New to quilting but have big problems need help
 

Hi from Massachusetts , I am a new to quilting! I have a singer quantum stilus 9960. I am working on my first free motion quilt and I am having problems. I start to free motion and after a few seconds my thred has shredded and broke. So I took my machine a part cleaned it, polished the meddle plate and replaced the needle and tried 100% cotton thred and 100% pollyester thred. Nothing I have tried has fixed it please help

What level have you set the tension? Have you dropped the feed dogs? And what size needle do you have in the machine and presser foot do you have on it?

Welcome to the QB!

I don't know how to change the tension . Yes I lowered the feed dogs. I put a size 16 needle it the press or foot is the free motion foot

Welcome from Southern California. What thread are you using. Try staying away from the poorly made thread like C&C and serger thread. Do you have a manual?? You need to know how to adjust your top tension.

Yes I have the book. What kind of thread do you recommend?

I usually use Aurifil 50 or 60 weight thread, but I have used Coats & Clark Dual Duty when I need a specific color. Also, I use Bottomline for the bobbin.

Welcome from western NY and happy quilting :)
hope your thread problems get resolved

Welcome from Michigan!:)

:) welcome from se TX

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*** HI! Y'all from the upstate of South Carolina.
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Welcome from OHIO! :wave: I hope your thread problems have been resolved. I don't have anything to add to the advice you've already received.

I have a Janome and my machine shreds thread when I drop the feed dogs. I leave mine up and set the stitch length to 0. Also make sure that the quilt is supported all round and its not getting caught on the edge of your table, and slow down a bit. Good luck and welcome :)

Welcome! Hope you find a hint that works for you! My suggestion would be to try straight quilting with the same thread, batting, and fabric weight as in the quilt. If the thread does not break, start FMQ slowly. Try to see whether the breaking occurs at a seam, or when moving in a particular direction, or turning, et cetera, and slow down when you are doing that.

Consider all hints/tips and tricks. Good luck to you and please post a photo when finished.

Welcome, Kelly! (I told her to join our group...so I know her name!)

Hope you got the answers to your thread problem. The folks here at QB are terrific!!!

Welcome from Oklahoma!!!!!! Are you using the right needle for your machine? Same kind of thread both top and bottom?