Marilynsue

I have lots of trouble with "nests" on the back of my FMQ and am now wondering if any of you use those plastic washers in your bobbin case. I saw them in Keepsake Quilting Magazine today and would like to know if they work.

EIQuilter

I've used them in the bobbin of my longarm, and I've been really happy with them. I haven't had a nest on the back since I started using them.

Are you pulling your bobbin thread to the top of your quilt before you start sewing? I've found that doing that and then holding both the top and bobbin thread until the stitches are secured helps too.

donnalynett

My Viking does this if the tension isn't right.

tjradj

Check out Leah Day's blog. She did an entry a couple of weeks ago on this problem. http://www.freemotionquilting.blogspot.com
Basically, she said, if when you sew straight, the stitching is good, then it's not a tension problem, it's a hand/eye problem with the operator. If your tension is ok, then if you get "eyelashes" or "nests" on curves, it means you are moving too fast for the speed of the machine. Try either speeding up the machine, or making sure you're not moving more quickly doing curves. Some of us just whip around the circles making them smooth, but if the speed of the machine can't keep up, you'll get lashes underneath.