Looking for Quilting Machine with More Throat Area
03-22-2021, 07:03 AM
#81
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 289
Right now I have decided to take the machine to a Baby Lock certified repair shop, and have them look at it, and set it up for free
motion quilting, ignoring regular sewing. I'd rather spend the money (much less than a new machine), and get someone qualified
to look at it, repair anything broken, and set it up for my purpose. They have a quilt shop there also, so I'm sure the lady will be
able to explain to the repairman what I want. It will probably entail them putting quilt sandwiches in, and free motion quilting until they get it set correctly. Guess I probably should make some of those sandwiches to take along with me when I set up the appointment, which I assume we have to do nowadays to get into the shop.
motion quilting, ignoring regular sewing. I'd rather spend the money (much less than a new machine), and get someone qualified
to look at it, repair anything broken, and set it up for my purpose. They have a quilt shop there also, so I'm sure the lady will be
able to explain to the repairman what I want. It will probably entail them putting quilt sandwiches in, and free motion quilting until they get it set correctly. Guess I probably should make some of those sandwiches to take along with me when I set up the appointment, which I assume we have to do nowadays to get into the shop.
03-22-2021, 07:44 AM
#82
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 171
I don' have the Jazz II, I have the lst one BL Jazz and I am using a metallica 90/14 needle and I put my feed dogs down, but I leave the stitch width on 3 and stitch length on 3. I also tightened my bobbin just a little and my top tension is on 7.5. The only time I get loops or loose stitches now, is when I move the fabric faster than I am moving the machine. I enclosed 3 pics to show you, I hope it helps. The lst is the top, the 2nd is the bottom and 3rd is foot I am using. These are just practice hopefully I get better and more consistent with it.
Last edited by Jerseyrayne; 03-22-2021 at 07:46 AM.
03-22-2021, 09:05 AM
#83
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Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 289
Jerseyrayne, I wish I could get this thing to work, but everything I've tried, that I've read about, or had someone suggest, doesn't solve the problem. I get the feeling this machine is one that got through quality control.
Instead of trying to do things myself, and more than likely break something, I have already sent a message to the local repair shop. Hopefully they will say to bring it in, and they can fix it so it loves free motion quilting.. I don't care if it can't do regular sewing. I purchased this solely for quilting.
Instead of trying to do things myself, and more than likely break something, I have already sent a message to the local repair shop. Hopefully they will say to bring it in, and they can fix it so it loves free motion quilting.. I don't care if it can't do regular sewing. I purchased this solely for quilting.
03-22-2021, 11:51 AM
#84
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 171
That really sucks, when you buy a new machine and go through all kinds of problems. I bought my Jazz used for a good price, but I did have a problem in the beginning. I went to change the needle and couldn't get the new needle in and had to take it to the dealer I bought it from, which is over 30mi. away. Turned out it had a bent needle bar, and it was less than 30 dys since I bought it, but the repair man tried to tell me I did it. I told the manager I have been changing needles for over 40 yrs and never had a problem before. He agreed and I wasn't charged, but they had to order the part so I had to leave it for 3-4 wks. After I left it I found out online that it was a problem with alot of the BL Jazz and Jazz II, so it was mfg. problem. I haven't had any problems since. So hopefully they can figure out what the problem is for you and fix it. In my opinion you shouldn't have to go through this for a new machine. I bought this machine for the same reason you did, for fmq, I have another older machine I use for other sewing. Good Luck and please let us know how you make out.
03-22-2021, 01:16 PM
#85
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 289
I think the quality control at the Baby Lock manufacturing place has problems. I've heard that both the original Jazz, and the new Jazz 2 have had various problems. For the most part, probably most of the machines are good, but some are slipping through, like yours and mine.
Cherry Berry Quilts repair just returned my email. I take it in anytime Monday through Friday, and get the work order done. I have to leave the machine for two to three weeks, then go back. My nearest repair shop is sixty miles one way, but that's better than having to go another 20 or so to the next location.
I just hope they can get the machine to do free motion quilting/embroidery movement with the feed dogs down like a normal
machine should do. Though I was told by another person that these purely manual machines (no computers) usually require adjustments to be useful for FMQing. Not sure how accurate that is, but I know that my Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 does FMQing just fine. It has automatic tensioning.
Cherry Berry Quilts repair just returned my email. I take it in anytime Monday through Friday, and get the work order done. I have to leave the machine for two to three weeks, then go back. My nearest repair shop is sixty miles one way, but that's better than having to go another 20 or so to the next location.
I just hope they can get the machine to do free motion quilting/embroidery movement with the feed dogs down like a normal
machine should do. Though I was told by another person that these purely manual machines (no computers) usually require adjustments to be useful for FMQing. Not sure how accurate that is, but I know that my Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 does FMQing just fine. It has automatic tensioning.
03-22-2021, 02:24 PM
#86
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Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 289
I just got through watching a video on free motion quilting basics by Leah Day. She has written me a few times trying to help me with the Jazz 2 problem.
After seeing what she had over her table and sewing machine, that got me to thinking that maybe not only is the sheet of material
to make the table more slippery, but that the hole is smaller, so that the needle doesn't push the fabric down into those holes for the feed dogs and the zig zag hole.
