Janome machine.

What kind of thread are you using that you are using a needle so large?

How old is the thread?

If you are just using a 50/wt I would try to use a 70 or 80 needle and see if that works. If it's still breaking and you are POSITIVE all is threaded correctly, then it could be the tension.

Hello, welcome from Oklahoma!!!

WElcome!! Have you tried FMQ with the feed dogs up? That seems to be a common solution. (I always FMQ with the feed dogs up and rarely have problems.) I do use a metalic needle since the scaf is larger and seems to protect the thread better. I had the 6500 and now have the 7700 and they both have a tendency to have the thread jump out of the tension disks so if I don't completely rethread I will continue to have issues until I start over, and then cleaning everything -- even one thread in the wrong place can mess things up.

There is a lot of good information in this other thread as listed by Ladyjanedoe.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-154486-1.htm

Hello and welcome from northern California!

Welcome from North Carolina.

Hello from Western Mountain Maryland !! :-D

Hello, and welcome from Michigan!

Try a topstitch needle and if you can, change the thread's path of coming off the spool (vertical vs. horizontal).

welcome from se TX

Welcome from Houston TX!

Can't help you with your problems but welcome to the quilting board.

Welcome from Omaha, NE.

Welcome from WI.

I have the same machine, I now oil every 3-4 hours of sewing and clean out the lint even if it isn't much. get a anti spin piece for the bobbin, and a spool holder. it all worked and now i saw stress free.

I had this last week-end, so I cleaned everything ,changed needles,re-threaded, oiled and took bobbin out and put new one in. This didn't fix my problem.So I got a can of air (like you clean computer key boards out with) and used it to clean out everything again. Worked like a charm! Good Luck

Make sure it is threaded right, then a larger needle, and just loosen the tenn just slightly. Remember each st the thread is going through two layers of fab + the batting. The needle has to make a big enough hole for the needle and the thickness of the 2 threads and if it is meeting in the middle like it should there is 4 threads.... Biggest thing is I think you need a larger needle and a steady hand with movement.... good luck

Welcome from MN and happy quilting :)

Welcome from NE Ohio.

Hello and welcome from central Texas. It sounds to me like you might have a problem with the bobbin.

Welcome from Adrian, MI

Hello and welcome to QB, from western Nevada!