hi-I'm from NW PA and I've been keeping up with the board for a while now, thanks for all the great info and pictures! I travel for work and take the quilt tops I am working on with me (my sewing space is about 2' square, but I can cut and iron on a 12x18 mat. I love to get home and really spread out. I am not a hand quilter-just tie when I finally get done. You are inspiring me to give a try though. My crisis is......the machine I take with me (Brother XL3500-I know but it wants to be so much more when it grows up!) is throwing very loose stitches (almost loops) on the bottom stitch. I have looked at their web site, cleaned the machine, changed the needle and thread and I am only sewing thru 2 layers of cottom fabric. Nice to meet you all and thanks for all of your help!!

*Waves from Iowa* :)

Sounds like a tension thingy to me.
Either top or bobbin might adjust that see if it helps.

Way to check bobbin tension.
Take bobbin case out and leave bobbin in. Grab end of thread and let bobbin and case drop.
Drops fast it's way too loose.
Doesn't drop or drops very very slowly, is prolly lil too tight.
Since you have loops I'd say it's too loose.

To adjust tension turn the lil bitty screw on bobbin case a tad to the right,
just a smidge at a time it doesn't take much to adjust it.

Adjust until you do the above test again til it slowly but steadily drops.

thanks!! Next question...there are two screws. One is green, the other is silver-I'm going with the disarm the bomb plan and tighten the green one!

LOL
Dunno which so just be careful wouldn't want it to blow up now would we?

IF!! I had to guess I'd say it's prolly the green one.
Ya might maybe check your manual it should tell you in there. ;)

I have this machine This has happened to me. It is the tension ... to adjust it it is the above the needle at the very top of the machine. I move it and eventually it gets correct again.


Just keep adjusting it. I find this happens with different thread weights.

I had a tiny piece of thread caught in my bobbin case finding it was the worst part removing it was the fix.

the smoke has cleared-the green screw seems to be fixing the problem, the tension on top of the machine is set at 5. The book says that is the normal setting, any higher and it is puckering the fabric. But the lower adjustment isn't listed in the book, (must be need to know info) so thank you so much!!

Welcome to the board Nina, from Ireland. I hope one of the above does the trick for you.

Ahh glad to hear :)

Hi I have had that happen and it was alway the bobbin for me. I rewind the bobbin and it is OK Try it. I love my brother. Joyce Ann

I've learned to write down what the settings were before I started turning things.

For the tension screw on the bobbin case, I'd write something like "11:00 o'clock"

and that is true, only turn it a tiny bit at a time.

Welcome from Southern California.

Hello, and welcome from Missouri! :lol:
Glad to hear that you machine is back to working agian. Lots of help here for every problem! :lol:

Welcome from W.v glad your machine is working better

Hi and welcome from MA.

Hi and welcome from Ninnie in NC.

Glad your machine is behaving nicely again :). Welcome to the board, from Tucson, AZ.

Thanks to everyone for their help, and warm welcome! Its nice to know that there are wonderful people like you.

Welcome from NE CA. Glad you joined us. Have you taken the thread out and completely rethreaded it? Have you make sure the bobbin thread is going the way it's supposed to? I'm sure that someone on board will be able to help you.

Welcome from Pine Grove, CA!

I had the same problem after taking a Free Motion Machine Quilting class that lasted all day.

When I got home and tried to sew, I only got birds' nests on the bottom side of fabric. (and lots of 'em)

After doing everything to the tension, changing the needle, rethreading and finding that nothing helped, my DH helped me clean out the bobbin area. It was packed with short pieces of red thread that I had used at my class. It was "cheap" thread (coats and clark). We were advised at the class to only use the good stuff and it has made a believer out of me. I now only use King Tut and cringe every time I buy a spool! :mrgreen:

Greetings from outside Sacramento CA. Glad your machine stopped bein loopy.

Welcome from South Louisiana. Glad you're getting your problem solved.

You gals that aren't afraid of that little tiny screw on the bobbin case just crack me up. All of my sewing teachers (high school and college) always made such a big to-do about that silly little screw, that I'm scared to touch it. I like the idea of writing down it's position before moving it.

Hello and welcome from Texas. I am glad to hear your machine is working well again :-) :-)

Welcome...glad you are up and sewing again:)Skeat

Welcome from Mexico...
I am a "Brother" girl...They are good machines...
How often do you really clean your machine?
Its so important to have them run smooth and to give them all the manteinence they need....
Check well for any tiny loose threads cought in the bobbin (sometimes they are so tiny, its hard to see them but they cause plenty of problems...
Try to rewind you bobbin again and rethread your machine all over again....
Are you using the same thread in the bobbin ? (sometimes it matters too)....
Try also different size stitches....
Good luck ...and don't forget to update us...
:D