I have some very thin Teflon sheeting. I cut s small piece just small enough not to block the two metal plate screws, or the bobbin cover, put a tiny hole in it, where the machine needle goes down into the machine, then carpet taped it over those holes.
I put the tension to nine, and dropped the feed dogs, and set the stitch length to zero. I just finished a few minutes with the machine this way, and the stitches were perfect, both straight, and curved. No lashing at all. I will work with this for a few days to make sure this is a fix of the problem. If not, then it goes to the repair shop. I sure hope this fix, this time is permanent.
After seeing what she had over her table and sewing machine, that got me to thinking that maybe not only is the sheet of material
to make the table more slippery, but that the hole is smaller, so that the needle doesn't push the fabric down into those holes for the feed dogs and the zig zag hole.
I have some very thin Teflon sheeting. I cut s small piece just small enough not to block the two metal plate screws, or the bobbin cover, put a tiny hole in it, where the machine needle goes down into the machine, then carpet taped it over those holes.
I put the tension to nine, and dropped the feed dogs, and set the stitch length to zero. I just finished a few minutes with the machine this way, and the stitches were perfect, both straight, and curved. No lashing at all. I will work with this for a few days to make sure this is a fix of the problem. If not, then it goes to the repair shop. I sure hope this fix, this time is permanent.
03-22-2021, 03:57 PM
#87
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Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 289
I know lots of us need pictures to visualise just what someone is saying. So here's two pictures of my fix for the metal plate that covers the bobbin and feed dogs, and also the foot pedal that I modified to only depress halfway down. I can now mash down the pedal, and not worry about speed and hand movement at the same time. The metal plate seems to be the problem as far as the free motion quilting goes. I guess the fabric was getting depressed into the holes, or something else I can't figure out, but the Teflon covering all those holes seems to be working to keep the quilt back lashing from happening. You still have to watch your hand speed, especially when going around curves, or changing direction.
04-13-2021, 03:19 PM
#88
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Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 289
Another post to let those with BL Jazz and Jazz 2 know a bit about the problems I had, and what I suggest you do.
I took my Jazz 2 down to Cherry Berry Quilts in Calimesa, California. They have a cert5ificed BL repair shop. The repair person also knows about free motion quilting.
Today I got a call that they needed the foot controller in order to effect the repairs. So I drove down and delivered the pedal. They said to wait about 45 minutes for the machine to be repaired. Almost to the minute, the machine came out, ready to take home.
What I found out was that my machine, and probably a lot of the Jazz machines are not properly set when it comes to tensioning. I was told that mine was so far out on the tension it could never do free motion quilting.. They put the machine through some tests with a sandwich, and the stitches top and back are perfect. Also, the feed dogs do not have to be up. All this talk about having to have the feed dogs up for FMQing on the Jazz is incorrect according to the technician. What it all boiled down to was the tension within the machine had to be properly set. Apparently this machine is not built where most of the BL machines are, but is built in Taiwan, which apparently has problems with quality control checkouts.
Another item of interest is that this machine, when you want to raise or lower the feed dogs, you must have the needle in the full down position before sliding that switch. Having the needle down apparently puts the internal parts in the proper position, taking the strain off of that manual switch. Apparently, when I moved that stitch last, I made something come apart (not break), so that the feed dogs would not work properly.
So, my Jazz 2 is back, and hopefully I can now get back to working on the quilt tops I have finished, and get them quilted. Will let you know how things go.
I took my Jazz 2 down to Cherry Berry Quilts in Calimesa, California. They have a cert5ificed BL repair shop. The repair person also knows about free motion quilting.
Today I got a call that they needed the foot controller in order to effect the repairs. So I drove down and delivered the pedal. They said to wait about 45 minutes for the machine to be repaired. Almost to the minute, the machine came out, ready to take home.
What I found out was that my machine, and probably a lot of the Jazz machines are not properly set when it comes to tensioning. I was told that mine was so far out on the tension it could never do free motion quilting.. They put the machine through some tests with a sandwich, and the stitches top and back are perfect. Also, the feed dogs do not have to be up. All this talk about having to have the feed dogs up for FMQing on the Jazz is incorrect according to the technician. What it all boiled down to was the tension within the machine had to be properly set. Apparently this machine is not built where most of the BL machines are, but is built in Taiwan, which apparently has problems with quality control checkouts.
Another item of interest is that this machine, when you want to raise or lower the feed dogs, you must have the needle in the full down position before sliding that switch. Having the needle down apparently puts the internal parts in the proper position, taking the strain off of that manual switch. Apparently, when I moved that stitch last, I made something come apart (not break), so that the feed dogs would not work properly.
So, my Jazz 2 is back, and hopefully I can now get back to working on the quilt tops I have finished, and get them quilted. Will let you know how things go.
04-14-2021, 03:51 AM
#89
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Alturas, CA
Posts: 9,393
Reading through all the nose bleeds with this machine, Caley, I'm glad that you decided to take it to a reputable repair person and that they've fixed the problem. My repair man says that for fmq, you should always have a single hole plate on, just remember to take it off and do the wide hole plate before doing any zigzag stitches, which I've forgotten to do a few times. LOL
04-14-2021, 03:58 AM
#90
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,579
Thank you for being so forthcoming about the problems with your machine. I'm sorry you had to go through so much but it's been an educational read for the rest of us and I'm sure it will help someone else.
