Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • I don't know what the problem is.  Please tell me. >
  • I don't know what the problem is. Please tell me.

  • I don't know what the problem is. Please tell me.

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 06-23-2014, 08:08 PM
      #1  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Nov 2012
    Posts: 338
    Default I don't know what the problem is. Please tell me.

    I'm doing free motion quilting. It all looked good from the top. Then I noticed the back side has the stitching really inconsistent. Every few stitches has another few that look like a straight line. I have tried rethreading the machine, reinstalling the foot, playing with the tension, different needle. Any clues?
    Zyngawf is offline  
    Old 06-23-2014, 08:11 PM
      #2  
    Power Poster
     
    sewbizgirl's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: Mississippi
    Posts: 26,340
    Default

    What kind of machine are you using? Not all machines will do fmq well. Those with horizontal bobbins usually don't stitch well in fmq, because the thread has to take a turn at a right angle and it just doesn't time right. Sounds to me like your stitches are skipping. Are you pulling or allowing the weight of the quit to pull on it as the machine stitches? That can be a problem too.
    sewbizgirl is offline  
    Old 06-23-2014, 08:17 PM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: May 2011
    Location: Pacific NW
    Posts: 9,558
    Default

    What you're describing sounds like what we call "eyelashing". Here are some resources:

    http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...-or-speed.html
    http://www.quiltersclubofamerica.com...irdsnests.aspx
    http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...eshooting.html
    http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t179288.html
    Peckish is offline  
    Old 06-23-2014, 08:21 PM
      #4  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Nov 2012
    Posts: 338
    Default

    Originally Posted by sewbizgirl
    What kind of machine are you using? Not all machines will do fmq well. Those with horizontal bobbins usually don't stitch well in fmq, because the thread has to take a turn at a right angle and it just doesn't time right. Sounds to me like your stitches are skipping. Are you pulling or allowing the weight of the quit to pull on it as the machine stitches? That can be a problem too.
    I think you may be on to something. It seems to be in one particular direction. I try not to let it pull, but really all I have is an inexpensive brother machine sitting on a desk. Still, I've quilted other things that didn't do this. The only other thing is this is the only time I've used a polyester batting. Would that matter. I don't think I like it anyway and won't use one again.
    Zyngawf is offline  
    Old 06-24-2014, 03:47 AM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    Buckeye Rose's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Monroe, IN
    Posts: 2,283
    Default

    I seriously doubt if it is the batting causing your problems. I use poly all the time and love it. How did you baste the sandwich? If you used washable glue maybe the glue isn't quite dry or if you spray basted maybe you used a bit too much? Have you tried a larger size needle, like a 16? Or maybe just a new needle? Those are all things that have caused skipped stitches for me.
    Buckeye Rose is offline  
    Old 06-24-2014, 04:17 AM
      #6  
    Senior Member
     
    luana's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Feb 2011
    Location: iowa
    Posts: 663
    Default

    I've started using a product called Sewer's Aid. It is a silicone thread lubricant. Just a few drops on the spool of thread and things go much better. It's worth a try.
    luana is offline  
    Old 06-24-2014, 04:59 AM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jun 2012
    Location: Sonoma County, CA
    Posts: 4,299
    Default

    Are you moving the quilt at a consistent speed? If it's only in one direction, could you be moving the quilt faster in that direction?

    I get best results if I turn the speed down a little - both the machine's speed, and my own! I tend to try to sew as fast as possible but that doesn't work out so well for FMQ.
    Sewnoma is offline  
    Old 06-24-2014, 10:35 AM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    citruscountyquilter's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2013
    Location: Hernando FL
    Posts: 1,662
    Default

    I had a problem recently with skipped stitches on a project I was working on. I rethreaded the machine, changed thread, needle etc and the problem still existed. I finally discovered it was the fabric. I was using batik and there were four colors of fabric. I bought all the fabric at the same time from the same place but there was something about the blue one that was giving my and my machine the fritzes. The other colors were fine. I finally changed the tension when I was sewing on the blue and that did the trick so check to see if it is just happening on a particular fabric too.
    citruscountyquilter is offline  
    Old 06-25-2014, 04:45 AM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jul 2008
    Location: Keller, TX
    Posts: 1,937
    Default

    9 times out of 10, issues on the underside is the quilter.......eyelashing is when you are moving your fabric faster than your speed on your machine. Try slowing down, particularly on curves, or speed up if you want to keep your fabric moving faster. There has to be a perfect speed....with your fabric motion and the speed of your machine. This is why it takes a lot of practice. Do some small practice sandwiches and see how your hand motion and machine speed can be matched a little better. Above all, don't get discouraged....BTW those practice squares can be made into pot holders! Just slow down your fabric a little on those curves....and you should be just fine. You didn't say if you were new to FMQ. Also, make sure your fabric is moving freely...sometimes holding on to the fabric too tightly causes you to push harder, which then makes your fabric move to fast. Also, don't mess with your tension for FMQ. Many quilters think that it is their bobbin tension....sew a straight line, if your tension is OK, then it is your speed....slow your hands down or speed up your machine on those curves. If you have skipped stitches it is because you have moved your fabric faster than your machine's ability to do the lock stitch with the bobbin thread.
    Lady Diana is offline  
    Old 06-25-2014, 06:25 AM
      #10  
    Junior Member
     
    IshtarsMom's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Oct 2011
    Location: SW Missouri
    Posts: 270
    Default

    Do you have your feed dogs down?...when I have the straight lines on the back it usually means it's feeding itself the way it wants to go...I have a hard time remembering when I'm changing back and forth..
    IshtarsMom is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    nanna-up-north
    Main
    22
    08-08-2014 02:33 PM
    jcrow
    Main
    47
    12-14-2012 07:22 AM
    Julie in NM
    Main
    5
    08-10-2012 07:06 PM
    cande
    Main
    12
    01-05-2010 06:32 AM

    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