HELP. !!! I NEED HELP

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08-23-2010, 05:29 PM

#61

penski

Super Member

Join Date: May 2007

Location: Illinois

Posts: 3,474

Quote:

Originally Posted by natalieg

I envy those of you that can quilt on your machines.....I get puckers EVERY time....I think I am just too impatient with the pinning and don't do it well enough!

try using spray basting instead of pinning it will help you out on those puckers

08-23-2010, 05:37 PM

#62

Rose Lee

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Lemoore, Ca

Posts: 197

Don't feel bad, I've done that, one time I kept breaking needle after needle, finally took it to my friend who repairs sewing machines. Ta Da-I had actually installed the needle backwards, so simple but I felt like an idiot.

08-23-2010, 06:07 PM

#63

Pat G

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Thread Starter

Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: Western Arizona

Posts: 1,930

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccthomas

This post was a good reminder of all the points to watch while free motion quilting. I hadn't even thought of thickness. I admire all that are able to free motion quilt. I am still in the take a big breath and start practicing. I just freeze thinking about this skill. That is why I am accumulating UFO's. Oh, love the Yo's Yo's. Colors blend so nice and like the buttons.

Since I dove in with my FMQ, I'm going back & doing all of my table runners that I never felt were finished. I tried to practice but wasn't doing well so I just picked up a runner & went for it. Fear was my biggest problem holding me back. I figured what's to lose. Maybe those of you who are having the same fear should just pick up a pc. & shoot for it. Guess what? Nobody yelled at me & smacked my hands. LOL

08-23-2010, 06:14 PM

#64

melslove

Junior Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Kentucky

Posts: 289

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattee

Ok, this might sound stupid, but when I first started FMQ, I kept forgetting to put the presser foot down. Because it doesn't grab the fabric as hard as a normal presser foot, I couldn't distinguish as easily between it's up and down position, and kept forgetting to put it down. That led to a lot of problems, including broken needles. I still feel pretty silly about it, but I can't be the only one who has ever done that (I hope!)

Also, make sure you're using the correct type of needle for your machine and inserting it properly.

That is the main thing that i forgot to do also, it would look like it was down and was not, ugh, what a mess it can create!

08-23-2010, 06:18 PM

#65

Craftygirl

Junior Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posts: 131

Absolutely Gorgeous. Well done!

08-23-2010, 06:19 PM

#66

Pat G

Super Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: Western Arizona

Posts: 1,930

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craftygirl

Absolutely Gorgeous. Well done!

Thanks so much. It's so nice to share all of this with all of you. Now I know where to go the next time I have a problem.

08-23-2010, 07:01 PM

#67

POosterman

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Vermont

Posts: 133

Make sure your bobbin is loaded in the right direction also.

08-23-2010, 07:03 PM

#68

POosterman

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Vermont

Posts: 133

I love it,, it's cute

08-23-2010, 07:36 PM

#69

sherriequilts

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: CA & NM

Posts: 1,120

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat G

Ok, I finally gave up. While I'm still new at free motion stitching, I've done pretty well until today. I was working on a sm. sandwich pc. before I went to my new wallhanging when I started breaking needles. After rethreading & rethreading amd checking out everything I could imagine, I continued to break needles until I lost seven needles. So I had to give up.

Can any of you help me figure out what's going on? I'v done a few tablerunners without this prob. I thought maybe I was pulling my sandwich a bit too hard & bent the needles but I really tried not to. I'm frustrated & desperate for help.

I am wondering if your needle can be moved sideways and might not be centered perfected over the hole in the plate below. If I put a plate in with a small hole rather than a slot used for blanket stitch or zigzqg, etc. sometimes I prang my needles too! Anyways, wishing you the best and a quick solution to your problem.

08-23-2010, 07:45 PM

#70

sherriequilts

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: CA & NM

Posts: 1,120

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat G

Quote:

Originally Posted by nativetexan

please tell me you have a cover plate with a large hole area and not a small one for only straight stitching!!
and you need a darning foot (one with a spring on the shaft).

This is what I thought for a long time. I finally found my problem. You won't believe it. It had nothing to do with my machine (Viking) or needles or anything like that. It was the piece I was working with. It's one of those pads where you fold ea. pc. in half then lay them criss crossed on ea. other. Then you turn it inside out. It was TOO thick. It has I think 6 layers & my needles just did not like that much thickness.

I started to work with a 3 layer pc. & it worked just fine. I even got my wallhanging done. Here is a pix without the binding. Just don't look closely at my pattern though. Or lack of one. LOL I should have done what some of you suggested & put it down for today but I was so determined since I gave myself permission to spend the day at my mach.

So that is so pretty! Glad you found the problem. Guess I should read more of the responses before I kick in with my ideas in the future. You are very creative and artistic. :)