Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • All dressed up and nowhere to go >
  • All dressed up and nowhere to go

  • All dressed up and nowhere to go

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 10-07-2010, 10:57 AM
      #1  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    CompulsiveQuilter's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: Knoxville, TN
    Posts: 733
    Default

    New sewing table extension? check. Supreme Slider teflon sheet? check. Templates? check. Marking pens? check. Heavier thread? check. Lots of internet videos? check. Practice sandwiches? check. Why won't my threads look continuous instead of like hand-quilting???????? I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT AND I'M STILL AFRAID OF FMQ! What if I ruin what I have worked so hard on so far? The only thing that looks like I want it to is top-stitching thread but I can't get the bird's nests to stop. I've messed with the tension in every possible way. I want the thread to "float" on the top but I'm getting huge gaps. What's up???? HELP!
    CompulsiveQuilter is offline  
    Old 10-07-2010, 11:15 AM
      #2  
    Moderator
     
    Join Date: Jun 2008
    Location: Camarillo, California
    Posts: 35,242
    Default

    Do you have your presser foot all the way down?
    With my old Pfaff, it was hard to tell if the presser foot was all the way down when using the "Open toe" foot.
    Jim's Gem is offline  
    Old 10-07-2010, 11:41 AM
      #3  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    CompulsiveQuilter's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: Knoxville, TN
    Posts: 733
    Default

    It's down, but honestly I've never thought it went down quite far enough. I can adjust it - would that help????
    CompulsiveQuilter is offline  
    Old 10-07-2010, 01:21 PM
      #4  
    Super Member
     
    raedar63's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Location: Ohio
    Posts: 3,712
    Default

    I have this problem too,how snug does the presser foot go down? It seems like I have too big of a gap .
    Rae
    raedar63 is offline  
    Old 10-07-2010, 01:33 PM
      #5  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Feb 2010
    Posts: 611
    Default

    Originally Posted by CompulsiveQuilter
    It's down, but honestly I've never thought it went down quite far enough. I can adjust it - would that help????
    Yes adjusting it down might help. You want the presser foot to sit snug against the top fabric, without it pressing down into the batting. At least that's what works on my Janome.

    (And I'm assuming you've rethreaded the machine and checked that the bobbin thread runs through its little groove in the bobbin case... That's one reason I get birds nests. :roll: )
    salmonsweet is offline  
    Old 10-07-2010, 05:40 PM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: Tennessee
    Posts: 2,189
    Default

    Also, fast machine, slow hands. That is the hardest thing to remember. Birds nests are generally present when the pressure foot isn't put down so the upper tension discs don't grasp the top thread and more of that thread is left on the bottom of the piece your are working on. Birds nests will also be present when you are using a regular foot and forget to put the pressure foot down.
    CoyoteQuilts is offline  
    Old 10-07-2010, 06:06 PM
      #7  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    CompulsiveQuilter's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: Knoxville, TN
    Posts: 733
    Default

    I also thought of another potential problem. I'm not using a true "quilting" needle in the machine. Does it make that much difference? What do ya'll think?
    CompulsiveQuilter is offline  
    Old 10-07-2010, 06:12 PM
      #8  
    Power Poster
     
    RedGarnet222's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Location: Reno, Nv
    Posts: 16,557
    Default

    Do you take a stitch and pull the bobbin thread to the top? This gets it out of the way. Then take a couple stitches in place then go a medium speed and move the project semi-slowly while sewing you fm pattern.
    RedGarnet222 is offline  
    Old 10-08-2010, 05:43 AM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: Joplin, Missouri
    Posts: 1,058
    Default

    Just keep practicing.. it seems like it should be easy, but I had sharp corners in my smooth curves for a long time. The more you do, the better you get..

    I taught myself by doing a stack of baby quilts that I donated to a local charity.. Not that I can do any pattern, but I'm better... so don't get discouraged!!

    Remember, this is FUN!!
    Judie is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    vintageidaho
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    69
    07-14-2015 07:16 PM
    KastleKitty
    Introduce Yourself
    130
    09-05-2011 05:38 AM
    hobbykat1955
    Pictures
    19
    02-03-2011 08:24 AM
    butterflywing
    General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
    2
    10-25-2009 06:55 PM
    n2scraplvr
    Pictures
    19
    10-19-2009 09:46 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter