barboonie2

BarbM.....do you use your Juki in a frame? Or FMQ on a table with lots of support for the quilt?

hulahoop1

I recently experienced a similar problem -- skipping stitches and shredding top thread on my Janome 1600. I had changed needles, thread, cleaned the machine, rethreaded the machine countless times, etc. etc. My research found that skipping stitches was usually caused by: bad needle, needle not in straight, the needle is being bent during stitching, the quilt is too high off the bed of the machine. Another site said that skipping stitches might be caused when the quilt top is stretched too tight on the frame.

That said, what fixed my issue was changing the BRAND of needle. I went from a Janome Sz 14 to a Schmetz Quilting needle Sz 14. Others have said that a Schmetz Topstitching needle works ever better.

I hope this helps. There's few things more frustrating than an uncooperative sewing machine.

Afrnc

Hi,
thanks for the feedback. I had done those things too. Changed the needle, match the thread to the needle, cleaned it, etc. I realized that the wire connecting the motion sensor to my cruise control is fried. I made the mistake of spraying windex on the motion sensor and some of the mist must have gotten into the connectors. Afterwards, I moved the machine accidentally while the machine was still in "go" mode and I bent the needle. Now my timing is completely shot, and the machine needs a service call. I cant get any stitches properly at all now. I am super stressed. I was supposed to get 4 quilts done by next Friday for a fundraiser and it is not going to happen. I took to of the quilts to a professional quilter. The money I have now spent on these quilts will never be recovered. ok, thanks for "listening"...i just had to vent..my husband is so frustrated with me spending the extra money not only on the professional quilting but also to ship out my machine for service call across the country. Ok, I am really going to stop complaining now. lol

yolanda

I think I know the answer but just want to confirm. I have a Juki98Q but no frame. Can I use a stitch regulator without a frame?

reggruss

I have had this problem with my brother 1500P...they can't seem to fix it because they can't "recreate" the problem. UG...I can't FMQ any direction except forward straight line...I don't want a new machine. I love this one...any suggestions? Could it be a faulty foot?

Rose S.

I have both the 98Q and just about a year ago also got the Brother 1500...I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Juki...I don't recall the year I got it, but think I have had it over 10 yrs. I really like my Brother, too. My Juki is downstairs, NOT on a frame, but I have quilted several quilts on it. It has made such a huge difference in my quilting.

The brother is a really nice machine, too, but I like my Juki's needle threader better. Neither one has the a warning about the bobbin running out. I just got used to watching and seldom sew over a foot without noticing.

But even though I would not trade my Juki, for either of the others, if I were you and had a dealer and could afford the Janome, I would probably go for it. Just to have a dealer near.

When I got the Juki, it was a toss up for me between the Juki 98Q and the Brother 1500 at that time. I could get the Juki cheaper. There was, and still is a Yahoo Juki 98 group, but I don't think it is very active now. I read and read and read, and used to read the forum regularly even after I got mine. And in all that reading, only one person ever seemed to have had a problem that was really the machine. All others were operator error. And there was a guy on there and when someone hit a pin and put their machine's timing off, he walked them through how to time it.

I forgot to say I ordered my machine without ever trying one out...just went totally by the feedback on that forum.

Peckish

What size needle are you using? I found that when I quilted with my Brother 1500, I needed to use either a 16 or 18 size needle.

vivisky

I have the Brother 1500 and FMQ using Organ size 16. Works wonderful. Previous to this Brother (which I got from a relative, had little use before she died of cancer) I was FMQ on a Singer 201 which was awesome but no needle down.
I do not use the needle threader, and the bobbin on Brother is the larger size (size L??? Holds more than class 15) I have no issues with bobbin insertion or quantity of thread. Just wind 10 bobbins before beginning your quilt and that lasts all day into the evening. Of course the $20,000 machine will have more features-- the Brother 1500 (or Janome or Juki) costs much less so I am happy!