Loops on the back of free motion quilting do have to do with coordinating your speed moving the quilt with the speed of the machine. Sometimes I get it right and sometimes not. My Bernina withBSR has virtually eliminated the loops except I still see just a touch of the top thread on the bottom (noticeable if different colors are used). Haven't really had the big loop problem with the BSR.

I'm convinced that it is my speed--when I receive inconsistent results in my free-motion quilting. Yesterday, I was practicing on my new frame so was working on a 2-yard size quilt sandwich. There was no purpose to this, except to practice on my new set-up and make sure I am comfortable with it before loading a real quilt top. I could easily see that when I stitched too fast, my tension wasn't perfect. If I stitched too slow, my tension wasn't good. When I stitched just right, my tenson was perfect. I was amazed. I have a quilter's cruise control and it hasn't entirely eliminated my problem because, when I get going, I can sew too fast for the cruise control to keep up. I suggest that you listen to your machine while you are quilting--mine seems to make a good 'humming' sound when its at a good speed--kind of like its in the zone with me.

With a new project, I ALWAYS do a test sample to make sure the needle, thread, and quilt sandwich are working well together. With those issues addressed BEFORE I start quilting, I know that its my technique that's the problem.

Each session, before quilting on my quilt top, I do a practice piece--a fat quarter sandwich practice piece before beginning maching quilting. This gets my mind and fingers all working together. I'm not getting the kinks out on my quilt top. I learned this habit when I was hand-quilting a queen size quilt. When I first started each session, I was always unhappy with the result; like I need to get warmed up first.

Wondering what to do with all of those quilted test samples? I use mine for making small, zipper bags like those in Mary Mulari's "Made for Travel" book. I give them to all my friends and they love them. SLOW DOWN and enjoy the smooth, meditative process of free-motion quilting.

I hope you find this helpful. Happy quilting!
Darla

This site may be helpful. I learned a few things from it that I will try. Good luck!!! http://mccallsquilting.com/lessons/804_machinequilting/

Susan

Thank you all so much for all your feedback on my problem of loops on free motion quilting. Thank each and every one of you for a response. I am going to try it again tomorrow...see if I can do better. Thanks again!

Every machine I've ever had came with a darning foot recommended for freemotion quilting and embroidery. Yeegads!!! Am I awful at both!!! If you said my freemotion quilting was horrible, you'd be praising it too much. So, this particular 2-cents may only be worth a plug nickel. But I discovered something by accident yesterday that has given me my first ray of hope.

I bought a new machine over the weekend. It came with one of the fancy-shmancy darning/quilting/embroidery feet. The kind with a spring and a circle that rests lightly on the surface of the quilt while you're working. Much nicer than any of the others I have.

Being as easily distracted by shiny objects as I am, I put everything else aside to play with it. The difference is amazing!!! I wouldn't say I'm putting a "professional machine quilter" sign on my mailbox ... but ... for the first time ever I didn't hate my little sample. As soon as I finish my most pressing "gotta finishit" project, I am going to practice, practice, practice. It finally feels like it'll be worth the effort.
:-)

Thank you so much for your reply. If I can't get the idea of free motion quiliting, I make try and see if an embrodery hoop would work, what do you think? Thanks again.

Has anyone tried one of the new frames for free motion quilting, like the one John Flynn sells? I will be stating on a king size qult this summer and my hands wouldn't hold up to hand quilting nor would my regular frame hold it. His ad says that it will work with a regular sewing machine. I was curious to see if anyone else has vr used one before I spend the money. I can't afford one of those new quilting machines that costs thousand so I was thinking about trying this.

I haven't used a frame, only seen them at quilt shows. I think it would work fine, and the beauty is that you can use your own machine. However, it wouldn't be foolproof-- you still have to learn to manipulate the quilt to get the effect you want. I tried an embroidery frame once at the suggestion of a friend, but it didn't suit me. The area that you can work at one time is very limited, so you're constantly having to re-position the hoop.
For your king sized quilt, I strongly suggest you look at one of the methods for doing it in sections. That really has helped me to do the large ones without just wearing out. and I find that the section is of a size that I can quilt the design I want rather than just what I can do with the huge bulk (if you understand what I'm trying tosay). Get a book, go to the library, before you do the quilt to see if it will work for you.

I don't know if you could see my intro but in essence, free-motion really is about your speed & rhythm. Once you get that goin', you're in! I find that free motion is easier on a big quilt than on a little sandwich pad. You don't have to struggle with the whole quilt at once. I decided to do it on a quilt I made for myself & it was great fun!!! I couldn't wait to do some more! When you work on a quilt, you have certain areas to do stitches in, so you have to plan a bit more but that's part of the learning experience too!

Thanks for the tips. I still have to get the fabric and the courage to start cutting. I don't usally do pieced quilts let alone paper pieced ones so it will take lots of courage and pep talks for me to do this one. Normally I do applique because it is more forgiving and I need all the help I can get!