New from Texas
 

I’ve been quilting for about 5 years now but new to this forum. I’ve become addicted as I know many are and am looking for a new machine. I have a 4 year old janome skyline that is okay but am looking for something better for quilting larger sized pieces. Not sure if it’s me or the machine but getting frustrated with snarled stitches, uneven seams, fabric being eaten at beginning of seam. Any suggestions?

Can't help you but wanted to say Howdy from Kansas

Welcome to QB! I've found that holding the ends of the threads eliminates pulling the fabric into the throat plate. Using leaders even more so. Not sure what you mean by snarled stitches and uneven seams . . .

Welcome to the QB from SE Michigan! You are t he second newbie from TX today that I have said hello to!! Snarling can be from many issues. Any thing from a simple thread caught in the bobbin casing or under the throat plate to tension issues and many things in between. Holding the thread is a great start as suggested above. IF that doesn't work check to be sure you don't have a piece of thread caught in the bobbin area or under the throat plate. Then check the tension especially it it is looping. You may need to check the upper tension. If all else and other suggestions that may come this way don't hesitate to take it in for repair. Again welcome aboard and jump right into the fun!.

Welcome from Southern Indiana! and good luck finding the machine of your dreams....mine happened to be a Juki......

Thanks for the welcomes and suggestions. Fun to communicate with like minds

a warm welcome from western Ky.

Welcome to the Board. As for your machine problems, when was the last time the machine was serviced? Maybe that would solve the problem.

Welcome and happy quilting :)

Welcome from another Texan. So glad you joined the board. I was going to suggest holding the ends of the thread & leader/enders to keep the fabric from being gobbled up at the beginning of a seam but I see several have beat me to it. Have fun with your new found hobby. Ask as many questions as you can think of because there is always someone who will come along to help you. We love pictures...hint, hint, hint. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png

First -- welcome from Southeast Michigan. Are you using a single stitch plate? This is a plate with a round hole where the needle enters your fabric. Previous suggestions to hold both threads and/or use leaders/enders are very good suggestions. Hope you can solve your problem.

Welcome from So. California!

Welcome to the board!

I recommend Juki, also. I have the 2010Q and also their longarm in a table. They are great machines. I suggest you go to a quilt show and try out some of the machines. Bernina is very expensive. Singers from the big box stores are junk and won't last long. Everything else is worth a try.

Welcome from Michigan!:)

Waving to you from NE Ohio, welcome to the board. 🙋‍♀️

Hey, TerriA, I'm glad you found us and yes, it is nice when we have people to talk quilting with.

I'm unfamiliar with your machine, but my first question is "is it on a stable surface". Some people have problems simply because they are trying to sew on a card table that isn't sturdy enough. Figure you can't cross stitch while on a bucking bronco, and you can't sew while chasing your machine like a loose dog.

Next, I'm a big believer in changing needles all the time. If you hear a pooka-pooka sound, that means instead of sewing you are punching holes in your fabric with a beyond dull needle. Causes all sorts of problems. And even if you've just changed needles, the fresh one may have a manufacturing defect. Needles are cheap, buy them on sale/in bulk and replace them often whatever sort you use.

Some machines are better than others in what I call "sewing into space" for that reason, I also use leaders (spiders, because of the threads hanging down like legs) pretty much always, enders not so much.

I prefer to use the single hole footplate and a "quilting foot" that is one that has 1/4" markings all the way around. While typically we sew with the bulk of the fabric outside the machine/to the left, there are times when sewing from the other side gives you better results, like when you have little points getting sucked down into the machine.

And then, some machines just drag and pull more than others. Sometimes you have to help the machine, but mostly I see people fighting their machines instead of letting them do the work. But there comes a point when no, it really isn't anything you are doing or can improve on and the only way to take the next step is a different machine. That doesn't necessarily mean newer or more expensive, but for a machine that does what you want it to do.

Welcome from southern California! I've had many machines. They all have good points and bad, even the most expensive. If you start to look, you'll find good advice here. And Happy Quilting!

Welcome from Corpus!
Machine malfunction is frustrating. I feel your pain.
When everything messes up this is what I try:

• brush lint from bobbin area, taking apart the pieces that hold the case in the machine.
• remove top thread and start over threading machine
• take a half hour break-my Bernina is 40 yrs old

When I can't fix issues, I take my machine to be cleaned and oiled. It comes back ready to go, and the tension is set correctly. Doesn't happen often.

Welcome from Va.

Rob

Welcome from Illinois...I am a transplanted Texan. This is a wonderful board.

Welcome Terri,

Try a different foot on your machine. Some may look very similar but are wider. I use the starter scrap fabric sometimes called a leader. If you have the needle up/down button, try starting with the needle down in the fabric first and then start stitching.

Make sure the bobbin is the right one. Do you have two different bobbins cases for your machine?

Welcome from Southern California. Have you thought of upgrading to another Janome? I have the Horizon 8900 and am mostly happy with it. I've had all the major name machines and find that not one is perfect. Looking back, I think I liked Pfaff best. The advice you'll get is to try a variety of machines, bringing the kinds of fabric you sew with, with you and try them out. Good luck!